Masterchef PanchavatiThe next morning, Rama & Lakshman approach Sita in the kitchen. On Rama's prodding, Lakshman perks up
L: Bhabi, I have been thinking...
V: What, about what you did yesterday?
L: Yeah, I thought about how I had insulted all of womankind by cutting off Shurpi's nose. I had also been betrayed by my own skills @ dagger tossing, since it was just supposed to play the role of a special purpose nailclipper, and not chop off her nose. And I did clip her nails, which were near her waist - I have no idea how her nose got in b/w
V: Well, your failure to aim a dagger was less important by what you heaved on all womankind. Poor Shurpi's nose is gone. Now who will ever marry her? How will she have sons?
R: Sitae, why does her future have to hinge on marriage? Is that the only thing that women are capable of doing? Just marrying, cooking, doing pujas, observing vraths, et al? In our family, don't you remember mata Kaikeyi, who accompanied Pitashree to battle, and when he was injured, drove him out of danger in her chariot? With some more skills, a woman can even fight in battles.
L (sarcastically): Yeah, mata Kaikeyi
Rama gives him a cold stare, & Lakshman turns back to Sita
V: Swami, while Mithila may be like that, it's not true of other kingdoms. It's certainly not true of the society that Shurpi is from. Think about her. She is now disfigured and no man in his right mind will ever wanna marry her
L: Bhabi, the Rakshashas are certainly a lot more willing to tolerate more. Like mata Kaikeyi was disowned by Pitashree, but she hasn't donned bridal gear and gone out looking for a new husband. Shurpi too was widowed by Ravan himself, and she's been looking for men who'd marry her. How many widows can you think of who have it that great? The rest of their lives are miserable, which is why women wanna die as suhaags
R: Sitae, to show that Lakshman & I are not misogynist, we've decided to do something new today. Role swap. Normally, all I do is rest and do pujas, and occasionally, kill asuras, while you cook for all of us. Today, Lakshman & I will cook, while you can rest, do pujas, and even kill asuras. In fact, you will do it better - you will be more careful not to widow or orphan innocent asuris or asura kids. Which is why this is such a good idea
V: I don't mind doing that, but are you sure you can cook?
L: Bhabi, you're forgetting that we are shishyas of Guru Vashistha. We lived for years in Gurukul
V: Mata Arundhati told me about that. Yeah, you did fine work chopping wood, gathering food, but one thing that you weren't asked to do was cook
L: It wasn't part of our chores, but that don't mean that we weren't taught it
V: Okay, suit yourself
So Rama & Lakshman sit down to cook. They fill a pot w/ water, and rice up to 1/3 the pot. In another pot, Rama puts in some daal, adds water to it, and then tosses in some dhanya, parsley and other spices. Sita watches, bemused
V: Arya...
R: Sitae, don't you have confidence in our cooking abilities?
V: Actually, no, but being a pativrata, I can't say that to you. So answer is yes.
R: Okay, then don't be so tense
L: Bhaiya, I think we're forgetting something
V: I think it's the salt
Rama takes the entire load of rock salt and tosses it into the daal. He then stirs it, and lets it cook. Sita watches nervously
After a while, the food is ready. Except that it was a huge amount of rice - enough to feed that entire village. Same story w/ the daal.
S: Arya, you've cooked fine, but there is no way I see us finishing all this
L: However, bhabi, how is it?
Sita tastes it and smiles
S: It's delicious. I had no idea that you were so good
Rama & Lakshman high 10 each other. Lakshman gathers the palm leaves, while Rama serves rice & daal to all of them - the usual amounts
Just then, Shurpi arrives, fresh from her humiliation in Lanka, particularly her argument w/ Vibheeshan. She approaches them
S: Sita, I'm sorry that I went for you yesterday. Will you accept my apologies?
V: Sure. But to be convinced, you have to join us for lunch
R: Also, we've cooked enough that only a rakshasha/rakshashi can finish. So you came at the right time. But for me to forgive you, you must finish whatever we serve you
So Shurpi sits down, and Lakshman gets her another palm leaf and serves her the remaining rice & daal on that. Shurpi takes a handful and eats it, and makes the ugliest face that she could
S: Ugh!!! It's over-salted. Sita, how did you like it?
L: Reason is she is a pativrata and not overcome by lust, that's why. It didn't matter how it tasted, the fact that we had so lovingly made it is what made her accept it. You too would have liked it if your heart were pure
S: My heart is pure. Okay, I'll have it. But I'll need plenty of water - please don't hold that against me
So Lakshman split a coconut and gave her the water. Shurpi struggled to eat that, but being a rakshashi, managed to finish it.
S: I won't have to eat for another year
And then left
V: Lakshman, didn't you find it too salty?
L: No. After the bitterness w/ which you attacked me yesterday, any food you made was gonna be as bitter. Our oversalted food was an improvement, and saved us from that
V: Lakshman, I'm sorry that I made you feel that way. I promise you that anything I make for you won't remind you of our disagreements
R: That was good. Sitae, our next step will be for all of us - you included - to cook together. Together, we can improve on this
Sita groaned, and went back into the puja room to pray to Annapurna to prevent their combined cooking projects from being an unmitigated disaster
