SITA: The Peace Within

||Story(OS)-Life in Mithila||

The perks of being the youngest in the family were pretty high. You get to eat the largest quantity, sprint the highest jump, walk while dancing and obviously cry while demanding something. Shrutkirti wondered as she lay sprawled on the bed made up of rose petals. But the stakes were no less. People won't get your logic most of the time. Also, a lot of teasings made a way to your ear- courtesy - Urmila and Mandavi Didi. The only relief in the burning sun was her eldest sister Sita. When she would say stop fighting they would stop. When she would say stop teasing, they would. And for this, she always liked being around her. At her 11, Sita didi was a grown-up 16. A mature 16. But for some reason Shrutkirti had an accelerated height gain for the last few months of her life- making her the tallest of all, leaving behind Mandavi- which obviously; infuriated her.

"Urmilla didi!" Shrutkirti wailed from her bed. Urmila was busy working on her canvas. She literally worshipped her paints. Orange is made of red and yellow- but that is basic. To make it light- Papaya Whip Orange add white; to make Tea Rose add pink; to make it Coral add more red.
Apricot and peach were different shades, and orange and carrot were completely different- that's what Urmilla taught her during the routine sessions of Visual arts. Her mother Chandrabhaga was impressed with Urmilla- shall be an understatement, she was spellbound. "Girls with the knowledge of colors have good fortune for grooms!" She remarked as Shrutkirti thought if her running skills will gather something similar.

"What do you want?" Urmilla aksed annoyed. Not to disturb her while she was with her canvas- Sita had warned. Shrutkirti stayed quiet and decided to visit her two elder sisters in the kitchen. She was sure that Mandavi might be sleeping across the farthest corners while Sita didi would be learning tricks from their head cook Sumanti.

On her way to the kitchen, Shrutkirti was stopped by her uncle Seerdhwaj Janak " Where is your eldest, Kirti?". "In the palace kitchen Bade Pitashree." Shrutkirti squealed. Her uncle was the most sought after man on this earth. She never saw him fussing. Her friend's kingdom was fairly opposite to Mithila, if not for Rudrakshapur (imaginary kingdom) she wouldn't have visited that palace .Her friend's father was infamous for his laziness and she was quite sure of it when she saw him sleeping in the mid of the court assembly. Needless to say- she was blessed to have her Uncle and Father as their envoy. "Shatanand's here for something to discuss. Send her in after some time. Let her complete whatever she wants- and then tell her or she would run without a minute's rest." Janak chuckled before taking leave.

"Cardamom, asafoetida, clove, and black pepper...." Sita recited the recipe by heart as she rolled over the contents in the pot. Her hands were blessed to have great taste. She looked over Mandavi- as she struggled to get through cutting an onion. She was 14. And this was pretty much acceptable. What Sita remembered still was Mandavi's melodious voice since last night- when she sang for everybody after dinner. Sita was captivated by her sister's vocals- she swayed and danced to every tune and finally, she knew- that everybody was different. Surprisingly her every sister excelled in Gurukul- and Mata Gargi had astounding reports for all of them. Urmilla excelled in debate and Mandavi had her instrumental skills at best. Sita was a bit embarrassed with the praise she got every now and then but she could not deny it as it was the most pious form of love. Shrutkirti had an uncanny liking for sports and Sita couldn't agree more that if somebody could defeat her in swords-fighting than it was Shrutkirti.

"You save this little potato every time didi!" Mandavi shrieked. Sita was startled- when did her sister start talking to vegetables. And then she saw Shrutkirti standing- her face hanging.

"What's the matter?" Sita asked. "You saved her yesterday- I know that. Kirti's sword was almost on its death plunge untill you retreated it back for her!" Mandavi stated as a matter of factly.
"That's true." Shrutkirti admitted half-heartedly.
"Kirti- we win when the circumstances are in our favor- don't we?" Sita questioned as Kirti nodded.
"I swear- I wouldn't have saved you if you hadn't protected my cloth in the first move- you won there my sister - I would have been disoriented in the very starting- but you kept the fight going .." Sita patted Kirti's back.
"We win until everybody is with us. Destiny is not about stars and moons. Its about the way people behave around you. We live so lavishly- don't we? What if the handmaids and the Mantris were not there anymore- we would be nothing. What if the citizens no more treated us as the Royals? We will be nothing. Destiny is nothing but the love and respect people give to you without anything in return. We earn it- we make it happen. So the next time if somebody tells you otherwise - you know what to do, right?" Sita explained with joy.

Up-till now, Mandavi had all ears to their conversation " What to say didi?"
"Nothing- just smile. Because what we shall get can't be taken away and what we don't; can't ever come to us." Sita clasped her hands in satisfaction.

Do tell me how you liked it??