Week 7 Story: Apartment 4D

Jess had had it. It was exhausting. Living with three other dudes was mentally draining. To add to the misery, Coach was moving back in, so make that four dudes. Nick, Schmidt and Winston were so excited to have their old friend back. Jess was at her breaking point though, she was thinking of moving out and running away to another city. She was in between jobs, teaching wasn't going too great for her at the moment. Her best friend Cece was thinking of moving back home to India, so she really had no roots keeping her in the city of Los Angeles. Jess and Nick had long broken up, so she certainly didn't have a boyfriend holding her back. Jess was thinking of moving back to Portland, where all her family lived, her mom, dad and sister, Abby.

It was time to tell the boys that she was leaving. As Jess rounded up everyone in the living room, she began to think over the past memories she had in this loft, and felt a little emotional. All the guys staggered in, really confused what was going on. Nick and Schmidt were bickering about something stupid, as usual, and Winston still was looking for his cat, Ferguson. In a panic, Jess started rambling on and on about a bird she saw earlier that day, nervous to tell everyone she was leaving. Back to Portland she goes. All the guys were shocked, but that wore all quick as everyone started screaming at once. No one wanted her to go, it was something they hadn't seen coming. Jess started telling them how she didn't feel like she belonged anywhere anymore. The guys were all so upset at this news, telling Jess in their different ways that she was a vital part of the loft and their friendship. At this news, Jess started crying and decided maybe all the stress of living with these boys could have been worth it. She just didn't see what was right in front of her.

Author's Note: As I was thinking of what to write for this story, New Girl, the tv show, popped up on tv and I was instantly hooked. I have loved that show for a long time, so I wanted to rewrite it with Indian Epics elements wrapped into it. Instead of running away from the losing battle, Jess is running away from her battle of being the only girl living in an apartment with four dudes. Her final argument, aka battle, was with the guys after they found out she was thinking of leaving. I only took the general plot from the original story and made my own version of what I think that learning opportunity would be if told now days.

Source: Duryodhana in the Lake from Indian Myth and Legend by Donald A. Mackenzie

 
(Apartment 4D: wikimedia)

Reading Notes: Mahabharata Part D

Source: Indian Myth and Legend by Donald A. Mackenzie

Duryodhana in the Lake is one of those stories that really stood out to me. The Kauravas at this point had fled in terror after Karna had been killed. Kripa told Duryodhana that peace was to come as the warriors had been killed. Duryodhana was scared of everything he had done to the Pandavas and that they would not accept his plea for mercy. Duryodhana realized that the war would have to continue till the end. Shalya was the new leader of the Kaurava's army, which had decreased in numbers greatly. The Pandavas were fighting warriors that never ceased so on the eighteenth day Duryodhana decided to run away, taking with him his mace. He had the power to hide in the water for as long as he needed, so he dove into the lake and hide beneath the water's surface.

Shalya was eventually killed by Yudhishthira, and he fell hard. Sahadeva killed the fake Shakuni and Bhima killed all of Duryodhana's brother that had survived. The only remaining heroes left of the Kaurava's army were Ashwathaman, Kirpa and the hidding Duryodhana. Bhima eventually discovered where Duryodhana was hidding and Yudhishthira went to the lake to tell him to come out. Duryodhana told the Pandavas to take him kingdom as he was going to the woods for meditation in exile. Duryodhana and Yudhishthira fought back and forth. Eventually, Duryodhana and Bhima fought in battle and Duryodhana was slain. Bhima's destiny was fulfilled and Draupadi was avenged. Yudhishthira was not happy though, as this death would look bad on all of them. Arjuna took Bhima away. Yudhishthira knelt by Duryodhana and asked what he should do to honor Duryodhana, as he had been cheated in battle. Krishna tried to find the balance in everything that had happened, as all the bad equaled each other out. Krishna easied the venegful spirit of Balarama and told him not to cause any more battles.


(Duryodhana in the Lake: wikimedia)

Reading Notes: Mahabharata Part C

Source: Indian Myth and Legend by Donald A. Mackenzie

Riddles at the Lake was one story that really stood out to me throughout the section of readings. The Pandava had been in exile for twelve years at this point in the woods. One last challenge blocked them though from this exit of survival. A stag with twig antlers was sprinting away through the woods, and they were instructed to catch it. The twigs were needed to start a fire. After chasing the stag, they were all exhausted so they needed to rest and drink some water. Yudhishthira had sent Nakula to the river, but said not to drink from it until he had answered the question. Nakula was so thirsty though, he completely forgot about all the fear of the Yudhishthira. As he drank from the waters, he died. Sahadeva followed his brother andgazed upon the pool, and even though he heard the voice too, he drank from the pool. He died.

Arjuna approached the water and demanded the voice show itself. He ended up drinking from the river, along with Bhima, and they both fell dead. Yudhishthira approached his brothers and saw them all dead, and asked the voice to appear. The voice claimed he was yaksha and he had warned his brothers to not drink the water. Yudhishthira told the yaksha to ask his questions and so it began. The yaksha asked a multitude of questions, each one being answered by Yudhishthira with a sense of wisdom and knowledge. After all the questions had been answered, the voice revealed himself as Dharma, the god of wisdom and justice. Dharma granted Yudhishthira two boons, and then he asked Dharma to bring his brothers back to life. So Dharma accepted this request and brought his brothers back and gave the brothers all the power to claim the thrown and to never be challenged.


(Pandava's Exile: wikimedia)