Rama and Sita: Part 1

Kamadeva: Hello everyone! Today, we’re going to interview Rama and Sita. Everyone knows them as the Ramayana's golden couple, but they’ve been gracious enough to grant us a tell-all interview. They have experienced their ups and downs behind the scenes, and we’re about to get a look behind the curtain. Thank you so much for meeting me, Rama and Sita! It’s amazing to meet the Ramayana’s iconic OTP!

Rama: Thank you, Kamadeva! We’re happy to be here!

Sita: Thank you so much for having us! We’re so touched that you wanted to know more about our story. But… OTP? What does that mean?

*Sita’s beautiful face crinkles in confusion*

*Kamadeva laughs*

Kamadeva: Oh, excuse me. One true pairing! It means that you’re a couple that represents true love and hope!

*Rama grins and Sita’s confusion becomes a smile*

Rama: I’m happy to hear that, but Sita and I have had our share of relationship issues. Our relationship isn’t perfect and we think it’s time to share the true story.

*Rama gives Sita’s hand a loving squeeze*

Kamadeva: I’m happy to give people a more authentic look into your relationship. How did you two lovebirds meet?

Rama: We met in a garden whenever I was traveling with my brother Laskshmana and there was a stunning garden but nothing compared to Sita when I saw her. She put the flowers to shame. My heart skipped more than a beat that day.

*Sita has a dreamy look in her eyes*

Kamadeva: It’s obvious that Rama was absolutely entranced by you, Sita. How did you feel when you first saw Rama?

Sita: I absolutely felt the same way about Rama. I felt butterflies in my stomach. He was so handsome and I just felt an electric wire tugging our hearts together. It was love at first sight.

*Sita and Rama gaze adoringly at one another*

Kamadeva: You two are so charming and in love. How lucky!

Rama: I knew I had to have her in my life, so I asked her father for her hand in marriage. He gave me the near impossible challenge to shoot with Shiva’s bow and I did it… I don’t regret that challenge.

Kamadeva: I know my way around a bow and arrow, but Sita, how did you feel whenever he was doing the challenge? Were you frightened for him?

Sita: I was nervous. I didn’t want him to fail because I didn’t want him to walk out of my life because of a stupid challenge. I knew that he would win, but I was still terrified. He won and I’d never felt such a rush of relief and flood over me before.

Kamadeva: Did you feel that rush of triumph in that moment, Rama?

Rama: I felt bliss because that’s when our lives changed forever. We got married in a lavish wedding and we were in the honeymoon stage. It was perfect, but we didn’t know it was going to change so soon.

*Rama is smiling but there’s a touch of sadness in his eyes*

Kamadeva: Can you please explain what changed and what happened, Rama?

*Sita pats Rama’s hand soothingly*

Sita: This is still a hard subject for Rama to talk about. His father exiled us for fourteen years. We had to leave Adohya after his wife Kaikeyi convinced him that Rama wasn’t good enough to be his heir. It was a time of hardship and loneliness.

Kamadeva: I’m so sorry, Rama. I can’t imagine the pain you must’ve felt.

*Rama gives Sita a look of gratefulness and clears his throat*

Rama: I was heartbroken after my father banished us, but Sita was a source of hope and love for me. I couldn’t have made it without her pure spirit and faithfulness. I took it for granted, although I didn’t know it at the time.

Kamadeva: What happened when you were banished? Where did you go?

Rama: We lived in the forest with my brother Lakshmana for fourteen years. It was solitary, but I still had the company of the two greatest people in my life.

Kamadeva: Oh, wow. The forest can be a mystical and strange place to live in. How was the experience for you, Sita?

Sita: That time was hard, but I was content with our simple and peaceful life in the forest. It all changed whenever Ravana abducted me. That was one of the hardest experiences of my life and it truly tested my limits.

*Sita shifts in her seat*

Sita: Yes, I can talk about it. It was a horrible time for me, but I refuse to live in fear of Ravana. He imprisoned me and taunted me about Rama. He wanted me to be his next wife. Although there were times where it seemed hopeless, I knew that Rama truly loved me and would come back for me. And I was right. He came back for me, but it wasn’t the same after…

Kamadeva: What felt different after Rama rescued you?

Sita: *whispers* He was distant from me… like he didn’t love me anymore. Our relationship shifted after Ravana because he was the obstacle. He almost ruined our marriage. We didn’t know that we would experience so much emotional turmoil.

*Rama gives a frustrated sigh*

Kamadeva: *clears his throat* I can see this is a tense time for you two to recall. I’m sorry. Rama, could you explain your side?

Rama: I felt helpless that Ravana had my wife away from me and I was angry that I let it happen. It was my duty to protect my wife and I failed. I handled the situation poorly after her abduction too. I’ll never forgive myself for the way I treated her. I was foolish and insecure.

*Rama looks at his lap, clenching his fists*

Kamadeva: I think this would be a good place to stop and cool down. Sorry for the cliffhanger, my dear readers!

Sources:

Sita Sings the Blues .Nina Paley (2008)

The Divine Archer by FJ Gould (1911)

Indian Myth and Legend by Donald A. Mackenzie (1913)

Author's Note: For my first interview, I decided to do Rama and Sita. They're the main couple of the Ramayana and they are quickly swept up in an epic love story. Their love story is like a soap opera and they meet many challenges along the way that test their love and devotion for each other. However, the stories in the Ramayana are mainly plot-driven and they mainly focus on its titular hero, Rama, too. By doing so, we don't get a good look into each character's feelings, so it's hard to connect to our protagonists when we don't really know them. As a result, I chose the interview format for their story because it was a medium that is short and easy to read, as well as an opportunity to explore the character's feelings. By interviewing Rama and Sita, the reader would be able to hear about their emotions and thoughts directly from them. I chose Kamadeva as the interviewer because he is essentially the reader as a character. He acts as the mouthpiece that asks them the questions the reader has and he reacts to them too. Since Rama and Sita's story is pretty lengthy, I had to divide them into two parts so the story is more digestible. I hope you've enjoyed the first part of this story!