The Princes of Ayodhya-The Ramayan Through Short Stories

Tourism at its Worst

        "Maa," began Shatrughan weakly, touching Kaushalya's arm. Kaushalya immediately looked up from the bed, and her face broke into a relaxed smile around him. It had been exactly a month since Dasharath's passing, and even with days upon end to adapt, she had not. She could not live with the fact that he was not sitting on his throne, listening to his subjects, or walking around, clutching his stomach, or stroking his beard.

And then the absence of Ram, Sita, and Lakshman. Ram was not practicing his archery, he was not at the dining table, nor was he telling off Shatrughan and Lakshman. Sita was not strolling around the palace, working on her knitting, staring at the horizons as if hypnotized by the colors. Lakshman was not out in the courtyard, grumbling at Urmila and Shatrughan's antics, nor was he in the weapons room.

"What do we do?" asked Kaushalya raspily, shaking her head and swallowing. "What do we do? I have seen two of them grow up, I have seen them mature and grow, and to be ripped apart from them-Shatru, how do I live? How do I possibly live? It would be as if you were pulled away from us, you and Bharat or Shrutakirti or Mandavi and -" she buried her head in her hands, and her shoulders shook with silent cries.

Shatrughan shook his head and wrapped an arm around her with a smile. "Maa, don't lament anymore! We're going to the forest! We're going to Chitrakoot to convince them to return back to the kingdom! We're all going, well, except, Urmila bhabhi, she wants to stay back." Shatrughan paused, thinking for a moment, before he turned back to his mother. "Well, what are you doing Maa? Get ready!"

Kaushalya nodded, flicking a tear away from her eye, and Shatrughan raced off to notify everyone else in the palace, from Bharat to Sumant. Finally, he caught up to Mandavi, who quickly called him back. "Shatru, I am worried for Bharat," she whispered urgently. "I am worried how he will react if Ram bhaiyya and Lakshman bhaiyya and Sita didi cannot return today. He is placing all his hopes upon that happening, and you know he'll break down if-"

Shatrughan quickly cut her off. "No, bhabhi! I am sure that they will return! They have to, don't you understand? If they don't, then it would spell out devastation! We won't be able to live fourteen years without the three of them. Bhabhi, don't say such negative things. If anything happens to Bharat bhaiyya, then I myself will take care of him! But bhabhi, let's be optimistic." Mandavi nodded.

"I only wish I could share your optimism, Shatru." She then looked up and smiled at him. "If only the entire kingdom-no, the entire world were as optimistic as you, Shatru, then it would all be a better place. Everything is built off of optimism. Jealousy happens because we cannot think of a better future, as does murder. You must all teach us someday," Shatrughan nodded, pausing for a second, before he rushed off again.

"Come on, everyone! Come on! Come on!" cried Shatrughan from the courtyard below, where their largest chariot was all assembled and ready. "Come on, you slowpokes! Hurry up, Bharat! All the mothers and queens are in the chariot," Kaikeyi looked away. "You must come down!" Bharat's laughter echoed through the empty castle as he grasped Mandavi's arm and pulled her gently towards the chariot where they all sat.

"Go! Go!" cried the ecstatic and impatient Kaushalya, and the charioteer snapped the reins. Seconds before he acted, however, the horses had already started to move, they were too eager to see their king. Laughter was echoing through the courtyard again as Urmila looked down from the balcony, inhaling sharply and quickly, in a harsh manner, before she turned away, disappearing into the shadows.

-----O-----

"The river is so cool and calm, Shatrughan. I wonder how they passed over it without the aid of a boat, wide as it is," Kaushalya mentioned wonderingly as they crossed it with the royal boat, also lugging along the chariot behind it. "It would have been impossible!" The royal boat was embellished with golden charms and made of a shining maple wood, glistening under the golden sunlight.