A Magical Spell ~ Ramayan | @TheLadyAesthetic

7. Brothers, Sisters, & Mission Impossible

The entire royal family had gathered outside the sick chamber, awaiting a very much anticipated response from the doctor. The atmosphere was heavy with tension, fear, distress, anger, depression, and several other unnameable emotions.

Some cried, some prayed, others vowed, yet others shed silent tears, while there were those that only stood, motionless, emotionless.

Twenty minutes of gloom had passed since the royal doctor had sealed the chamber for quarantine purposes. According to what he had explained, the presence of an inexperienced person would not only kill the patient faster, it would also transfer the spell to a new victim.

Rama had not wanted to leave, especially when Lakshman's eyes had suddenly shot open through the series of painful convulsions, and it seemed for a split second that the prince had returned to consciousness, until the doctor shunned everyone out urgently.

The eldest prince had watched in silence as Shatrughna broke down before the entire family, sobbing inconsolably, until the emperor himself had rapidly pulled the vulnerable boy in a tight hug, soothing his inner pain.

Rama had listened in silence to Bharat's self-criticism, where the second prince had continuously called himself the worst brother possible, for seven continuous minutes.

Rama had witnessed Urmila's quiet, feeble sobs, as she had experienced a mental breakdown in Sita's arms, who was taking care of not just her, but all three sisters.

And then there were the queens. Kaushalya had held tightly onto her younger sisters, who were broken internally at the sight of their family in disarray. And for a moment, Rama had unintentionally smiled when he realized how similar his wife was to his mother.

Finally, the king stood silently to one side, shedding tears that were not visible to the world. He vision however, was constantly fixed on his children and wives, in case any one of them require his presence.

Presently, the large doors creaked open, and the royal doctor stepped out, his face wearing a mask of worry. The crowd was slowly drawn to him, all eyes asking the same question.

"My dear emperor, queens, princes and princesses, Prince Lakshman, he...he's dying."

The empty, dryly uttered words hung in the air, with only a distant rumble from the cloudy skies as an interruption to the deadly silence, that prevailed miserably over the large royal corridor.

"What?" Shatrughna's incredulous voice echoed, and the youngest prince emerged from the crowd of family members. "Wh..what do you mean?"

The doctor looked agonized himself for having to be the one to break the news, but he stood his ground with great difficulty. "I mean exactly what I say, Prince Shatru." He emphasized. "Prince Lakshman only has a little over an hour left, before.." he trailed off, unable to continue. "Before what?" Urmila's trembling voice questioned this time.

"Before he succumbs to the weapon." The daughter of Videha gasped inconspicuously, and stumbled back, losing her balance. Thankfully however, the second princess quickly caught her from falling.

The doctor retracted his gaze, an unbearable feeling of guilt occupying the depths of his heart. But he had to act fast. There was still hope for the third prince, but everything depended on time, and how properly they utilized it.

"Sumitranandan is currently experiencing a state of coma, where he is awake, can see and hear everything and everyone around him, but cannot react, or respond in anyway. He is suffering greatly, both internally and externally. And according to my analysis of the Maya-Shakti, this is one of the final stages before death."

"Ok? All of that is later. Would you kindly reveal the cure?" Shatrughna's voice was a suppressed shout, and Bharat quickly squeezed the prince's hand in alarm.