The Couple
Mesa 28, 1540
To my beloved, my hero, my shining warrior who I know shall follow after Ravana as a lion pursues a cowering jackal, I patiently await your saintly presence. Know that there is no being on this Earth that I value above you; not even myself. It is only through you that I shall be saved from this confinement. Ravana has no power over me as long as I revere you in my thoughts, as I have always. Should it be that if our separation stays indefinite, Brahma will smite me down where I sit; there is no purpose for me on Earth without you.
-With Love, Sita
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Vrishabha 6, 1540
Oh, my dearest Sita, I cannot express the emptiness in my heart when I am without you. Though Lakshmana and I search tirelessly, your absence grows harder to bear every day. If we are never to reunite, may Brahma take my soul to his kingdom as I cannot stand to live without you. Know that I shall continue to search until the day of my death; I will not rest 'till you are once again by my side or my mortal body is conquered. Be brave, my love, and know that I am coming.
-Yours Truly, Rama
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Mithuna 16, 1540
To my love, my king, I have heard from the rakshasi that you are approaching the island for war! I cannot wait for your arrival, as I know that you will slay the demon king. Ravana is no match for your godly strength and his death shall be just another of your plethora of victories! I cannot wait to be in your loving arms.
-With Love, Sita
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Mithuna 16, 1540
My queen, we have begun crossing the ocean to arrive at Lanka. Although I know of the difficulties that lie ahead, it is the thought of you that continues to fuel my strength. Hanuman has told me of your living and I cannot begin to expect forgiveness; my transgressions will haunt me for the rest of my days. I would pray that Brahma provides you the strength to endure these final days, but I know you have no need for it. I hope to see you soon.
-Rama
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Mithuna 18, 1540
To my lord, I can hear the sounds of battle outside the grove! My heart is overfilled with joy at the sheer thought of being reunited with you! Ravana attempted to deceive me by presenting an illusion of your head, but I knew it was not possible for his army to overcome your might. Ravana knows his time is near; he knows that you will end his terrifying reign! I pray that the battle is over quickly as I cannot stand to be so near yet so far away from your presence! My love, please come soon!
-With Love, Sita
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Mithuna 19, 1540
Sita, although there have been struggles in battle, know that I will not rest until I have requited this wrongdoing Ravana has committed. The stain on our family and moral character will soon be erased so that we may continue our lives in honor. I expect Ravana to last no more than two more days before falling to my arrows, at which you will finally be freed from his tyranny. I shall see you soon.
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Karkata 11, 1540
To my beloved, my lord, my dearest whom I hold above all others, I do not know what sins I have committed to make you abandon me. Know that not once has another man or being infiltrated my mind to disrupt my eternal love for you; let me prove my worthiness to sit by your side once more. I pray that you recognize my complete obedience; I shall continue to glorify you in my thoughts and in my words so that others may share in my devotion to your greatness. A life without you is not a life worth living. Should I not carry the heirs to your kingdom I would throw myself into the Ganges at once. If we are to never meet again, know that you have cast aside your utterly devoted and noble wife.
-With Love, Sita
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Author's Note: This was a journal entry that I was not really looking forward to, but felt was necessary for the storybook to be complete. Rama and Sita's love story is a complicated one that seems to rely on an idea of worship that isn't normal anymore. Sita has such intense and unconditional love for Rama that makes it difficult to see any other perspective than of Rama as a bad guy. Leading into the battle for Lanka, I wanted to show that Rama is beginning to have his doubts about Sita's faithfulness; I hoped to portray this with his shortening messages. I thought about having him sign off on the first two messages to further illustrate his change of heart, but overall felt it was too on the nose. It's pretty insane how he treats her after the battle. She proves that she was completely faithful to him following the battle for Lanka yet he still casts her aside from the pressure of his subjects. I chose the letter format as I wanted to give them a unique page compared to the rest of the storybook. In the storybook, the dates will replace the headings that detail when the letters are from. Overall, I'm okay with how this turned out.
Bibliography: Ramayana by Valmiki