Story: Bachelor in Paradise (Indian Edition)

(Bachelor in Paradise)

Sita walks down the steps and the four people greet her. She's wearing a baby pink skin-tight dress, that has spaghetti straps and a low-cut V down the front. It's adorned with iridescent sequins on both sides. Her hair is done up in giant braids all over her head and she's wearing the most beautiful smile. Rama is the first to greet her, beyond elated as he was hoping she would be on the show as well. They had history together previously and had broken it off because it just "wasn't the right time," though neither would admit it to the other they are still madly in love. Lakshamana, Rama's brother, is there as well as Mareecha and Ravana. The men are more than happy to see a woman- their first chance at love in paradise. But they all knew of Rama and Sita's previous relationship so this put a damper on things. Lakshamana would never dare try to come on to Sita, though, since he knows the love his brother Rama has for her. As for Ravana and Mareecha, neither one is fond of Rama, so winning over Sita's heart is at the top of their list. 

After dinner Ravana and Mareecha (Ravana's sidekick if you will) are having some whiskey on the beach. 

"Did you see Sita when she walked in tonight?" Ravana says while watching the waves crash on the shore. 

"Yeah, dude, she's a stunner," Mareecha replies.

"I know that her and Rama have history, but I'm gonna try to win her over- it shouldn't be too difficult."  

Mareecha suddenly has a bright idea. "I could invite Rama to a game of pool and you could steal Sita away for a drink?" 

Ravana's in love with this plan and wishes to execute it immediately. 

They find Sita, Rama and Lakshamana in the hot tub chatting. 

"We were wondering if you all would like to join us for a game of pool?" Mareecha asks. 

"Sure!" Rama says as he steps out of the tub and helps Sita out. 

It's at this moment Soorpanaka walks in. She's breathtaking, wearing a deep green off the shoulder dress with huge blue jewels hanging around her neck that match the color of her eyes. Soorpanaka's Ravana's sister.

 "Ayyyyyyy sis!!!" Ravana runs up to her and embraces her in a bear hug. "My little sis isn't allowed to look this beautiful." 

She laughs, punching him in the arm. "Oh quit!!" That is when she saw Rama for the first time. She's stricken with love in that very moment. She whispers to Ravana, "Who is that?" 

"Oh, Rama? He's in love with Sita, not even worth a second glance." 

"And I'm assuming Sita would be the woman whose hand he's holding?" 

"Yes, she arrived this morning and I am determined to be with her." 

Soorpanaka giggles. "Oh and you're telling me I have no chance with Rama? Let's tag team them and get what we want."

Ravana prances up to Sita and asks if she'd like to have a drink with him. Seeing no harm in a drink, she agrees. They stroll along the beach, watching the crabs walk across the sand and dart back into the sea.

 "So you and Rama... is that still a thing? Have you all seen anyone else since each other?" 

Sita pauses. "I don't know, it's all been so complicated. I truly care for him but it's hard when it just doesn't feel like the time is right for us. Have you ever experienced that?" 

Ravana manages to let out a sigh. "Yes, unfortunately, I have been there. It's just so hard to know what your heart desires but to feel like you can't have it. I'm sorry you're going through that." 

"Yes, exactly! I am so glad you get me! It's just been so hard." Sita shakes her head. 

Ravana, getting a bit too hopeful at this moment, thinks he's winning her over with his completely relatable story, and confidently blurts... "Well, whenever you think you're ready to move on, I'll be here waiting." 

Sita immediately realizes what's happened and sets Ravana straight, "Oh no, I'm sorry, Rav, but I love Rama. I only came here for another chance with him." 

Ravana, in attempting to not to let his anger show through,  smiles. "I completely understand and only want what's best for you!"

Meanwhile, it's obvious to Mareecha and Lakshamana that Soorpanaka is flirting with Rama but he seems not to notice. Probably because he's lost in daydreams of Sita. 

"What do you do for fun? Probably work out all the time," she says as she grabs his biceps and laughs. "You're so buff!" 

Rama chuckles. "I do hit the gym every week but I also love hunting." 

"Ohhh I love venison! Can you cook me up some sometime?" she says adoringly. Here comes Sita, gliding in and ruining everything. Rama's face lights up as she walks over and sits on his lap. He wraps his arms around her. 

Soorpanaka smiles at Ravana, "Don't they make such a lovely couple?" 

***

As the days pass Soorpanaka and Ravana watch the ones they love fall deeper and deeper in love with one another. Time crawls by but Soorpanaka and Ravana are too fixated on Rama and Sita to give anyone else a chance. At the Rose Ceremony on the fifth night, it's the ladies' turn to give roses out to the men they want to keep in paradise. 

Soorpanaka's called first. In her last try to win over Rama, she calls his name. "Rama, will you accept this rose?" 

He shakes his head and says, "I'm sorry, Soorpanaka, but I can't take this rose from you- I love Sita." 

Soorpanaka's enraged and throws the rose down and runs off crying. Because Soorpanaka offered her rose to Rama, no one received her rose. Therefore not only she but Ravana and Mareecha must leave as well. They're all livid and leave without love. But as for Rama and Sita they found love before paradise and were able to rekindle that flame thanks to the show. 

Bibliography

Narayan's Ramayana, link to Reading Guide A.

Author's Note:

I don't know if any of you have watched the show Bachelor in Paradise but when I read of this love square in the Ramayana I immediately thought of the show. The show is a spin-off from The Bachelor/Bachelorette. And if you've never seen THAT, well, basically one person goes on the show to meet about 25 other people and at the end of the show they pick one to marry. Kinda crazy, right, but entertaining- for sure! There is always so much drama with someone liking who someone else likes, or someone else asking someone on a date who's already in a relationship with someone else. When I read this part of the Ramayana, Bachelor in Paradise immediately came to my mind! So, I had to switch it up and pretend they were a part of paradise. If you haven't seen the show you should totally watch it sometime! It is so entertaining, dumb- but entertaining. I thought that this would be a fun addition to my portfolio. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Soorpanaka wasn't brutally beaten by Lakshama as in the epic so it's definitely not as gruesome. I think that it turned out pretty comical and that is what I was aiming for! 

Reading Notes: The Ramayana- Part C

There was a great story in the chapter Vali. It told of the misunderstandings between two brothers Vali and Sugreeva- monkeys. They were not typical monkeys though, they knew right from wrong so they were not just animals. And Vali was blessed by Shiva with unlimited strenght. In Vali's fight with Mayavi he had disappeared and upon his return had mistaken Sugreeva's actions to find Vali and make sure he was okay. Vali brutally beat his brother causing him to run away and then stealing his wife. Sugreeva asked for Rama's help to defeat his brother. I think that this could become such an interesting story. Brother's are always fighting I could turn this into a less serious quarrel between young kids. I liked this chapter because in the end Vali was able to realize what he had done and was able to be forgiven for his actions. Rama treated him as more than a monkey and he was honored because of it!

(Rama, Sugreeva and Vali)

Bibliography

Narayan's Ramayana, link to Reading Guide A.

Reading Notes: The Ramayana- Part B

I absolutely loved these two chapters. In the first, Encounters In Exile- I was so intrigued by Kamavalli's (Soorpanka) determination to be with Rama. She was described with so much beauty and captivating qualities that I was sure there had to be a catch somewhere. And then once she did not have her way with Rama and was all sliced up by Lakshmana she proceeded to go to her brother Ravana for help. I found it interesting though, that she turned the story all around to make it appear that she had seen Sita and wanted her for her brother. This was very clever of Soorpanka- since she didn't want to reveal to her brother her real emotions towards Rama since Rama was out to kill all of them. One of my favourite parts was when Mareecha morphed into a golden deer with hooves adorned with jewels. The imagery in this part of the book was off the charts. (And I am a sucker for imagery because it really pulls me into a story.) Rama, so love stricken for Sita- obeys her wish you retrieve the animal for her. And as we know, this is only a ploy to get Sita alone so that Ravana can take her, as he is stricken with love for her. All the while this entire plan was set up by Soorpanka who is madly and desperately in love with Rama. Whew, what a love square we have going on here!!

I think I have an abundance of info here to use for my story for this week. I could twist and manipulate the plot in countless ways to really be able to make it my own. I could make it more modern and have them all go to a counseling session- as I have seen other students do in some of their stories. I could maybe pretend they're all celebrities and then have them on a talk show like Ellen. Or even better, have you ever heard of Bachelor In Paradise? It's a show based on The Bachelor/Bachelorette where all these singles go to paradise to find love and there's always a ton of drama. I could put them in that type of setting and really be able to run with it I think. The possibilities are really endless and I can't wait to see what I can conjure up this week!!

(Ravana vs. Jatayu)

Bibliography 

Narayan's Ramayana, link to Reading Guide A.