Siya Rama - The Eternal Love

Chapter 3- Budding Love and Stars

The sky was unusually magnificent that night. Sita was again on the steps of the Lakshmi-Narayan temple, unfazed. She was finally about to be married. Her heart was filled with mixed emotions of sadness and excitement. Her lips curled into a smile at the fact that the man she thought she had hallucinated was going to be her husband in a few days. Rama quietly entered the temple from behind and tiptoed across to where she sat. He quietly sat down on a step behind her and tapped her on the shoulder. She was startled as she turned around. Her surprised look quickly turned into a shy gaze.

"May I sit next to you?" he asked gently.

"Yes, please," she said shyly.

He stepped down and sat next to her. An awkward silence lingered between them. She turned her gaze towards the sky, trying to find constellations. Rama watched her with a soft smile.

He asked her, "Do you also enjoy finding constellations and stars?"

"Yes. The stars give me warm solace and are always there every night," she said, smiling.

He then added, "But they aren't nearly as bright as your smile!"

Upon hearing his compliment, she blushed crimson red. Rama giggled, watching her turn all red.

"Shri, you know how to make me all flustered," Sita said, smiling.

"Hmm... So, from now on I am Shri. I like that," he said teasingly.

Sita realized how unknowingly she had called him Shri. Her cheeks flushed again and her heart beat even faster.

'Shri' couldn't help but smile to himself. He was sure that Sita would blush many more times before they were done with their conversation.

"What's your favorite constellation, Sita?"

"I like the Cygnus (Swan) constellation. I like it because it has a unique shape, with wings stretching out like a swan. It's also one of the brightest constellations in the night sky, making it easy to spot. Spotting the Cygnus constellation is like finding a diamond in the rough—it stands out from the other stars and sparkles with its own distinctive beauty."

"You seem to be really passionate about stars. I like Orion, the deer. It is a representation of Nataraja. Composed of four bright stars at the corners and the fifth one in the center, it is surrounded by several other dimmer stars. This creates a stunning image that's truly unique."

"Yes. That's true. Since I was a kid, I've been fascinated by stars. I remember spending hours lying on the grass, watching the stars above me, and dreaming about what might be out there. I used to think that if I wished hard enough one of the stars would come down and take me away!"

A composed tune of similarities reverberated throughout their conversation. The clock tower bells reminded them of the time, and of the impending arrival of Chief Pandit for the morning puja. This prompted Sita and Rama to end their conversation and quickly return to their rooms. Smiling, they shared a moment of understanding before departing, each aware of the significance of the days ahead.

|| Hare Krishna Hare Rama || 

P.S. I hope you enjoyed reading this part as well!! Do comment and vote! This chapter is a part of my obsession with stars. I don't know if this is true or not, but I had read that Ma Sita had a great interest in astronomy!! I hope you will stick with me and this book till the end! Please forgive me if have made any mistakes.