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A messenger walked into the palace and said, "Rama, how can you still be with her?"
Rama looked at him and asked, "What do you mean? She's your queen, how dare you disrespect her!" exclaimed Rama.
"Haven't you heard the rumors? People are saying that she was with another man!" said the messenger.
" She was kidnapped? What do you expect? It's not like anything happened. Did it?" he wondered out loud and looks at Sita.
"I demand she be put through a test!" said the messenger.
"You're going to listen to rumors instead of your own wife?" exclaimed Sita as she looked at him in disbelief.
Rama looked at Sita and solemnly said, "I have to give the people what they want, Sita."
"So if the people tell you to jump off a cliff, would you?", asked Sita in disbelief. Rama remained silent. Of course he wouldn't, that would be preposterous.
The people of Ayodhya gathered in the royal court to witness Sita test her innocence, while others protested in support of Sita. "Fine! I'll give you all proof!" she exclaimed. And with that, she jumped into the fire. People gasped in shock as the flames engulfed their queen.
Sita stepped out of the fire . "See? I'm innocent! said Sita as tears streamed down her rosy cheeks. Some people looked down in shame, others smiled. Rama stepped towards her. Sita stepped back and hissed. "Don't. It's obvious you don't trust me. I'm leaving. Be ready to sign the divorce papers. I'll see you in court." she said with finality. After Sita spoke, she was swept up by the earth and teleported into the forest.
Rama stood there in shock as he watched her disappear into thin air. He couldn't believe what just happened. He knew she was innocent. He wanted to prove it to the people. He couldn't just sit back and let his kingdom be ridiculed.
Little did he know that I, Karma, was about to take over.
JUDGE KARMA(Karma looks at Rama and Sita in surprise as they walk into the courthouse): Rama and Sita, what are you guys doing here? I hope you guys are doing well after everything that's happened.
SITA(Sita looks furious): I want a divorce! Rama tried to send me into exile all because of a rumor!
JUDGE KARMA: I guess I spoke too soon. Rama? Would you like to explain why you did this?
RAMA: One of my messengers said he heard that Sita cheated on me while she was held captive by Ravana.
SITA: I was kidnapped! I jumped in the fire to prove my innocence! If I had cheated, I would not be alive right now.
JUDGE KARMA: Kidnapped? Please explain.
SITA: Well, I saw a golden deer and really wanted it, so Rama went after it. After he left, the golden deer reappeared in front of my house, so I went outside to try to catch it and then the deer turned into Ravana. Ravana grabbed me and put me in his chariot and took me to his kingdom. Once we got to his kingdom, he threw me into a cell. A monkey named Hanuman told me he was sent by Rama to rescue me but I refused to go with him because I didn't want any man except Rama touching me.
JUDGE KARMA: Is this true, Rama?
RAMA: That's correct, your Honor.
JUDGE KARMA: So if you went through all of that effort just to save her, why exile her?
RAMA: I had to look out for my kingdom and its people. I couldn't just sit on my throne while the other kingdoms and people gossiped about how the queen of Ayodhya was with another man. I had to do what was right for my kingdom.
SITA (Sita rolls her eyes): Here we go again .... I thought that nothing can make the great Rama weak. After I left people still gossiped! It was all over social media! You had your ceremony with a golden statue of me and people posted about it asking 'Where is Sita?' What does that tell you? They didn't hate me. You just assumed they did!
JUDGE KARMA(Judge Karma calmly speaks to Sita): Calm down , Sita.
(Judge Karma looks at Rama and calmly speaks to him)
She's got a point, Rama. People will gossip whether you make things right or not. Like Sita said, you assumed the worst. It sounds like the people adored you both and from what I hear, they were relieved that Sita made it back to the kingdom safe and sound. Do you realize that while performing your dharma as a king, you have neglected your dharma as a husband?
SITA: Your Honor, can you just grant us the divorce so I can go back to my kingdom?
JUDGE KARMA (Judge Karma sternly looks at Sita): Watch your tongue, Sita. You may be a queen in the human world, but in my court, you're just like everyone else.
SITA (Sita looks down in shame and meekly replies): I'm sorry, your Honor.
JUDGE KARMA (Judge Karma looks at Rama) : Although I understand your reasoning,Rama, I don't agree with it. You assumed people would hate Sita because of something that wasn't in her control. Even though what you've done is wrong, Rama, I won't grant this divorce.
SITA(Sita is shocked and exclaims) : What! Why?
JUDGE KARMA: It sounds like he realizes his mistake.
RAMA(Rama looks over at Sita): She's right, Sita. I made a terrible mistake and I want to make things right.
SITA (Sita ignores Rama and looks at Karma): He didn't trust me the first time. What makes you think he won't exile me again?
JUDGE KARMA: Are you doubting me, Sita?
SITA(Sita gets nervous): No your Honor, I'm doubting Rama.
RAMA (Rama looks at Sita): Do you think I enjoyed watching you leave, Sita?! I did what was right for my people at the time but I realized that what I did was foolish. I thought about you every day and had Lakshmana come check on you every month. I couldn't bring myself to see you. I was ashamed of what I did. It broke my heart knowing that I couldn't be near you, not to mention you gave birth to our twins. Please Sita, come back to me.
SITA (Sita looks at Rama): Do you realize how scared I was out there by myself? I was afraid of being kidnapped again but I was more afraid for our unborn children! If Valmiki hadn't found me, we wouldn't even be here!
RAMA(Rama looks down in shame): I'm sorry. I didn't know you were pregnant. Regardless of if you were, I shouldn't have abandoned you. Please give me a another chance.
SITA (Sita crosses her arms and tilts her head up in superiority): Fine, but don't think I've forgiven you yet. It's going to take more than just an apology .
JUDGE KARMA: As touching as this is, I have other cases so I'm going to deny the divorce and sentence you both to marriage counseling with Kamadeva.
Author's Note: I chose to rewrite a story from week 4 and what led to Rama and Sita's separation as well as the divorce case itself so that readers have a better idea of what made Sita file for divorce. I changed the title because I felt like it made more sense to name it like they would in an actual court since Sita and Rama are arguing.
I featured Karma towards the end before the court case to let readers know that she was participating in the dialogue. I thought writing it in third-person will allow readers to feel like they are watching the story. I also created the court documents in a script format to document what was said in the courtroom.
I originally thought Karma was a female and recently learned that she is actually a he but decided to keep him as a girl instead. I feel like Sita needed to be stronger and thought I would tell the story in a more modern version. Everyone's opinions are different and I think some people believed Sita but were overruled by the majority , not to mention women did not really get much of a voice. Rama also had respect for everyone in the original story which was demonstrated in the story as well. In the original story Sita, however, was a little rude to people. I felt like she was like that because she was a princess and then a queen. In the original story none of the characters ever confronted her for being disrespectful so I made Judge Karma do it in my story.
Instead of making Sita disappear into earth forever, I gave her the power to teleport through earth and use it as her way to leave Rama because she needed to be strong for Luv and Kush and I didn't like the idea of them facing the consequences of something that wasn't in their control just like Sita wasn't in control of being kidnapped. In the end I feature Kamadeva who is basically an Indian Cupid. That is why I made him a marriage counselor in this story.
This image was found on flickr
Bibliography:
Indian Gods and Heroes: Rama and Sita by W. D. Monro
Public Domain Edition: Ramayana
Banner Image Source: coolchaser
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