THE STORY OF LIFE | A 21ST CENTURY RAMAYANA

A KNOCK AT THE DOOR

The sun was on the horizon of rise. Ram sat next to Lakshman, attending to him if he felt hurt. Siya had forcefully put Urmila to bed, for she needed mental and physical rest. Siya prepared the breakfast for Lakshman and the others.

Ram looked out the window, seeing the mountains around. He could see the rays slowly shimmering in the sunlight. Ram sighed.

"Why do I feel so tired today?" he said to himself. He was feeling low today, not very well.

"Maybe its because I haven't slept all night." He calmed himself with this thought. But then, it occurred to him that he had never felt so tired after an all nighter ever.... His mind played games with him.

Ram looked at Lakshman and filled some water in his glass, incase Lakshman wanted some. Ram looked outside again. Now the rays shone brighter. But still, Ram didnt feel the very happiness

he experienced every morning on seeing it. No, some thing really was not right. Even though his family was with him, he didnt feel himself.

"Ram."

Ram knew whose voice it was. He turned around and put up a faint smile. It was met by a smile too from his wife, Siya.

"Come Siya, please sit next to me." 

Siya understood something was not right with him. His tone didn't sound right. But still she kept her smile and walked towards him with the tray in her hand.

She kept Lakshmans food on a table next to his bed and came and sat next to Ram, on the seat next to the window.

Ram smiled still, trying not to show his uneasiness. Siya slowly took his hand in hers and caressed it.

"Siya," spoke up Ram in a soft voice, "I dont know how you do this, but you always seem to ease me whenever I am restless. And I don't even need to tell you that, you know it just so simply. Almost like you have a sixth sense."

Siya giggled. Seeing her laugh, Ram felt a little light. Atleast he knew his family was happy.

"Ram, I do have a sixth sense that tells me everything about you. And that sixth sense tells me something else too now."

"What?"

She sighed, and said,

"That you are not feeling very well now. You are restless about something. "

Ram was not surprised. He knew he was a very bad actor, and that Siya knew him just a little too well.

"Siya, I won't lie to you. Yes, I have been feeling a bit restless since morning. I dont know why."

"Well, maybe its because you haven't slept all night. "

"I thought the same, but then I never feel so uneasy usually."

Siya looked down.

"Ram, to be honest, even I have been feeling the same since morning."

Ram was taken aback.

"Really? Why so?"

"The same reason Ram. I dont know. I thought it was because of this constant exhaustion . But when you too are saying the same, now I feel it is something more than that."

After a moments silence, Ram strengthened his grip on Siyas hand and said,

"Siya, will something bad happen to us, again?"

Siya held his hand tightly with both her palms and looked deep into his eyes.

"No, of course not! Why should anything bad happen? See Ram, everything around us so calm, so quiet. All of us are together. We have fought the worst struggles of life together. What else could possibly go wrong?"