The Princes of Ayodhya-The Ramayan Through Short Stories

You're a Superman Hanuman!

Ten thousand monkeys and bears on a beach, walking around uneasily and animatedly, and chattering with each other not-so occasionally ought to attract a relative (rather, a large) amount of attention, right? Wrong. I suppose Ancient India was pretty weird, because the only attention they attracted was the one of Sampati, and that was good for them, because Sampati was enough to deal with in the first place.

Sampati was a vulture. He had lost his wings. Therefore, it was a bit hard for him to get food that didn't walk on the ground, that wasn't stationary. So, when he saw all the monkeys on the beach, he thought what any of us would if we were wingless vultures; Let me help them like a good charitable vulture would. "What a feast!" he cried (okay, so maybe not). "The Gods themselves must have arranged this for me! This shall last me for the next era or even two!"

But Sampati, just like the twins, just like Angad (though none of those three liked eating monkeys), was crafty and thoughtful. He flew up to monkeys, who, very sensibly, backed away from the vulture who looked beadily between them. Hanuman walked forward, shielding Yuvraj Angad, his first priority, from the vulture's view. "Yes, are you alright Mr. Vulture sir? How can we help you this fine day?" he asked.

Sampati tilted his head. Good. Monkeys with manners were always more pleasant to eat (Not that the author would know. She's never eaten a monkey before, and never plans to). "Hello, my friends! I am Sampati! It is not very normal that I get visitors, especially at this time of day!" Sampati chuckled, and Hanuman thought that he was nice enough, and seemed to exhale for a moment as Sampati studied him curiously. "I was wondering, what brings you to this beach? Besides the great views, however?"

Hanuman looked behind him, and though Jambavan was cautious, he nodded, giving him the go-to that it was alright. Hanuman turned back to Sampati, teetering from foot to foot. "You see, sir, we come here looking for Maa Sita. She is the wife of Prabhu Shri Ram, and she was abducted by the demon king Ravan sometime before when they were exiled in the jungle. Prabhu Ram and his brother, Lakshman, have been looking around for her everywhere, sir, and we are very worried as well. They have sent us North, South, East, and West. We are the South party." he said.

Angad rolled his eyes when Sampati seemed confused, bewildered and choked all the same. "Hanuman! How should he know the entire story like you? Let moi tell it! So..." Angad cleared his throat. "Once upon a time, Yuvraj Ram was banished from Ayodhya for fourteen years, for no reason other than his second mother's oversight in morality. Out of devotion, his wife and his brother followed him. In the forest, after living there for thirteen years, with the stout guardianship of the bird Jatayu, one day, a rakshasi came upon them to kill Maa Sita. They defended themselves, and in vengeance, the rakshasi sent armies towards them."

Angad took a deep breath, before leaning in, eyes shining. "Guess what, Mr. Some Patties? They defeated the armies! But then, one day, the demon King Ravan came along, and he abducted Maa Sita. Since then, Prabhu Shri Ram and his brother have allied with us in order to find Maa Sita with our help and take her back to Ayodhya, where they can rule forever! Doesn't that sound like a motive indeed?"

But Sampati was more concerned with something else that he had heard. "W-W-wait," he began with a stutter and he took in a deep breath as Angad and Hanuman looked curiously and hopefully at each other. "when you said that they moved to the Panchavati forest-you said something about Jatayu, the bird. Their protector. What happened to this Jatayu? Does he still live there? Is he out looking for Maa Sita too, perhaps?"

Jambavan grunted and Hanuman looked down, hands folded, and even Angad's normally optimistic and smiling face went dim like a doused candle in the darkness. And then, then, Sampati knew. He knew. "He passed," Hanuman said. "He passed while trying to save Maa Sita. Prabhu Shri Ram and Lakshman sir cremated him and dispersed his ashes in the nearby river. They thought that it was right to pay the final respects to the bird that had protected them so loyally."