Seeta

The night was starry. Seeta was awake. Her bridal attire was partly replaced by some comfortable and simple garments. Her companions had just left. She was alone , waiting in the lamplight, surrounded by the fragrance of flowers. 

The moments of anxiety seemed to belong to some ancient past. Now she was going to live with Rama for eternity.

After the wedding when she had bowed down to touch Shatananda's feet he had placed his hand in blessing on her head and said, "The man you are going to live with is no less than god. But when god's feet touch this earth, the veil of Maya envelops his divinity, and god himself must forget his god-hood and let Maya make him tread his human path. God's path in this world is not without ordeals. Give him strength; do not obstruct him on his path. Obey his word and however intractable his words, gestures and actions may seem to you, do not lose your faith in him. Remember, penitence may satisfy a human, but a god does not forgive without penance. So take care not to fall in the eyes of god."

Just then, there was a gust of wind with a drizzle. A few raindrops swept in and fell on Seeta and Shatananda.

Seeta carried in her heart the memory of Shatananda's words and the drizzle which accompanied them. 

The Night

Rama entered.

Seeta lifted her eyes to look at him. She noticed nothing except the profound serenity that surrounded him. It was like looking at the blueness of the sky without being able to distinguish the sky and its blueness. 

Rama stepped forward and took her in his arms. She was his. He had known her always. They were meeting each other after a long absence.

The daughter fo earth was united with her ascetic god.