The following
diary pages were found
in what we believe to be
the queen's quarters of the ancient city of Ayodhya. After
comparing the
age of the documents with the historical information we have gathered
about the area throughout the years, my colleagues and I have reached
an agreement that these are the writings of Sita, the wife of Rama,
from the time period during which Ravana, the demon king, kidnapped her
in hopes of making her another one of his wives. As you will see,
Sita's devotion to her husband, Rama, endured despite periods of doubt,
thus attesting to the power of the concept of Dharma within the
Indian culture...
Day One
Everything is a blur as we fly through the skies in this dreadful chariot. We've passed numerous mountains and seas, forests and deserts, and I fear I have lost my sense of direction. I pray that any and all beings below may take note of my course, so my dear Rama will have at least some source of assistance in his quest to find me. I cannot tell if the blurriness around me is from our speed or my tears, but I must believe that this will soon be over.
Day Twenty-Three
I despise this evil creature that has stolen me from my Lord. I have been sitting under this tree in the garden of Asoka Vana for days now. I try to eat as little as possible, for fear Ravana might poison me in an attempt to behold me. I only eat in order to stave off the harshest hunger - but my spirit, much more than my stomach, is empty at this point. If only I hadn't been so foolish as to be blinded by that bejeweled animal! And what sort of being has the audacity to rob another of his wife while he is still alive? Ravana and my lovely Rama may be similar in their superior powers, but at least Rama knows what it means to be a man...
Day Sixty-Seven
I am beginning to fear something has happened to Rama. With all the creatures in the world taking notes as I passed by, why has he yet to reach me? I am barely covered in this rag of a sari, and I postpone bathing as long as possible in hopes of making myself undesirable to Ravana. But he persists. I suppose the easiest way to end this physical suffering would be to resign and become this evil one's possession. Yet with how he raises his voice to me, even now, and orders his guards to harass me, I suspect it would only be a matter of time before the jewels and luxuries would disappear, someone new would strike his fancy, and I would end up like the rest of his abandoned wives, who have been relegated to the more distant mansions. I would rather die alone and in rags than jeopardize Rama's honor and my own.
I Have Lost Track of the Days
My faith has become the only force keeping me intact, and even that has greatly dwindled. Ravana has become increasingly impatient with me, and I am ashamed to say I have been losing what hope I had. However, today a miracle occurred. I was in the process of preparing my suicide, when a monkey named Hanuman approached me out of nowhere. He not only relayed information only Rama could have told him, but he presented me with Rama's ring. This token has renewed my hope, and while I curse myself for questioning my husband's abilities, I thank the gods for my fortune.
Day Five of Renewed Faith
This morning, the battle cries began. While I fear for Rama's men, especially the devoted Lakshmana, I am confident in my Lord's well being. As long as the fighting continues, I will know Rama is well because he is the only man for whom others would fight Ravana.
Day Seven of Renewed Faith
This afternoon, I was horrified to turn around and see Rama's head in front of me. I fell to the ground in shock, and then I began to sob. My tears formed a pool in front of me, and all of a sudden, I saw an image that told me to use my reasoning. I gathered myself and began looking around the courtyard. I noticed that hints of doubt and unease marked the faces of passersby - not what one would expect from a city if it had, indeed, just slain its opponent. Rama is still alive. Our love has sustained me in this hell, and I know it will likewise provide him with the strength he needs to be victorious...
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~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Author's Note: I have retold the
story of Sita's
capture as though it were her
mental diary, designed to occupy her time while she waits for Rama to
rescue her. Sita's story is a prime example of someone staying
true to their duty, their Dharma. Despite her discomfort, Sita
refuses to betray her role as Rama's wife. Sometimes, she has
great faith in his abilities. Other times, Sita is forced to
convince herself to persevere and not give in to Ravana's offerings of
infidelity. While she never explicitly refers to Dharma itself,
the adamant manner in which she defends her honor and that of her
husband leads the reader to believe that she is driven by a force of
obligation to stay strong. I have taken liberty with the
measurement of time, as it was difficult to pinpoint an exact period of
capture from the book. I also added the image of Sita’s tears
forming a pool of advice. I thought it was a more creative way to
illustrate the concept of intuition.
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Buck, William. Ramayana. Berkeley:
University of California Press, Ltd., 1976.
Photo: Acclaim Images Stock Photography
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