Week 9 Storytelling: Young Love

I’ve always dreamed of what my future wife would be like.  She’d be beautiful of course.  After all, I am the king of Hastinapura – I deserve the very best.  However, I want there to be more to our relationship than superficial things.  I want there to be love.  Not some arranged sort of love some kings have, but a love that would have occurred regardless of my position as king.  For this reason, I want to fall in love not as a king but as an ordinary man.  Therefore, whenever my future wife and I meet, I know she will love me for me and not for my power.  However, this is easier said than done.  You see, everyone in the kingdom knows who I am, especially all the women.  I can’t simply disguise myself because they would all see through the disguises.  For this reason, I must go on the outskirts of town where the hard-working and unexpecting women reside.  I decide to leave in the morning.  The next morning, I have the guards drop me off on the riverbank.  As I walk, letting me feet run through the water, I notice a woman all by herself.  As I look closer, I do not recognize her face and do not know if she is even a part of the kingdom.  All the better.  I give myself a mental pep talk as I approach her and then I start a conversation with her.  We talk about the weather, the beauty of the land, and our favorite things to do.  Our eyes connect and I feel all warm and happy inside.  She wraps up the conversation and turns to leave.  On a whim, I ask her to be my wife since I do not want to let such a special woman escape from my vicinity.  Interestingly enough, she agrees.  I can hardly believe my luck.  Part of me wonders if something is wrong with her, but I smile and push those thoughts aside.  I become very excited and then, she asks me to promise one thing- that I would never tell her to do anything differently or have her change what she does.  Thinking back to tales I’ve heard of power-hungry husbands, I feel like that may be why she requests this and oblige of course.  As we return to the castle, we talk some more and I grow to love her more and more. 

Author’s Note:  I wanted to add more information than the book did about this.  I think the woman was deceptive but the king was also very naïve.  He wanted a wife too badly to see through some of the red flags.

Narayan, R. K. (1978). The Mahabharata.

A river - may resemble the one the king met his wife at.

(source:  Wikipedia)

Week 7: Storytelling Post: Sita's Thoughts

I could hardly believe it- one minute I was stuck in Ravana’s lair with him begging me nightly to become his goddess and the next minute I’m in Rama’s arms one again.  I am afraid that this is all a dream and I’ll wake up to realize that I have simply fallen asleep and none of this will be real.  The longer that I am with Rama, the more it sinks in that he truly has rescued me and I’m on my way back home.  It’s been nearly fourteen years since I have seen my home and I long to smell the baking bread, the touch of clean clothes, and the warmth of a bubble bath.  I keep on looking over at Rama- I certainly hope my eyes are not failing me- I’m so incredibly beyond excited to be back with him.  Anyways, on our way back home, Rama shows me the way he had come.  We pass by Jatayu’s burial place and I can’t help but shed a few tears for the great sacrifice he had made in an attempt to save me.  Such heroism deserves to be rewarded but instead he was rewarded with a grave and eternal rest.  We also passed by where Rama had met Hanuman- wow, I can’t even begin to imagine what my rescue mission would have looked like without- would there even have been a rescue?  Surely my husband Rama would have found a way.  Anyways, we continue on our way back and I can’t help but feel the excitement building within me even more- so many exciting changes are about to take place, and already have.  I wonder how Bharata has handled the kingdom- it’s hard to belief fourteen years have already passed…

Author’s Note:  I have seen other people’s storytelling posts and am continually impressed by the variety of styles.  While some seem unattainable, I thought that I could at least try and write my story in first person.  I wanted to write from Sita’s perspective because she goes through so much yet remains so in love with her husband which is quite impressive.  I really enjoyed writing from the first person point of view because so many personal thoughts can be added in that can add lots of insightful details.  It’s very sad what Sita will eventually go through, but I enjoyed writing what I think might have been some of her thoughts as she undergoes this stage in her life.

Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana in exile in the forest 

(Source:  Wikipedia)

Bibliography:  Buck, William (1976). Ramayana: King Rama's Way

Week 5: Storytelling

He trekked onward, gazing over his shoulder as his sandals gathered dust around his toes.  Angst filled thoughts filled his head.  On his way to see Rama, Bharata had high hopes that Rama would return to Ayodhya.  Bharata had all sorts of reasons why Rama should return- the people loved him, everyone wanted him as king (except for Kaikeyi of course), Bharata didn’t feel ready for the role…the list dragged on and on.   If those reasons weren’t enough, Bharata thought that he would return for the sake of his wife, Sita- she isn’t one to fair the wildnerness especially well and Bharata was sure it wouldn’t take Rama long to see that.  However, Bharata’s hopes were quickly dashed as he sat down and spoke with Rama.  Rama did not seem in distress and neither did his wife.  In fact, Rama showed no ill-feelings toward Kaikeyi and respected her wishes with little emotion, not even anger.  Bharata could not believe it- Rama had no intentions of returning to Ayodhya, at least for 14 years.  Bharata was just as shocked to learn that even the people of the woods adored Rama.  Bharata made one last attempt and informed Rama in a matter-of-fact manner that he would rule for only 14 years (to the day) and would step down at that point- Rama better be there to pick up where he left off.  Bharata also made it clear that he would leave a pair of sandals next to the throne so it would be clear that Bharata was merely “filling in” for Rama.  With that being said, Bharata was on his way in no time- it was clear that Rama would not go against Kaikeyi’s wishes and come back with him.  Bharata walked back feeling defeated and overwhelmed.  It had been an unspoken decision between Bharata and his brothers that Rama would assume the position as king- none of the others were prepared for such a role.  Rama was the smartest, strongest, and most charismatic one of the bunch and people adored Rama upon just meeting him one time.  Bharata sadly reflected on the shoes he was going to have to fill- he already felt uncomfortable and inadequate in comparison to his brother.  Bharata knew the challenge was great and strategized on the best ways to present the news to the kingdom.  He debated whether or not he should tell them the reasons behind why Rama was gone.  Eventually, he decided against it since Rama would not want the whole kingdom to come looking for him in the forests.  Before long, Bharata arrived as his new kingdom and took a long deep breathe before he assumed his new role. 

The births of Bharata, Lakshmana, and Shatrughna.

(Source:  Wikipedia)

Author's Note:  I really wanted to write about this story because it's easy to think about how Rama and Sita may be feeling, but Bharata is going through major life changes as well that are easily overlooked.  Bharata is brave for taking on such a huge role (even though he didn't have much of a choice), and he's admirable for that.  The story didn't mention much about this aspect of the Ramayana tale, so I added a lot of details but didn't really change the plot line.

Bibliography:  Buck, William (1976).  Ramayana.

Week 4: Storytelling- The Marriage of Rama and Sita

She could hardly sleep the night before as she practically pranced into bed.  Even her servants took notice of her particularly happy demeanor.  Her thoughts swam around in her head as she dreamed of her future husband.  Sita absolutely could not wait to become Rama’s wife.  She did not understand how he was so strong, kind, and simply wonderful.  She was puzzled- she suspected him to be the god of love, but the god of love has no body… However, she didn’t think too much about it because she was so excited.  She wondered what kind of food he liked, if he would be home much, how soon he wanted to have children (she secretly hoped that she’d have a son)… the list went on and on.  Although her mind was very much awake, her body was exhausted from the pre-marital preparations and she eventually fell asleep.  The next morning, as she sun shined softly on her face, she slowly woke up and then realized what day it was- her wedding day! She skipped downstairs where her servants were preparing her a meal.  As soon as she scarfed down breakfast, her maids dressed her in satin as she picked out which jewels she would wear.  Sita could not remember the last time she felt so nervous or so excited.  She had not seen her father that day but knew she would during the ceremony.  The hours flew by and before she knew it, Sita was standing next to her future husband and they joined hands in front of her father and the rest of the on-lookers.  Her father said the vows and the new couple repeated them with smiles on their faces.  Sita’s father was almost as excited as Sita was.  After all, he set up a challenge for any of Sita’s suitors.  The man he would allow his daughter to marry would have to string a bow and arrow.  As more and more suitors failed, Sita’s father grew concerned that the challenge was too difficult and also that Sita was becoming less desirable as she continued to age.  However, when Rama entered the scene, all that changed and for that reason, Sita’s father was one of Rama’s number one fans.  Back to the ceremony- the two finished their vows as they exchanged nervous smiles.  Although both were eager to start their lives together, they had not had the chance to really get to know one another yet and for that reason, they spent the next fourteen years together blissfully, getting to know one another better and better every day.

Rama and Sita's coronation

(source:  Wikipedia)

Author's Note:  I chose to write my story about Rama and Sita's wedding for a couple reasons.  For one, it marked a pivotal event in both of their lives.  Also, I really enjoy love stories and weddings fit right along with that.  Finally, from Buck's description, Sita spent quite a bit of time getting ready (or at least her servants did), so I wanted to describe more fully why and how she did.  I chose to tell the story in third person but placed lots of emphasis on Sita's perspective because as a female, I feel that I can relate to how she would maybe feel leading up to her wedding day.

Bibliography:  Buck, William (1976).  Ramayana:  King Rama's Way

Storytelling for Week 3: Abduction

Once upon a time, there was a simple yet beautiful wooden cabin in the woods which sat in a sun-lit clearing among the wilderness.  In the surrounding wilderness, rabbits sprung over twigs, butterflies flew with the soft breeze, and the crystal clear creek softly trickled in the background.  Inside the cabin resided Sita, Rama, and Lakshama.  The time was simple, but the love was strong.  One sunny day, Rama's beautiful bride Sita glanced outside the window to see a beautiful, delicate deer that glinted in the light as if it was made of jewels.  Sita was in awe and ran to her husband.  She cried, "Rama, honey, would you mind catching that sweet deer I saw outside my window?  It is exquisite and I must have it!"  In a loving manner, Rama replied, "Of course, honey."  However, Rama's brother Lakshama was very hesitant and suspicious of the light-footed and delicate animal they had seen.  He urged Rama to be cautious, but Rama disregarded his concerns saying, "My wife deserves the very best, and I shall provide the very best."  Rama instructed Lakshama to tend for his wife while he was gone and Lakshama promised to do so.  A couple hours later when the afternoon turned to evening, Rama still hadn't returned.  Sita was a bit more on edge and listened to every single thump in the forest as any of them may have been her husband returning with the sparkling deer.  When she heard his voice from the forest crying for help, her stomach turned upside down and she felt queasy inside.  She urged Lakshama to check on her husband and again, he was cautious and tried to focus Sita's attention on how strong and capable her husband was of defending himself.  Needless to say, Lakshama ended up leaving the cabin to make sure Rama was not in peril and while Sita was alone, an elderly man wandered upon her cabin.  Sita was very hospitable to the man and invited him inside and offered him the meat she had freshly cooked over the fire and offered him a glass of cool water from the stream.  He graciously refused but began to talk about a powerful, handsome young man who would make her a goddess if she would come with him.  Sita refused and felt increasingly insecure as this stranger was trying to take her away.  The elderly man eventually gave off his true identity and Sita was shocked! The elderly man turned out to be Ravana and he scooped her up by the dirt under her feet (he cannot touch her against her consent or will perish on the spot due to an ancient curse) in hopes that she would eventually forget her husband and fall for him instead.  

The Deities of Sita source: Wikipedia

More Information about Sita

Author's Note:  I chose this story because of the drama- epic displays of love and deceit all compacted into one story.  I think there's several contrasting things- the beauty of the deer and the ugliness of the deceit exemplified by Ravana.  Sita's loyalty to her husband is definitely highlighted and is to be commended.  I added more detail to the story but did not want to take away from the qualities highlighted by the story so I didn't add any new events.  I did, however, add my own dialogue.

Bibliography:  Narayan, R. K. (1972) The Ramayana. 

Week 2: Storytelling- Love at First Sight

Ever since Sita was a little girl, she dreamed of the man she would marry.  She had always hoped for a tall, strong man with dark hair and sparkling eyes.  However, her idea of a dream man seemed less and less possible as her father set the bar really high for any guy who would want to marry her.  Her future husband would have to have the strength of one thousand men and find his way to her- it was not as if she could scour the world for the strongest man on the planet but instead, he would have to wonder into her town.  Additionally, the chances of such a man also being charming and good-looking were very slim.  However, one day, she laid her eyes upon a handsome man of beautiful stature and a body any supernatural being would want.  Sita was completely caught off guard as she could not remember the last time she had swooned over a man so much.  As Sita and Rama gazed into each other's eyes for a brief second, time seemed to stand still.  It was if the world around them seemed to melt away as they soaked up each other's gaze.  Her longing gaze was cut short as she lost sight of him.  Sita gushed to her maids, "He was so perfect- tall, broad shoulders, and kind eyes- I have never seen someone like that in my entire life!"  Her minds sweetly asked, "When will you see him again?"  Their innocent questions had pure intentions, but Sita suddenly realized she didn't even know his name, much less where he lived, and her chances of meeting him again seemed bleak.  Unfortunately, it seemed like fate would never allow them to meet again.  Sita felt ill at the thought of such a charming man being dashed away by the chaos of the world.  As she climbed into bed, she wept her heartbreak away as her maids remained oblivious to the obvious attachment she felt to a man she didn't even know.  Meanwhile, Rama met Sita's father and completed the strength challenge- a prerequisite to having his daughter's hand in marriage.  When Sita heard a man completed the feat, she could not be happy thinking about someone, other than the handsome gentleman she laid eyes on today, spending the rest of his life with her and the handsome fellow she had seen that day being betrothed to someone else.  Luck seemed to be on Sita's side and soon enough, she married the handsome man of her dreams and had a beautiful wedding.

Love and Romance

Author's Note:  I really enjoy love stories, so I wrote about how Sita and Rama fell in love.  I think it's so beautiful how when they met eyes, they were both blown away and how amazing it was they found each other once again and got married.  I wanted to convey what Sita may have been experiencing in this brief excerpt of her life and I wrote it in third person so I could include other details I may have otherwise been limited from.

Bibliography:  Narayan, R. K. (1972) The Ramayana.

Week 1 Storytelling: For a Child

"BYE, baby bunting,

Daddy's gone a hunting,

To get a little hare's skin

To wrap a baby bunting in."

(traditional nursery rhyme)

(bow and arrows similar to those father used in story)

              In a conservative log cabin in late November, a small child was born to a young couple.  The baby boy was happy and delicate but as winter snow enveloped the land, the parents became worried about their small child because he began coughing and seemed more feeble.  The young parents had never had a child before and were concerned.  However, they were far away from the closest town and needed a short-term solution before they made the trek out into the cold in order to seek out a doctor for their son.  Thus, the young father decided that he would trek into the snow-covered hills to hunt in order to provide fur for his son to stay warm.  

               Unfortunately, most of the animals were hibernating in out of reach places and the father felt defeated as he could not find any large game to bring home to his family.  As his strength and stamina gradually waned, he knew he didn't have much time left to get home before dark.  After about half an hour or so of his trek back towards the cabin, he spotted a hare not too far away from where he was standing.  The hare froze in its tracks as it seemed to sniff the ground, unaware of the lurking danger.  Not skipping a beat, the young father whipped out his bow and arrow and ended the rabbit's life in order to extend the life of another- the life of his son.  As he carefully bent down to pick up the slain hare, he paused to think of his small son and sweet wife back at the cabin.  With newly found energy, he raced back to the cabin to find his wife anxiously peering out the door scanning the woods for him.  As she spotted him, a smile grew across her face as her husband had returned safe and sound.  After the young wife crafted a fur blanket to wrap her son in, they made plans to journey to the neighboring town the next morning.

Author's Note:  First off, my story is based off the nursery rhyme "Bye, Baby Bunting" which is included in The Nursery Rhyme Book edited by Andrew Lang in 1897.  When I originally read the rhyme, I thought about a father's love for his son and what great lengths he would go to in order to ensure the health and wellness for his child.  The picture and beaty of love was really inspirational and painted such a beautiful portrait in my mind of a young couple doing everything they can in order to work together to raise a healthy, young baby.  I chose to make the story based in the past where it wasn't as easy for parents to simply drive down the road and see the doctor- the dad sacrificially wandered through the snow in search of warmt for his son and risked the fact that he may not find anything at all!  The mother also was a great help and did her part at home- tending to the baby as needed and welcoming her husband home with open arms as soon as he arrived.