Famous Last Words: Back to the real world

This past Spring Break week was not what I was expecting at all. I flew to Philadelphia and now I am sitting in the airport waiting to fly back. I thought that this week would be mostly filled with fun times, great memories, and lots of exploring. Instead, it was mostly stressful, I was not feeling well, and now I am just exhausted. I was so homesick for so much of the trip and now I can't wait to come home and hang out with my family. It was nice seeing my boyfriend there since we hardly ever see each other, but I am looking forward to being home.

Once I land in Oklahoma, I will once again be a part of the real world of work, school, and responsibilities. I have to keep reminding myself that there won't be any relaxing time between arriving in Norman and suddenly being busy again. I am already falling behind because the time I thought I could spend working on school work was not available during this trip as I had planned. I have an independent study course this semester that I am so behind on and feel so unprepared for that I have stress dreams about it all the time.

I finished my revision assignment for my second portfolio story and I am feeling really good about the direction my project is taking and I am excited to continue working on it to see the final product!

Me and a statue of Benjamin Franklin at UPenn

I think the best part of this trip though was definitely seeing how obsessed Philadelphia is with Benjamin Franklin. He is everywhere! And I am taking him as my inspiration to finish this semester strong. As someone who used his wit and education to raise him up to the very top of American society, I can follow his footsteps to at least finish these last few months of college.

Week 9 Storytelling: Saved

Draupadi was crouched in a corner of her apartment, hands clasped together tightly, shivering.

"Sorry about all that, Draupadi," her brother said. "But at least we saved you! See you tomorrow." Without another look back, her four brothers walked out of the apartment. 

She was left alone with the memory of her abduction. She had been simply walking behind her brothers, down the streets of New York, when a man suddenly grabbed, forced her into a van, and drove off. Yes, her brothers had saved her, but she didn't feel safe. Every shadow was after her. Every man was just waiting to grab her. 

Her brothers were powerful, and power naturally attracts enemies. Her brothers ran the city while everyone who wanted to hurt them used her as an easy target. 

She wasn't sure how long she stayed crouched in that corner of her apartment. Several mornings passed until she looked up and the rays from the sun shone so brightly in her eyes, filling her up with hope and anger. 

That day she enrolled in every self-defense class she could. She had a knife short enough to conceal, but long enough to do it's job. She wore nothing but running shoes and pants. 

A few months later, she was going for a run in Central Park when she tripped on something. There was nothing in her way before, but when she looked up, Kichaka stood over her. He was one of her brothers' sworn enemies. Before she could react, Kichaka kicked her in the head and the stomach. Her head aching and eyes blurring, she couldn't fight back as he put her in handcuffs and put her in a van. 

Photo of abandoned factory
Source: Wikimedia

The brothers of Draupadi heard rumors that their sister had been taken, abducted by Kichaka. They searched for Kichaka's hideout, but it took so long they were beginning to wonder if they would find their sister alive. 

Finally, they heard where exactly they could find their sister. As the busted into the abandoned factory, they expected to see their poor, innocent sister tied up and at the mercy of their enemy. 

Instead, Draupadi stood over the limp body of Kichaka, blood on her hands and victory in her eyes. 

"What are you doing here dear brothers?" she asked. 

"We... we came to save you," the eldest said shakily. 

"As you can see, I am no longer in need of your protection. Sorry to waste your time. See you tomorrow!" Without looking back, Draupadi left the factory leaving her brothers to shake in fear from the power and strength of their little sister.


Author's Note: This is a retelling and modern version of the story of Draupadi'a abduction. As I mention in my reading notes, I wish there was more strong women in the Mahabharata that kicked some serious butt. I also don't think Draupadi would be abducted by Jayadratha and then wait patiently to be abducted again and her brother to save her. So my story is set in modern New York (inspired by Law and Order SVU) and shows a bada** Draupadi who is unsatisfied with being saved by others. She wants power for herself and she works for it and overcomes her enemies. 

Bhima and Kichaka. The Indian Heroes by C. A. Kincaid (1921).