The New Story of Thatarka

Hello World!!

We had all heard of Thataka's story. We all knew not to cross into the region where she lived, but ever since I had been a little boy I had wanted to do nothing else. Something inside of me pulled me towards her. Something unknown. I had grown up in the world without any family, but was thankful to Saint Agasthya for taking me in when no one else would. He had taught me many valuable lessons of kindness, hope, and faith. Most importantly, however, he had taught me to listen to my heart, and my heart was telling me that I needed to go see Thataka.

I thought back to the dreams I had been having since I was little. The one with the three men who went about destroying things. One of the men looked older than the other two. Perhaps they were related to each other? Family? Who were these people? Why were they destroying everything in their path? I remember the shock on Saint Agasthya's face when I had asked him. I remember telling him I felt like I knew them. The man in particular. Every time it was the same thing, "It is all in your mind Aditya," he always said to me. I knew that it wasn't, and I needed answers, and something kept telling me that Thataka is the only way I would get them. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. The older man appeared in front of me. There was a woman with him. She was crying. She held out her hand to the old man.  My eyes snapped open immediately. The woman. She was in pain. I needed to help her. Maybe then I would be able to find my own answers. I needed to find her.  I sprinted to the Saint's room to seek his permission. 

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I was incredibly surprised that all Saint Agasthya had asked was if he could come with me. It was almost as if he knew something I didn't. I was surprised by the desert around me. I had expected it to look as it did in my dreams. The beautiful flowers and trees, but things were the exact opposite here. Everything encompassing us was dried up and dying. It was unbelievable. I had assumed these were just stories. I thought I wouldn't have found anything. I pulled out the bag of seeds I had brought with me and began to plant them in various places around me. "Child, what are you doing?" asked the Saint. 

"Trying to right was has been wronged," I explained. I walked over to a dead log which looked as though it had been uprooted.  I walked over to it and placed my hand on it. Suddenly I froze. It all came back to me. It was me. That man was me. Those sons were mine, and Thataka... tears began to pour out from my eyes as I dropped to the ground. I sat there on my knees hugging what was left of the log when I felt Saint Agasthya's hand on my head. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I was wrong. So wrong." I wept as he smiled down at me. "I always knew it was you, Sunda. I simply wanted you to learn the error of your ways," he explained. "I can only pray that it isn't too late for Thataka." We both stopped as we heard the stomping of feet. "I wish you the best," he said as he turned to walk away. 

Quote about love, Source: cathy4worldequality.wordpress.com

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 Thataka grabbed me up in her enormous hands and proceeded to lift me to her face. I stared at her in disbelief. "My dear wife, what has become of you?" I said as I bored my eyes into hers. I felt every inch of her freeze. I reached up and put my hand on her cheek. "Please, Please don't continue on like this." Her expression grew softer as she whispered, "Sunda. Is that really you? You're alive?" I nodded at her with a smile as she placed me back on the ground. Her grin grew wider and wider until suddenly it disappeared. "It is too late now. You must leave." she said with a deep pain in her eyes. "It is never too late to apologize, Thataka. You can also learn to change as I have! Just apologize with a clean and pure heart." I replied hopefully. She closed her eyes and bowed her head as she bellowed, "Please forgive me my sins and allow me to start life anew. Please give me a chance to rectify my mistakes. I vow to never hurt anyone or anything again. Just please allow me to live my life with my Sunda." Tears streamed down her face as she opened her eyes. "You are forgiven, my dear," echoed the Saint's voice. I looked over to see my beautiful Thataka once again. She hadn't aged since I last saw her! The curse had frozen the true beauty inside her. The curse that punished her husband through death, and her through pain. The pain of not having any life around. The pain of destroying everything around her as a result of the destruction her husband had once caused.  I ran to her and held her in my embrace. We looked around to see that the Thataka's tears had given water to the seeds, and the saint had enchanted them to grow big and strong. This would a be a new beginning. We would make sure that this time everything we touched was filled with life. 

Author's Note: 
I decided that it would be incredibly interesting if we could see the story from Sunda's point-of-view. I also wanted to give Thataka a chance at redemption as well as a happy ending. I have always believed that love had the power to heal as well as destroy and I wanted my story to demonstrate that. I thought that if her punishment had made her so terrifying and ruthless, then love coming back into her life would allow for her to become loving and caring unlike ever before! I do realize that my story is far from the original and not many people will agree with how there is now a happy ending, however different doesn't always have to be a bad thing! I really enjoy having hope for a new beginning and that is why this story is so close to my heart. I found that Sunda was punished very quickly, and I feel that if he had been given another beginning he would have chosen differently. It amazes me how much we ignore people telling us what we are doing wrong. Constructive criticism can be a good thing if it is taken in good spirit. Sunda had the ability to gain a second chance, but we don't have that ability. I feel that this story is a good reminder that we need to make good decisions and truly listen and be aware of what we are doing. Listen and learn!

Bibliography:
All information has come from Narayan's Ramayana, (link to Reading Guide A)