Upkatha

Way too extra

But tell me, my kind lady.
Haven't there been tales of love among mortals and gods?

×××××××××××××××

"Hmm, let's go over the routine, shall we? "paced Lakshman, eyeing Rama with beady eyes.

"Laksh I-"

"Nope.'

"Hear me out-"

"Nope."

"Are you taking some kind of a revenge? I swear, it was just a bite."

"Nuhh, wait what?" he stopped short and raised his brows.

Rama turned to face the wall, " It was my tenth summer and Maa Kaikyei had made your favorite ladoos . You were- If I'm not wrong, strutting around the palace in search of the shadow demons. Only God knows how Shatru comes up with all that stuff. He's too vivid to own a mind.
Coming back to the point, I was in some sugar frenzy, and unintentionally ate your share too. It started with a bite, and the rest is history."

"So you ate my ladoos while I was hunting down shadow demons?"

"It sounds weird when you put it that way, but yes."

Laksh laughed, a rather shady laugh I must add, "And you're telling me now?"

"In my defence, I was incredibly guilty. You know how particular I was as a kid."

"Scratch that was."

Rama gave him a 'yeah right' look.

"The deed has been done. And nice effort at trying to deviate me. But now, you must practice the manhandling routine."said the younger one, placing his hands on Rama's shoulders.

"Pray tell me, Dashrathnandan Lakshman, why will I ever need to manhandle someone when I have this!" he exclaimed in exaggeration and held up his bow.

"One can never be sure." he clicked.

Rama simply blinked in response.

The very next moment, he was thrown on the floor with Rama on top of him, pinning him to the ground.

"Bhaiyaa, what the heck?"he shrieked, trying to process the spontaneity.

"I manhandle just fine, don't I Lakshu?"

"OH MY DAYS!"screamed Bharat, covering Shatru's eyes while at it.

"Ish, what is it now?"huffed Rama bringing himself and Lakshman to his feet.

"Tell me I did not just see you guys in a very compromising position!"

Shatru clapped and wolf whistled, "Bharat bhaiyaa, this is exactly why I love you. Your unintentional humor can blow the roof off."

Rama shook his head, his brothers were way too extra.

×××××××××××××

Lakshaman smiled at Shatrughan and pulled him into hug.

"Are you feeling alright, Laksh?"
Physical affection and Lakshman did not go in the same sentence.

"Yeah, just perfect. Oh and did you hear about the shadow demons?" he spat, not letting go.

"Oh- you remember that?"the latter weakly laughed.

"You bumbling bafoon, you were the one ruined my rationality!" he exclaimed, pulling Shatru into a headlock.

"You incorrigible idiot, it's not my fault you were born with half a brain."he laughed, still head locked.

Rama having had enough of the twins, placed an arm around Bharat, "So, how are you holding up?"

"How did we manage to raise a diddle dum and diddle dee?"he looked incredulously at the two concerned, who were now in some kind of a wrestling match.

Rama laughed and patted his back,"I honestly, have no freaking idea. Also, your humor is just intact, innit?"

"Bhaiya?"

"Hmm?"

"I need to find some bleach."

"Huh, what for?"he tilted his head at the odd statement.

"I really need to bleach my eyes because I can't get that particular visual out."

Rama shook his head, his brothers were way too extra. He low key loved it to bits.

××××××××××××××××

These were the days they could finally be brothers, and make up for all those hard years.
Lakshu can attack Shatru. Bharat can be Bharat. And Rama can only laugh at them all.

A short pyara sa thing yaar-