Week 4 Story: Ramayana, Bonus Episode

The Ramayana: Bonus Episode

Rama has been gone for far too long, Sita thought to herself. She had sent Lakshmana after him, so she felt sure he would return. Still, she was worried for him.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door. Having nothing else to do, she answered it. It was a dirty old man. In reality, it was Ravana, but obviously he didn't want her to know that.
"Hey uh.... can I come in?" He managed to stammer out. She was so beautiful that he got nervous, but she thankfully didn't notice.
"Of course! Make yourself comfortable." The old man stepped inside and sat down, trembling. She was even more beautiful than his sister had described..... Thank you sis!! SCORE. He was totally gonna give her a promotion for helping him find this dish.
He was brought back to reality by her voice.
"How did you end up here?" she inquired.
Ravana smiled, excited to brag. He accounted to her a great tale of a wonderful deity he worshipped, one he was on his way to near. It was actually himself he was describing, hoping to entice Sita. But she was not impressed.
"Why would you leave a place of holy men for this guy?"
"BECAUSE, he's just that cool!!"
"Well, people who live amongst demons could just as easily become one themselves."
Ravana pouted. That was mean, and totally not true.
"Good men can come from anywhere. You don't know their lives."
"Perhaps. But they won't be for long. My lover plans to get rid of them all, and only leave the good men behind."
Once again, Ravana pouted.
"UM. He can't do that!"
Sita scoffed and smirked.
"Oh yes he can! Have you not heard? He totally DESTROYED all the other asuras. He's super buff."
Ravana was fuming.
"Listen, this guy ain't NOTHIN' compared to my guy. He's got twenty shoulders! TWENTY. That's eighteen more than your guy."
Sita raised an eyebrow.
"So? A two shouldered man was the one who made Ravana go crying to his mommy."
That was IT. Ravana became enraged, and started to transform into his true form. Sita's mouth gaped open; she was in utter shock. Ravana laughed.
"Normally I'd absolutely destroy you for saying such rude things, but I'll spare you because I think you're cute. You can make it up to me by becoming my wife."
Sita faltered, but stood strong.
"Um, no thanks. That's stupid. Rama's gonna beat your butt if you're not careful."
"Oh, come on! He can't do anything to me. Besides, I'm literally standing here begging for your love. I'm way cooler than any old mortal man. Here, I'll kneel just to prove it."
Ravana knelt at her feet, but Sita just stuck her tongue out at him and backed away.
"Dude, no means no. Consent never goes on break."
Her words reminded Ravana that he had a curse placed on him where he could not touch a woman without her consent. Dang it.
"Okay uh... please come with me?"
"No."
"Please? I'll give you whatever you want."
"Hmm.... let me think....no."
"What about a pony?"
Sita paused.
"Okay, that's fine."
"Really!?!?!"
"NO."
Ravana was angered once again.
"FINE. I tried to be nice, but looks like I'll have to take you by force!"
He lifted the ground beneath her so not to touch her directly, and placed her in his chariot to fly away. But of course, she began to squirm and fight back, causing the chariot to sway.
"Hey! Stop moving back there!"
So of course she began to scream. She screamed at the gods, the forest, the animals, begging them all to help her. She even taunted him.
"Of course it's beneath you to engage in combat with humans, but it's perfectly fine to kidnap a helpless woman. What a gentleman."
Ravana was hurt by her words. I'm a nice guy, really. She'll see, he thought to himself as he taunted her right back.

Bibliography. "Ramayana" by R.K. Narayan. Source: Narayan's Ramayana (Guide C)

Author's Note: In the original "episode" of the Ramayana, Sita (Rama's wife) is about to be kidnapped by the ten headed God Ravana. He is getting revenge on Rama, who played a part in disfiguring his sister, but he is also in love with Sita and her beauty. I have made a comical spin on the story, because I thought the event itself was comical but could use more detail. Sita is a wonderfully under appreciated character in the Ramayana, so I'm excited to showcase her using her sass and spunk to her advantage. This is different from my first episode, because in that one I made Rama a girl, but I changed him back to a guy for the sake of this installment. Enjoy!

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