Week 3 Story: The Chase

*This story has now been updated and moved to my portfolio project. Click here to view the updated version. 

Rama had grown exhausted of chasing something that seemed so out of his reach. The dragonfly zoomed in front of his face and spun around his head. Rama swatted at the bug furiously and quickly. The dragonfly continued to taunt Rama as he flew away, forcing Rama to collect himself for another physical run after this creature.

The dragonfly was actually Maricha, and he was truly giving Rama a run for his money in this form. Although very in his face and visible, his form made him nearly impossible to catch. 

Rama was chasing Maricha with a bow and arrow, which simply made him laugh. 

"How would Rama catch something so tiny with a weapon so large?" Maricha wondered as he zoomed around Rama and then away from him once again. He felt smart for picking such a hard animal to catch, while he was in this form.

Rama grew exhausted and stopped, while laying the bow down. 

"He finally gave up." Maricha thought.

However, he was wrong. Rama picked up the bow slowly and attempted to make one last show with the final arrow he had. 

As Rama pierced the dragonfly, he screamed out, but in Rama's voice. 

This sharp sound of distress from what seemed to be Rama alerted Sita right away. She altered Lakshmana of what she thought had happened to Rama. However, Lakshamana ignored her saying that Rama was untouchable by these rakshasas.

Sita knew what she heard and did not understand why Lakshamana was being so ignorant to the fact that she blatantly heard Rama in pain. She accused Lakshamana of being cold. 

"You simply do not understand that I cannot live without Rama." Sita said through tears. Sita knew what she heard and did not care what anyone else thought. Rama meant everything to her and she was going to make sure that he was safe.

"Dragonfly"
Source: Wikimedia

Author's Note: The original story of The Chase revolves around Rama chasing after a golden deer, who is actually the rakshasa, Maricha. I have overall altered the story by changing the deer to a dragonfly, creating more suspense and a harder chase. Rama is chasing this deer through the forest and attempting to capture it. Maricha is able to imitate Rama's voice in order to greatly anger him and confuse him, as Rama is attempting to hit the deer with an arrow. However, he is able to kill the animal and reveal what is truly happening. When Sita heard the voice of who she thought was Rama, she was able to get the assistance of Lakshamana to assist her. This is where Lakshamana and Sita argue about the significance of Rama in their lives and how he should be protected. Lakshamana tries to explain to Sita that Rama cannot be harmed by rakshas's, but Sita does not believe him. Sita ends with telling of how she cannot live without Rama.

Bibliography: "The Chase" by Mackenzie from the Ramayana Online: Public Domain Edition