Rama - Beyond Maryada Purushottama

Part Four

Disclaimer: Pretty poorly written happy stuff. And quite passionately written sad stuff 😅 Enjoy!

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The very feeling of stepping foot into his own land once again felt unbelievable. He couldn't believe how long it had been.

Bharata. He saw him there. He saw his little brother, his eyes brimming with tears but an ear-to-ear grin on his face contrarily. Rama thought he'd run into his embrace any moment, but he stood stuck to the ground where he was. It was like he was so numb, that he couldn't even move a muscle.

So Rama decided to seek a hug instead. He wanted one. He missed his brother dearly. He knew how much Bharata would've made himself suffer for no fault of his. And he knew the only thing that's heal his wounded heart was his love.

Bharata would've showed all his teeth, and more if he could. He was the happiest he had ever been. When he felt the warmth of his brother as his chin rested on his shoulder, he couldn't explain how secure he felt.

Rama just had a very straightforward, childlike feeling of elation. He was so happy. He had met his beloved brother, his dear friend, his lifeline after so long. He didn't know how he had managed to get by, without seeing those bright, happy eyes every morning, as he used to earlier.

Before he could realise much, however, Shatrughna ran over to them from the other side. As authoritatively as a youngest brother would behave, he squeezed his way into the hug, whether the older two liked it or not.

Rama chuckled, patting him. Rama was so glad to see his baby brother behaving like a baby. He'd have hated it if it was any different. Life had become so bland without his exasperating blabbering and infuriating pranks. He hoped to get some of those back.

Rama's eyes scanned the place, seeing if everybody he wanted there was there. His mothers, his sisters, his two brothers who were right in front of him... They were all there.

And though he knew it, with a little twinge, he remembered his father. He missed him bitterly. Sometimes, he wondered if he'd ever get that fatherly love again. Yes, Raja Janaka was as much a father to him as Dasharatha. But it just seemed...impossible to get that kind of affection again. And it hurt a lot, even if for a brief period, every time he remembered him.

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Rama smiled. His gratefulness was so evident on his face. The cheers of the people became louder by the second, as Rama and Sita sat on the throne of the King and the Queen respectively, after being appointed so officially.

The coronation of Rama, that should ideally have happened fourteen years back, was now, finally, completed.

Rama shook his head, pouting, when he noticed his Lakshmana getting slightly sentimental, with a few tears filling his smiling eyes.

"Not today." he said, smiling, to his little brother, who attempted to explain that he didn't have the ability to control these tears of happiness. "Even if they're out of happiness, no tears today."

When he turned to his other two brothers, however, Bharata too looked quite teary (but grinning too). Shatrughna was scolding him for that too, just like Rama was explaining to Lakshmana. He laughed.

Suddenly, he felt his queen's slender fingers entwine around his hand, that was on the armrest. He turned to her, his smile only growing on seeing her glowing face.  She didn't say much. Her smile, her eyes said it all. The pride in them, the love... They revealed it all.