He suddenly woke up panting. It was a miserable nightmare he had had. It had been almost a few moths since Barath and Shatrughan had lived away from Ayodhya. This woke his brother up.
"What happened, baiyya?"
"I saw something. Baiyya was leaving somewhere. I tried following him, holding him, requesting him to stay.. but he vanished, into thin air..."
"Baiyya, relax. It was only a nightmare Bharat baiyya. I miss Ram baiyya too. It feels so empty.. so incomplete without him and Lakshman baiyya. Now that Sumanthji is here, we shall be going back home tomorrow. I know we missed baiyya s coronation but .. I can't wait to get back.. please don't worry."
He was reassuring Barath when he himself wanted to be comforted. The look in Sumantji's eyes. Like he was hiding some sad story that he wanted to tell so bad.
"I suppose you are right"
But Bharat could not sleep. The days in kaikeya seem to go on forever. He kept reminding himself that it was just some stupid dream.. an illusion. By now his elder brother would be sleeping after the week of festivities. They would leave tomorrow. He would hug Ram baiyya and Lakshman and everything would be fine. They'd laugh and have fun like they used to.
The Sun did not bring with it any ray of hope. Internally he was frozen. Barath tried absorbing back the tears in his eyes. He glanced at Shatrughan who smiled brightly that seemed so genuine. He sunk it in. He concentrated on Ram baiyya smile. The glint of hope that always radiated inside his hazel, lotus like eyes. He gripped Shatrugan's hand tightly as he glanced over from the chariot's seat to the beautiful landscape. They had almost reached the headquarters. He could see the faraway shilloute of the palace standing proudly on the heart of the city.
He looked bewildered as all the townspeople left at the sight of him. They ran and shuts their doors. The guard at the gates simply lowered his head and let him pass.
He looked at Shatrughan who had terror in his eyes. Like he knew what was to some and wouldn't want to see it.
"Bhaiy-"
"It's going be fine. You said so yourself right?"
He nodded.
"Missed home?", he said in his funny carefree way as best as he could. But this was his Barath. He could read the pain that was hidden in his voice. He raced up to the steps before realising that he couldn't hide his emotions anymore.
"Ram baiyya?", was the only thing Barath managed to say before he got dumb struck seeing his mother before him.
YOU ARE READING
Bharat's Guilt
FanfictionLord Ram had to go to forest. Dasharath died. The palace had to cry. The whole of Ayodhya was depressed. All because of 'him' Discover Prince Bharat's feelings as he realised the trap set by his mother. And her maid.
