RAMATHMAJA 1 - "Call Of The Worlds"

28. The Shishupalic Snake

*2 weeks later*

"Saagar bhaiyya, didn't Dushhala ji come?" Shruthakirti asked.

"No Shruthi, she said, she don't want to visit the palace where Ram isn't there. Jayananth said that she was crying last night, she is missing Harshavardhan. That's why she didn't come"

"Yeah, they are best friends" Mandavi added.

***********

*Garden*

Shashirekha and Harshavardhan approached Raghavi, who was sitting alone on a bench without a smile. This was the first time they were meeting after they grew up. When they came infront of Raghavi, she didn't notice them, she was lost in own thoughts. Shashi and Harshavardhan exchanged looks. They decided to play with her and cheer up their new friend. Harshavardhan started "Princess Aranika, my name is Harshavardhan, prince of Kashi. My mother name is Dushhala and father name is Jayananth. She is my sister Shashirekha"

"You may call me Shashi" she added.

Aranika came out her thoughts and looked up. She got down the bench and greeted them. "Sorry, I was thinking something. I didn't notice you both" Aranika said.

"Are you sad Rajkumari?"Harshavardhan asked.

"Nothing like that Rajkumar. I was just thinking about my parents, did they got any food today or not? Are they alright? I was just thinking" Aranika replied.

"Sometimes even my mother thinks like this and cries silently. Everyday she pray Lord Shiva to take care of them. She said about your father and Lakshman Mamu, they killed Tadaka right, even your mother lifted Shiv Dhanush right. Ram uncle visited us when we were 1 year old, he is very good person. After our b'day celebrations, my mother and your father practiced sword fight for some time too. As usual your father won but both of them were happy, my father said. Now we wish we meet him, that would be nice right. Atleast I want to see his face" Shashi said.

"Come, I will show their faces. On the way to my room, some paintings are there, you can see our family photos there" Aranika smiled

"Photos?" Shashi and Harshavardhan quizzed.

"Umm....I mean memories..um paintings" Aranika corrected. Shashi and Harshavardhan followed Aranika to her room. On the way, they saw beautiful paintings stuck on the wall. Finally they entered Aranika's room too. The room was pleasant and pretty. The balcony has a swing and many flowerpots. The room was pleasant. There was a side table near the settee. Shashi went there and saw a glass bottle filled with soil and a three gold coins on the top. She saw a peacock feather beside that. She asked "Aranika, what are these?"

She and Harsha turned back. Aranika said "Those are symbols of my parents, if I miss them, I touch them and feel they are with me" 

"But how these represent your parents?"Harshavardhan asked.

"See, my mother is bhumija, she is as pure as gold, so I put some soil into the bottle and added few gold coins. My father is a perfect man, he is beautiful, calm and good person so I represent him with a peacock feather which has mostly all colors which we can see on earth, in the same way my father posses all good qualities a person can on earth" 

"Ooo" the twins responded.

"Princess, why aren't you smiling? Come on, look at us and practice." Harshavardhan said

"Looks like we need to teach our new friend how to smile" Shashi added.

Both of them walked to her and hugged her and said "Never ever feel alone, we are always with you. Just like how Sri Rama never left our mother alone and stayed by her side throughout their journey as friends, we will never leave your side."