Sita's Rebellion

(Rama, Sita, Lava and Kusa)

The gossip was always high here, but Rama and Sita were the talk of the town. Since Rama is the one in power, he and Sita had eyes on them at all times. When they were out amongst their people the whispers echoed around them. Not to mention the eyes that darted their way. It's like people had nothing better to do. 

"I'm not like Rama.  I won't take back someone who's slept in another man's house."

"Sita is definitely impure if she spent any amount of time with Ravana. How does Rama even look at her?"

"I don't care if Sita has "proven" her purity to Rama. I don't buy it."

It's like no one had heard of grace! No one had heard of love! The accusations don't bother Sita one bit. She knew she was pure. Rama, however, couldn't shake feeling guilty for taking her back.

Sita and Rama were celebrating their exciting news, Sita's pregnancy, but Rama just wasn't acting like himself. 

He kissed his wife. "Let's go on a trip to celebrate!"

"But we just got here? You already want to leave?" she asked. 

"Yes, pack your bags!" Rama said in the most enthusiastic tone. Sita smiled at her husband and rushed to their room to gather her things. 

"Lakshamana, my subjects think less of me for accepting Sita after being with Ravana. I cannot rule without their support. Take Sita with you to the forest and leave her." Sita returned in record time. She had her bags in her hand and was ready to go.

"I have a few things to address here. You and Lakshamana go ahead and head to the forest! I'll catch up with you two in a bit," Rama said as they were leaving.

Sita, thinking she, Lakshamana, and Rama are just going for a day in the forest, happily accompanied Lakshamana. She loved the peace and quiet of the forest. It's always been one of the best escapes from everyday life and after her time with Ravana, she needed this!

They arrive in the forest and Sita soon realized this isn't a day trip. Lakshamana explained Rama's wishes to Sita and she fell to her knees sobbing.

"Why, Rama, why? I have proven my purity to you and yet you still question me? I will spend all my days loving you, I will never love another man but you. Oh, please Lakshamana, take me back with you!"

Lakshamana shook his head at Sita. "I am sorry. I have to honor my brothers wishes."

In the days that passed, Sita doesn't move an inch. She just cried and cried and cried, every single day. One day she met Valmiki. Luckily for her, she doesn't have to live in exile alone. Soon she had two beautiful twin boys, Lava and Kusa, to raise. Valmiki taught them of their father, and they learned to love him. Meanwhile, Sita grew stronger and stronger. Rama abandoned her at the worst time. He wasn't even there for the birth of their sons! How could he? 

One day, while Lava and Kusa are singing a song about Rama, Rama hears them and becomes curious. He learns it is his son's voices from the forest. He was eager to finally meet his sons so he left to bring them home with him.

 Rama arrives and falls in love immediately at the sight of his two sons. 

"Sita, our sons, they are perfect! You have done such a wonderful job raising them. It is time you and the boys come back home with me." 

Sita stares at him blankly. 

"Father, Father, we have heard so much about you! Have you finally come for us? We wish to be strong like you one day!" The boys were running circles around Rama, excited to meet their famously strong dad. 

"I have told the boys this day would come. I told them I would support their decision either way," Sita said.

Rama looks at her puzzled. "What do you mean, "their decision"?"

Sita looks him dead in the eyes, confident in her decision. "I am not coming home with you, Rama."

Rama's mouth drops in shock. "I knew eventually you wouldn't be able to lie any longer."

"What are you talking about, Rama? Is this about my purity again? "She begins to raise her voice.

"Yes, Sita. How can it be that Ravana never laid a hand on you?"

"You won't ever believe me Rama. This is why I can no longer be your wife. I have never loved another man as I've loved you and not once have you ever had my back!" Sita is now screaming through her tears.

"So be it, I don't need you to rule," Rama's pride yells back at Sita.

She wipes her tears from her face. "Boys, what have you decided?"

Lava and Kusha look up at their mother, then over to their father, then back to their mother. 

Lava speaks first. "We both want to know our father. But our loyalty is to you, mother. You have raised us to be who we are today. So we have decided to stay with you. We could not leave your side." 

Sita kneels down and hugs her boys. "I am so proud of the both of you."

Rama is standing there, astounded. He came to bring back his family and will be leaving alone. He could never have foreseen this. 

"Thank you, Rama, for coming back for us. But it looks like we are perfectly happy here in the forest."

Rama ruled for twenty more years while Sita, Lava and Kusha spent their days in the forest. The day finally came for Rama to step down. Lava would be the heir to the throne. He ruled with Sita and Kusa by his side. And the very first thing Sita did with her acquired power was banish Rama to the forest. 

Rama lived out his days alone, surrounded by trees and wilderness in the forest. While the family he created lived a life of luxury and happiness without him.

Author's Note:

As I'm sure many of us were, I was tired of Rama not trusting Sita. She was kidnapped by a scary man. Please tell me how any of that was her fault? He questioned her purity over and over again and no matter what she did, it was simply never enough for him. I thought it was CRAZY that he banished Sita to the forest simply because his subject didn't approve of his decision to take Sita back. If the love he felt for Sita was real, he would have chosen her over being the ruler. In this story I wanted to empower Sita to break free from Rama.  I wanted Rama to suffer in the same way he made Sita suffer. And while he may not have shown his pain, you know that watching his family walk away from him crushed him. I also loved the picture I chose because it shows the boys loving on Sita and Rama just in the background almost waving "bye". It was too perfect for my story!

Bibliography: 

Bibliography: 

Sita Sings the Blues 2008

Nina Paley