The other Janaki

An emotional Father

Marriage is precious. The bond of eternity with a partner you chose for yourself. It is a seal of loyalty, a proclaimation of love, the birth of a new relation. It marks the promise of companionship- a promise to stay together all the time, to laugh together at times of joys , to shed tears hand-in-hand, to be by the side when the world roars against you. Therefore on a fine morning, in the small country of Mithila , four couples stood in front of the holy fire , and keeping it as the witness  took the vows of marriage, making promises to be with each other till the end of the time and beyond. A more divine day wasn't witnessed by the entire Aryavarta. It was as if , the lords have descended from heaven to be a part of this wedding and bless the eight newlyweds.

First, it was the elegant edest pair - Ram and Sita , both looking extravagant in their wedding attire.  As the priest chanted the mantras, the two shared shy glances towards each other, so much like their initial days of courtship. Beside them were Bharat and Mandavi, both radiant in their matching violet-hued dresses, which had been specially handpicked by Mandavi's mother-in-law, Kaikeyi and sent to Mithila via footmen. The third couple-the fearsome Lakshman couldn't take his eyes off his bride who according to him looked more beautiful than even humanely possible-shone brilliantly in their dresses of red and gold. And the youngest Shatrughan and Shrutakirti, the sweetest couple of all , blused profoundly as they took their oaths. 

After a teary eyed Janak and Khuswadhaja, had done the ritual of kanyadan, the couples have taken their rounds around the fire and all other customs done, Vasistha declared,

" With the blessings of Lord Shiva and Devi Parvati, I declare that wedding of Ram-Sita, Lakshman and Urmila, Bharat and Mandavi, Shatrughan-Shrutakirti had been done completely..."

Soon a servant was hurried away by Sunaina to distrubute the sweets among the people , others were made to prepare for the Royal Banquet. The eight of them were to stay for the night in Mithila's palace, their last night here, before they set off the next morning towards Ayodhya. 

"You looked exceptionally beautiful.." While everyone seemed to be busy all of a sudden, and the attention was not focused on them, Lakshman found it the perfect time to tell Urmila , the things that have been on his mind. 

A shiver went down Urmila's spine, as the warm breathe of Lakshman ,who had bent down to whisper in her ears, hit her neck. Her doe shaped eyes, visibly rounded by anxiety of this sudden intimacy,stared at Lakshman's mirthful ones. Lakshman clearly understanding his wife's situation, continued without inching a step away, "How ungrateful of you dear wife, I complimented your beauty and I don't get any acknowledgement in return.."

At this Urmila scrunched her eyes. Shatrughan had warned her about this rather playful side of Lakshman, one that was preserved for his beloved ones. She smiled, her lips curling in a sarcastic way , 

" I would have, very well complimented you, dear husband, had you not been so intent on bending down to my neck and keeeping yourself away from my sight of vision.."

Lakshman , amused by his wife's witty remarks was about to answer back when Sunaina called them. It was about, the couple's break their fast. In their way there, when all of them were shyly quite, Urmila exchanged a glance with Shatrughan- their encounter with the fortuneteller still a secret between both of them. Suddenly the old woman's words echoed in her ears, and with that resurfaced an unknown fear. The man walking beside her, her beloved husband, who was ocassionally bestowing her with glances with pure love, if the old woman's words were true, would leave her.  It was ridiculous- as Shatrughan had mentioned it to her, the old woman had also said about him sitting on the throne. Keeping secrets were never Urmila's strength, but she knew she couldn't tell it to anyone. It would only ruin the merriment. As her eyes met with Shatrughan's once again, the youngest prince passed a reassuring smile towards her.