me and my fishfriend

Every dawn, I'd meet Ravi by the Kaveri's edge in Srirangam. He cast nets while I listened to Swami Paramarthananda's wisdom on my worn phone, seeking meaning beyond survival. Ravi laughed, saying the river itself was a teacher. Years passed. He taught me patience; I shared spiritual insights. We earned little, yet felt rich. Our friendship transcended class, religion, and ambition. One morning, Ravi gifted me a small brass fish—a blessing from our temple. "Some bonds," he whispered, "outlive the catch itself." In that moment, I understood: true wealth flows through connections, through the sacred threads binding us to our community and ancestors.