Dearest Companion,

Today was a sad day for many. Rama was sent into the forest for fourteen years in exile because of Bharata’s mother Kaikeyi, because of Kaikeyi, one of the wives of Rama's own father, Dasaratha. Kaikeyi felt that her own son, Bharata, should be Dasaratha’s successor. Many of the people in the kingdom are very upset over this judgment. Rama's brotherLakshmana and I decided to go with Rama, and make a new life there. I couldn’t possibly stay in Ayodhya without my husband, who I fell in love with at first sight, for fourteen years. We will just have to live in the forest and make a home there outside of the kingdom.

Goodnight,

Sita

Dearest Companion,

Forest life is good. There are many animals that have become friends and Rama loves the space. The dirt floors are hard to get used to but I am here with Rama. 

Goodnight,

Sita

 
Dearest Companion,

Something has gone terribly wrong. I am in Lanka. Ravana captured me and brought me to this terrible kingdom of his. How could he have tricked me with a golden deer? All I can remember is that I wanted to pet the golden deer, what a trick, and Rama running after it. Would I be here if I had not wanted to pet the deer? When I heard a yell, I knew it had to be Rama. I thought maybe he was hurt so I yelled at Lakshmana to find my husband and he did…he left me. That is when Ravana, dressed as an old hermit, picked up the ground I stood on and carried me off. It is so scary here. I wish Rama would come for me.

Night,

Sita

Companion,

I am deeply depressed. Rama still has not come for me. The rakshasas here in the asoka grove keep taunting me and telling me they will kill me and eat me for a meal. Will they really hurt me? I can barely even close my eyes because I am afraid of what could happen. Please someone, anyone save me. Will Rama ever come? My dear companion, I remembered just last night that as I was being carried away I dropped my jewelry thinking maybe Rama would find it. I am almost positive he won’t. I feel as though in my heart he may not come for me. Does he love me anymore? Why have I waited so long for him to save me?

Sita

P.S. Ravana came to me this morning. He spoke sweet words, but I refused to look at him. He was outraged but did not touch me. What will happen next time? I hope someone comes to rescue me soon, before it is too late.

Dearest Companion,

Today is a great day!!! I am still a captive to Ravana in the asoka grove, but Hanuman came today! I thought at first surely he was an illusion. Maybe a dream, but it was not. He stood right before me, staring at me in disbelief that I was alive. Companion, I cried when he spoke of Rama and gave me his ring. I was so excited, but he could not stay long so I told him what message to give to Rama, along with one of my pearls. Hopefully he will be able to return to Rama and give it to him. Oh how I miss my love.

Goodnight,

Sita

Dearest Companion,

Hanuman has come for me. He tells me of the great defeat of Ravana and that Rama is alive. Vibhishana has also come to take me to Rama. Why could Rama not come? He has not seen me in months. Does he not miss me? Why must he send his attendants and not himself? I have waited all this time just to see him and he does not come too rescue me.

Sita

Companion,

I am scared for what the future holds for me and Rama. Just yesterday I walked through fire to prove my devotion to Rama, and the fire God Agni testified to my innocence. Rama does not hold me like he used to. I understand I have been away and he knew Ravana's character as a person of no principle, but I was devoted to Rama and nothing could break that devotion. Not even Ravana. I feel as though our marriage has suffered too much. Rama will never be the same and devoted to me as he once was. I feel as though he hears of people talking and gossiping and he does not trust my love and innocence. What else could I possibly do to make him see the truth?

Sita

Author's Note: I have chosen to use Sita's diary for my first story. Sita faced much obstacles throughout her life, but I think her biggest trial was when she was captured by Ravana and had to wait for Rama’s arrival to rescue her. I wanted to base my storybook on female characters and the stories within the Ramayana that put strain on the relationship with their male counterparts. The stories could easily be translated into the focus of their marriages. I think the capture of Sita and her awaiting Rama while Ravana comes to her and tries to force himself on her while Sita refuses is a major area in her marriage to Rama. This not only shows the strength of Sita, a female character, but focuses on a specific trial in her marriage to Rama. I also wanted to focus on the feelings of Sita even at the worst time, because she had no idea if Rama would ever rescue her or not. Sita was very hurt that she had to wait for Rama to rescue her and he did not come himself tell her of the defeat; I wanted to represent that in her journal entry. I took specific details of this part in the epic and wrote it to mainly focus on and express Sita’s true inner thoughts and feelings. As the diary shows, Sita's marriage to Rama suffered because of trust and lack of love from Rama. In the journal entries Sita's expresses the pain she felt from the scenarios that occurred that then affected her marriage to Rama.

Image Information: This Image was chosen from the blog of Danielle. I find that this image captures a feeling of love and admiration between Rama and Sita.

Bibliography: 

• Buck, William (1976). Ramayana: King Rama's Way.
• Narayan, R. K. (1972) The Ramayana: A Shortened Modern Prose Version of the Indian Epic.

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