Khara's Revenge

Khara has been patient. After Rama killed Khara's brother centuries ago, Khara has painstakingly waited in the shadows, watching Rama continue to live life without consequence. It was torture in itself. For years Khara hid in the dark, dingy crevices of the demon world, looking from afar while Rama lived in the vibrant and beautiful forest. Rama even met a beautiful, intelligent, and loyal woman who glowed like the sunrise. Khara could not look at her directly, as his eyes were not accustomed to such light in the demon world. Everyone in the humans' world was enchanted with her, but she had never been interested in finding a match. That is, until she and Rama met.

All of Khara's friends, and even some of his enemies, continuously advised him against attacking Rama.

"Khara, it is not worth it. You will die, and what gain will you have made?"

"Khara, he will humiliate you. You will be left worse than before."

The sentiments rolled in, but they only made Khara's hatred grow stronger. Rama was the fiercest warrior anyone had seen. It seemed as if his golden character and genuine love for others glowed from inside and created a physical, impenetrable shield around him.

However, the more that Khara watched Rama's successes and mulled over how unfair life was - how Rama met all of the good people, lived in the beautiful world, was accepted and known - he boiled with jealousy. He eventually became so full of rage and the desire for revenge inside that he could not eat, sleep, or think about anything else.

One day, Khara could not take it anymore. He laid a trap for Rama in the woods. His plan was perfectly organized: as Rama was going to go hunting for his wife and brother's meal, Khara would sneak up from behind with a sword. When Rama left his hut, Khara began to slowly and quietly trail behind him. However, unbeknownst to Khara, Rama left his skin of water behind. His brother Laksh dashed out of the small hut to catch up to Rama before he reached the hunting grounds.

Rama walked for hours and finally came upon a river. He stopped to dip his legs into the water and relax, as it was a hot summer evening, and after scanning his surroundings he set his weapons on the shore side. Khara remained perfectly still, hidden in dense foliage about one hundred meters away, and Rama glanced right over him. As Rama began to ease into the water, Khara decided to take the opportunity that he had been waiting on for so long. He slipped out of the bushes and drew his sword, silently pacing across the forest floor.

Khara reached Rama's back and lifted his sword, his face shining with victory, and a dense WHACK reverberated throughout the woods. Shocked, Rama whipped around to see Khara standing behind him with an arrow through his back. Khara slumped to the ground, and Rama gazed past him to reveal his savior. Laksh sprinted up to the pair, embracing Rama.

"You left your skin of water at home. I followed you for hours, as I knew you would need it. I saw someone following you, so I waited and watched unseen," Laksh breathlessly explained to Rama.

Khara finally saw a demonstration of beauty, the utility in true friendship, and loyalty, although it was too late.

Image information: This image is called Rama, Lakshmana, and Kabandha from WikiCommons. In this image, Kabandha is telling Rama and Lakshmana (both on the right) how he came to be so hideous. I included this image because it depicts Rama and Lakshmana together facing a being (that could look very demonly), so this is how I pictured this story.

Author's Note: This story was inspired from a reading from the PDE Ramayana (Parts A and B), and it was a mixture of two scenes, or mini-stories, within the reading. The base story of revenge is inspired by the part of the Ramayana where Rama knows that Khara is still angry with him, for Khara wants to avenge his brother’s death, so Rama tells Lakshmana to hide Sita and protect her. Rama then engages Khara in a fierce, epic battle and shoots him with a blazing arrow. Sita then runs to kiss her hero husband, and that section of the story is concluded. However, I wanted to incorporate a lesson into the story, as many of the Indian Epics do so, because those stories always stay with me longer. Lakshmana's victory is inspired by the part in the Ramayana where Shurpanakha attacks Sita because she is jealous that Sita gets to be with Rama and Shurpanakha does not. However, Lakshmana sees the attack coming and defends Sita loyally, saving Sita and demonstrating bravery and friendship. I meshed the two stories to incorporate the part of the Rama with Khara to have Lakshmana attack him. I also thought that it was a cool way to make the story less about the 'hero' and more about the supporting second character and best friend. It takes away a large component of the romance to focus on the main theme: friendship.

Original reading bibliography: Ramayana, Public Domain Edition, found here.