THE STORY OF LIFE | A 21ST CENTURY RAMAYANA

A NEW CHAPTER

Lakshman sat trembling on the couch. His hands were shaking constantly and sweat, rather tears of fear, dripped from forehead and eyes. Ram kneeled next to him and held his hands tightly. Siya ruffled through his hair slowly and made him drink a glass of water. Urmila rubbed her hands slowly over his back, trying to calm him down. But Lakshman would just not stop shaking.

"Lakshman, I told you right, it's not your fault. It happened by accident. We can explain everything to the court if she files an FIR."

Lakshman gulped and still looking down at the fallen glass, which one contained acid, spoke in the lowest voice,

"But Bhaiyya, she will. She is Raghavan Dharveshs sister. She has power. I messed up everything. I put all of us into trouble."

Ram stopped him and added, "No Lakshman! For the last time, it's not your FAULT. You just turned the glass to her side and she pulled it."

"The glass has my fingerprints on it Bhaiyya!! "

" Very minimal ones Lakshman! "

" But they are there! "

There was a moment of silence. Ram believed deep in his heart that Lakshman would be proven innocent come what may, but seeing the circumstances and conditions, his belief was breaking slowly, though in little amounts. He couldn't see his brother like this, helpless.

The door bell rang. Every 'ring' sounded like a doom to them. Urmila slowly moved and opened the door. Luckily, it was Jaydev.

"Hello! How are you all ? I brought..... LAKSHMAN!!!"

Jaydev ran to Lakshman and kneeled down in front of him, looking at him frantically and cupping his face in his hands.

"What happened Lakshman? Are you not feeling well? Should I call the doctor?"

Lakshman didnt reply. Jaydev looked up at Ram i question. Ram took him to the other room and explained to him the events that had happened till then. With each word, Jaydev's heartbeat incresed a little higher.

At the end,

"All this happened Ram and didnt even think of calling me once?"

Ram looked down.

"Its not that Kaka. I didnt know the woman was Shipra, firstly. And I never thought it could go to such an extent."

Jaydev sighed.

"But Ram, I dont think so Shipra will take any action against Lakshman."

"And why is that so?"

"Recently, I was talking to a friend.."

JAYDEVS FLASHBACK

Jaydev stood with a friend in front of a watch repair shop.

"When do you think this watch will get fixed?" he asked.

"Come back in a week, you'll have it fully ready," the shopkeeper,his friend, replied.

He and his friend continued to talk when something caught the corner of his friends eye.

"Jay, turn around! Isnt that Raghavan Dharveshs sister?"

Jaydev turned around and focused his eyes on a woman walking alone, quite fearfully, into a hotel.

"I do think so." he said.

"Dont you know what happened?" his friend asked with excitement.

"No, what?"