Why did Narada wake me, I asked myself? I have been
perfectly content by myself for years, and now he needs me for something.
That’s always how things go. They don’t need you, and then when they do they
expect you to just drop everything to help. Why would I do that? I am
confortable and happy sitting right here in my ant pile, contemplating life.
 |
| (Valmiki in Ant Hill. Source: Wikipedia) |
But… He did ask me to save this woman Sita from killing
herself, which I guess is important. Why would she do that anyway? That’s very
sad. I wish I could help, but I am doing what I love here. Besides, people
aren’t happy or friendly, why would I want to interact with individuals like
that. But, Narada did say she was a good person, and maybe we can be friends.
I’d like that. It’s lonely here sometimes.
It’s decided! I will help this woman Sita, whomever she may
be. I can always go back to my meditation if she is an utterly horrendous
person. I slowly pushed my way through the hard sand that has been sitting
around me for thousands of years. Wow, times flies when you're having fun. I
guess I was having fun, wasn’t I?
As I looked around I noticed that a whole community had been
built in the clearing around me. Why did I not notice this before?
“Hurry up Valmiki, you will miss Sita, and she will be lost
to the call of Ganga,” Narada lectured me, “You know how Ganga promises the
comfort of her water to rid people of their sorrows. You have to get to Sita
fast!”
Good thing the river was so close to me. I took off running
towards Sita weaving through the large trees as fast as my legs would take me.
My feet were pounding on the hard ground, and then I saw her. She was the most
beautiful woman I had ever seen. My feet ground to a stop right in front of
her.
I did not know what words to say to this lovely creature before
my eyes. She was perfectly proportioned from her lips, which glowed like
rubies, to her toes that were decorated with the finest jewels around. A lavish
silk wrap adorned her perfect body. As my eyes took in her beauty I noticed the
little prize she was carrying with her, she was pregnant.
“Hello dear Sita, my name is Valmiki. I would be forever
blessed if you would stay with me and my family,” I told Sita.
“Valmiki you honor me. I have just been banished from my own
kingdom and have nowhere to turn. I cannot accept this grace you have given
me.”
“But you must. I feel it is my duty to serve you in any way
I can. Oh lovely Sita I know you can be happy again. Just stay here with us and
we will make you forget the harshness of your past home.”
“Valmiki my life was not harsh. You misunderstand the
situation. My dear Rama, the love of my life had to make a tough decision. I
support him fully. He needed to show the kingdom that he would do anything for
them.”
“What kind of man would abandon his wife, and a pregnant one
at that?”
“The kind of man who wants more for his kingdom. He is a man
who would sacrifice his own happiness for his people. You see my Rama still
loves me above all things, but he sacrificed what he felt he needed to.”
“I understand what you are saying Sita. I still would like
you to stay with us, and you will be treated like family. We will help you
raise your children when they are born.”
“You do me a great justice. I will gladly stay here with
you, and enjoy the life you have created here. It looks like the perfect place
to raise my children,” Sita smiled at me.
“Then it is settled, you will live here with us.”
Author’s Note: For this story I chose to write it from
Valmiki’s perspective. I wrote it from when he came out of his ant pile all the
way through when he met Sita. I believe that writing it like this would show
more of Valmiki’s feelings. It showed what he was thinking and feeling when he
was interrupted from his meditation to save someone he didn’t know. I did not
make many changes to the original story, besides taking away a lot of the
conversation Valmiki and Narada had. I also had Valmiki discover that Sita was
pregnant himself. I just really took the original story and expanded upon it.
Bibliography:
- Buck, William (1976). Ramayana: King Rama's Way.
Hey Sarah!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed your story! I liked that it was from the perspective of Valmiki because when I read this part in the book I wondered how easy it would be for Valmiki to decide to go and help Sita. Also I loved your description of Sita. You described her perfectly! I also liked that you had Sita say that even though Rama had to banished her that he still deeply loved her! Great job!!