Shrutakirti stood by the window overlooking the royal gardens. She stared down at the trees and bushes swaying gently in the cool breeze, while her mind wandered on the dusty streets leading out of Kosala. In her prayers she followed her husband to the blood-smeared battlefield towards where he was headed.
The banishment of her sister Seeta had opened up a very dangerous floodgate. The people around the royal family had learned to respect them a little less. Every morning when she stood worshiping the mother Goddess, praying for the safety and victory of her husband, whispers pierces her ears.
"I've heard Seeta wanders the forest like a beggar now!"
"Such an unfortunate soul she is!"
"Stop it! Why would our King take such a drastic step unless she were guilty! Think for yourself!"
"I head the youngest prince also went towards that forest only!"
"Do you think the King sent him away too?"
"Who knows?! I heard the demon is very powerful! No one has returned alive after having faced him! It's basically a suicide mission!"
"Stop it!" Screamed Shrutakirti. Turning a burning glare at the cowering group of servants she said, "Leave, before I have you all thrown into the prison for insulting my family!"
Shrutakirti sighed. This was very uncharacteristic of her. However, months and months of listening to such crooked comments, she had finally reached the end of her patience. Turning her gaze back at the sky she prayed to the Devi, "Mother, you know how these evil comments have already driven the Lakshmi of Ayodhya out of her home, please let them not drive another wedge through our hearts!"
---
The guards had spotted a messenger party approaching the other bank of Sarayu. They believed the message came from Madhupuri, where Shatrughna was deployed. Since the news had traveled to the palace, Shrutakirti was inconsolable. She sat sobbing uncontrollably in the temple while her mothers-in-law tried to calm her down. "It's going to be fine! Let the messenger arrive at least!" They said.
Shrutakirti stood at the gate that led to the royal attendance hall. The messenger would be presented to King Rama there. Mandavi and Urmila stood on either side of her, holding her hands. The absence of Seeta had brought the remaining sisters much closer. "It will be fine." Urmila reassured Shrutakirti while gently caressing her hair. Mandavi said, "My heart says he brings good news, you'll see!"
Her eyes were fixed on the man who entered with bowed head. She trembled as King Rama ordered him to relay his message.
"Prince Shatrughna presents before your Majesty a humble pranaam. He wishes to gift you the knowledge that the evil demon Lavana has been slayed as per your wish and command. He shall present himself before you as soon as the horses pulling his chariot set foot upon the soil of Ayodhya. He has also sent under my care, a thousand cases invaluable jewels, and a hundred elephants..."
The voice of the messenger faded as Shrutakirti collapsed to the ground, as her legs gave way through an excess of relief. She laughed and sobbed simultaneously. Tears streamed down the cheeks of her sisters too, as they sat down to embrace her, thanking the Almighty again and again.
---
Shatrughna stood as the gate smiling widely as Shrutakirti venerated and welcomed him.
King Rama embraced his younger brother, "We were all busy living our lives and fulfilling promises, and in the middle of all that, our little brother grew up! To think that we missed that!" He said with tears glistening in his eyes, "I just realized I never really thanked you for taking care of Ayodhya all the while we were gone!"
Shatrughna fell at his brother's feet, "You never have to thank me for that Maharaja, it was my duty to serve you and this Kingdom and I will continue doing that!" Bharata laughed, "You are right Maharaja, he has indeed grown up!"
---
As the night progressed Shatrughna entered Shrutakirti's chambers.
"You were worried, weren't you?" He said.
"Who wouldn't be? I heard that Lavana was very fearsome!"
Shatrughna chuckled, "He was, to ordinary people!"
"Not you?"
"Nah! Not at all! Brother Rama had warned me to face him only when he didn't have his invinsible trident with him! You would never guess how I did that!"
"No! What did you do?" she asked.
"I went outside his palace and stood there alone!"
"Alone?!" Shrutakirti gasped, "You weren't afraid?"
"How could I be? Maharaja's blessings were with me! After that I waited and waited. Finally when he had finished his dinner and was returning to his palace, I challenged him to a duel!" Shrutakirti listened with widened eyes as he continued, "He uprooted hundreds of tall trees and threw them at me! Don't worry, I evaded all of them!"
"Really?! How did you kill him finally?"
"I took out the divine arrow Maharaja game me! You know, it's the same arrow with which Lord Maha-Vishnu killed Madhu and Kaitabha. I strung my bow and took my aim. Then whoosh, with one strike, he was dead!"
Shrutakirti stared at her husband. She couldn't decide if this was the effect of their recent separation or did her husband look a little more handsome this night. She looked up at Shatrughna. He was holding up a glistening jamuni gemstone. "I'll have this fashioned into a crown for you, before our coronation! This was lying inside a deserted cave, resplendent like the sun, but forgotten by most. Somehow it reminded me of you." Shrutakirti's cheeks reddened with shyness as the moon reveled in the mysterious darkness of the night.
---
Shrutakirti looked at her husband, now the Maharaja of Madhupuri. She was seated on his left, on the high throne. The jamuni stone sparkled atop her crown as cheers and well-wishes filled the air. She smiled, content, as the honeyed music of the soul of this Kingdom enveloped her very being.
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Jai Shri Ram @SoniRita
+ 32
3 years ago
Nice one. Interesting events nicely potrayed.