Rama and Sita Hit a Snag
The aromatic smell of sandalwood and sage wafted in the air lightly mingling with the soothing sounds of the water fountain complementing the therapeutic setting of Dr. Laura's Beverly Hills home office. With all the exotic plants and art in the quixotically decorated home showcasing the to- die- for weather of sunny southern California, Rama was glad they chose to travel here for the session. A fresh bit of scenery and a change of pace might just be what the doctor ordered!
Rama felt that sitting on the therapist's couch was like sitting on a cozy cloud. This was in stark contrast to the amount of emotional discomfort that was heavily weighing in the room, coming from Sita. While Rama was feeling optimistic, Sita was full of inner rage. Sita felt that things were bad enough when they young newlyweds, and Sita was kidnapped and held captive, but the lack of compassion that Rama had for Sita when she came home was crushing.
Dr. Laura thought it would make a good starting point to talk about how this made Rama and Sita feel. "Okay, Sita, you start first. Let's start with what is bothering you."
"Rama, it really hurts me when you lack faith in me to be faithful to you, because my faith in you is all I had to get me through this whole long mess!" Sita said in a short hurtful tone.
"Sita, my love. It hurts me that you don't understand the kind of position that your public drama has put me in. It is hard to make everyone happy all the time. This is why I like pets. They don't complain when you have to make choices," Rama grumbled.
It was hard to tell Sita even then that his faith and love in her is what drove him to accomplish all the great feats he had to undergo to get her back. The irony of the situation was what had caused his drinking problem, the sleepless nights.
"Sita is the most beautiful woman in the world, how is it possible that Ravana...oh," Rama winced.
"By the fires of Agni, Rama! You don't think I know you have a job to do? Pfftt. I may have been born at night, but I was not born last night! I just needed you to believe in me, and it felt as if you had lost faith and trust in me, and that hurt more than anything." Sita huffed and pouted her plump lips.
The blond American therapist looked up from her tablet where she was playing Sudoku while she was listening to the divine couple get their jabs in. She looked at them both with scrutiny on her face, silently judging them and giving them good odds at staying together long term. The Sudoku helped the doctor keep her logic skills in tip-top condition. She gave them good odds of staying together because of their body language. They still oriented themselves towards each other. And of course, because they found their way here, to get help.
"So, Sita, can you forgive Rama for this lack of emotion? Do you think you can move past this?" the therapist asked.
"Oh, yes. I can forgive him for his loyalty to his duty as a king and of caring for the correct action of office. No, I don't forgive his lack of showing emotions. But the worst part you have not even heard yet!"
Rama sat with his head down in shame, because his wife was right. How could he forgive himself for what he had put her through?
Author's Note: In the original story Rama and Sita are avatars of Vishnu and Lakshmi. Their love is eternal. Somehow eternal is not without struggles. Life after life they have struggles that humans can relate to like in this instance where Rama and Sita had to overcome being exiled from their home, then separated from each other and now the obstacle of still having to be separated because of Rama's duty as a king. Their love is tested to the point of insanity.
I chose this story to rewrite because it is the start of when a bad situation just got worse instead of ending happily ever after for Rama and Sita. As the reader of the storyline, it's a jolt because the divine couple incarnate are reunited and the obstacles have been overcome! But it is really not, because as we learn here in this chapter it would be socially unacceptable for Rama to be with Sita. Rama is in no position to rock the boat that he just got into politically. This is probably where the therapist would like to start to focus on broken trust. The Blondie song "Heart of Glass" echoes in my mind as theme music for this episode in their marriage.
I chose not to give the resolution at the end of the story like in the original. Also, I want to add another story that will bring more of Rama and Sita to another counseling session where they talk about the ordeal by fire and the children. The cliffhanger is on purpose, so tune in next week to find out what happens next!
The image I chose to represent Sita as being heartbroken, more human and not so removed from emotion that many other images may portray. This image is from a television soap opera in India about Rama and Sita.
Here is the link to the song if you are curious: Blondie - Heart Of Glass.
Link to the original story PDE Ramayana: Sita and Rama
