By Keshia Rogers
Scheherazade jumped when she heard her bedroom door ease open. For a moment she panicked. Did the sultan forget his promise? Was today truly the day? She breathed a sigh of relief when she heard Dinarzade's voice.
" Scheherazade, are you awake?"
She had been so focused on remembering Sita's story that she hadn't heard her sister coming down the hall. She had to get all of the details right. This could be her last chance at survival.
But instead of letting Dinarzade know that she had just about given her a heart attack, Scheherazade just made room for her to sit on the bed beside her. As soon as the sultan nodded his consent, Scheherazade resumed her story:
"After Rama and Sita were married, they returned to Rama's home in Ayodhya. They lived there for several years in perfect happiness. Rama's mothers were very kind to Sita. In fact, they treated her as their own daughter. And Rama's brothers treated her as a sister. This was especially true of Lakshmana. He was not only Rama's brother, but he was his most loyal friend as well.
Sita and Rama were together continually, and the people of Ayodhya loved them dearly. There was a great celebration the day Rama's father announced that he was retiring and Rama was to be the new king. Sita could hardly contain her pride. Her very own Rama, King. Of course no one else could have been as worthy as her husband. He was the most noble man in the world. She had known that for years. But the fact that everyone else knew it too made it impossible to sleep the night before Rama's coronation. Such is the pride of a woman in love.
While Rama was in a meeting with his father to discuss the final details of the ceremony, Sita spent the morning arranging her hair and jewels. She wanted to look worthy to be the wife of such a man. She was debating between a jade or diamond necklace when she heard a terrible wailing in the streets.
She rushed out of her home as quickly as she could to find out what was wrong. The first several people she spoke to burst into fresh tears when they saw her and were unable to speak. Finally an old man took pity on her and told her the terrible news.
Rama was not going to be king. Instead he was banished to roam the forests for fourteen years. It was all the work of Kaikeyi, the youngest wife of king Dasaratha. She was going to make Bharata, her son, the king. The people kept calling Kaikeyi a devil woman. A prostitute. The downfall of the kingdom.
Sita's head spun. She didn't understand any of this. Kaikeyi was so loving and kind. She had been so excited yesterday. She had even offered to arrange Sita's hair for the ceremony. But something had happened. Sita knew that Rama would never defy the wishes of his mother. He was going into the forest. She returned to her rooms, took off her fine things, and waited for Rama.
After a few hours Rama returned to his home, dressed in a hermit's robe. He was startled to find his beautiful wife perched on the edge of their bed, her robe matching his.
"My love, the command to wear bark clothing was for me alone. Put on your silk dress."
"Fine dresses do not belong in the forest. I am going with you."
"No. You are not. You belong here with your family. I will return to you in fourteen years. I swear it."
"Fourteen years! You will return to my grave. I cannot bear to be away from you for even a day. Palaces and jewels mean nothing to me. You are my life. I will die if we are separated for such a time. You have not dissuaded Lakshmana from following you, and I will not stay behind."
Rama simply shook his head. He knew that Sita was right. He could not bear to be separated from her either. She was not so fragile that she could not survive outside the palace walls. Together Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana snuck away from the city at night, and so began their exile. And for thirteen years they lived in peace in the forest."
" But Scheherazade, you said they were exiled for fourteen years."
"They were, Dinarzade. The last year was not one of peace."
"Why? What happened?"
"That is another story, and I am now out of time, dear sister."
"Not necessarily. I think it would be wrong of you to deprive your sister of the end of her story, Scheherazade. You may finish it tomorrow."
Author's note: For this story I really tried to show Sita's loyalty to Rama. Sita gave up a life in a palace because she could not bear to be separated from her husband. I also wanted to show Sita's strong will by her arguing with Rama. Rama respected his wife enough to listen to her and even admit that she was right. It would make sense for Scherazade to want to show the sultan the honorable character of a woman. She also wants her husband to see that women can be intelligent and worthy companions. But she is taking a great risk by telling the sultan these stories. If she loses his interest she will die.
Image info: Sri Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana enjoying a serene moment in Dhandaka forest. Ramayana~ A picture Gallery
Bibliography: Ramayana~ R.K. Narayan 1972
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