True Love Wins...

Ramu sulked. He was now feeling very hungry as he had not eaten for long. Much against his wishes he once again went and sat in the corner. The ants were always there, keeping him company, ever on the lookout for the fallen crumbs from his food. Now even they were starving. He was now suddenly feeling cold. The winter was ruthlessly severe this time and added to that the hunger pangs together made him feel weak and bitter. Oh how he missed his family. And all the joyful time he had ….the total freedom.

It was during those days that he had first seen her. He was instantly attracted to her. Her gait and the way she moved fascinated him. He was spellbound and completely drawn to her. So engrossed he was in her that he had forgotten his own folks and had just followed her, wanting to spend all his time with her. They made a wonderful pair. There was something about her that magnetized others to her. When she walked she literally danced. She had complete grace. And it was this that landed her in trouble.

They wanted her to dance for them. She tried to run away but these men were powerful. They were many and well prepared and planned. Ramu had come between her and them fighting with all his might to fend them off. But some of them were menacingly huge and big . He found it difficult to fight them. Soon they overpowered him, then bound and tied. He tried as much as he could, but he was not able to even budge. All he could do was make loud noise but there was nobody to help them.

These men then made her dance. To their tune. They had made her wear a dress shining and glittery and she looked extremely beautiful to Ramu then. He kept looking at her in awe, but soon his gaze moved to her eyes . And how contrast it was to see it filled with sorrow . Her face reflected her eyes as they mourned. What else could she do in the hands of such men. He felt his body raging with anger but he was the most helpless then, all tied up.

Now as he continued to sit in the corner , moaning , the dark night outside passed by soon broken by the first rays of another sunrise. Not much later the men came in and gave Ramu the same food he had been forced to eat so often . Although he now behaved much better , they did not allow him to move freely .

Soon they came and took him, holding him by his hands. They could never trust him. He knew where they were going. It had become a ritual for them. Once again all the people will come and she had to dance to please. How horrible. But Sita did dance to appease. Yes, Sita, that was how they called out to her as he was called Ramu.

Now as Ramu walked he saw the same big audience waiting . How he hated them. As he neared he saw that Sita was standing all alone. . She looked very sad and lifeless. As he neared her he gave her a prod , a sign to follow and together they ran. They had never run like this before. He heard the men shouting and coming after them. But he knew they could never beat them in running. The place was now very familiar to them both and soon they were jumping over the fence.

As they escaped, Ramu kept looking for a secluded place, but there were none. Everywhere there was crowd, people all around , and extremely noisy . He hated and feared this. So much different from his home place. He missed it now more than ever.

Fearing more danger outside than within the walls they kept running for their life. Some time they stopped to catch up their breath and at other times they took a break to quench their thirst with water, whichever source they could get it from.

It was by sunset that they stopped. They could see the landscape changing. Now they were in an area of their liking…resembling their home place. Very calm and serene backed by the constant chirping of the birds. Feeling highly elated and with renewed vigor they danced jumping up and down. Then taking Sitas hand Ramu guided her and up they went . As they sat next to each other Ramu plucked a fruit and chewed. He then looked at Sita with eyes anointed with love and plucked a fruit for her. Then holding her hand together they swung from one tree to the other chattering and screeching, like a perfect chimp couple. Away from the world of Circus and Humans.

Back in their own world. Just the two of them. Like good old days….