The Princes of Ayodhya-The Ramayan Through Short Stories

A New Era of Proverbs and Scales

Dead, dead, dead, dead, dead. It was for sure, certain, there could be nothing so obvious, but Lakshman had learned by now that the universe sometimes liked to play pranks on his poor heart, so he kept his eyes trained on Ravan's chest for a few more seconds until he was sure. It didn't rise again. No more hoarse roars or crazy laughter. No more gigantic stomps or arrows flurrying everywhere. No more Ravan. And no more pranks on his poor heart, because the Gods knew he had had enough health scares for some time.

Ram's brother ran a hand over his face, sweaty, and he exhaled. Something swelled in his chest. Something that burst out of him as he shouted randomly into the weirdly quiet battlefield before dashing out of the tent.

The rest of the vanars, who had previously been in silent shock, followed his movements with eyes the size of Ravan's dead body. "W-what's he doing?" Neell asked. "I think Lakshman bhaiyya's finally lost it. To think we came so far."

Nal's gaze met Angad's, before both scampered off after the prince, shrieking like someone had set fire to their tails. Hanuman (who had actually once got his tail set on fire once and thought this was much better than that), roared, beat his chest, and pumped his mace into the air. "RAVAN IS DEAD!" he shouted. "JAI SHRI RAM!"

"JAI SHRI RAM!" came a sudden, thundering echo, from each and every last member of the vanar sena. Monkeys who had fainted earlier were quickly picked up, and everyone was grabbing his friend and dragging them over to where Murali's chariot was landing. Neel decided to join the madness like everyone else.

The king of the vanars was about to follow his people, but a man kept him back. Sugriv grabbed Vibhishan's arm and hugged him close.

"I have never had a better demon friend in my life," he laughed, thumping Vibhishan on the back. "Or a more suspenseful war for that matter. What a plot twist! In the stomach! I could have never guessed it, and Ruma is addicted to mystery novels so I have guessed many a plot twist before."

Vibhishan smiled weakly back at him, running a hand underneath his nose. "I doubt you've had a great number of demon friends in your life, Maharaj." he murmured. "But that second point I can agree with." He squinted off into the distance, and patted the arm of Sugriv still wrapped around his shoulder. "I suppose it is all over then." He rubbed his eyes. "After all this time. After all these years of torment, all his victims can finally be freed."

Sugriv stared at him for a moment, coming to a decision before shaking his head. "Well victims cannot be freed when their heroes stand in tents so idly." he chuckled. "Come on, Vibhishanji. Before unshackling his slaves, let us get our prabhu's blessings." With all the gentleness the son of Surya could muster, he ushered Vibhishan towards Ram. Only their prabhu could think of the right words to say.

----O----

When the chariot finally landed, Ram exhaled. Pulled his bow back. Rolled his shoulders calmly, before stepping off the chariot. Murali was practically red from effort, his hands still tightly gripping the reins, but he managed to flash Ram an exhausted smile when the prince rounded around to check on his charioteer. "Are you alright?" Ram asked, and Murali paused on all his respiratory hyperventilating to stare at him, jaw dropped.

"Alright?" he wheezed. "You saved the Earth from the jaws of adharma! Can I be anything but alright? I should be jumping for joy, just give me a moment." He collapsed against his chair, and the horses snorted noncommittally. "Are you alright, prabhu?" he managed to gasp.

"I?" Ram murmured, bemused. He turned around, squinting into the distance where he saw the dark shape of Ravan's fallen body. "Am I alright?" He exhaled, looking back around, and spotting his army running towards him, before grinning. "Yes, Muraliji, I think that I'm alright." He closed his eyes for a second and basked in the sun that shone down on him, and him only.