The Princes of Ayodhya-The Ramayan Through Short Stories

Vibhishan, Current Status: Also Exiled

Vibhishan watched the monkey leave, with his heart hammering. Now Prabhu Shri Ram's army had done it, they had insulted Ravan in the worst way possible, they had insulted his sons, his kingdom, they had threatened him, they had insulted his strength by challenging him to move a mere monkey's leg, they had cut off his sister's nose, and they had even stolen his crown! Literally!

Vibhishan watched Ravan seethe with anger, sitting back down, snapping his fingers, and ordering his backup crown. The rest of the courtiers shifted about in their seats, waiting. It seemed that that was all they did these past few days. Wait, in impatience anxiousness, for Ravan's predictable outburst. Perhaps a few of them would be fired, exiled, maybe a couple even punished. And all they could do with that was wait.

Vibhishan watched as Ravan opened his mouth to speak. "That hermit and his monkey army have done it now. They have dared insult our pride!" he looked around and a loud, booming cheer went up from his allies, and Ravan settled down, appeased. "THEY HAVE TAKEN MY CROWN!" Vibhishan shook his head, rubbing his temples as the cheers quieted down a little. Nobody cared about Ravan's crown. "I shall avenge myself!"

Vibhishan watched as ally after ally stood up and pledged their support. He watched as Ravan stopped his shifting about and smiled (albeit in a vengeful, gruesome sort of way) at each and every one of them. He watched as Ravan officially declared that if any one of them dared step onto the great land of Lanka, they would be killed. Vibhishan watched as Ravan shouted that Sita was his, and no one else's. He watched as Ravan promised that he would kill the "hermit" and be done with the nuisance.

Vibhishan could watch no more, and he stood up. He could watch no more as dharma was betrayed. He could watch no more as his brother made promises he couldn't keep. Vibhishan couldn't watch as his brother drifted further down the alleyway of no return-the alleyway of destruction, death, unrighteousness. He couldn't watch if he could do something. He couldn't watch as his own principles were betrayed. It just wasn't right!

"Bhrata-" he began, swallowing hard and standing up. His mind raced at the speed of light, and he shut his eyes as Ravan continued to speak with his brothers. Now, now he could still sit down, be ignored, he could be left unnoticed. But something made him try again. "Bhrata." he started a bit louder, and his words caught Ravan's attention, and Ravan turned towards him, raising an eyebrow. It was alright. He could still get away with it. He could pretend that he too was pledging his allegiance, and Ravan would be appeased.

But no. His ever irrational brain continued to guide his mouth. "Bhrata, Raja Ravan. It would be my advice to return Sita immediately to Ram." Ravan spluttered for a moment, and Vibhishan quickly continued. "I shall always support you, you being my elder brother, I look up to you. I respect you. But this? Taking someone's wife as your own? Bhrata, it is beneath your great figure. It is beneath all of us! We shouldn't do this!"

The court was silent. The differences between Vibhishan and Ravan were known. Ravan was self-centric, brave without a doubt, with a great ego and loud demeanour. Vibhishan was selfless, a devout follower of dharma, slightly skitterish. But he also looked up to Ravan, and listened to his words, and this was what kept the two peaceful with each other. That, and Ravan knew that Vibhishan was a clear-minded adviser, and he adored him as a younger brother. He had adored him as an elder brother.

Ravan exhaled. "Vibhishan? Are you telling some sort of quip?" When Vibhishan, very hesitantly, mind you, shook his head (his mind was still battling with itself, wondering if he could salvage the situation with his brother), Ravan sat up straighter. "I have known you since birth, when we lived in our father's hermitage! You were always a follower of this or that, dharma! And I was okay with it! I allowed you into my kingdom! I never criticized it, or you!"