The Princes of Ayodhya-The Ramayan Through Short Stories

The Churning Oceans of Varun

Hanuman shrugged. "I'm just saying. It would be nice to have summoning powers, you know?" when Angad simply raised his eyebrow in concern and slight bemusement, Hanuman rolled his eyes. "You know? Like we could summon food, we could summon more soldiers, we could summon Prabhu Shri Ram, perhaps we could even summon Maa Sita? Wouldn't that make our job fifty times easier, and reunite the couple much faster as well?"
Angad winced. "Yeah, I don't know Hanuman. Shapeshifting and flight would be good enough for me. Besides, if I were Prabhu Shri Ram, I would like to take revenge on Ravan for abducting his wife? I mean, it's a sane thing to do. If you had a wife Hanuman, wouldn't you be angry enough that a random demon pulled up, tricked you and your brother, and then whisked away your wife in the final months of your hardship?"

Hanuman puffed his chest out. "No! I would never have a wife, Angad! I couldn't split my responsibilities! My only dedication is to Prabhu Shri Ram, no one else, mind you!" Jambavan grunted his assent, and even Angad backed down, deciding that the conversation was a useless one to have with the devoted Hanuman. Said Hanuman cleared his throat, looked at Jambavan and then rubbed his sweaty hands together before closing his eyes.

In mere moments, mere second, Hanuman was twice, three times, then ten times the size he was before! He was as tall as the mountains and cliffsides that seemed to tower over him not minutes ago. His mighty chest took in a deep breath, and air came rushing towards him, creating an overtaking breeze for the rest of the vanars, who did not have the advantage of also being able to shapeshift and grow in size. Hanuman blinked down. "Hey, wait! When did you all get so tiny?!" he exclaimed. "You're like little bugs."

Jambavan grunted again and walked off as Angad looked up at the smiling Hanuman. "Alright, alright, no need to rub it in. We get it, you're huge Hanuman. Get adjusted quickly, then start flying over the Indian Ocean. Maa Sita, on the other side, is waiting for someone to save her. We need to assess the situation before any of us on this side attack. Besides, seeing your immense stature, Hanuman, perhaps they shall even surrender before the war begins!"

Finally, Jambavan broke his silence with a shake of his head and a disbelieving snort at Angad's words. "I would like to think so, putra Angad, I would but-" Jambavan looked off into the distance wisely again, shaking his head and ruffling his black fur. "It is highly unlikely that they will. The rakshas clan, especially Ravan, jewel of their clan, are too prideful to back down from anything, be it the appearance of a ginormous monkey or the frightening and unearthly twang of Shri Ram's bowstring.

Hanuman bowed towards Jambavan, being unable in his current state and stature to touch the Bear king's feet, and jumped off, the wind in his fur as he leapt over the Indian Ocean. From somewhere behind him, Hanuman thought he heard the cheers and farewells of the vanar army, and regretted not being able to say goodbye to them. Shaking his head, Hanuman readied himself for the journey that he had no doubt, would be serene, if not troublesome. It could go either way, really, at this point.

-----O----

Hanuman sometimes looked down at the choppy waters below him and turned a bright green at how they moved frothily. "You know, when I first leapt off," he muttered to himself as the winds started whirling against him. "I never imagined that I'd feel so queasy. Climbing up mountains? Sure! Flying? Sure! Starving? Sure! But never, ever, did I think, nor hope that I would be ready to be seasick on such an important mission!"

Hanuman's seasickness was soon not to be his first priority however, because something much, much, much worse than barfing or feeling sick because of the kerning waters of the Indian Ocean, was coming up, because you know how this story is. Why not? From up above, the Gods had come together in a meeting, watching as Pawanputra dashed across the Oceans themselves.