The Princes of Ayodhya-The Ramayan Through Short Stories

Sita Aces her Exams

Lakshman could have delayed it. He could have made Ram and Sita stare at each other from twilight to midnight until the resolve in their eyes crumbled and they ran to each other like they were always meant to. He could have taken ages to find the perfect tree, then walked away from it to locate the perfect axe, then lost his way and have had to find another perfect tree and spent hours trying to cut it down with the perfect swing.

But nothing about this was perfect at all. And how could he, who had fourteen years of practice in cutting trees, who had not taken even a minute to bring firewood when his brother had needed it in exile, convince anyone about his inability in it? Besides, even the mind that believed the most in the love SitaRam couldn't mistake their determination here.

Even if Lakshman took eons to cut down that tree, Ram and Sita would be standing there like statues, waiting for him. Nothing would change. He knew Ram's stubbornness after days of waiting to cross the ocean.

So Lakshman, who never liked lateness when earliness could be managed, was back within a minute with bundles of logs. They all watched him walk back with hundreds of wedges on his shoulders until Angad peeled off from his station in the army to run over and help.

A gloom rolled in. It was as if someone had suddenly whispered it into the air.

It's really happening.

Some of the army sat down, suddenly exhausted and unable to see what would soon happen. Whatever life had been breathed into them by their great victory was snatched.

Hanuman wiped away a tear when he thought no one was looking, but he hadn't uttered a word to discourage his lord. He, who had waited for SitaRam for so long and united them time and again, didn't say a thing. How could he ever make a dent in Shri Ram's iron will? No, he believed that this was all happening for a reason. He, who only lived to serve Shri Ram and Maa Sita, would not interfere.

Sugriv reached an arm around Hanuman and squeezed tightly. "It'll be okay, Pawanputra," he sighed, running a hand through his open hair. "There is no question of Maa Sita's purity. The question is what will happen afterwards."

"Afterwards?" Neel exclaimed, sitting up quickly even as Nal tried to pull him back down. "I know exactly what will happen afterwards. Maa Sita will unite with Shri Ram. I know it, Maharaj! You must not doubt it!"

"You have always loved a perfect ending, Neel," Nal muttered sadly, punching the hand since it seemed to be the only thing willing to bend to his wishes. "But what if it doesn't happen like that?"
Neel puffed out his chest. "Then I will make it a happy ending! Even if Maa Sita doesn't go back with Prabhu, which is impossible since their love is the size of the ocean, we will make a haven for her in our kingdom of Kishkindha. Doesn't she love the trees and flowers? Kishkindha is perfect for her."

Nal scrambled up as well. "Yes! And Jal will no doubt be her companion if she becomes lonely. We'll all make sure she's comfortable."

Sugriv put his crown back on, suddenly feeling as if he had the power of a king. "And I shall personally build her a palace with my own hands, funded from my treasury. If she resolves not to return to Ayodhya, Kishkindha, my kingdom and home, will be hers as well. I am not king of the greatest kingdom of vanars for nothing!"

"So you see," Neel declared proudly to a stunned but rapidly excited looking Hanuman. "How could this end badly? Maa Sita will return to Shri Ram ultimately, since that is how god willed it." He shrugged. "But if the fates turn, Kishkindha will always be her home. People who follow dharma never have bad endings."

And then Jambavan approached. "And what of Lakshman bhaiyya then?" They stopped. "Has he not followed dharma, as a brother, a son, and a servant? He, who loves SitaRam equally? He cannot split himself in two in order to serve both of them. He will be destroyed." He turned to watch the growing pyre. "It will not be Maa Sita who is scorched by these terrible flames."