The Ramayana - Lakshmila's POV

The Exile

Note : Hi all.. I am alive and well.. I know I have been off concerning this story.. I've been caught up with so many things... Work and stuff and this Corona virus.. Hope all are doing well and fine.. I will update this story on a weekly basis.. Weekends are the only days I get to spend time with my laptop.. :)

The anger that coursed through Lakshman knew no bounds. What was supposed to be joyous day for Ayodhya turned to a mourning one in a matter of seconds. He still remembered the calm face with which Brother Ram announced to the people in the hall that he was not to be the Crown Prince. Bharat would be Crown Prince instead and that he was to follow orders of Father to dedicate fourteen years of his life as a vanvasi. Lakshman was furious at his father. How could the man do such a thing !! And Mother Kaikeyi.. Wasn't Ram her son !! How could a mother sentence her son to such a predicament. Queen Kausalya had fallen into Queen Sumitra's arms at the news. She was lamenting in her chambers at the unfair conditions bestowed upon her son. Umrila found herself in her chambers with her husband. She could feel the rage radiate off him and she didn't knew what to do. Sita had followed Ram into their chamber. If she knew her sister, she was trying to persuade Brother Ram into taking her along. She put a trembling hand on her husband's shoulder. Furious eyes turned to look at her "I will not spare either of them !!" Urmila's eyes went fearful at his anger "What are you going to do !!" Lakshman took up his quiver of arrows and bow in his hand "Put an end to this.." Urmila's eyes widened in fear. She knew her husband well enough to understand what was going on in his mind. She ran behind him pleading for him to stop but Lakshman did not spare a glance at his wife. His mind was occupied with only the thought of the predicament bestowed upon his beloved older brother. He charged into Queen Kaikeyi's chambers with a furious anger. Urmila knew what she had to do. Lakshman's voice coursed thtough Queen Kaikeyi's chambers "Queen Kaikeyi !!!" The regal queen looked up from where she was seated, her eyes devoid of all the love that once reigned. All that was left of her was a sense of hauteur and empty eyes. She stared straight at him never flinching even for a moment. Manthra was standing next to her with her evil eyes looking to and fro from Lakshman to Queen Kaikeyi. Lakshman raised a shaky finger to accuse the middle queen but was stopped by a calm voice from the door "Lakshman.." The effect was immediate.. The furious Prince softened at the call of his name by his protector.. His brother Ram. He turned around to see Ram standing near the door with a scared Urmila behind him. The bow fell from his hands and down fell Lakshman onto his knees "Brother !!! O Brother !! What is this unfair punishment !!! You who have never done anything wrong.. Why is this being bestowed upon you ?? Is this not fair !!" Ram's calm voicre resonated through the chambers "Dear Lakshman... Being a descandant of the holy Raghukul Clan, it is our first Dharma to keep up our promises. Our promises define us.. I am merely keeping up with the tradition that has been followed by every Raghuvanshi." Lakshman looked into the eyes of his older brother "If it is so Brother, then please take me along with you. For I have no reason to be here when my everhything is being taken away from me. Please Brother.. Do not cast me away for I cannot bear it." Ram smiled "So be it, dear Lakshman." No one noticed a pair of feet walk away from the chambers, her heart shattered into a million pieces. 

Lakshman got up from his brother's feet and looked into his calm eyes. Ram wordlessly pulled him in for a loving embrace. The moment was brokren by a cold voice "All this is fine.. I do expect the three of you  to leave as soon as possible for the forests so as that your exile starts early. Any delay and it may lead to your exile to prolong further." Lakshman wanted to cut in. For a moment, he couldn't believe that Mother Kaikeyi was saying all those words.. Hadn't Ram always her beloved son.. Where had all the love gone ?? Or was it all only a pretext for gaining the throne.. Deep down, he knew the answer to all his questions.. The reason for all the chaotic events happening.. Manthra !! He wanted to strangle the old woman and along with it, he malicious schemes. And the three of us !! Was Sister Sita coming along too ?? His dear Sister Sita had to endure fourteen years of tedious exile.. His heart wept at the thought of that. His insides roared with anger. But Ram's hand on his shoulder calmed him down "Ofcourse Mother.." With that the brothers left the chambers. Lakshman walked to his chambers. He was blocked at the doorway by his wife who had a small smile on his face. But the smile somehow did not reach her eyes. It was then that Lakshman realized that at the middle queen's chambers, he had conveniently forgotten about his wife. The realization of the predicament that the fourteen year exile dawned upon him. He would not see his wife for fourteen years. He was brought out of his thoughts by Urmila "Soumitra.. We do not have time.. Come along Soumitra.." She held his hand and dragged him along with her to the middle of their chambers.She spoke of irrelevant things; like how grey the sky was, that it might rain and how she found a squirrel run away with a nut. Lakshman stood still, not moving a finger. He knew she was hurting. He hadn't thought of her while he had asked his brother to take him along for the exile. When he thought of the exile, he realized that Sister Sita was going along with them while Urmila wouldn't. He wouldn't let her either.. The forest was no cakewalk. There were threatening dangers that loomed at every step.. And he was going as a protector for his Brother Ram and Sister Sita. He caught her hand as she walked around the chambers. She fell against his hard chest "Mila..." Urmila's doe-eyes looked up at him. And her resolve broke.. All the strength that she had mustered so as to not break down infront of he husband washed away the moment she looked into those eyes of her husband. The pain reflected back. Tears pooled into her eyes and ran down her rosy cheeks. Lakshman did not speak a word and gathered her in his embrace.. He let her cry. Urmila broke down in his arms. She let out wails of grief. He let her wail. He did nothing to stop her except run his fingers through the tresses of her hair. Her wails reduced to silent sobs. She broke the embrace and looked at him. Lakshman gently wiped the tears with his thumb "Urmila... I.." She put her hand to lips "You need not speak a word, Soumita.. For I understand." Her words held so much maturity and determination in them that Lakshman couldn't help but feel proud of her. proud that this wonderful woman was his wife.. Proud that such a strong woman had come into his life. He cupped her cheek with his hand. She leaned into his soft touch "Soumitra.. Please do not break my resolve.. I might melt into it.." She slowly brushed his hand away from her cheek "Remember Soumita.. When at Mithila, we spoke about the equation between us and I had promised not to come inbetween your duties to you brother..." Lakshman nodded wordlessly. Urmila continued "The time has come for me to fulfill that promise.. The time for me to keep up my word has come. Go Soumitra.. I will not stop you.. Your Brother and Sister Sita need you. Protect them and come back to me. For I cannot live if you don't" Lakshman covered Urmila's lips with his palm and nodded negatively "No Urmila... Never speak about death for I cannot take it. You are my strength.. You are my soul. I am taking your determination along with me, my Mila. For that is what gives me strength. I want to take a picture of my smiling Mila with me.. Please Mila." And she did.. She smiled.. A tearful smile. Lakshman wiped the tears away "Give me your word, Mila. Give me your word that for these fourteen years, you will not shed a drop of tear from those doe-eyes of yours.. For my heart constricts in pain everytime I see them." She closed her eyes in silent agreement. Her hands shakily lifted up the clothes made of saffron. Lakshman's hands reached towards them but he was stopped by a soft NO from his wife "Let me Soumitra.."