SATKEERTI Updated 23/09 - Page 4

'Where are your brothers, Ram?' asked the Queen Sumitra to the eleven year old Ram. It was lunch time and only Ram was present in their dining area. Queen Kaushalya and Queen Kaikeyi were worried too. Before Ram could respond Bharat, who was a year younger to Ram, rushed inside taking heavy breathes.

'Brother, they are fighting again ! Please hurry up'

Ram and Bharat, along with the three queens of Ayodhya reached the tranquil gardens of Ayodhya that had turned violent due to the conflict between the eight year old twins. 'Stop it you two!' said Ram and the Queens soon pulled the boys apart. They had almost ended the conflict. But it didn't end, all thanks to Queen Kaikeyi's inquisitive mind. She wanted to know how it all started and asked them the reason for their fight.

'Mom, The guard at the back entrance said that I look like Shatrughan' said the angry Lakshman.

'What's wrong with that? The guard is right!' asked the Queen Kaikeyi as she too felt they looked more or less the same except that Lakshman was a way taller than Shatrughan and Shatrughan was more cute than Lakshman.

'See Lakshman, I was right ! You look like me.' said the naughty Shatrughan.

Queen Kaikeyi and Kaushalya were still wondering what's wrong with that and how was it a reason for the fight, but Queen Sumitra sighed as she understood what was happening.

'No I don't look like you. You look like me.' screamed Lakshman at the top of his voice.

'No you look like me.' defended Shatrughan.

'No. I am elder to you. So you look like me.'

'No. I was born first. So you look like me.' argued Shatrughan. He knew his facts right. He knew that the younger one of the twins is born first. These arguments became more and more violent.

'No. I am taller'

'I am smarter'

'I am stronger.' said Lakshman showing his fists to his twin in order for him to accept defeat. But little did he know then that his younger brother never accepts defeat and always stands there. Bharat was very tensed. He didn't know in what this was going to end. Ram remained calm but was not in for the further development of these arguments. The mothers were worried too. He couldn't stand their worry any longer.

'Stop it Lakshman.' ordered Ram and Lakshman didn't utter a word after that. He bent his head down and looked guilty. He always wanted to help his elder brother and never wished to trouble him. Shatrughan looked at Lakshman's state and chuckled.

'Shatrughan!' warned Bharat and requested him to say sorry to his twin. Shatrughan did as Bharat said, Lakshman was sorry for what he did too and the twins were united again. The mothers smiled at the respect and love the twins had for their elder brothers.