India, Dec. 26 -- The story of Ramayana is quite a familiar one - Rama kills Ravana, symbolising the victory of good over evil. But author Pragya Agarwal begins her novel, The Renunciation, where the epic supposedly ends. So what you read is 289 pages of the after story where the characters aren't painted as black and white as in the saga. Pragya presents the epic through a fresh lens, narrated through Sita's eyes. But since this isn't the first such attempt, it becomes important to examine how much justice is done to one of the most popular mythological figures! The non-linear narrative is based on a plot that majorly revolves around Sita's life as Vandevi after she is banished from Ayodhya by her husband, Ram. Hiding her true identity, she brings up her sons, Luv and Kush, in Valmiki's hermitage. The drama heightens when they learn the Ramayana documented by their guru, visit Ayodhya and sing it in front of Ram, unbeknownst to the fact that the king is their father. Running parallel to the main scheme of events is Sita's perspective, narrated in flashback. What clicks with the reader is that, unlike any other traditional retelling of the epic, this writing focuses more on Sita's relationship with her husband and the author's delicate handling of the tender moments, the sensory imageries, the familiar ups and downs of married life. Moving beyond the themes of honour, duty, morality, and righteousness, this novel portrays love in its greyest shades, depicting how cracks creep into even the greatest of love stories. Giving Sita's thoughts a voice, it questions the true meaning of a 'hero' and what it costs to be one. At times, however, the narrative falters, offering little that is new, while hanging on to Sita's introspections as she questions the men, the norms, and the laws. But it hardly feel like a breath of fresh air, as much of it remains limited and without substance. More often than not, the chapters end without a strong cliffhanger, losing the reader's attention. But this mythological fiction gathers itself with a powerful ending. In fulfilling her divine purposes as a daughter, wife and mother, Sita reclaims her agency - turning passivity into a source of autonomy. One must credit the writer for not just revisiting the epic through more reflective eyes but also nudging the timeless questions. Title: The Renunciation Author: Pragya Agrawal Publisher: Rupa Publications Price: Rs.395...