Storytelling Week 6: Where Are They Now?

"One day I was lounging in the sun, when this guy named Bhima came up to me. He looks like a regular guy to me, and he keeps going on and on about how I'm laying in his pathway, claiming he is as strong as Indra and he will smite me, so on and so on. I was enjoying my nap, after all what else was I supposed to do? Rama asked me to stay behind on Earth to tell his story in return for eternal life. Little did he know, I was telling the truth about him to anyone who asked. That's why I took Rama up on his offer, so that I could set the record straight. Anyways, Bhima gets frustrated and tries to move me. I was getting sick of this guy, so I finally decided to tell him I was the 'Hanuman' and that I wasn't impressed".

Hanuman sneered and exhaled sharply, as if remembering a joke.

"So this guy Bhima gets all bent out of shape. He keeps asking me to recount my experience with Rama and reveal my true form and things like that. I decided that I didn't have anything else to do that day, so I start telling him the story of Rama. Not Rama the legendary embodiment of a God, but the cowardly and incompetent man. I told Bhima that Rama coming into my life was the worst thing that ever happened to me. Now, poor old Bhima looked pretty put down by the whole thing. I almost felt bad, and then I remembered how satisfied I was each time I told the truth about Rama to one of the naive people who believed in him".

Hanuman smiled to himself and then continued speaking.

"Still, this guy Bhima looked like he was broken. Big and strong guy like that, I figured his emotions would be rock solid. I was in a good mood after my nap in the sun, so I figured I could cheer this guy up. I balloon up to my true form, you know the one I use for moving mountains? Yah, that one. Bhima looked a little bit more cheerful after I did that. Bhima finally told me that he was also a son of Vayu. That one threw me for a loop. Who knew that poor old me would have a brother one day. I should start going to the annual family reunion".

Hanuman and Bhima, courtesy of KidsGen

Hanuman now looked like he was almost happy, like all his grievances with humanity and the Gods were forgotten.

"Bhima then said he had to be on his way, something about collecting lotuses for a Draupadi. I legitimately wished the guy well, after all he was my brother. I also hoped that he would remember the truth about that phony Rama, and tell everyone what he learned from me that day".

Author's Note: I have previously written a story about my favorite character from the Ramayana, Hanuman. He appeared again in the Mahabharata and I decided to do a follow up to my grumpy version of Hanuman when he is encountered in the Mahabharata. I figured I would have Hanuman give his version of the meeting with Bhima, his brother. This story is again written as Hanuman telling a silent audience a story about his life. 

Bibliography:

"Mahabharata: Public Domain Edition" by Multiple Authors, link.

"Ramayana: Public Domain Edition" by Multiple Authors, link.