The venue: Somewhere in the Universe.
The scene: Two beautiful ladies dressed in traditional Indian clothes and bedecked with jewels. They are reclining on silken cushions and are in conversation.
Dee: (Sighs) I had thought things would have changed by now!
Ess: So, did I! (sighs too)
Dee: We lived in an era where our freedom was respected. But our stories have been coloured by perspectives down the ages.
Ess: True Sister, the very acts of defying customs and being vociferous, in forcing people to reflect not only brought out the best, but more often the worst in men!
Dee: We have so much in common…
Ess; Ha ha! Yes, no natural births for us, to begin with.
Dee: Perfect way to foreshadow, the unnatural status and lives we would lead, I guess!
Ess: But our strength was not limited just to the body, but stretched to our minds…
Dee: You lifted the bow of Shiva, Pinaka when a mere girl… I too never miss lifting the gada. A healthy mind after all lives in a healthy body.
Ess: Ha ha ha! That was erroneously done, but my father Janak witnessed it. In a way it was prophetic, he could then use it to measure the strength of my prospective life partner, who would have to be equally strong. I cant imagine how women survive in relationships where the men are not able to have a healthy conversation with their wives, leave alone stimulating or intellectually stifling!
Dee: Ask me! Once my husbands realised that I not only knew the scriptures, but understood and had analysed them too, they would keep me busy with managing the household and taking care of guests be it in the palace or in the woods.
Ess: That was a path breaking move- to make a woman polyandrous, that too advocated by another woman, knowingly or unknowingly… I thought you were moving ahead of your times and many taboos would be broken. The equality between men and women would be acknowledged and practiced.
Dee: But you can see how it was dashed… even before it could see the light of day. The nature of men has changed little!
Ess: Some have emulated the strength of our minds, being successful single mothers like me. They are also seen adjusting to the changed circumstances like both of us and keeping the family their top priority, for they have understood that the family is the building block of the society. And it is a woman who is a nurturer, it being her inherent shakti.
Dee: Agree! Being able to debate is an essential requirement of a civilized nation. And I am glad I could exercise that at my home and in public. And so did you… after all your husband was the Monarch who would always heed your advice. That’s an awesome example you set for married couples.
Ess: That lasted only till he rescued me! Then he started pandering to gossip and gossipmongers… I guess it was a tragic flaw that made him humane.
Dee: Life must have been terrible for you in captivity!
Ess: I saw it as a time for deeper penance and spirituality. None could come close to me physically… I could have escaped with that monkey of his messenger, but I too have my dignity. It was his duty to escort me back home. And this was a chance for him to prove his undying love for me, as he professed.
Dee: I understand, having to fend off the feeling of humiliation when a man looks at you lustfully, making you feel sullied…. Do men have such feelings too? I wonder!
Having loved one from the bottom of my heart, it was an immense realization that I was loved by another, not the one I yearned for. Thus, I pined away for one … not having the joy of receiving the love of my lover! Lucky was I to have been enriched with divine love, which served as my anchor and my rudder.
Ess: But Dee what about our daughters down there? Do you think life will change for them? Will it become better?
Dee: I see strong women willing to be a support to one another! I have hope!
Thus Draupadi and Sita carried on with their chat as they played chaupar and sipped their somras.
Author’s notes:
Ess: Sita
Dee: Draupadi
Chaupar: Ancient game played in India
Somras: A drink for the Gods and Goddesses
