The Princes of Ayodhya-The Ramayan Through Short Stories

Ram and/vs Urmila-Part 1

Ram released an arrow from his bow, blinking as it hit the third, outermost circle of the target. This had happened for days now, his bow never hit the bull's eye, and yet he couldn't fix it. Something felt wrong. Ram studied his bow in confusion, the bow that would never fail. Vishwamitra had stared admiringly at it, calling it quite a marvelous masterpiece. Ram remembered his three brother's eager eyes as they displayed the brand new bow. Ram shook his head. But the memory of Lakshman still poked out.

HIs dark eyes swimming with tears. Then, excited, eager, and proud. Angry when he was even slightly frustrated. Ecstatic when he was only slightly happy. Yes, Lakshman always overreacted. And that would have to stop! There was no way he was letting him blame his blameless sisters just because he was annoyed at the moment, just because he needed someone to direct his anger at! No way.

Sita frowned. Raghunandan was barely functioning these days, and she knew why. He was angry at his brother, from whom he, by the rumor, could not be separated from. Suddenly, an arm brushed against her, and she whirled around. The crazed eyes of Shrutakirti were what she could first see. "Didi, Didi! We can't find Shatrughan's twin, Lakshman bhaiyya is missing! We can't find him anywhere!" She put her face into her hands, as she turned around to face Ram.

"What happened to Lakshman?" he asked breathlessly, dropping his bow. "Where is he? Is he lost? He always had a knack for getting lost. Oh no, oh no, oh no!" A completely and fully angered Urmila stalked up to them, her jaw clenched in anger, her shoulders squared, and her fists balled. Her eyes were filled with tears.

"Didi. If what Ram bhaiyya says is right, then the only place he can get lost is the jungle." she took a long breath in. "There are demons there, demons, rakshasis, rakshasas, wild creatures like lions, tigers-" Sita quickly cut her ominous sister off. Usually Urmila was very optimistic, but what had happened now?

"Don't be mean Urmila, I-" It was Ram's turn to cut her off. "Demons?! Monsters?! Lakshman didn't take his sword, nor his daggers, the last time he stormed off, he threw his weapon everywhere, and walked..." Raghunandan trailed off when he realized what was happening. He always sided with Urmila and Mandavi in the arguments, didn't he? He whirled towards Urmila, who frowned.

"You, you actually did prank him, didn't you? This is your fault! This is entirely your fault! I can't believe it! You did this! You're the reason my brother is going to die in that forest all alone! I can't believe it!" Shatrughan and Bharat had arrived on the spot, and they turned towards Urmila as well, eyes narrowed darkly. Urmila, however, was equally angered, and very much worried for the one whom she loved. She didn't appreciate Ram nearly as much.

"And who told you to defend me all the time, hanh? Who told you that we needed protection? I would have confessed but you decided to defend us against your brother. That's what made him go into the forest. You are the reason that he's going to die! I'll be a widow before I even marry, are you happy now?" Sita quickly ran in between them before the fight got ugly, before they started throwing daggers.

"Hey! Lakshman still hasn't returned! Every word you exchange, he might being torn apart by a long clawed demon! Come on, we have to go! Let's go, you idiots, let's go!" cried Bharat, as they ran into the thicket. Bloody footsteps lead towards the center of the forest, and Ram paled as they ventured deeper into the woods. Suddenly, everything seemed a little louder, the sunlight suddenly disappeared.

Ram was abruptly aware of the fact that Lakshman was barefoot, only wearing an angavastram, a dhoti and a crown. That was it. No weapons, no nothing. Suddenly, other than the footsteps, a trail of blood began. Ram screamed as Bharat and Shatrughan stalled. "No! No, he's injured, he's dying from blood loss. What do I tell father? That I was supposed to protect the kingdom some day, but I was not able to protect the baby brother who loved me so fiercely? What do I tell Maa Sumitra? Her young warrior was defeated! Lakshman, enhancer of her joy, dead." He paled even more. "What do I tell god once I rest at his feet? That the brother who would follow me to the deepest, darkest depths of the underworld, the brother that was loyal without a single fault, the brother that would give up his life for me, dead? Due to my very own foolish actions?"