I did not portray anyone as a villain, I described circumstances—historical and cultural contexts—in which women suffered and how they came out of them. I did not blame Rama or Ravana for Sita’s plight. I took a balanced view which was well liked. Many readers told me that they felt that things must’ve happened exactly as I had narrated them. In fact, many people asked whether these stories are in the Ramayana itself. So, the stories have given me a lot of satisfaction.
