Scion of Ikshvaku (Ram Chandra, #1)

by Amish Tripathi

Her face was creased with concern. ‘I am with you, Ram.’ Ram remained silent. Strangely, a long-forgotten image entered his mind: of the arya concept of Emperor Prithu; Prithvi, the earth, had been named after him. Prithu had spoken of the ideal human archetype of the aryaputra, a ‘gentleman’, and the aryaputri, a ‘lady’, a prototypical human partnership of two strong individuals, who didn’t compete for exact equality but were complementary, completing each other. Two souls that were dependent on each other, giving each other purpose; two halves of a whole. Ram felt like an aryaputra, being held, being supported, by his lady. Sita continued to hold Ram in a tight embrace. ‘I am with you, Ram. We will handle this together.’ Ram closed his eyes. He wrapped his arms around his wife. He rested his head on her shoulder. Paradise. Sita looked over her husband’s shoulder and glared at Vishwamitra. It was a fearsome look, like the wrathful fury of the Mother Goddess. Vishwamitra glared right back, unrepentant.