❗𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐈𝐊𝐀 𝐃𝐄𝐕𝐈 : ɢʟɪᴍᴘᴇ𝗌ᴇ𝗌 ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪғᴇ ᴏғ ᴀʏᴏᴅʜʏᴀ'𝗌 ʀᴀᴊᴋᴜᴍᴀʀɪ

𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓟𝓲𝓽𝓪𝓶𝓪𝓱𝓲 -𝓹𝓸𝓾𝓽𝓻𝓲 𝓭𝓾𝓸!

In Ayodhya, Raj mahal
In the morning.

Sumitra, the princess of Kashi, & Koushalya, the princess of Kosala were like sisters. You could ask any maid or person in the palace or even King Dasharath himself! They would all say that Sumitra was like Koushalya's shadow, always accompanying and helping Koushalya do her duties.

They would bring up stories like the time when Sumitra didn't see Koushalya, even once, throughout the day, she started to berate Dasharath for making Koushalya overwork in her obligations as Queen. "It's your fault, Arya! I don't want any excuses! Koushalya didi never ignored me like this! If you want to have dinner without mirchi tonight, then I suggest you bring her, here!" Sumitra reprimanded him. By Narayan's mercy, Dasharath narrowly managed to escape Sumitra's wrath.

So it was no surprise that Sumitra & Aranika got along well. Aranika was like Koushalya in many ways. Her kindness, her humility & her intelligence resembled Koushalya. Sumitra would often tell her stories. And since the Rajmata was skilled in sewing, Sumitra would also teach Aranika how to fix her slightly torn garments, how to embroider a floral design Aranika liked and such things.

"Putri, once you have your needle threaded, you don't have to make the thread even on both sides, the knotted end is supposed to be larger than the loose tail on the other side", Shrutkirti advised. Aranika wanted to learn how to do a basic stitch as one of her clothes had torn and so that turned into a half-an-hour session of learning. Sumitra was more than glad to teach her poutri, and Shrutkirti had also joined them.

Aranika & her pitamahi would also often take strolls in the garden, chatting about something or the other. Today, when Aranika asked Sumitra, "Pitamahi, can you tell me about the time when Chacha Shatrughan & Chacha Lakshman had their pillow fight? I'm really eager to know this story!" Sumitra, obviously, obliged.

"Before I start narrating the story, I should mention that I wasn't present. I only know what the four princes told me, not the whole story.

What happened was that Lakshman & Shatrughan, both were with their brothers, Ram & Bharat. They'd just returned from Gurukul & the four of them slept together since they were used to it. Shatrughan wanted to hide Lakshman's dagger for fun, but the challenge was that Lakshman kept his dagger under the pillow!

So Shatrughan couldn't take the dagger without waking Lakshman up. Still, he tried & ended up with a grumpy Lakshman, who wanted his dagger back. Their pillow fight started, waking up Ram & Bharat, who tried to stop it but failed. The pillows were half torn because of the fight & the room was a mess!",

"Hearing the noise, myself, Dasharath, Koushalya jiji & Kaikeyi jiji rushed to the room. And then, Ram & Bharat explained what happened & Lakshman got his dagger back. What Shatrughan got was a nice scolding from me, Kaikeyi didi & Koushalya jiji."

Aranika said, "Lakshman chacha & Shatrughan Chacha are both equally mischievous, right Pitamahi?"

"They are, though I suppose Lakshman does less mischief than Shatrughan", answered Sumitra.

They spent so much reminiscing, that the both, the pitamahi & poutri didn't notice it was time for the sabha! And so Sumitra & Aranika both went to the throne room, where the Sabha was to be held. Today was a day when the common people would present their problems to Ram & he and his court would help them.

To be continued...

Agle chapter mein continue hoga, thik hai na? And yes Ik ki bohat intezaar karwaya, maaf kardo please 🥺

[Translation for those who need it : This will be continued in the next chapter, okay right? And yes Ik that I made you all wait for a long time, forgive me please 🥺]

See you all in the next chapter ~ Punya