The Inseparable Princes

7. स्वयंवर

"Okay okay, Bhaiya... Let's go and see the Shiva Dhanush,"

The boys saw the place where the bow of Mahadeva had been kept. The legends of the bow were told to the boys.

It was then that Janaka announced that, "Whoever can string this bow of the revered Mahadeva, shall have the hand of my daughter, Sita,"

★★★

"It's your sister's swayamvar, right? Is there anybody that she wants to wed in particular?" asked Lakshmana to Urmila.

He didn't get a response from her for quite a long time, as they walked in the woods.

"Urmila?"

He still didn't get a response.

"Urmila?!" he called out loudly, as he placed his hand gently on her left shoulder.

"Huh?" she responded as a reflex, she was startled. "Di....did you...did you sa..say something?"

"Are you fine Mila?" he asked, gently wrapping his arm around her shoulders, when he saw tears filled in her gorgeous eyes.

"What?" she asked, as she turned towards him.

"What?" he asked too.

"What...what did you call me?" she asked.

"Mila? That's not the point. The point is....why are you crying?" he said.

"I? I...I'm not," she lied.

"Don't lie," he said, tightening his grip around her. "Why are you crying? The rest of the kingdom is celebrating your sister's wedding, and you?"

"I can't live without her! I just can't. If she gets married, I'll have to live away from her. I.... I can't! And you'll never understand!" she cried.

"I do understand, Urmila. If I were to live away from my Ram bhaiya, even for a day, I'd sit and sob the whole day" he said we a smile.

"You would?" she asked in astonishment. She didn't know there was somebody else too who was that attached to their sibling.

"Yup! There's no doubt about that. So I can understand. But, you should spend as much time with her as possible, right? And it's not like she won't come to visit you ever again," he said, trying to cheer her up.

"But!"

"No, Mila,". he hushed her. "Come. Sit here... Calm...calm down,"

"But...but why should Didi live away from me? It isn't fair," she cried.

"She'll never be away from you, for she's always in your heart. You are hers and she's yours. Don't worry, nobody else can take up a position in your heart, that she has. Also, if it's for her happiness, then you wouldn't be this sad, I suppose," he explained.

"I fear she won't be too happy with the people who wish to marry her,"

'She'll certainly be happy with one person. And I know, it's only him and her who are going to get married,' he thought.

★★★

Days passed, and it was the day when the bow was to be strung. It was the day the Princess of Mithila was to become the Queen or Princess of another Kingdom. It was the day she would find her love.