Bharat's Guilt

The blessed meet

A new hope arose, seeing the hills from afar. Only he and Shatrugan has been doing their journey on foot. When Mother Kaoshalya asked them to get on a chariot, Bharat replied
"Ram Baiyya himself had to walk all the way. I can't."

He asked Shatrughan if he wanted to get on the chariot to which the youngest prince rejected. Everyone else rested with the duo moved on. It was about night when they saw a small cottage. They had arrived!!

His baiyya was sitting on a rock and taking to Lakshman and Sita baabhi.

"Baiyya?"

Ram baiyya got up and they both ran to him. They were welcomed with tears. They just stood there for a long time staring at each other. Bharat so wished his whole life could just go on looking at his elder brother.

His face was shining in the moonlit sky much like the sun itself. He fell at the feet of his elder brother and just stayed there. He suddenly felt that he did not have the courage to get up and ask him to come back. He broke down.

"Bharat.. Bharat? Get up!", his baiyya's face was so happy and calm as always.

He clutched his Bharat and hugged him. It had been so long that of felt like an eternity. But Bharat broke the hug and stood back. Ram went to him and gently patted him.

Bharat bowed down again and said:" Neither do I want the kingdom nor did I ever desire it. I wouldn't want the three worlds or even heaven. But desire for your service every birth."

This stunned Ram . "Don't blame yourself Bharat."

Bharat then proceeded to bow to his mother-like figure Sita. She gently rubbed her hands against his hair and smiled.

He got up and and went to hug his Lakshman with mixed feelings of pride and guilt. He was pleasantly confused when Lakshman held his feet tightly and cried.
"I have sinned brother.. forgive me."

"Lakshman? What happened?"

"I thought- thought that you were going to come to attack baiyya so I started doubting you."

Bharat lent a gentle tear. He hugged Lakshman. "I'm proud of you and I'm so so sorry."