Week 3 Story: Ahalya's Side

(Wikimedia)

**Begin Recording**

Detective Ellison: Ahalya, I’m Detective Jack Ellison, this is my partner Detective Samantha Miller. We’re going to be taking your statement. We understand that you are here to turn yourself in, and that you have waived your right to an attorney. Do you have any questions at this time?

Ahalya: No, no questions.

Detective Ellison: Then we will begin taking your statement. For the record, please recount the events leading up to March 30^th.

Ahalya: My father arranged a marriage for me to Gautama. He was quite a bit older than me, but I cared for him deeply, and I tried to be a good wife. Arranged marriages are common in my culture, so I was not particularly bothered by the circumstances. All that mattered was that Gautama treated me well. Life went happily on for several years, until Gautama’s twin brother, Indra, came to town. It was obvious that Indra had a thing for me, and I told Gautama that he made me uncomfortable, but he just brushed me off. On March 25^th, Gautama left earlier than usual. I thought he was going into work early, but then he came back about fifteen minutes later, with flowers. He told me that he’d decided to take the day off and spend time with me. We had begun to make love, when suddenly the bedroom door was flung open. Gautama was standing in the doorway looking enraged. Realizing that the man in bed with me was not actually my husband, I screamed and pushed him away. I felt so horribly violated that I couldn’t stop crying. My husband began yelling at me, and Indra slunk away. Gautama tied me up and locked me in a closet. He told me that I was dirty, and it was my own fault that Indra raped me. He said that my punishment was to stay locked in the darkness, completely immobile, until I had been sufficiently punished for my sins. After not having heard from me in several days, my brother Rama came to the house to find me. He untied me and took me to the hospital. I was severely dehydrated by this time. When I woke up, Rama was sitting by my bed. He told me that Gautama was ready to forgive my transgression, and that I should go home, forget everything that happened, and be a good wife. I was raped, and my own husband and brother told me to not only accept the blame, but to pretend that everything was ok, and to not be angry that after being violated, I was brutally punished unjustly! That was never going to happen! So, I made a plan. I told Gautama that I wanted to let bygones be bygones and make a dinner for everyone. We invited Indra and Rama. They didn’t notice that I ate nothing. Only when the poison began to take effect did they understand.

Detective Ellison: So, you admit that you are responsible for the deaths of your brother Rama, your husband Gautama, and your brother in law Indra.

Ahalya: Yes, I admit it. I’m proud of it. Indra raped me. Gautama blamed me for the vile crime and violation committed against me. Rama told me that I should shrug it off, forgive and forget. They deserved to die. Perhaps, if more such men suffered the same punishment, things like this would happen less.

Detective Miller: Sounds reasonable to me.

Detective Ellison: What?! Are you serious?

Detective Miller: Yep. I’m not going to be crying into my beer tonight over the deaths of a rapist and a couple of rape apologists. They deserved it. I’m friends with the DA, and she hates rapists, too. I bet we can get these charges downgraded. Maybe house arrest and some community service. That sounds reasonable to me. I’m calling her now.

**Recording Ends**

Author's Note: In the Ramayana, while traveling to Mithila City with Viswamithra, Rama's foot brushes a stone, which transforms into a woman. Viswamithra tells the woman's story to Rama. Brahma created Ahalya out of the elements of absolute beauty, and gave her to Sage Gautama as his wife. The god, Indra, lusted after Ahalya. One day Indra came to Ahalya disguised as her husband. Gautama then caught the two having relations. He punished both Indra and Ahalya. He turned Ahalya into a stone, and told her that her punishment would end when Rama, the son of Dasaratha, frees her. This occurs, and Rama advises Ahalya to return to her husband, because her punishment is over, and she should go and be a good wife. I felt that Ahalya took the events entirely too well. In retelling the story, I kept the names of the primary characters the same in order to avoid confusion about who was who, but I changed their relationships, and took out the supernatural element. I also made Ahalya angry over her treatment, which seems a much more reasonable response to me.

Bibliography: Bibliography: Ramayana by Narayan. Web Source.