Story: A Man's Weakness

Rama's frantic nature

(Source: blogspot)

Sita vanished into the distance. She was done. No more would she put up with the abuse of Rama. No more would she be guilted into proving her purity through extreme measures. She would no longer have to weep by the river from the hardships of her exile. She was through with the constant reminders that she spent time in another man's home? She was kidnapped for God's sake! There was no voluntary actions during that escapade. She shed her last tear over that man and Sita was now a free woman.

"She'll be back," Rama snickered as he walked away.

"I give it a week," Lakshmana chuckled.

There was not a worry in Rama's mind. He was the perfect being after all. No woman would be able to handle time away from him.

However, she did not return. Days turned into months. Months turned into years. There was absolutely no sign of Sita's return.

Rama began to grow bitter over the loss of his wife. There was no logic he could follow that explained the reasoning of his wife's abandonment. Rama's heart would grow heavy and attempt to beat out of his chest whenever he thought of her. He was not used to this feeling. He was not used to rejection and betrayal.

Rama organized a group of extraordinary trackers and warriors who were fit for the job of Sita's rescue. He would find his wife, there was no questioning this. 

After six months, the group returned with absolutely no lead on Sita. Rama burst off his throne and looked at the the leader of the rescue part straight in the eyes.

"You dare return without a single shred of evidence?" Rama boomed.

The man quivered in fear as Rama's eyes blazed with rage. He took one of the arrows from his quiver and dug it into the man's side. He howled in pain as blood began to rapidly poor from the wound. The rest of the party ran into the room to see what the outburst was about. Rama's fury only intensified as he used his bow to swiftly shoot down the entire rescue party in under a minute.

The room was an absolute bloodbath. The bodies of twelve lifeless men lay sprawled out across the floor. The tile was practically coated with red as at this point as the amount of blood began to accumulate.

Several of Rama's higher ups looked at his with absolute disgust. Rama was still breathing furiously until he finally realized what he had done. He looked at the massacre he had created. He grimaced at the sight of the carnage. Rama knew what he must do. He was not fit to rule anymore. He told his men he needed to take a walk. In all actuality, Rama was bestowing an exile upon his self. He walked out of the city gates knowing he would never return.

Rama walked through the forest until he happened upon a stream. He sat next to it and begin to question his existence. A small tear rolled down his face. Suddenly, a ghostly voice appeared from the distance.

"Rama," the voice whispered.

Sita walked out from the trees and approached her husband. Hope filled Rama's eyes as his wife had finally returned to him. The one who started all this sorrow was there to save him. Sita could sense the hope in Rama's composure and displayed a subtle smirk.

"My dear, now you know how it feels to be truly alone," Sita whispered.

She teased him with a kiss before making her way back into the forest.

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Authors note: For this story, I thought it would be interesting to focus on Sita's independent nature and the effects it would have on Rama. It's common knowledge that men can go absolutely nuts after women, so I thought to add this to the character of Rama. He misses his wife so much he turns to the murder of his own people. He was fine when he was the one exiling her, but when it was her decision to leave, he loses it.

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Bibliography: Nina Paley's Sita Sings the Blues
Link to this reading guide