SITA: The Peace Within

||STORY(OS)|Life In Ayodhya||

The palace of Ayodhya was a dream. Laxman huffed remembering how he would run all day but won't accomplish the giant task of visiting each room and doing a pranam to all the workers ! dares. Thats what Ram bhaiya asked him to do once. Now as they are teenagers and have returned from Gurukul a few days ago, the magnanimity of the castle looked futile. It didn't have those streams running relentlessly making sounds and telling stories-Onomatopoeia! Yes- Ayodhya had really large fountains and large seams of pools in each of their chambers- but the scent here was un-earthy an he hated it. The soft kush grass was a delight but now  their feet covered  with velvet and comfort were giving them blisters.

"Bharat Bhaiya, horse-riding or painting?" Laxman played their favorite pass-time game. This or that.
"Let me guess!" Shatrughan sat straight on his bed. Bharat lazily mutttered a "Go ahead."
"Painting!" Shatrughan clapped victoriously.
"Tough - isn't it?" Ram chuckled at Bharat. A Brush is mightier than a Sword- Bharat would explain. "When a sword wins- you see blood and death. Everything is yours, the kingdom, the money, the power-THE SCENERY - but figuratively - nothing is. When you claim a victory on your brush- the canvas lets every paint dissolve in it- it mixes everything without any destruction or discrimination.The beauty and aestheticism- everything is yours."
Ram looked at Bharat in admiration. Delicate and powerful.


"You are not getting any points." Laxman announced.
"Why, may I ask?" Shatrughan snorted.
"No points for pass questions or over-enthusiastic volunteers." Laxman stated.
"Laxman, what was that?" Ram looked over the twin.
"Rules-Bhaiya." Laxman smiles cheezily.
"Fine, let me ask you something." Shatrughan narrowed his lashes.
"I am waiting." Bharat opened his eyes. Shatrughan was the entertainer. And if you wanted to compete for sarcasm and dry humor - than be Shatrughan's guest. Laxman was doomed.

"Rajkumari Sumanlata or Rajkumari Shrutsena ?" Shatrughan asked , his face reflecting a drain of emotions.
Laxman's cheeks grew red- would be an understatment.He was crimson.
Ram's head darted towards Laxman who was scribbling the bed with his nails. Futile attempts! Ram wondered.


"Let me guess." Bharat took the opportunity for exploitation. He rubbed his hair in ecstasy. 
"Bharat- rules. Don't you remember? Let Laxman answer." Ram pressed his smile.


Laxman was flabbergasted.Ram Bhaiya played from the other side. 
"We don't have that much of a time, do we?" Shatrughan demanded an answer.

"Rajkumari Shrutsena..." Laxman tried muttering some name. Honestly he was over his crush for these princesses who once visited Guru Vashishth's ashram for a while- with their fathers-of-course.
"What does that mean precisely. May I know?" Ram chuckled.


"She...She ...Rajkumari Shrutsena- was, was a ....." Laxman searched for answers. " Was a better ACQUAINTANCE!!" Laxman finally made it.

Ram played a pretense of understanding as Bharat and Shatrughan laughed dead. 

"Ram Bhaiya- Praja or we?" Bharat played along. He had always dreamed of his brother sitting on that throne- presiding over this place like gods did in heaven. He shall be equally good. He knew that.

Laxman looked over his elder and thought about guessing an answer- but in every situation he knew where he shall be - near his brother's feet. Ever serving. No matter how painful it shall be - it would be him to be hit first , to bear the burn. On the thorns he will be his feet and on the throne , a servant who fanned.

Shatrughan could imagine himself standing on the brink of his every decision. Even if he asked him to die- their would be something right in that as well!

" Are they any different, Bharat." Ram looked on. "My family doesn't comprise of the people living in this palace.Its every living and non-living entity in this world. Even if thousand miles away - my praja calls me for their service I shall be ever ready, ever present. Raghukul is about loosing your life but not your Rajdharma. My duty is my family, so is my praja and so are you all." Ram announced joyously.

"There shall be times of distress."Ram told as everybody eared him."Severe times of hardships. The one who will follows the code of conduct- his dharma, may look like a fool to some, but when you shall look back to them- you shall abide by their order. Remember Brothers- their is no happiness without pain, no love without separation. The times that test you are the most fruitful. Tell me - could you have tested your love for your parents without staying apart?" Ram questioned as each brother nodded in a no.

"True affection strengthens with separation and a false facade falls off - either way its beneficial. I had told guru Vashishth about becoming a tapasvi- I didn't want to come back to all this..." Ram blushed on the announcment.
"Bhaiya!" the brothers asked bewildered.
"Do you know what made me change my mind?" Ram questioned to their negative.

"You all. The people of Ayodhya. The way they have carved me in their hearts- is wrenching and beautiful at the same time. I realised that I was Ram because Ayodhya loved me that way. Why everybody praised me? Becuase they give me the opportunity to serve them. What if they had denied me?"Ram asked again.

"They couldn't Bhaiya!.. they are your followers." Shatrughan answered.
" Shatrughan- what if they didn't shower me with all the godly love? Did I do anything for them till now- figuratively- NO. That simply means they define me. And I couldn't survive without them." Ram sat with his eyes charmed of the future.

The brothers looked on. Their were Kings, Their were warriors,Their were Kshatriys- But none was RAM.