Bharatayan: The Unsung Exile

This is the story of an exile that went unrecorded in the grander scheme that Ramayan is all about. Bharath had undertaken a vow of penance for the duration of his brother's absence. He and Mandvi stayed at Nandigram those 14 years, the beginning and end of which have been sung numerous times.

But what was the in-between like?
What were Bharath and Mandvi beyond their identity as Ram's brother and Sita's sister?
What was their bond like?

This story is a humble attempt at imagining the answers to these questions.