Ravan The Wronged Ram

By Kavita Chavda

“Papa, why would you do this to me?” she asked with her little eyes wondering wide “What’s my fault that I cannot go to school anymore?”

Her questions were followed by a deep silence. Ram opened the cooker to find overcooked rice and turned to his little girl “I told you 3 whistles. Not more than that. You always forget yeah”

“That’s not the answer of my question” She said as he prepared plates for them. They ate in silence and she made her way to veranda to wash dishes. Ram hung his shirt to the old hook that he and his wife had painted when they shifted in the chawl.

Rita was a simple girl with little dreams and Ram was a loving man who nurtured her every dream. Ram was a very responsible person as life hit him hard with tragedies when he was six and his mother, only parent, died in the chaos. It was Rita through whom he connected to the innocence of life again and his hardships were softened since she entered his life. They made two babies together, both daughters.

Ram reminisced the good old times with Rita and Kavya, their elder daughter where they would paint little things and corners of their box sized chawl, made colorful curtains to cover the corner where they kept their clothes to give it a feel of almirah that they couldn’t afford, how they ate full some days of the month together and once in every month he would treat his wife and daughters with their favourite chaat because it was all he can afford. He was a hero in their eyes.

“Papa, did you take your medicine?” Arya’s question banged his world of memories to reality. He kept the family photograph aside and asked her to come to his lap. Arya ran towards him and climbed to his lap with her little legs. She noticed the family photo. “Why don’t we hang it to the wall. I’ve got cello tape, Wait.” She ran to find the tape and fixed the photo on the wall that faced entrance. “Wouldn’t mummy and kavya di be so happy when they come from nani’s place?” she asked jumping with excitement.

Ram held her close and said it is time for her to sleep. She asked again, “You are taking me to school tomorrow, right?” After a period of silence, shorter than previous times he answered, “I am taking you to a happy place tomorrow where you wouldn’t have to ask any question again in life” “Really!” she exclaimed, “Are we going without Kavya di and mummy? Kavya will fight with me papa if we go without her.”

“Shh. Nobody will tell you anything. Sleep now. Good Night.” He patted her back as he lied next to her.

Next morning was a big day for Ram. He brought his younger daughter a dress worth the price that he would hardly earn in a month. He spent all his saving to buy some necessary stuff for her and packed her bag. “Papa, I look like a fairy in this dress. I miss mummy. She would be so happy and tie me ponies, apply powder to make look fairer and do a ‘kala tika’ with her colossal. Kavya would be so jealous. Have you got one for her too?” she asked in one breath as she jumped with excitement. Ram picked her bags, locked the doors and started his journey towards something that he had in mind.

They arrived at a big bungalow that had a park with all the rides Arya would love to experience. It was a huge orphanage with 50+ rooms and 20+ caretakers, teachers and a head that informed Ram about this opportunity for Arya’s better future as a rich and childless couple who wanted to adopt her.

“Oh, you are finally here. Omg, look at you Arya. You look like a princess.” Sudhir, the head of orphanage, complimented as he welcomed them. Arya chuckled. “You will not regret this decision Ram. Remember my words. I’ve known that couple since many years and even Arya is so friendly with the aunty, now her new mom. Being principal of her school at such a young age, this man has earned some real dignity in his life. All he yearns for is a child and they love Arya. They know her well as they have been there with her in school. Also, her new mom is going to be her teacher and daddy, principal. I understand it wouldn’t be easy decision. Most of all, they are ready to help you.” he cupped Ram’s hand as he continued, “But this is meant for Arya’s highest good after whatever happened with Kavya.”

“I agree. Thank you. Please do not forget about the agreement that states me and Arya are not related in any way” Ram said in a low voice. He struggled to cross the orphanage’s door with her little sweetheart screaming and crying out his name. He hated himself as a father that day. But it was the best he could do to save her. “I am free to finish the job I wanted to since always” he murmured to himself as his tears of separation and disgust for himself dried.

*Two weeks later*

Police found a dead body of the murdered Master where Ram worked. It was later discovered that Ram was the culprit. When police set out to find Ram, they found his dead body with a torn photograph in his hand that had him, his wife and Kavya. The case was closed.

Master was accused of death out of raping a young girl and murder of the mother who tried to save her daughter. An advocate was accused of brutally denying a pleading man who fell in his feet for justice against a higher community of society. A gram panchayat was accused of declaring cases of murder and rape as unimportant because it associated with a minor community.

Casteism based society turned a Ram into Ravan, accused of murder and suicide. Ram laid under this societal image with his desire of leading a loving and peaceful life, he was lifetime deprived of, with his family, providing best possible life to his wife and daughters and continue being Ram, the hero of family.

By Kavita Chavda