Life had fallen into a predictable pattern. Ram and Sita liked to go to the Godavari banks in the early morning hours to bathe and share some private time together. Their favourite time of the day.
This was one such day. They had washed their hair the previous day. There was no need to wash it again. They had tied it up in a bun while bathing. After their bath in the clear waters of the river, they sat on the banks eating a repast of fresh berries and fruit.
Ram lay with his head on Sita’s lap. She was playing with his hair. Her fingers got stuck in a knot. She gently tried to ease it out and untangle the hair. Ram protested mildly, but the hair came loose easily, without any need to yank it.
Sita smiled. ‘See, I can do it gently as well.’
Ram laughed. ‘Sometimes …’
Ram ran his hand through Sita’s hair. It hung loose over her shoulder, down to where his head lay on her lap. ‘I am bored with your ponytail.’
Sita shrugged. ‘It’s up to you to tie some other knot. It’s open now …’
‘I’ll do that,’ said Ram, holding Sita’s hand and looking lazily towards the river. ‘But later. When we get up.’
Sita smiled and continued to ruffle Ram’s hair. ‘Ram …’
‘Hmm?’
‘I need to tell you something.’
‘What?’
‘About our conversation yesterday.’
Ram turned towards Sita. ‘I was wondering when you would bring that up.’
Sita and Ram had spoken about many things the previous day. Most importantly, of Vashishtha’s belief that Ram would be the next Vishnu. Ram had then asked who Sita’s guru was. But Sita had sidestepped the answer.
‘There should be no secrets in a marriage. I should tell you who my guru is. Or was.’
Ram looked directly into Sita’s eyes. ‘Guru Vishwamitra.’
Sita was shocked. Her eyes gave it away. Ram had guessed correctly.
Ram smiled. ‘I’m not blind, you know. Only a favourite student could get away with saying the kind of things that you had said to Guru Vishwamitra in my presence that day in Mithila.’
‘Then why didn’t you say anything?’
‘I was waiting for you to trust me enough to tell me.’
‘I have always trusted you, Ram.’
‘Yes, but only as a wife. Some secrets are too big even for a marriage. I know who the Malayaputras are. I know what your being Guru Vishwamitra’s favourite disciple means.’
Sita sighed, ‘It was silly of me to wait for so long. Passage of time makes a simple conversation more complicated than necessary. I probably should not have listened to …’
‘That’s water under the bridge.’ Ram sat up and moved close to Sita. He held her hands and said, ‘Now, tell me.’
Sita took a deep breath. Nervous for some reason. ‘The Malayaputras believe I am their Vishnu.’
Ram smiled and looked directly into Sita’s eyes, with respect. ‘I have known you for years. Heard so many of your ideas. You will make a great Vishnu. I will be proud to follow you.’
‘Don’t follow. Partner.’
Ram frowned.
‘Why can’t there be two Vishnus? If we work together, we can end this stupid fight between the Malayaputras and Vayuputras. We can all work together and set India on a new path.’
‘I’m not sure it is allowed, Sita. A Vishnu cannot begin her journey by breaking the law. I will follow you.’
‘There is no rule that dictates that there can be just one Vishnu.’
‘Umm …’
‘I know, Ram. There is no such rule. Trust me.’
‘All right, assuming there isn’t, you and I can certainly work together. I’m sure that even the Malayaputras and Vayuputras can learn to work together. But what about Guru Vashishtha and Guru Vishwamitra? Their enmity runs deep. And the Malayaputras will still have to acknowledge me. With things between our gurus being the way they are …’
‘We’ll handle that,’ said Sita, as she inched close to Ram and embraced him. ‘I’m sorry I didn’t tell you for so long.’
‘I thought you would tell me yesterday, when you were tying my hair. That’s why I touched your cheeks and waited. But I guess you weren’t ready …’
‘You know, Guru Vashishtha believes …’
‘Sita, Guru Vashishtha is just like Guru Vishwamitra. He is brilliant. But he is human. He can sometimes read situations incorrectly. I may be a devotee of the law, but I am not an idiot.’
Sita laughed. ‘I’m sorry I didn’t trust you earlier.’
Ram smiled. ‘Yes. You should be. And remember, we are married. So, I can use this against you anytime in the future.’
Sita burst into peals of laughter and hit her husband’s shoulder playfully. Ram held her hands, pulled her close and kissed her. They held each other in companionable silence. Looking at the Godavari.
‘What do we do for now?’ asked Sita.
‘There’s nothing to do till our exile is over. We can just prepare …’
‘Guru Vashishtha has accepted me. So, I don’t think he will have a problem with our partnership.’
‘But Guru Vishwamitra … He’ll not accept me.’
‘You don’t hold anything against him? For what he did in Mithila?’
‘He was trying to save his Vishnu. His life’s work. He was working for the good of our motherland. I’m not saying I condone his cavalier attitude towards the daivi astras. But I understand where he was coming from.’
‘So, we don’t tell the Malayaputras anything about what we have decided for now?’
‘No. In fact, I’m not even sure we can tell the Vayuputras for now … Let’s wait.’
‘There is one Vayuputra we can tell.’
‘How do you know any Vayuputra? Guru Vashishtha had consistently refused to introduce me to any of them till I was accepted by all as a Vishnu. It could have caused problems.’
‘I wasn’t introduced to him by Guru Vashishtha either! I got to know him through sheer good fortune. I met him through a friend at my gurukul. I believe he can advise and help us.’
‘Who is he?’
‘He is Radhika’s cousin.’
‘Radhika! Bharat’s Radhika?’
Sita smiled sadly. ‘Yes …’
‘You know Bharat still loves her, right?’
‘I have heard … But …’
‘Yes, the law in her tribe … I had told Bharat to not pursue her …’
Sita knew Radhika’s reasoning was different. But there was no point in revealing that to Ram. It was water under the bridge.
‘What is her brother’s name? The Vayuputra?’
‘Hanu bhaiya.’
‘Hanu bhaiya?’
‘That’s what I call him. The world knows him as Lord Hanuman.’
Hanuman smiled, folded his hands together and bowed his head. ‘I bow to the Vishnu, Lady Sita. I bow to the Vishnu, Lord Ram.’
Ram and Sita looked at each other, embarrassed.
Sita and Ram had told Lakshman and the Malayaputras that they were going on a hunt. They had, instead, stolen away to a clearing at least a half-day away. They had taken a boat ride downstream on the Godavari, where Hanuman was waiting for them. Sita had introduced Ram to Hanuman. And told him of their decision. Hanuman seemed to accept the decision very easily. Even welcoming it.