The farmer is 60 year-old Pakash Patil, a resident of the Yedemachchindra village of Sangli district in western Maharashtra. He calls his marine 'friend' Narayana.
"Narayana, my Narayana, please come," the farmer says, squatting at the edge of an open well in his farm. Moments later, 'Narayana' swims to the edge of the well, to be petted by the farmer.
Patil then gingerly lifts the fish, which is over two feet long, and proceeds to peck him near the mouth, before releasing him back into the water.
Even more surreal is the story of how 'Narayana' got in the well.
"Narayana would have ended up in my lunch plate had I not taken a liking for him," Patil says when asked about the relationship between him and the fish which has become the topic of discussion in the nearby villages.
"On July 3, I was going to my farm, along with my son Balkrishna. Some villagers had caught this fish and asked me to fry it and have a nice lunch, which I refused," Patil said.
"Every morning, I have been calling out to my 'friend' and he responds by coming to the edge and allows me to hold him for some time," says Patil.
Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
