PART 1
She sat in the garden with a brush in her hand. She knew no art. But she wanted to paint to relive the memories.
She splashed a combination of all the colours on the white sheet in front of her.
She made a portrait of her sisters as her sita didi had done years ago.
"Its marvellous", a voice from behind shook her from her trance.
She turned behind to find sita standing with her eyes beaming with pride and joy...
" Didi!!! You are back!!!" She exclaimed...
"Yes dear. I was always here. I guess you didn't knew."
"Nobody told me didi and that's so rude", she fumed.
Sita chuckled at this.
" what happened? Why are you laughing didi?"
"Nothing. Anyways tell me what have you drawn? I see this as our picture. Isn't it?"
"Yes didi, the sisters who never vowed to break apart"
Sita nodded slightly teary eyed.
"I wanted to draw something similar to what you had done. But I can never surpass your work didi".
Sita smiled at this sweet honest confession of her sister.
" But I had drawn us holding hands and walking together. What have you done with this dear?"
The painting had the girls seated with the three sisters facing sita as sita told them something.
" We did this always.. Isn't it didi? You would always teach us something and we would hear you intently"
"Yes. Am blessed to have sisters like you three."
" You always taught us. But youi never said that you'll test us. You always told us we will always stay together. But why did you go leaving us behind? I knew your husband was banished and you couldn't stay in the palace but why did you break the promise that you vowed to us as a sister?"
Sita was amazed at her sister's fearlessness. She didn't hesitate to question her.
" You need to remember your duties amidst a whirlpool of emotions."
"But not without you didi. Who will guide us?"
"Am always there for all of you." Sita told her little sister.
"How?"
" My caressing your cheek, patting your shoulder, twisting your ear does not prove my presence dear."
"Then?"
"If you really want my presence in your lives, do what I always told you. Do what our parents would have expected us to if we were together", Sita advised her angel.
Sita was right, she thought.
" Didi, I think..." She looked in front only to find that sita was no where.
Her heart sinked in deep pain...
It was 4 weeks that the trio had left for the forest.
She took the brush and started another painting...
Her hand moved furiously drawing Sita-Ram-Lakshman leaving in the chariot.
As she was done, she caressed lakshman's picture...
" Who's that? How dare you peep in the tent? Move back or I'll shoot you", he shouted.
"Am here to meet jijashree. Had to convey a message. You wouldn't understand." , she retorted.
Ram came at the instant. She asked him what would he like to have in lunch. He very calmly replied that he would love whatever sita made.
" How did you recognize me?", she asked curiously.
"Who wouldn't recognize you, dear? You are her reflection. Sita's reflection."
A tear ran down her cheek...For the first time she had drawn the portrait to perfection. Her hand though unsteady couldn't leave his face.
"I need to go. They are waiting."
But her hand was not ready to leave his face. She didn't stop caressing his cheek. She didn't knew when she'll be able to see him again. Her gaze was fixed on his eyes. He never spoke much except for duties. But his eyes told what his heart was filled with.
She knew he didn't like leaving her alone. But she also knew he wouldn't utter a word.
"Why don't you take me with you? I know you can't live without me. I can't live without you. And you know this.", her voice raised out of helplessness...
" please don't make it tough for me. I beg you.", he broke down.
Cupping her face he rested his forehead on hers...
"You need to stay back..."
"Why?", her voice lost in the tears.
" Because you are bhabhi's reflection. You need to be here to take care of everyone, the way she would have done. And I know you will because you have a heart of gold, a smile worth diamonds. You find a way out. The people in the palace have forgotten to smile. You need to teach them. You weren't a vidhikari for no reason. I have given a way to lead my family. Don't disappoint me, please. They need a leader. If you come out they will be lost forever. Everyone is fighting a personal battle here. Please bring them together for a bigger and a better reason.", saying this he left her and turned to go...
She was overwhelmed. She held him from behind trying to stop him.
"But am your shadow. How can you leave behind your shadow? What is my existence without you?"
He felt her grip on his shoulders tight. He knew she wasn't convinced. He took her hands in his holding her tightly... She clung to his back like a creeper... Her arms around his waist and palms in his grip...
Composing himself he began,
"You remember, you had said I wasn't Ram bhaiyya's reflection?"
"Hmmm"
"You were right... Am his shadow... I have to follow him. Am dark already. How can you be a shadow of a shadow? I shall lose you if you come behind...
The game of shadows and reflections is complex. You break the rules and its a foul.
The funny thing is reflections have meaning. Shadows lose their essence in the dark. And I want you to be the same...
You were right am not like ram bhaiyya. Because am selfish. Am doing this for myself. Having you around will weaken me. And I'll love you only for what I had fallen for in you... Keep them intact as I'll come and observe if you would be the same or not... If not , don't expect any love Urmila"
He felt she had freed her hand from his grip. Gulping down the tears he marched leaving his shadow behind.
She stood dumb. Her hand now resting on his shoulder.
" You were wrong... You weren't selfish.. You aren't selfish... You didn't wanted me to suffer along with you. You wished well but am still torn between both the ends of reflection and shadow. Why was I chosen for this dual responsibility? Why?" She collapsed on the ground looking at the painting with thousand questions...
" Because you can..." , she felt him behind her... His voice ringed in her ears. She turned around but he was not there, yet he was there...
Reflections are brighter
Shadows are darker
Choice is yours
Momentary good
Or the greater good?
Edited by daydreamers - 9 years ago
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