short fiction series~index updated 6/2 - Page 27

no problem @deejani ...😊 glad you liked our works

" Arya what a place is this. I really have to take permission from Mata Sumitra to enjoy the rain"

Urmila was still a new bride when Ayodhya had unexpected rains. And the moment rains came, the only thing she wanted was go out and enjoy just the way she did in Mithila

" Urmi raghuvanshi has certain decorums. Women cannot go out just like that without permission, that too you are a DIL. What will Pithasri think" told Lakshman

Urmila nodded her head in agreement,then dragged him to the window. The putting her head against his shoulder she began to chatter " Arya you know, when we were kids and were visiting Guru Yajyavalkya's ashram, on our way back if it rains we all used to stand and dance. Then you know as we grow up whenever it rained Sita didi used to drag all of us to the royal garden and we used to get drenched. Arya do you know I love the fragrance emerging from the earth when the first rain falls"

Lakshman held his bride close " Urmi if it was in my control I would have taken you out and allowed you to enjoy the rain"

Cut to present a smile spread on Lakshman's lips. Urmila. Unknowingly it was her memories that gave him the strength to do his duty. It was like she was with him like a shadow. Her giggles ringing in his ears as if she was talking to him.

Urmila was standing in the rain drenched. This year the rains have been heavy and the river Sarayu had breached her banks. Urmila had come to the rescue operations to provide medicines with her sisters Mandavi and Kirti. Her sisters were inside the tent administering the medicines, while she was standing outside managing people movement, medicine movement and efficiently managing the entire medical camp. Bharat and Shatrugna was involved in getting temporary shelters build for the affected people. As the movement of people reduced, for a moment Urmila stood still. The rains she wanted to enjoy, the rains which she was never able to enjoy from the time she came to Ayodhya. Today she was in the rain, drenched top to bottom. But why was she not feeling the joy. Why the rains were only adding to her pain of 13 years. She looked up and a tear rolled down her cheek. Then a gentle breeze flew across her face taking her pallu and she felt him. It was as if her tear had reached him and he had embraced her, asking her to be strong. Urmila smiled and looked at the next chariot which was coming with additional supplies of medicines and rushed to give orders so that it can be send to proper tents.

I loved in this second shot, how u have showcased Urmila taking charge of the citizens...

And Lakshmana recalling his memories of her is an added cherry on the cake...

Keep writing more on LakshMila 😃

Thank you for writing about LakshMila😃

" Sita what were you boasting of. Your husband and your devar will come and save to you. What a foolish woman you are. Look now your devar is almost dead. Struck by Brahmastra he is taking his last breath in the battle field. Nothing can save him. And your husband will follow the suit. He will not survive his brother's death. Oh lady. Atleast see sense now. Come to me, I will spare your husband." He again laughed.

Sita looked at him in horror, tears streaming down her eyes. What is she hearing. Her Lakshman, her loving devar is fatally hit. He is dying. No this cannot happen. She will not allow this to happen. With Sita around nothing can happen to her devar.

" Ravan my devar cannot die. If I am alive I will ensure he lives."

" Foolish lady you wont listen. You love dying. Do what you want. I will come personally to you to deliver the news of your devar's death"

As soon as Ravan left, Sita took some sand in the garden. She requested Trijadha her friend among the demons who were left to guard her to get some water. When Trijadha brought that Sita quickly made a Shivling and began to pray earnestly

" Oh Mahadev your are Mritunjay. You know how much devoted my devar has been to my husband and me. If his devotion was truthful and sincere I appeal to you, protect my devar" she sat there chanting om Namah Shivaya continuously.

Urmila woke up with a start. Her whole body was in sweat. Her hands were trembling. Something has happened to Lakshman her husband. The last news she has heard about them was they had crossed the ocean and where about to engage in a battle with Lankesh for liberating Sita.

The vague dream showed her an arrow hitting him. She didn't waste any time. She ran to the private Mahadev Temple in the palace her MIL had kept.

She sat in front of the Shiv ling " Hey Mahadev. I don't know what has happened to my husband. But I can feel it is something very bad and you are the only one who can protect him. Mahadev if my tapasya of letting him go for his duty is true, if I had given him away completely to his duty with freewill protect him today. Jijashree will be shattered without him. And my sister Sita is in the captivity of Lankesh. She will also die if something happens to Jijashree. Oh Mahadev protect my Arya.

Trijadha came running to Sita " Oh noble lady, my faithful messengers have bought the news that Hanuman is going to Himadri to get the Mrithasanjeevani for your devar. If Mrithasanjeevani is given to him before sunrise he will survive that is what the vaidya has said"

Sita looked at the Shivling and said " Mahadev I am very happy you have shown a way". Then she got up and facing east said " Oh forces of nature, I Sita daughter of the earth today requests you to aid Hanuman in his endeavor. Let no obstacle come in his path, guide him to Himadri and back in the requested time with Sanjeevani" A breeze blowed, a star twinkled brightly and Sita felt a calmness in her mind as if her prayer has been heard.

Urmila was lost fervently in the prayer that the dasi had to call her quite loudly " Princess Urmila, Mata Sumitra has called you to her chamber" wiping her tears Urmila rushed to Sumitra's chamber.

She could see a pall of gloom there. Bharath was standing. No one was speaking anything. Seeing her they grew more pale. Kirti held her shoulders. She saw all 3 mothers crying. She looked at Bharat quizzingly.

Bharat haltingly told her he had met Hanuman on the way from Himadri. He had told Lakshman is fatally wounded and fighting for his life and he is going with Sanjeevani medicine for him. If he didn't reach before sunrise then Lakshman cannot be saved.

Urmila sighed. " Bharat Jijashree you are saying Hanuman has gone with medicine for my arya. Then why are you all worrying. Hanuman is the same one right who found Sita didi. I am sure Hanuman will reach with the medicine before sunrise. He has the blessing of both Ram jijashree and Sita didi and he cannot fail. And Bharat jijashree nor can our tapasya. Your brother has gone for his duty and I had let him go. It is our tapasya jijashree, our duty bound tapasya of 14 years. Nature will have to listen to Urmila today. It cannot take Lakshman from her. She had only let him go for 14 years, not more than that. Jijashree my husband has to come back and I have complete faith he will come back."

Everyone looked at her in astonishment, the calmness and serenity with which she spoke as if she knew nature was with her.

Yes nature had to bow down, bow down to the prayers of the two women who were asking it protect a duty bound man.

And the sun rose in Lanka, with Lakshman opening his eyes and hugging his brother and the might of Lanka was moving towards sunset.

PS:Hope you all like this OS. A little bit philosophical, but I felt like writing.