Cikaputrian

Long ago, in Banten, there lived a princess who was the daughter of a loved king. She
was known for her exceptional beauty, but unfortunately, she was also known for speaking
arrogantly and belittling others, thinking her royal status gave her the right to do so.

One day, she approached her father with a request for a grand castle to be built just for
her. “Oh, father. I’d like a beautiful castle made just for me. I’m bored of this one. You’ll do it
just for me, right?” said the princess pleading her father. “My princess, isn’t this castle enough
for you? Besides, building one would cost a fortune.” “But I really really want one father! Pretty
please?” she said with her cute voice. Although the king had doubts, he agreed to fulfill the
princess’ desire and within a few months, an impressive castle was built. The princess was
delighted with her new home, but her, being the spoiled girl she was, continued to be lazy and
spoiled.

One day, as she lounged in the castle gardens, she noticed a small river nearby. And
again being the ungrateful girl she was, she demanded that a grand bathing pool be made for her
amusement.

“Father, you see that river over there? I want an exclusive pool be built and sourced by it.
You can do that for me, can’t you?” requested the princess manipulatively.

“Sweetheart, don’t you think that’ll effect the people downstream that rely on the river’s
water?” said the king.

“Ugh, what’s so hard about damming up the river and making it into my own pool?
What’s so hard about that?” demanded the princess. Being her usual self-centered self, she did
not listen to her father's concerns.

The king sighed. “Alright darling, anything for you.” The king, driven by the love for his
daughter, had no other choice but to grant her wish once again. He ordered the construction of a
private pool for the princess and diverted the river to fill it with clear water. Soon after, the pool
was built, and the princess was thrilled with its crystal-clear waters. She spent hours each day
gazing at her own reflection and ordered her maids to stay away from her pool. "Stay away! I
want to immerse myself in this beautiful water." She said selfishly.

One day, the princess was bathing in the pool as usual when a granny, dressed in shabby
clothes, began washing her clothes in her pool. The princess was outraged “How dare you enter
my castle! Let alone wash your clothes in my precious pool? Do you even know who I am?! said
the princess furiously. However, the granny didn’t care and continued to open the bundled
clothes she had brought to wash. “Did you not hear a word I just said? Stop what you’re doing,
you’re ruining my pool water!” she said irritated.

After some time scolding the granny, she stopped washing and said
"Child, did you realize that all the rivers have dried up?” she asked “Yeah, so?” the princess
asked snobbishly. “Your people are out here struggling to survive, in the midst of dying,
meanwhile you’re here wasting all this water? What kind of person are you?!” said the granny
angrily. “Well that’s a you problem, granny. Not mine. Now get out of my pool!”

The princess ignored granny’s words and threatened to punish her severely. “You really
are one heartless human-being. This will teach you a lesson.” Suddenly, the sky turned dark, and
thunder roared as lightning struck the princess. All of a sudden, the princess’s body began to turn
black.

“No! What’s happening? What did you do to my gorgeous face, my beautiful body? What have
you done?!” cried the princess.

To the horror of all who witnessed it, she transformed into a venomous black snake. The granny
had cursed her for her arrogance and foolishness. The once-beautiful princess was now a hideous
snake, crawling on the ground with tears in her eyes. She was filled with regret and sorrow and
triedto apologize, but it was too late. She slithered away ashamed of her fate.

From that day on, the once beloved pool was named "Cikaputrian," which means "the pool
where the princess bathed."

The end.

The moral of the story is to avoid arrogance and pride, for it can bring about our downfall.