The Inseparable Princes

52. Ten plus Five minus One

"He did this to me, Bhrata! That Ram and Lakshman, they should be killed! They have humiliated me!" screeched Shurpanakha, as Khara listened patiently, his fury increasing by the second, however.

"We shall march to their cottage in Panchavati, and kill that ascetic and his family. Get the army ready!"

★★★

"Boys!" screamed Sita, exasperated. Rama and Lakshmana had been sitting melancholically all morning, the next day, and simply refused to eat anything or do anything but scowl at the ground or glare at a branch. "Will you both stop terrorizing nature by making at them the most furious faces one could even make, please?"

She didn't receive a response, but only a little glare from Rama, before he turned back around. Sita sighed angrily.

"Fine. Fine! You guys can just enjoy doing what you're doing over here, alright?" she growled, inhaling deeply. "I'm leaving!"

Both Rama and Lakshmana's heads darted up.

"Where are you going?" asked Rama worriedly.

"How does that matter? I might as well wander in the woods! You both are just acting so... Idiotic!" she scowled, as Lakshmana got up.

"Okay Bhabhi. But what do you want us to do? Your life was in danger, and we're obviously worried about it. And now, my foolishness has brought to you only some more danger!" said Lakshmana frustratedly.

"Your foolishness? I beg your pardon!" scowled Rama angrily, his head darting up. "It was all because I was standing there without doing a single thing. Whereas it was you who saved Sita from that cannibalistic woman! I'm ever indebted to you, really, Laksh!"

"WHAT! Indebted? To me? You? Bhaiya what are you talking about? How do you suppose you-Ugh! Bhaiya, there's nothing to do with debt and all that. It-it is my responsibility, here, to be protecting you from all the potentially dangerous things. If I don't even do this-"

"Then you're useless and all! Laksh, we've listened to this for thirteen full years. Now will you shut up for goodness sake!" said Sita irritatedly.

★★★

"Bhrata, it was all the fault of Sita, that I've been disfigured. It is her because of whom those two sons of Dasharath did this to me!" she said accusingly. She tried to portray the episode like Sita was at fault for everything and thus, it was her who needed to be punished.

"The army is leaving now, Shurpanakha. Don't worry, don't worry at all, for they shall return only after they end the life of those two men!" said Khara promisingly. "Fourteen demons is what I've sent. Show them the way to that cottage. I am certain that those two men will die in an instant, and you can have your revenge!"

"Sure, Bhrata."

★★★

"Bhaiya! There are demons there. I've been trying to tell you! That woman-she's there too!" growled Lakshmana wrathfully. "She has got these around fifteen men to kill us?"

"Raghav! This is an open challenge, I suppose, or her way of extracting her so-called revenge. Do something," said Sita pleadingly.

"Don't worry, Sita." said Rama, his eyes crinkled in concentration, as he made sure that his bowstring was fit for use. "Go back, you both." he ordered. Lakshmana didn't have a chance to protest this time, therefore he went back towards the cottage too, but had all his weapons ready, in case he was required to attack, which he knew, in his brother's presence, he wouldn't need to.