Week 5 Story: Sita

This is told from the perspective of Sita:

     Finally after 14 years we are back home. Let me tell you the journey and the forest was all fine, the only part that made everything rocky was Ravan taking me to Lanka. Even though I completed the test of fidelity, mine and Ram's relationship is not what is was like before. I can hear the whispers of the people throughout the kingdom who are questioning my faithfulness to Ram along with his availability to reign after taking a woman back who has lived in Ravan's palace. I must do everything in my power to protect Ram's honor and image in the eye of the people. Ma Kaushalya calls upon me, Ma Kaushalya senses that I am pregnant, but does not mention it. I ask for advise from Ma K about what to do, Ma K advises" do not listen to the people, you must trust Ram to make the right decision. She also mentions that Ram loves me very much."
     The next day Ram decrees that I am exiled to the forest, I understand why he has to make this decision and I do not blame him. He is the love of my life and I will do as he says, because I know in the future we will be reunited. Ram has no knowledge of my pregnancy, knowing this information would have clouded his judgement.
     Forest hello again...who knew I would be back so soon? I had thought if would have been mulitple years. Life is very unpredictable, I must search for a place to live. Thank the gods and goddesses, Sage Valmiki lives in this forest, here I can be able to stay without worry.
     It has been 18 years living in the forest now, the boys, Lav and Kush are looking more and more like their father. Who knew they would serve as a constant reminder of who lives far away. Life has not been easy, but luckily Sage Valmiki has been instrumental in helping raise and teach the boys. Unexpectedly Sage Valmiki, tells me that he is taking the boys to a feast. I wonder what feast it could be, but I must listen carefully to as to who is hosting this feast. They come home the later that days only to return again the next day from the feast. Sage Valmiki tells me that I am to accompany them to Ayodhya in the morning...
     I am ecstatic, my dream is finally coming true, Ram and I shall be reunited. As I enter the kingdom I notice the people, Ram with the boys, everyone is so happy, how will I be able to go back to Ram without upsetting the people. I love Ram too much to put him through any form of humiliation, I must leave forever. O Mother of Earth, if you believe in my fidelity, you shall take me into you. As the ground covers over again I can feel Ram's eyes searching for me as Sage Valmiki had informed earlier that Ram was anxiously awaiting my arrival. I shall soften the ground under those who shall walk barefoot from under here.

Author's Note: So in the Divine Archer by F.J. Gould, the narrative closes with Sita being exiled by Ram upon return to the Ayodhya due to the people's talk. Sita never argues, she lives in the forest in the ashram of Sage Valmiki. There she gives birth to twin boys, Lav and Kush. After many years Ram has a feast where Valmiki and takes the boys and the boys display their talent through the harping and singing of the Ramayana. They come back the next day, where Valmiki tells Ram that the boys are indeed his sons and if he would like to Sita he shall bring her to Ram. Ram says yes, so the next day is when Sita is closer to the kingdom and notices the happiness of all and the father and sons, and calls upon the mother of earth to take her is she holds her earlier statement true.

Bibliography: The Divine Archer by F.J. Gould. Online pdf.

Luv and Kush learning the verses of the Ramayana from Sage Valmiki