Storytelling for Week 3: Sugriva and Vali

Sugriva and Vali  

   There once was two best friends named Vali and Sugriva. Vali and Sugriva have known each other since they were children. They did everything together – played the same sports and had the same interests. As they grew their friendship only grew stronger.
    Vali was heir to the thrown and so when his father died he became the ruler of his country. Sugriva was always a little jealous of Vali but that did not hinder him from being proud of Vali and congratulating him. Sugriva was Vali’s right hand man and for Sugriva that was good enough.
    The country was at war and so being king Vali had to go into battle and lead his people. Vali fought well for a time but after a few months of battle the enemy got the best of him and him and soldiers surrounded. The enemy killed everybody at that battle or that was what they thought. Vali was actually the only one that survived the battle but no one was aware of this. The enemy had him as a prisoner of war.
     Contrary to the truth, word reached Sugriva that Vali was killed in battle. Sugriva was devastated by the news. He mourned for his friend Vali for days. So because the people believed that Vali had been killed in battle they decided to appoint Sugriva as king. He was the second hand man to Vali so it only made sense to. Sugriva dutifully accepted the appointment.
    For years, Sugriva ruled and he was a good king. The people loved him for he brought an end to the war and brought wealth to the kingdom. Vali was forgotten.
    Seven years had passed and Vali is finally able to escape from the enemies. His time as a prisoner of war was horrible. They tortured and humiliated him. Every day during his imprisonment he prayed that his friend Sugriva would save him but as the years progressed Vali gave up. He started to go crazy and formulate absurd ideas. For instance, he believed that it was Sugriva that put him in this prison. He began believing that Sugriva struck up a deal with the enemy to get rid of him so Sugriva could be king. Vali vowed that he would escape from his imprisonment avenge himself. His plan was to steal Sugriva’s wife.
    Upon arriving at Sugriva’s palace, Vali approached Sugriva. Sugriva did not recognize him. Vali introduced himself and then angrily accused him of leaving him in the enemies’ hands to die. Sugriva tried to explain himself, saying that he truly thought that he had died but Vali would not listen. Instead Vali grabbed Sugriva and held a knife to him, telling him that he was going to kill him. Sugriva started crying. Seeing Sugriva cry woke Vali up and made him look around him. All over the palace were paintings and memorials of himself. This made Vali realize that Sugriva truly did care about him because then why would he have all of these decorations up. Vali embraced Sugriva and asked for Sugriva’s forgiveness to which Sugriva replied that he would only accept if Vali would accepts his forgiveness.

(Vali and Sugriva)

Author’s Note:
This story is loosely based on “Sugriva’s Story.” I changed it to be more focused on friendship and I also wanted it to have a happier ending. I did not include Sugriva’s wife because I wanted the story to just focus on Vali and Sugriva and how they were able to sustain their friendship despite the incredible hardhips.

"Sugriva's Story" from Ramayana (1913). Public Domain Edition Ramayana