"Urmila... I have to talk to you.." Lakshman had said, on one of their clandestine meetings- if you could call it that. Her sisters and his brothers knew. And she suspected that her father did, too.
"Tell me, Nath?" she met his gaze squarely, startling him. Why he was startled he didn't know. He shouldn't have been surprised after knowing about her.
"It's.. well.."
"Tell me Nath," she said, lovingly, yet firmly.
"Ram Bhaiyya.. Well, Bhaiyya and I.."
"Have been inseparable since your birth. And will always be that way. Yes, Nath, I know."
"And you realise that..." he trailed off, unsure
"That He will always be top priority?" she said.
Her brutal honesty made him look at her sharply. Her eyes held no malice, but instead a tender love, an understanding that few would have. His features relaxed, his lips formed a slow smile. He was lost for a second.
"Nath, believe me, I understand."
Jerking back to the present, she found her feet treading heavily, slowly to her chambers, anticipating what would happen. Her legs leaden, her eyes blurring, she stumbled into her chambers, and as she had anticipated, her husband was there, a determined expression on his face.
"Ur.."
"Go, Nath," she said, before the words left him. She smiled, a sad smile, but he knew she would have said what she did.
"Urmila..." he was lost for words. His Urmila, to whom he had spoken hours on end, those vacant moments where he had her enveloped in his arms, today stood before him, supporting the biggest decision he could have ever made.
"Lord.." she reached forward and took his hands. "I know you have to go, your sense of duty will not allow you to stay while Ram Bhaiyya is there, in the forest, in exile. Go with Him, my Lord, and look after my brother." Urmila's eyes brimmed with tears, separation from three people who meant the world to her- her sister, her husband and her brother.
She hugged her husband one last time, for the minute he donned the saffron garb of an ascetic, for the next 14 years, he would be hers, yet not. He would be with her, yet not. He would be there, yet, he wouldn't.
She walked with him, out of the chambers, once he was ready. His royal garb lay discarded, as the saffron robes adorned him. His jewellery and its splendour had been left in the chambers. His feet now were in wooden sandals, the intricately designed, embellished shoes forgotten.
They reentered the court, where the family now stood, incomplete, and in shock. Pitaji, Ma Kaikeyi, Bharat Bhaiyya and Shatrughan, they were all absent. Of course, it wouldn't be long before Ma Kaikeyi joined them, she wanted to be summoned when Ram Bhaiyya was to leave.
Urmila went and stood beside her sisters, gauging their emotions. Mandavi looked at Urmi. What will it be like, she thought. To be separated from Lakshman, so soon after they married. It was true that nothing would remain as it was, so nothing between her and Bharat would, either, but she would have him near, with her, at least.
She sighed. It was true that she loved her husband unconditionally and had it been Arya in Lakshman's place, she would have supported it. Yet she knew, that the love she held for Bharat was different, though the same, from what Urmi had for Lakshman. She knew, that the separation for Urmi wouldn't be easy, fourteen long years, but she also knew her sister well.
Urmi would let her love for Lakshman be her strength not her weakness, it would give her a fire, a passion to live through the separation. She walked to Urmi, Kirti next to her.
"Jiji," said Kirti, softly. "Let us go to Sita Jiji."
Mandavi and Urmi nodded, and the three of them made their way to their eldest sister's chambers. Their Sita Jiji, their Ma. She had always been a Ma to them, and though they never said it in as many words, they all echoed the sentiment.
"Come in, the three of you," called a voice from inside, their Jiji's voice. They entered, unsurprised that she had known they were there, without their even calling to her. It had always been this way.
"Jiji..." began Kirti, but trailed off, at a loss for words. She didn't have words, she didn't know what to say.
"Okay, listen to me, you three." Sita's voice was strong, her face set in determination. "You all have to look after things here. We accepted this as our family. With each step around the fire, we have taken the vows to protect, cherish and love them as our own."
She looked at all three of her sisters, listening to her in rapt attention. She knew they would not forget their duties, but as an elder sister, a Ma, it was her duty to remind them of it.
"The three of you have to look after things here. Urmi... I know that it will be difficult for you without Lakshman.. I wish I could change things for you.."
"No Jiji," interrupted Urmi, her voice composed, not giving away the sorrow at seeing her sister in this garb. Her sister, who had always dressed in the best, softest clothes, in these rough robes. Her heart ached for her Jiji, but she knew she had a duty. "Jiji, I know that irrespective of anything, Arya cannot be here, not while Bhaiyya is there. They cannot be separated." Taking a deep breath, she went on. "Jji, Arya will look after you and Bhaiyya, and I do wish I could have, too, but I promise I will stay here and fulfill my duty here. And Jiji, even in separation, we will still be together."
Sita smiled through her tears, proud of her Urmi. She turned to Mandavi and Kirti.
"Kirti, Shatrughan is the youngest, he has been sheltered from everything by the three of the other, particularly by Bharat. He is a brave, brave, man, but at this point, he will need you as well. Bharat will be his eternal strength, his soul, but you too, are his life. Look after Shatrughan, and be there for him."
Kirti nodded, blinking back the tears that stung her eyes. No, she could not cry. She would not. She needed to be strong, strong for her husband, her sisters, her family. She knew fully well what her Arya would go through, they were both the youngest siblings, eternally sheltered and pampered by the elder ones.
"Mandavi," said Sita, breaking through Kirti's thoughts. "Bharat will be heartbroken, he has never craved the throne and this will destroy him. Bharat is not a violent man, but can be ruthless when provoked."
"Jiji, Arya will be heartbroken," said Mandavi, softly. "For Bhaiyya, for you and for Lakshman Bhaiyya, for Urmi, for Shatrughan and Kirti. But beyond all, it will be for.."
"The fact that this he will pin on himself. Mandavi, you cannot let that happen. Difficult as it may seem, especially knowing how close the four brothers are, you cannot let Bharat slip into self loathing. Bring him out of it, and be strong for him"
Mandavi sighed and nodded. She knew that her Arya would react like that, and she knew that there would be a huge confrontation between mother and son. Yet, she could not afford to fall weak. She had to remain strong, no matter what. Her family and her husband needed the strength.
The four of them stared at each other for a second, before hugging each other. They stayed like that for a moment, before slowly making their way out of the chambers. Coming back into the courtroom, they saw the three queen mothers, and Ram and Lakshman, standing there, with Gurudev Vashishta and Mantriji Sumantra, preparing for the departure.
Sita stepped forward, and walked to her husband and Lakshman. The three sought the blessings of Gurudev and the queen mothers. Sita turned and looked at her sisters, love, encouragement and blessings in her eyes. She smiled, as the three of them turned, and made their way out.
Urmila, Mandavi and Kirti watched sadly. Sadly, yes, but they knew that the fourteen years would pass. Their Jiji would return, their Bhaiyya would return. But, in the meantime, they had a duty to fulfill, roles to play.
Sita walked with Ram and Lakshman, away from the palace, away from Ayodhya, away from her sisters, her family. She had to be a wife now, she would be a wife. She knew that her sisters would look after the other duties, and for now, her place was with her husband in the forest.
Ganesh Kartikeya
Shiv Shakti
Mannat Har Khushi Paane Ki
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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