#indrajit
And…I’m just in the nick of time for Ramayana day for the @hindumythologyevent! Yay! This is the first part of two sequences of drabbles, for an anon.
Tagging the three mods of the event: @1nsaankahanhai-bkr @allegoriesinmediasresand@soniaoutloud
Disclaimer: All of these drabbles are in Indrajit’s PoV, and I’m assuming that the race of the ‘Asuras’ are men, closely related to the race of men on Aryavrata, yet different enough that they are demonised. Hence, they won’t really be very kind to the heroes of the Ramayana. If that offends anyone, kindly forbear from reading. I have not written about the Ramayana before, this is my first try, so kindly be a little indulgent of any flaws in characterisation.
The drabble for ‘Fear’ is based on a scene not found in the BORI CE of the Ramayana, in which Ravana ostensibly calls Indrajit a coward for reporting to him about Indrajit’s weapons failing to kill Lakshman. The bits about Sulochana defying paternal loyalty is something I’m not sure is canon, but I’ve read that Sesha curses Indrajit that he will be killed for marrying his daughter without his permission.
With that and no further ado, here are the drabbles.
1. Favourite colour
Indrajit favours the colours he watched his father drape around his shoulders when he was a child, when father was still father in truth. As his father goes farther and farther from him, he clings to those light, understated colours, to remind himself that this wasn’t always the case, that there was a time before this, a time when father indulged in scholarship rather than conquest, a time of whites and light golds and streaks of silver rather than the garish reds and blacks all around, pricking his eyes wherever he goes.
2. Crossover
Meghnaad smiles at Percy. “Zeus is a bit of an ass, yes.” Percy grins back. “Glad you agree!” He rolls his eyes. “Honestly, this whole mess about the lightning bolt…” Meghnaad nods sympathetically. His formidable power is at his command, if there is any need of an intervention.
3. Fear
Fear is not a word often associated with Indrajit, his prowess renowned in all the three worlds. Yet, standing there in front of Father on the throne, relaying what he had just seen in the battle, the strongest of his astrs refusing to kill that mortal boy, he felt fear, not of death. Death is something that stares him in the face whenever he goes weapon in hand into war. No, his fear is far more visceral.
He looks up at his father, and his fear is made flesh in his father’s contemptuous sneer. He is gone. He is not what I remember. Was he ever the man I remember?
“I see I sired a coward, then.” Indrajit blinks, swallowing back emotion. Was it not I who brought you back, Father? I who defeated the King of the Devas for you? What did I ever do that you doubt me so?
He ignores the realization of his long-held fear, both the disappointment and the loss of his father, and looks him straight in the eye. “I apologise, Father. I will do my duty, and die by it, if need be.”
4. Mythological Creature
Indrajit laughs at the ludicrous claims the bards of the Devas and mortal men make, that the race of Asuras have features twisted beyond redemption, mirroring the evil in their minds. He lets the rumour stand nonetheless. A little element of fear in the enemy is always beneficial, after all.
5. Nature
All denizens of Lanka expected Indrajit to scoff at the rain and lightning. For they were devices of Indra, the King of the Devas he defeated to get his father back.
Yet, as Ravana spirals from who he was, the man Indrajit admired, to become something…not what he was meant to be, Indrajit finds himself staring at the sky, at the bursts of lightning, clearing the stormy grey for one split, incandescent moment, wishing that he, too, could see that clear silver-grey in his mind, see the clarity of thought he chased after.
6. Prophecy
Meghnaad dodges the Vajr, shooting his own illusory weapons at Indra. Armed with his determination, he wastes no time in getting to business. They must be defeated. They have to be. Lanka deserves its King back. I need my father back.
The battle ends with Meghnaad victorious, a new name on Prajapati Brahma’s lips for him. He smiles at his father. You named me well, it seems, Father. Almost a prophecy, that I will lord over the clouds.
7. Religion
Gods,thinks Indrajit, are often more fallible than those who worship them. Even they can be defeated if one is determined enough, skilled enough. Yet, for all that he defeated the Gods handily, Indrajit still goes through the rituals of religion, for something intangible he does not understand, perhaps for an inner calm, an inner strength.
8. Role Model
Meghnaad always wanted to remain true to his own self and to the bonds of blood and loyalty that bound him, to his father, to his people. In his eyes, as he grows, his uncle Vibhishan is a lot of what he aspires to be. Someone who does not hesitate to put forward what he himself feels, yet loyal to Lanka, to their people. Someone who was principled yet one of them. He would spend a lot of time with uncle Vibhishan. As Meghnaad becomes Indrajit, as his reputation becomes something to be feared, oftentimes, he would defend his uncle to his father.
They would share smiles and secrets.
At the end, that only made his uncle’s betrayal all the harder.
9. Scar(s)
To a warrior, physical scars mean little and less. Indrajit cares not for the wounds of the flesh, though he will be thankful that his face remains unblemished. Sulochana loves the contours of his face.
The wounds he shall remember as long as he breathes are the looks of hopelessness in everyone’s eyes when Father was taken captive, Mother’s quiet anguish, the scars on his beloved Lanka after the monkey burns the city as revenge, the scars that Indrajit sets to work putting alright as soon as he could. Even if the city is unblemished once more, mother is smiling again, father is proud of him, for all that he is the feted Prince of the people, Indrajit would never forgive them these scars. Never.
10. Seven Deadly Sins/Seven Cardinal Virtues
Later generations may sully Indrajit’s name and associate what he had with Sulochana to be lust, but both he and his wife know the depth of love they hold for each other. Love strong enough to defy the bonds of paternal loyalty, even.
Later, they would assume Indrajit is loyal to his father for the sake of power, but he cares not for that. He is loyal to his father because that is all he knew. For what his father stands for, in his mind. For that, he is loyal till his last breath.
He is a man, with a man’s emotions, a man’s virtues and a man’s vices, for all that the descendants victors of the war would demonise him and his people, who tried to adhere to what he felt was right.
For@hindumythologyevent, Day 9: Ramayana
Tagging a few mutuals: @chaanv@pratigyakrishnaki@hindumyththoughts@shellweed@vishnupada@medhasree@ambitiousandcunning@shaonharryandpannisim@jigyask
