The Princes of Ayodhya-The Ramayan Through Short Stories

Sita's Anguish

In the Kingdom of Kishkindha, in a cave somewhere, Ram looked off into the distance where he thought he could see the shore of the Indian Ocean. "Bhaiyya?" asked Lakshman jumpily, also watching. "Do you think they've got anything yet for Sita bhabhi? Do you think that they might have even found her?" When Ram did not reply, Lakshman scowled. "Bhaiyya? Bhaiyya? Aren't you impatient? To find Sita bhabhi? How are you so calm? Why am I so jumpy? It's not fair!"

Ram turned towards his impatient brother as he continued to sharpen his arrows while angrily chewing his already bloodied lip. Ram did not pay much attention to this detail, but at some point, he would have, and with horror. No, Ram felt that this was the time to impart some of his legendary wiseness, even though, internally, he was also shifting around, eager to see the face of Sita. "I believe in the ability of the vanar sena. If they have not found her yet, then they couldn't have. They are trying the best they can, and back here, we should too. We should try the best we can, to believe their prowess in Sita-searching, and only then, will the balance of nature and good will be fulfilled."

And even though Lakshman did not understand a single word of what Ram had said, he nodded, decided that the gist of it was just his bahiyya telling him serenely to just please be patient, and he continued to sharpen his arrows and chew his lip and hope that the fourteen years would go faster so that they could, if need be, ask for the army of Ayodhya.

-----O-----

It wasn't long before Hanuman saw Lanka's full silhouette, and even when he could, he did not stop to marvel at the scenery. The large golden dome of the Gods, rather Lord Shiv. The rather large gardens, greener and lusher than the forests, tree saplings bending over with the effort it took to hold up the fruit that was falling off their branches. Tall buildings, silver and shining, and short ones. Rakshasis and Rakshasas haggling money for their wares and walking about and dancers swaying in the streets.

Because it was all useless and frankly not worth his time, to Hanuman. What use was beauty when Prabhi Shri Ram wouldn't be able to appreciate it? Now Hanuman did not know where this sudden worship of the man had popped up, but he never questioned it either. Hanuman's instinct had always shown him the way when nothing else did, and if his mind declared that this was the man he would serve for the rest of his life, so be it that he served a follower of dharma and righteousness, plagued by bad luck and misfortune!

So, with that thought echoing over and over in his head, Hanuman did not just zip into the main Lanka like any foolish vanar would do. He landed on the hills softly, looking around to see if anyone had spotted him. "I must be sneaky," Hanuman muttered to himself. "If anyone notices me, then I am done for, my purpose shall be betrayed and Ravan shall be alerted. I should move along quietly, perhaps not ignite anyone's curiosity like a clueless monkey would have done."

And even Hanuman snorted at himself at the ridiculousness of that statement. "Yeah right Hanuman. Not ignite anyone's curiosity. How would a fifty foot tall vanar ignite anyone's curiosity!" Hanuman quickly decreased in size, and looked around. He had landed on the hills that surrounded the edge of Lanka, which were barely monitored by anyone as tightly as the entrance was. With that observation, Hanuman breathed a sigh of relief. "Multiple water breathing rakshasas, and new revelations later, finally! I'm safe!"

Um, well, no he was not. "Think again! Oh, you are so dead you foolish, foolish monkey!" Hanuman heard a cackle behind him, and jumped, turning around with popping eyes, and coming face to face with-with-with-he didn't really know what he was face to face with really. A bunch of blinding gold, large headdresses, carrying a mace, that was all he could see. Sadly for the "he didn't really know what", she was the exact perception of what Hanuman had thought of Ravan: Gold, Weapon, big.