Princess Sita was unrecognisable, she cried her heart out, eyes swollen like ripe mangoes and throat as sore as lemon. She laid lifeless in the Ashok Vatika at Ravana’s abode. Her lips were chaffed and she longed for a taste of water. It felt as if it was dream in-uncovering, all of it happened so fast. Moments ago she was in her homely cottage staring at the beauty of jungle. And little while later she was abducted by a sage in disguise. She could barely move, it was as if life drained out of her; mustering all energy she could, she rose to get some water for her parched throat from the near by pond, when she heard some muffled sound. At first, disquietude, she perceived that the sound was from some wild animal, who has wandered by in search of water or even worse some prey. Then she heard low sobbing noise. At some distance, behind the bushes, she saw a girl weeping. Out of concern Sita walked towards her, she saw the girl was bleeding from her nose. Inspite of copious amount of blood spread around her face and neck Sita couldn’t shun her beautiful features. She had most perfectly fish shaped eyes, colour like molten gold and hair like flowing water. But what Sita didn’t understand was why would someone hurt, a girl as beautiful as her.
In order to comfort her, from her pain and miseries, Sita asked the divinely beautiful girl who she was and what was the cause of her injuries. Distressed with physical pain and humiliation that Surpanakha went through, she tried explaining her woes to the kind hearted lady.
They battered me, as I asked for their endearment,
They looked like kings, but acted like swines.
They disgraced me for my effrontery,
They were timorous of their vallor and their queen’s beauty.
They battered me, as I was aplomb and they vulnerable.
It took seconds for Sita to identify her; she was no other than the demon princess Surpanakha. She was full of hate and rage, gloating. She felt rejected and inadequate. She did not feel content even after she was avenged by her brother Ravana. She was the reason that Sita was parted way from her husband. And here she lay in front of her, more aggrieved than ever. Sita empathised with her, explained to her that no punishment is ever enough. She has seen the sons of Dushrata suffer ever since she was disfigured by them. But yet her heart knows no bounds for vengeance; none of which seems to bring her any peace, any calm.
Sita reasoned her that this reprisal would lead to the downfall of entire demon empire raised by Surpanakha’s brothers and son. But still no assurances are contracted that she would be forsaken of her disdain. She will have to let her sorrows go free,alleviate her mind from the opprobrium. She is the one who can set herself free. Free from the hassles of apologies and punishments.
Surpanakha glanced in the hopeful eyes of princes from Mithila and took her hand. There will be a day when Lanka will be destroyed, for one of them and because one of them; but that day is not today. Today is the day for these abandoned alluring princess to find companionship in each other from desolation to determination.
Comments