Rama and Sita: Part 2

Kamadeva: Welcome back, everyone! Coming back to where we left off… what challenges did you face in your marriage after Ravana?

*Rama breathes in out*

Rama: I had Sita walk through a fire to prove her fidelity.

*Rama shifts his eyes away*

Kamadeva: *sucks in a deep breath* Why?

Rama: My mind was reeling with insecurity. I thought that Ravana must have seduced Sita at one point because I wasn’t a worthy husband. A part of me felt like I deserved that as a punishment since I let him capture Sita. I ended up punishing my wife instead. It shouldn’t have ended there, but it was only the first of my many mistakes.

*Rama looks at Sita with shame and regret*

*Sita looks back at Rama with forgiveness in her misty eyes*

Sita: It’s okay, my love. I forgive you. I wasn’t burned in the fire, proving my fidelity. I was reluctant to perform the task, but I was willing to do whatever I could to prove my love to Rama.

Kamadeva: You say this was the first of many mistakes, Rama. What other mistakes did you make?

Rama: Sita and I were together again, but it was still tense. I became king, but then Sita became pregnant. It was a shock. In the face of my people, it seemed unjust to forgive a wife who fell pregnant after being with another man for a long time. I didn’t want to appear weak or superior to my people, so… I banished her.

*Rama laughs bitterly*

Rama: The irony is that she supported me throughout my banishment, yet I didn’t return the favor. I was so blind with my own hurt and needs instead. I didn’t pay attention to what she needed and how the abduction affected her mind and well-being.

Kamadeva: How did you feel after Rama banished you from the kingdom? Were you angry? I definitely would be if the love of my life turned me away like that.

Sita: I was gutted. Like Rama said, the irony of the situation wasn’t lost on me. I supported him in his banishment. Yet, when the tables turned, he abandoned me. I was pregnant, alone, and vulnerable to whatever dangers were in the wood. I was struggling with the emotional trauma from the abduction too. It It was like the world was playing a cruel trick on me.

*Sita’s voice is thick with emotion*

Kamadeva: How do you feel about the banishment now, Rama?

Rama: Looking back, it was the poorest decision that I’ve ever made. Sita raised my 2 sons alone for years. I made a promise to love her unconditionally, but I turned my back on her. I was worried that I was an awful husband and I created a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Kamadeva: What changed and how did you begin to heal after so much pain?

Rama: It was many years before I saw Sita again. However, one day, I heard my two sons reciting hymns for me. It struck me that I missed out on years with Sita because of my self-destruction.

Kamadeva: Sita, did you experience any conflicting emotions after seeing Rama? You loved him, but he banished you. If I were in your position, I would’ve been furious.

Sita: I was overjoyed to see him again. I still remembered the man I fell in love with in that garden. But he asked me to prove my purity again and that was my breaking point. I chose him each time, despite his faults, but he couldn’t reciprocate. So I made the bold choice to choose myself. I chose to return myself to the Earth.

Kamadeva: That’s a shocking choice. What was going on in your mind, Rama?

Rama: That’s when it truly clicked for me. I was going to lose my wife again because of my fear and mistrust. She had only shown me faith and patience, but I hadn’t done the same. I grabbed her before she was swallowed whole by the Earth. I hugged her close and promised her that I would change to be the husband that she deserved. I was sobbing and apologizing to her profusely about my many mistakes.

*Sita looks at him tearfully*

Kamadeva: Sita, were you happy that he finally accepted you for who you were? That was a huge turning point in your relationship.

Sita: I felt an overwhelming sense of relief. You finally saw me in that moment. I don’t know what would’ve happened if you didn’t grab me. However, I needed to stand up for myself too. And you finally acknowledged my worth and my sacrifices.

Kamadeva: What steps did you take to repair your relationship?

Rama: We spent many years building our communication and trust. I had to learn how to let go of my insecurities and mistrust. We learned how to love each other again. I was incredibly lucky that Sita decided to forgive me. We’ve had our challenges, but we’re truly good now. We don’t take each other for granted and it’s a reciprocal give and take.

*Sita gazes at Rama adoringly and squeezes his hand*

Sita: Yes, I’m thankful everyday that we gave our relationship another fighting chance because there is so much love in my life now. It’s like the hole he left in my heart when he banished me is finally filled again.

Kamadeva: What a touching story. What is a lesson about love that you want the readers to know?

Rama: Trust your partner and don’t take him or her for granted. Love alone isn’t enough; you need to nurture it with your partner.

Sita: Don’t forget your worth in a relationship. A relationship is full of sacrifices, but you should never be the only one to make them.

Kamadeva: Thank you so much for these wise words. Next up, we have our interview with Radha and Krishna! It’s a juicy interview, so stay tuned!

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: I realized that I never really specified why I chose the interview format for my storybook. I chose an interview format because of books like Daisy Jones and the Six or the Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. I feel like the interview format is underutilized, but it's an easy way to gauge a character's feelings by reading between the lines. If you've read the Ramayana, you know that I changed the ending. In the original ending, she gives herself up to the Earth as proof of her purity. This event in the story is meant to be a moment of empowerment, but I thought I could keep the same message with a different ending. The ending was sad for Sita and I thought she didn't get the ending she deserved. As a result, I gave her the opportunity to live a happier life with Rama. Although they are both damaged, there was still a chance for them to come back together again if Rama was willing to change. I wanted Rama to reflect and acknowledge his mistakes and show people's capacity to change. We all make mistakes and we can fix them if we have the right intentions and motivation. I also thought Sita deserved a happy ending too and I think my ending painted a more realistic and optimistic version of love. Love isn't always perfect, but we can find our own kind of love if we try.