This is my portfolio for the Indian Epics course. I have had an awesome time exploring different epics and creating my own stories from them. This has really challenged my creativity and it has been something that I have really enjoyed. In my portfolio, no two stories are the same. There really isn't a theme. Each story explores a different epic and tells a different story. I explored a variety of different storytelling styles and learned so much about my writing, while also immersing myself in some Indian culture. I hope you enjoy some of what I came up with!
1. Rama Fights for Sita: This was my first story using an Indian epic. I had a great time using my creativity to come up with a new plot. In this scene, I combined a love story about Rama and Sita with one of my favorite Harry Potter movies. The mashup turned out really intense. I hope you like it!
2. Vali's Revenge: To create this story, I used the scene Sugriva's Story. In this scene, there is a dramatic battle between two brothers who are feuding over a misunderstanding that happened many years ago. For my story, I changed the point of view that the story was told from and also created an alternate ending that I wish would have actually happened!
3. Ms. Diana Trains the Pandra Sisters: For this story, I used an episode from the Epified version of the Mahabharata. In this visual scene, Drona is training the Pandavas and helping them grow their individual talents. In my story, a wise teacher named Ms. Diana helps the Pandra sister refine their skills in the world of design.
4. Kale's Quest: This story was also inspired by an episode from the Epified retelling of the Mahabharata. These visual interpretations have really helped me come up with some new ideas. The scene I used was one where Karna learns that he was found floating down the river in a basket as a child. I used this story to create a tale of a young boy who learns some surprising details of his upbringing. I hope you enjoy!
5. The Humiliation of Draupadi: This story was inspired by the Epified version of the Mahabharata where Yudhishthir loses Draupadi in a gambling match. I wanted to retell the story from Draupadi's point of view to build on the emotion. This story follows the unfortunate scene from her perspective.
6. The Journal of Krishna: For my final story, I decided to try something different! This story follows the scenes of Krishna learning his true destiny in the form of journal entries. The entries reveal some emotions that were not apparent in the original scenes. Read this story to find out how Krishna really feels about the way his life turned out.
Showing posts with label Portfolio. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Portfolio. Show all posts
Friday, December 2, 2016
Wednesday, November 16, 2016
Story: The Journal of Krishna
July 30
Dear Journal,
Dear Journal,
My love for Radha grows stronger each day. She is the most beautiful and wonderful woman I have ever met. I feel that my life is complete now that she is in it. Oh, Journal, I truly cannot picture myself without her. You should see the way her hair shines in the sun and her eyes light up every time she dances. She is a vision of beauty. She truly completes me. It is as if we have become one soul.
-Krishna
August 15
Journal,
I’ve made a decision. My love for Radha is unlike anything I have ever felt before. I have decided that it is time that I make her mine forever. That’s right…I’m going to marry her! As soon as my mother returns, I am going to ask her what she thinks! I am so excited. I know mother will be delighted! I will keep you updated as soon as she says yes!
-Krishna
August 16
Hi Journal…
Hi Journal…
Today I come to you with bad news. It turns out that things did not go as planned. My mother was not as excited as I was just SO SURE she would be. She even got my father involved. He refused as well. I don’t understand how they could refuse that I marry Radha, but they did. I am so offended. There is absolutely nothing wrong with Radha! She is the most perfect person in this world and I will not stop fighting until I marry her!!!
Mother and Father are taking me to see Gargacharya tonight. He is our family priest. I suppose they think that he will talk some sense into me. I’m looking forward to it. Once I tell Gargacharya my side, he will tell my parents how ridiculous they are being. I just know it.
Updates to come.
-Krishna
August 17
Dear Diary,
Dear Diary,
Things could not have gone farther than I predicted. My mother and father’s disagreements had nothing to do with Radha…it was all because of me. Journal, I’m not sure I can put everything I learned into words. My mind is still working to wrap itself around it.
You see, I am not at all the person I thought I was. My parents are of no blood relation to me. I was intentionally switched at birth for my own protection. They tell me that I am the savior of Dharma in this world. It feels strange to even write down. Journal, I am the deliverer that the sages have always talked about. ME. IT’S ME. I feel honored, but also sick. I am supposed to kill Kans, who is apparently my biological uncle. Am I qualified for this? Why me?
I am so connected to the people of my town. I just want to stay here and lead a normal life. More than anything, I want to marry Radha. But I cannot do either of those things. My destiny lies elsewhere. My fears will go no further than the pages of this journal. I am terrified but I will never let the people know. If I am who they say I am, then my people need bravery. I will do whatever I need to do to serve them.
-Krishna (I think)
August 30
Dear Journal,
It’s been a while since we’ve spoke. My life has gone on pretty much the same as before. Nothing much has changed (other than everything I have ever known).
However, today I received a visitor. A man named Akrur came to visit me and invite me to a Bow Ritual organized by Kans. Before I could accept the offer, he began to weep. Confused, I asked him what was wrong.
Akrur informed me that the real intention of the Yajna was to lure me to Mathura so that Kans could kill me. My stomach churned at these words and I knew I must accept. This is the destiny that I must fulfill. Akrur was surprised by my acceptance, but I knew it was what I had to do.
The people around me were shocked by the lack of emotion on my face. Little did they know, I was freaking out inside. Part of me is still upset that all of this happened. And always, a vision of Radha rests on the back of my mind. How could I ever forget her? But regardless of my selfish desires, I will be traveling to Mathura to face Kans. When I close this journal, I will be trapping my fears in the pages. From now on, I will proceed with a brave face and a fearless heart.
This, Journal, is my destiny.
-Krishna
(The journal Krishna uses to reveal his true feelings about his destiny.)
Author's Note: For this story, I was inspired by Episodes 13 and 14 of the Epified version of Krishna. I was also inspired by the work of some of my classmates and the writing techniques they have used. I really enjoyed reading stories that used the letter writing or journal entry styles and I knew that I wanted to try one of my own. I thought that these scenes in Krishna’s life were a perfect opportunity to try one of these styles because he was going through a major change/crisis in his life. In the actual scenes, he put on a very brave face and accepted his fate with no hesitation. I thought that a journal entry would be a great time for him to reveal a little bit more vulnerability. I stuck to the original storyline for the most part, but I told the story completely from Krishna’s point of view in the format of journal entries. I added some extra emotions that were not actually stated in the scenes. Krishna never really appeared scared or angry that any of this had happened to him. Any mentions of these types of feelings were extremely brief. I decided to expand upon the emotions that any rational person would have during this time. It would make perfect sense to be scared, upset, or experience self-doubt. I decided that if Krishna were ever to feel this way, he would never let it show. However, he might hide it away in the depths of his journal! 😉
Wednesday, November 2, 2016
Story: The Humiliation of Draupadi
“What a beautiful day,” Draupadi thought to herself as she stared out the window and brushed her long, flowing hair. She watched as the sun set on the hills. She loved the beautiful colors that illuminated the sky as the sun disappeared for the day. The sight never failed to make her smile.
Draupadi had a wonderful life. She was always full of cheer and positive energy. She loved her husband, Yudhishthir, more than any other thing on this earth. She waited impatiently for him to return from his gambling match. She secretly hated when Yudhishthir gambled. She thought that gambling was a dirty sport, but she would never tell him that. If he was happy and stayed out of danger, she was happy. She chuckled to herself as she realized that she would much rather wait for him to return from gambling than wait for him to return from battle. She would have to tell him about that thought when he returned…he would laugh.
Just then, Draupadi heard a knock on her large wooden door. Had Yudhishthir returned already?
With a huge smile on her face, she jumped up from her spot by the window to run for the door. Before she made it to the door, it swung open with great force and slammed against the wall. Stunned, Draupadi slowly stepped backward. Large, burly men entered the room demanding that she come with them. Outraged, she refused.
“You have no choice,” the men stated with a smirk. “Your beloved husband rolled the dice and lost his wife.”
Draupadi’s heart fell and her stomach churned. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. Her eyes were wide as she tried to comprehend what she was hearing.
“Do you understand what we’re saying?” the men laughed. “You are Duryodhan’s now!” The men were fighting back laughter at this point. They reached for her wrist.
“No!” Draupadi snapped, pulling her hand away from the men and looking up at them with pure disgust. “I refuse! I will not go to Duryodhan and you certainly won’t be taking me!” Tears streamed down her face, hot with anger.
Unsure of what to do, the guards left the room to deliver the news to Duryodhan. When the doors closed behind them, Draupadi’s tough façade crumbled as she collapsed to the floor, crying harder than she had ever cried in her life. How could Yudhishthir do this to her? Didn’t he love her at all? How could he leave their future together to the chance of the dice? Broken, Draupadi stared at the ceiling, reflecting on her life with Yudhishthir. She thought they were perfect. Where had she gone wrong? Why wasn’t she good enough to keep around? How could he leave it to chance?
Then, she heard someone running toward her room. Scared and defensive, she jumped up and wiped the tears from her face. A man whom she knew to be Duryodhan’s brother came crashing through the doors. Without a word, he charged toward her with a grin. Draupadi turned to run, but he was much faster. He grabbed her by her freshly brushed hair and forcefully dragged her out of her room.
“Please, just let me get up and walk!” she screamed. But he didn’t listen. He continued to drag her by her hair all the way into the courtyard, where crowds of people, drunk off of the excitement of the night, pointed and laughed. Draupadi screamed desperately for help. She looked around the room and saw the Pandavas. Excitement filled her heart as she saw familiar faces. Her anxiety began to subside. Certainly the beloved brothers would come and rescue her! Desperately, she screamed for them to come and help her…but each of them stood as still as stone.
Her clothes were ripping off of her body and strands of her gorgeous hair lay around the room. She felt as if her dignity was completely gone. She had never felt so low or so afraid. Across the room, she locked eyes with the man who had given her the happiest life she could have asked for, and then proceeded to rip it away from her. She could see the look of sadness and remorse in his eyes. She only felt one thing: betrayal.
(Draupadi is dragged from her room and humiliated. Source: Wikimedia)
Author’s Note: This story was inspired by Episode 44 of the Epified version of the Mahabharata. In this episode, Yudhishthir is tricked into gambling his wife, Draupadi, and losing her. Seeing the visual depiction of the scene helped me grasp the whole story better. It also added to the emotional aspect. I already found this scene to be very sad, but watching it unfold was heart-wrenching. I couldn’t help but think what this story would be like from Draupadi’s point of view. Draupadi had no idea what was happening when the guard burst through her door to retrieve her. I tried to use the emotions that a betrayed wife would feel. Obviously, I have no idea how it would feel to have your husband lose you in a gambling match (hopefully no one knows what that feels like). However, I knew that it would be shocking, disgusting, and heartbreaking. Using these emotions, I did the best I could to write this scene from Draupadi’s perspective. This was a sadder story than I usually write, but I enjoyed the opportunity to try something new. I sat down, watched the episode a few more times, and tried to focus on the emotions that I thought Draupadi was feeling. Then, I put some sad music on my Spotify and went to work. It was a challenge, but I enjoyed writing a story with a different feel to it.
Author: Epified TV (India)
Thursday, October 20, 2016
Story: Kale's Quest
Kale was a normal young boy, full of spirit and adventure. In grade school, he loved going to school and interacting with his peers. His energetic personality made him loved by all of his classmates and teachers. From a young age, Kale's eyes gleamed every chance he got to hold a football. Athletics were something that appeared to come very natural to him. Kale had a great family life as well. He was constantly supported by his parents. His mother beamed in the stands every time he played in a football game and his dad jumped at any chance to play catch with his beloved son. Kale appeared to live the picture-perfect life. However, things took a turn as he entered high school.
Kale continued to excel in athletics. He was a star both in the classroom and on the field. He continued to grow bigger and stronger. But as he continued to grow, he started to feel different. He found himself growing much taller than the rest of his family, something that made him an all-star on the football field. Kale was extremely fast and naturally very athletic. He worked hard to develop his strengths, but he was born with a great deal of natural talent. No one else in his family had been very good at sports. Whenever Kale would ask his dad about his high school football career, his father would shy away from the topic.
Kale often found himself wondering what made him different. How did he acquire talent? He started to notice that he looked different than everyone in his family too. His hair and eyes were darker. His skin had a different tint. Was he being ridiculous? Did every teen go through this identity crisis? Going into his senior year, Kale was surrounded by stressors. He was worried about grades, college applications, and being scouted by coaches with the hopes of playing college football. He concluded that his suspicions were all stemming from his stress. He decided not to think about it any longer and went to bed.
That night, Kale had a dream. In this dream, he was a small child floating down a river in a basket. He was scared and did not know where he was. How did he get here? Who put him in the basket? Then, a man and woman came running toward him and scooped him out of the water. They were confused and concerned. He could tell that they weren’t the ones who put him in the basket. But with a loving heart, they took him home to feed and clothe him. When the people turned around, he realized that they were his parents.
He gasped and sat up in bed.
Kale knew that he had to talk to his parents. These thoughts weren’t letting him rest.
The very next day, Kale told his parents that he wanted to talk to them. Always eager to help their precious son, they immediately turned off the TV and sat down with him. Nervously, Kale stared at his feet and spilled every uncertainty that he had about his identity. When he looked up he almost expected to see his parents laughing…but instead he only saw tears.
Kale’s mother proceeded to tell him that he was, in fact, adopted. Kale’s parents had been unable to conceive a child when they finally turned to adoption. He learned that they didn’t know much about Kale’s birth parents other than that they were exceptional athletes and not prepared, emotionally or financially, to care for a child at the time of his birth. She explained that giving up a child was hard for the couple, but that they knew it was the right thing to do. The couple trusted them to take care of Kale and raise him to chase whatever dreams he had. With tears streaming down her face, she looked up to Kale and told him that she hoped they had met their wishes.
Kale rose to his feet. He couldn’t believe that his wild, irrational thoughts were true. He went to his room to think. He wasn’t sure how to feel. He had so many questions. With tears in his eyes, he lay down on his bed.
At that moment, visions of the baby in the basket filled his mind. He reflected on the man and woman who grabbed the baby from the water. They weren't expecting to find a baby that day in the water. They had no idea who that baby would grow up to be. Would he be kind? Athletic? Creative? There was no way for them to know. Even though the baby was not biologically theirs, they put their lives on hold to welcome them into their family. Kale's parents did the same thing. Adoption is a selfless act. A smile came to Kale's face as he realized the immense amount of love and courage that his parents had in their hearts. Reflecting upon that vivid dream, Kale realized that he was extremely fortunate. He couldn't be happier for the series of events that gave him the most loving parents in the world.
Kale continued to excel in athletics. He was a star both in the classroom and on the field. He continued to grow bigger and stronger. But as he continued to grow, he started to feel different. He found himself growing much taller than the rest of his family, something that made him an all-star on the football field. Kale was extremely fast and naturally very athletic. He worked hard to develop his strengths, but he was born with a great deal of natural talent. No one else in his family had been very good at sports. Whenever Kale would ask his dad about his high school football career, his father would shy away from the topic.
Kale often found himself wondering what made him different. How did he acquire talent? He started to notice that he looked different than everyone in his family too. His hair and eyes were darker. His skin had a different tint. Was he being ridiculous? Did every teen go through this identity crisis? Going into his senior year, Kale was surrounded by stressors. He was worried about grades, college applications, and being scouted by coaches with the hopes of playing college football. He concluded that his suspicions were all stemming from his stress. He decided not to think about it any longer and went to bed.
That night, Kale had a dream. In this dream, he was a small child floating down a river in a basket. He was scared and did not know where he was. How did he get here? Who put him in the basket? Then, a man and woman came running toward him and scooped him out of the water. They were confused and concerned. He could tell that they weren’t the ones who put him in the basket. But with a loving heart, they took him home to feed and clothe him. When the people turned around, he realized that they were his parents.
He gasped and sat up in bed.
Kale knew that he had to talk to his parents. These thoughts weren’t letting him rest.
The very next day, Kale told his parents that he wanted to talk to them. Always eager to help their precious son, they immediately turned off the TV and sat down with him. Nervously, Kale stared at his feet and spilled every uncertainty that he had about his identity. When he looked up he almost expected to see his parents laughing…but instead he only saw tears.
Kale’s mother proceeded to tell him that he was, in fact, adopted. Kale’s parents had been unable to conceive a child when they finally turned to adoption. He learned that they didn’t know much about Kale’s birth parents other than that they were exceptional athletes and not prepared, emotionally or financially, to care for a child at the time of his birth. She explained that giving up a child was hard for the couple, but that they knew it was the right thing to do. The couple trusted them to take care of Kale and raise him to chase whatever dreams he had. With tears streaming down her face, she looked up to Kale and told him that she hoped they had met their wishes.
Kale rose to his feet. He couldn’t believe that his wild, irrational thoughts were true. He went to his room to think. He wasn’t sure how to feel. He had so many questions. With tears in his eyes, he lay down on his bed.
At that moment, visions of the baby in the basket filled his mind. He reflected on the man and woman who grabbed the baby from the water. They weren't expecting to find a baby that day in the water. They had no idea who that baby would grow up to be. Would he be kind? Athletic? Creative? There was no way for them to know. Even though the baby was not biologically theirs, they put their lives on hold to welcome them into their family. Kale's parents did the same thing. Adoption is a selfless act. A smile came to Kale's face as he realized the immense amount of love and courage that his parents had in their hearts. Reflecting upon that vivid dream, Kale realized that he was extremely fortunate. He couldn't be happier for the series of events that gave him the most loving parents in the world.
(The dream that changed Kale's life. Source: Wikimedia Commons)
Author’s Note: For this story, I was inspired by Episode 18 of the Epified version of the Mahabharata. This episode is titled 'Karna's Quest' which is why I decided to title my story “Kale’s Quest." I tried to use Karna’s character and turn him into a more modern character: Kale. In the original episode, Karna learns secrets about his past. He is informed that when he was a baby, he was found floating down the river in a basket. This means that he has no idea who his real family is or why he has his strength. I thought it would be interesting to use these feelings of confusion and curiosity to create a story of a child learning that he was adopted. Where did I come from? Why am I the way that I am? These are questions that Karna had and questions than an adopted child faces as well. I had fun turning this epic into a story that could easily happen in real life. Adoption is a topic close to my heart and I enjoyed writing a story about the struggle that children sometimes must face. I decided to implement the river part of the original story as part of Kale’s dream to add a twist. I liked being able to blend the original story into my own thoughts to create something totally new.
Title: The Mahabharata: Karmic Revolution (Part C)
Title: The Mahabharata: Karmic Revolution (Part C)
Author: Epified TV (India)
Wednesday, October 5, 2016
Story: Ms. Diana Trains the Pandra Sisters
There were once five sisters: the Pandra Sisters. These girls, Yareli,
Brittney, Alice, Natalie and Serena, were very close in age and best friends.
It was apparent from a young age that these girls shared a special gift. From
the time they could hold a crayon, all five girls showed a love for art. They
all loved to paint, draw, and build. Mrs. Pandra would often catch the girls
cutting up doll clothes to create new outfits. As the girls grew, their talents
only continued to flourish. What started as five-star drawings on the
refrigerator soon turned into contest-winning art pieces at school.
Mr. and Mrs. Pandra were extremely proud of their girls and encouraged their creativity. But knowing that neither of them had any background in art or design, they worried that they wouldn’t be able to help their daughters meet their potential. The parents sat down one evening and scoured the phone book and internet looking for any kind of art teacher. Some had great reviews, but insane prices; others were affordable but didn’t seem credible. Discouraged, the two went to bed. They prayed that they would find a way to help their daughters succeed.
The very next day, the five girls were playing at recess when Brittney overestimated her balance and fell off the monkey bars. When she fell, her pants got caught on the bars and ripped completely. Quick to help their sister, the other four Pandra girls surrounded her and ran to their teacher. Their teacher, unsure of what to do, sent them to Ms. Diana, the Home Economics teacher.
The girls had never met the Home Economics teacher before, but wasted no time running to her classroom. Ms. Diana welcomed the girls with a smile and told them to come in. She assessed the damage and told Brittney that there was no way that the pants could go back to how they used to be but asked if she could try something new. Brittney, desperate for some pants, eagerly complied. With that, Ms. Diana began snipping and sewing and quickly presented an all-new skirt. Brittney beamed as she put it on. It was more beautiful than her original outfit! The girls couldn’t believe their eyes and ran home that afternoon to tell their mother all about their newfound hero.
Ms. Pandra was quite impressed! She immediately called Ms. Diana to thank her for saving her daughter from humiliation and making her day. The two women talked for some time and the conversation ended with Ms. Diana offering to work with the girls after school with art and design. Mrs. Pandra could not believe the luck and graciously accepted the offer. When she told her daughters the news, they could hardly contain their excitement!
From then on, the girls spent every day after school with Ms. Diana. The wise teacher had an incredible eye for individual talents. She found that Yareli was a master of creative ideas. Her mind contained designs and innovations that were unparalleled. Brittney was the queen of the pencil. She could listen to Yareli’s ideas and draw them to perfection. Alice and Natalie loved fashion. Ms. Diana set them up with sewing tools and learned that they had skills far beyond anyone their age. Lastly, Serena was the refiner. She could take the girls’ ideas and make them even better. She was always looking at the bigger picture and could tell how to bring Yareli’s ideas into fruition through the other sisters’ fine-tuned skills. Ms. Diana worked with the girls for years, continuing to develop their individual talents and bringing them together as a team.
By the time the girls were in high school, they were basically masters of design. They were making their own clothes and selling some of their designs on Etsy for extra cash. Ms. Diana could not have been more proud of the girls. Once they were old enough, she pitched the idea of entering competitions. The girls and their parents quickly agreed and loved the idea of a challenge! Ms. Diana continued to train the girls and perfect their skills. In no time they were ready for their designs to take the stage in the biggest fashion competition in the state.
When the girls arrived at the venue they looked eagerly around them. They couldn’t believe how far they had come! They looked to Ms. Diana, expecting to see the same look of excitement in her eyes. Instead, they saw a look of vengeance. They looked across the room to see a tall, well-dressed woman, about Ms. Diana’s age walking toward them with a smug look across her face. She stopped in front of the girls’ beloved teacher, looking her up and down before casting a sideward glance at the five girls.
“Ah Diana,” she said with a smirk. “We meet again.”
Mr. and Mrs. Pandra were extremely proud of their girls and encouraged their creativity. But knowing that neither of them had any background in art or design, they worried that they wouldn’t be able to help their daughters meet their potential. The parents sat down one evening and scoured the phone book and internet looking for any kind of art teacher. Some had great reviews, but insane prices; others were affordable but didn’t seem credible. Discouraged, the two went to bed. They prayed that they would find a way to help their daughters succeed.
The very next day, the five girls were playing at recess when Brittney overestimated her balance and fell off the monkey bars. When she fell, her pants got caught on the bars and ripped completely. Quick to help their sister, the other four Pandra girls surrounded her and ran to their teacher. Their teacher, unsure of what to do, sent them to Ms. Diana, the Home Economics teacher.
The girls had never met the Home Economics teacher before, but wasted no time running to her classroom. Ms. Diana welcomed the girls with a smile and told them to come in. She assessed the damage and told Brittney that there was no way that the pants could go back to how they used to be but asked if she could try something new. Brittney, desperate for some pants, eagerly complied. With that, Ms. Diana began snipping and sewing and quickly presented an all-new skirt. Brittney beamed as she put it on. It was more beautiful than her original outfit! The girls couldn’t believe their eyes and ran home that afternoon to tell their mother all about their newfound hero.
Ms. Pandra was quite impressed! She immediately called Ms. Diana to thank her for saving her daughter from humiliation and making her day. The two women talked for some time and the conversation ended with Ms. Diana offering to work with the girls after school with art and design. Mrs. Pandra could not believe the luck and graciously accepted the offer. When she told her daughters the news, they could hardly contain their excitement!
From then on, the girls spent every day after school with Ms. Diana. The wise teacher had an incredible eye for individual talents. She found that Yareli was a master of creative ideas. Her mind contained designs and innovations that were unparalleled. Brittney was the queen of the pencil. She could listen to Yareli’s ideas and draw them to perfection. Alice and Natalie loved fashion. Ms. Diana set them up with sewing tools and learned that they had skills far beyond anyone their age. Lastly, Serena was the refiner. She could take the girls’ ideas and make them even better. She was always looking at the bigger picture and could tell how to bring Yareli’s ideas into fruition through the other sisters’ fine-tuned skills. Ms. Diana worked with the girls for years, continuing to develop their individual talents and bringing them together as a team.
By the time the girls were in high school, they were basically masters of design. They were making their own clothes and selling some of their designs on Etsy for extra cash. Ms. Diana could not have been more proud of the girls. Once they were old enough, she pitched the idea of entering competitions. The girls and their parents quickly agreed and loved the idea of a challenge! Ms. Diana continued to train the girls and perfect their skills. In no time they were ready for their designs to take the stage in the biggest fashion competition in the state.
When the girls arrived at the venue they looked eagerly around them. They couldn’t believe how far they had come! They looked to Ms. Diana, expecting to see the same look of excitement in her eyes. Instead, they saw a look of vengeance. They looked across the room to see a tall, well-dressed woman, about Ms. Diana’s age walking toward them with a smug look across her face. She stopped in front of the girls’ beloved teacher, looking her up and down before casting a sideward glance at the five girls.
“Ah Diana,” she said with a smirk. “We meet again.”
(The girls had a special gift for turning their creative visions into beautiful designs! Source: Pixabay)
Author’s Note: For this story, I used Episode 16, Drona Trains the Pandavas, from the Epified version of the Mahabharata. In this scene, Drona becomes the Pandavas' trainer and develops each of their individual strengths. Once I watched the Epified video, I understood the scene a lot better than I originally had. Seeing a visualization sparked some new ideas for me! I also really related to the story. As a Human Resources major, developing and individualization are two strengths that are very important to me! I love helping people use their individual strengths and learn to grow upon them. In a society that constantly tells you to work on your weaknesses, I believe that it’s more important to build on your strengths.
I decided to make a story that followed the guideline of the original story. However, instead of training warriors, Ms. Diana (taking the role of Drona) was training designers. The original episode ends with the Pandavas realizing that Drona had been training them for his own personal revenge reasons. That is why I ended the scene how I did, with Ms. Diana running into who appears to be an old competitor. I left the story on a cliffhanger, just as the Epified episode ended. The video left me wondering and I wanted my story to have the same effect. I had a great time taking this story in a new direction. It was very fun to write!
I decided to make a story that followed the guideline of the original story. However, instead of training warriors, Ms. Diana (taking the role of Drona) was training designers. The original episode ends with the Pandavas realizing that Drona had been training them for his own personal revenge reasons. That is why I ended the scene how I did, with Ms. Diana running into who appears to be an old competitor. I left the story on a cliffhanger, just as the Epified episode ended. The video left me wondering and I wanted my story to have the same effect. I had a great time taking this story in a new direction. It was very fun to write!
Bibliography
Wednesday, September 7, 2016
Story: Vali's Revenge
My name is Vali. I am a strong, powerful leader and I have had many opportunities to display my great strength. I have a brother whose name is Sugriva. He is also a very powerful fighter. Unfortunately, he is not as dependable as I am. Being reliable is essential to being a leader, but Sugriva is an evil traitor. Family values are of utmost importance to me and I refuse to accept someone who has no respect for blood. As we speak, I am on my way to engage him in battle. Before we begin, I will give you the backstory.
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Years ago, I was fighting an enemy who took our battle beneath the surface of the earth. Timid to travel underground, I made Sugriva promise me that he would watch the mouth of the hole and wait for my return.
Sugriva promised.
The battle raged on for months upon months, but I finally killed the foe. I was exhausted but excited to share the news with my brother. I hurried up the tunnel, but when I reached the top…it was filled in. I had no escape—I was stuck underground! I had used every ounce of my strength killing this beast and didn’t know if I had it in me to break through the ground. I rested for weeks and finally built up the strength to crash through the mountain that sat atop me.
How could my brother do this to me? I thought to myself that surely it had been a mistake. However, when I arrived back to Kishkindha, I saw none other than my beloved brother ruling my subjects.
I have never felt so betrayed.
I banished my brother and took away his wife. I truly believed that this was not punishment enough, but I couldn’t bring myself to kill someone who shared my blood.
However, I have received word that Sugriva wishes to engage me in battle. Perhaps now I will truly bring justice to the situation by removing this fiend from our family completely.
The battle raged on for months upon months, but I finally killed the foe. I was exhausted but excited to share the news with my brother. I hurried up the tunnel, but when I reached the top…it was filled in. I had no escape—I was stuck underground! I had used every ounce of my strength killing this beast and didn’t know if I had it in me to break through the ground. I rested for weeks and finally built up the strength to crash through the mountain that sat atop me.
How could my brother do this to me? I thought to myself that surely it had been a mistake. However, when I arrived back to Kishkindha, I saw none other than my beloved brother ruling my subjects.
I have never felt so betrayed.
I banished my brother and took away his wife. I truly believed that this was not punishment enough, but I couldn’t bring myself to kill someone who shared my blood.
However, I have received word that Sugriva wishes to engage me in battle. Perhaps now I will truly bring justice to the situation by removing this fiend from our family completely.
-------
My wife, Tara, had begged me not to engage in this battle, but I knew I had made the right decision. I had to right the wrongs that had been done to me. There was no way that I would not win.
With power and rage, the fight began. Sugriva quickly uprooted a tree that he flung toward me. The blow slowed me down, but would not deter me. Enraged by the nerve of this conspirator, I used every inch of power and might that I could find within me for battle. Unfortunately for me, Sugriva was a powerful opponent. I should have guessed as much; our family is full of the biggest and strongest.
The fight raged on for hours. After what seemed like an eternity, I could tell that I was beginning to wear him down. A boulder that I threw at him landed on his leg, causing him to fall to the ground. In an instant, I stood atop him, ready to make my move. With my hands in the air, I was ready to unleash the move that would end my brother’s life.
Nothing could stop me…or so I thought.
“Vali, halt!” said a voice from behind me. I turned to see none other than my beautiful wife standing there, startled and out of breath. I was always delighted to see her shining face, but today’s timing was not ideal.
“What in the world is it!?” I snapped.
In this moment, Sugriva escaped my grasp and sprang into action.
“Sugriva, don’t you move either,” my wife began. “I have information that will change this entire situation.”
Confused, we ceased fighting and turned toward my wife. What information could she possible have that was vital enough to risk her life by coming into this war zone?
It was then that Tara told me the words that began to break my heart. She told me that she believed Sugriva’s story that he had not meant to cause me harm. I could not believe that she could possibly turn against me.
But then, a vulture appeared from the sky and stood beside her.
“Wise brothers,” said the vulture, “I was in the woods the day that this rivalry began. I watched as Sugriva guarded a mysterious hole in the ground for over a year. I could not fathom what could possibly be in this hole that was so important. It captivated my attention enough that I never left watch. Soon enough, there was a horrendous scream and blood escaped from the hole. I saw young Sugriva mourn and weep. I knew that whatever he had been guarding was no longer surviving in that hole. Respectfully, Sugriva closed the hole and paid proper homage. When Sugriva left the hole, I did as well. I assumed there was nothing left to see. I never knew what had been in that hole until today. When I came across Tara, she told me the tale of the feuding brothers and expressed her concern about this battle. I knew that I had to come tell my tale before it was too late.” And with that, the vulture bowed and flew away.
I could not believe my ears. My stomach churned. I could not tell if I was feeling guilt or relief. I was thankful to discover that my brother had never wronged me, but I was sickened to realize that I lived the past decade of my life insulted over a misunderstanding. With a humble heart, I stuck out my hand. I forgave Sugriva and I hoped that he could forgive me too. Without hesitation, my brother firmly grasped my hand with a look of sincerity in his eyes. I knew that I could not undo what happened over the last ten years, but I was thankful to have my brother back.
(Sugriva and Vali reuniting. Source)
Author’s Note: This story is based off of the scene Sugriva’s Story from the Public Domain Edition of the Mahabharata. I kept the context and character profiles very close to the original. For the background information at the beginning of my story, I used the original background information from the story of Sugriva and Vali. However, in the actual scene, Sugriva comes back from banishment for revenge and kills his brother. Being the family-oriented person that I am, I hated the idea of feuding brothers. I especially hated that it ended with one of the brothers being killed. I thought this would be a fun opportunity to write a story with a happier ending. In the original story, the whole ordeal is a misunderstanding. I changed the story by having the vulture tell his account of what actually happened. What the vulture saw was the same as what happened in the original story. I just added the character of the vulture to bring light to the misunderstanding. I also changed the story by having it told from Vali’s perspective. I knew that Vali had a lot of built up anger, so having it told from his side made the truth coming out even more of a shock. I really enjoyed writing the story from a new perspective and creating a happy ending from an originally tragic one. It was a fun challenge!
Bibliography:
Public Domain Ramayana: Sugriva's Story
Wednesday, August 31, 2016
Story: Rama Fights for Sita
From the moment that Rama laid eyes on Sita, he knew that she would be his wife. He remembered the first day he saw her. She was taking a stroll through the meadow, singing joyfully to herself. She had no idea that Rama was watching. Her pure, carefree singing was enough to sweep Rama off his feet. Her long, dark hair shined under the sun and everything about her seemed effortless and wonderful. Rama instantly knew that he would do whatever it took to make Sita his bride.
Sita was the daughter of King Janaka. The king was very protective over his daughter and was extremely selective about who would get to marry her. He had heard of Rama. He knew that Rama was virtuous and strong with a noble heart. He thought perhaps that Rama could be fit to marry his daughter, but there was only one way to find out.
In order to marry Princess Sita, one had to engage in a challenge. There was a maze arranged in Janaka's kingdom. The maze's sole purpose was to select the chosen one who would marry Sita. Janaka had no control over who would win the maze. The maze was all-knowing and would test each man in ways that it knew would break them. Anyone who completed the maze was considered wise and powerful enough to marry the finest princess in the land.
On one fateful day, Rama received a letter. The letter glistened and gleamed when he opened it and Rama immediately knew that this was no ordinary message. He soon realized that he had been invited to compete in the maze for Sita's love. Ecstatic, he ran without stopping all the way to Janaka's kingdom. Rama knew that the maze was relentless. Men had been injured both physically and mentally from the things the maze was capable of. Most importantly, no one had ever completed it. Rama didn't care about the dangers and challenges of the maze. He would do anything to win Sita's heart.
When he arrived at the kingdom, King Janaka was waiting for him, sitting atop a throne. Standing below him were three other strong, determined men, who Rama realized were also fighting for Sita's love. The king informed the four men that a magical ring lay at the center of the maze. If any man were to reach it, he would be transported back to the king, who would then allow him to gift his daughter with the ring. At that, the men began stretching and preparing for the maze. At the king's demand, all four men entered the maze from different entries. The walls of the maze were made of vines that reached out and tried to grab the competitors. The walls reached so high, they seemed to touch the heavens. The maze was pitch black, lit with a faint eerie glow. Around each corner were traps and rakshasas, ready to fight and deter the men. Rama fought tirelessly for hours. His body was growing weaker, but his mind stayed strong. He knew that any sign of weakness could hinder him from winning his true love.
Throughout the night, Rama heard screams and wails of the other contestants. The screams lessened as time went on. He wondered if they were exiting the race. Then, a vine from the walls reached out and wrapped around his neck. Caught off guard, Rama was thrown to the ground. Using every last ounce of energy, he finally broke free from the vine. Tired, wounded, and struggling to breathe, Rama was not sure if he could stand back up. Just when he questioned whether or not he could go on, he heard the most beautiful noise. The noise was the purest voice singing the most beautiful melody. When he looked up, he realized that this must be the voice of his true love.
Rama jumped into action, and ran full-speed toward the voice, slashing through vines and letting nothing stop him. The noise was growing louder and he began to see a faint light in the distance. He ran toward the light and sound, and found what he knew was the magical ring. He looked around, trying to find the source of the music...but no one was there. Quickly, he grabbed the ring and was transported back to the beginning of the maze.
There he saw a tearful King Janaka and an overjoyed Princess Sita.
"Rama, son of Dasharatha!" King Janaka exclaimed. "You have succeeded at a task that many men before you have tried and failed! You and only you are worth of marrying my beloved daughter. I know that you will protect her just as I have protected her for all these years."
And with that, Rama presented Sita with the ring. Sita looked as beautiful as the day Rama first laid eyes on her. Her dark hair waved in the wind and a tear glistened down her beautiful, smiling face. Rama knew that every trial, both mental and physical, from the maze was well worth it. He would do it again in a heartbeat. He would do anything for Sita.
Author's Note: This story was inspired by the chapter "Rama Wins Sita" in the Public Domain Edition of The Ramayana. In the original story, Rama must bend Shiva's bow in order to win Sita, the woman he is in love with. This is the challenge set in place by her father, King Janaka. Of course, Rama breaks the bow and wins Sita. It was a relatively short story, so I wanted to change it up and make it longer. If you are a Harry Potter fan, you might have noticed that my story was inspired by the maze in the Triwizard Tournament from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. I thought that incorporating one of my favorite movies into this story would be a fun twist. Since they both had elements of magic, it was fun to put them together. This was my first time to create my own story from an Indian epic, so using elements from another story made it a little easier for me. I enjoyed having the ability to morph one of my favorite movie scenes into this story. This helped me to realize how easy it can be to change up a story and how fun it can be!
Bibliography:
Public Domain Ramayana: Rama Wins Sita
Sita was the daughter of King Janaka. The king was very protective over his daughter and was extremely selective about who would get to marry her. He had heard of Rama. He knew that Rama was virtuous and strong with a noble heart. He thought perhaps that Rama could be fit to marry his daughter, but there was only one way to find out.
In order to marry Princess Sita, one had to engage in a challenge. There was a maze arranged in Janaka's kingdom. The maze's sole purpose was to select the chosen one who would marry Sita. Janaka had no control over who would win the maze. The maze was all-knowing and would test each man in ways that it knew would break them. Anyone who completed the maze was considered wise and powerful enough to marry the finest princess in the land.
On one fateful day, Rama received a letter. The letter glistened and gleamed when he opened it and Rama immediately knew that this was no ordinary message. He soon realized that he had been invited to compete in the maze for Sita's love. Ecstatic, he ran without stopping all the way to Janaka's kingdom. Rama knew that the maze was relentless. Men had been injured both physically and mentally from the things the maze was capable of. Most importantly, no one had ever completed it. Rama didn't care about the dangers and challenges of the maze. He would do anything to win Sita's heart.
When he arrived at the kingdom, King Janaka was waiting for him, sitting atop a throne. Standing below him were three other strong, determined men, who Rama realized were also fighting for Sita's love. The king informed the four men that a magical ring lay at the center of the maze. If any man were to reach it, he would be transported back to the king, who would then allow him to gift his daughter with the ring. At that, the men began stretching and preparing for the maze. At the king's demand, all four men entered the maze from different entries. The walls of the maze were made of vines that reached out and tried to grab the competitors. The walls reached so high, they seemed to touch the heavens. The maze was pitch black, lit with a faint eerie glow. Around each corner were traps and rakshasas, ready to fight and deter the men. Rama fought tirelessly for hours. His body was growing weaker, but his mind stayed strong. He knew that any sign of weakness could hinder him from winning his true love.
Throughout the night, Rama heard screams and wails of the other contestants. The screams lessened as time went on. He wondered if they were exiting the race. Then, a vine from the walls reached out and wrapped around his neck. Caught off guard, Rama was thrown to the ground. Using every last ounce of energy, he finally broke free from the vine. Tired, wounded, and struggling to breathe, Rama was not sure if he could stand back up. Just when he questioned whether or not he could go on, he heard the most beautiful noise. The noise was the purest voice singing the most beautiful melody. When he looked up, he realized that this must be the voice of his true love.
Rama jumped into action, and ran full-speed toward the voice, slashing through vines and letting nothing stop him. The noise was growing louder and he began to see a faint light in the distance. He ran toward the light and sound, and found what he knew was the magical ring. He looked around, trying to find the source of the music...but no one was there. Quickly, he grabbed the ring and was transported back to the beginning of the maze.
There he saw a tearful King Janaka and an overjoyed Princess Sita.
"Rama, son of Dasharatha!" King Janaka exclaimed. "You have succeeded at a task that many men before you have tried and failed! You and only you are worth of marrying my beloved daughter. I know that you will protect her just as I have protected her for all these years."
And with that, Rama presented Sita with the ring. Sita looked as beautiful as the day Rama first laid eyes on her. Her dark hair waved in the wind and a tear glistened down her beautiful, smiling face. Rama knew that every trial, both mental and physical, from the maze was well worth it. He would do it again in a heartbeat. He would do anything for Sita.
(The maze that a man must fight in order to win Sita's love. WikiMedia)
Author's Note: This story was inspired by the chapter "Rama Wins Sita" in the Public Domain Edition of The Ramayana. In the original story, Rama must bend Shiva's bow in order to win Sita, the woman he is in love with. This is the challenge set in place by her father, King Janaka. Of course, Rama breaks the bow and wins Sita. It was a relatively short story, so I wanted to change it up and make it longer. If you are a Harry Potter fan, you might have noticed that my story was inspired by the maze in the Triwizard Tournament from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. I thought that incorporating one of my favorite movies into this story would be a fun twist. Since they both had elements of magic, it was fun to put them together. This was my first time to create my own story from an Indian epic, so using elements from another story made it a little easier for me. I enjoyed having the ability to morph one of my favorite movie scenes into this story. This helped me to realize how easy it can be to change up a story and how fun it can be!
Bibliography:
Public Domain Ramayana: Rama Wins Sita
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