Ayodhya's Princess, Chapter 9- 19/9 - Page 16

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JYESHT PITASHREE!

Somada rushed around, making sure everything was in place. It was her Jyesht Pitashree's birthday, and she always tried to make it special for him. She put the painting lessons she got from her Chote Bade Pitashree and her Ma to good use, and using her imagination, drew a portrait for her Jyesht Pitashree. She just hoped He liked it. With the help of her father and her uncle Hanuman, she had written an elaborate essay, portraying her Jyesht Pitashree in it. She just hoped He would like this as well.

"Somada, come"

Taksh came into the room, asking her to come to the pooja that had been organised in celebration of her Jyesht Pitashree's birthday. She grinned at her brother, and left the room with him.

Somada looked over at the Pooja happenings, and felt as if something big is going to happen. She felt like what was going to be spoken soon will change her life. But she didn't know how or why.

At that time, she heard her father talk. Somada sharpened her ears, waiting to know what her father said.

"Maharaja, I have a suggestion to make", said her father.

"Tell me what it is, Lakshmana", said Lord Rama.

"How about you perform the Ashwamedha Yagna?", asked Lakshmana. "It will bring good for the people of the Kingdom, and help with the general welfare of the Kingdom as well"

Somada could see her Jyesht Pitashree nodding her head at her Pa. she could read her Jyesht Pitashree, and could discern that her father's suggestion was a good one, as she could see a slight smile on her Jyesht Pitashree's lips. She was almost sure that the suggestion would become reality. Even as she pondered this, she heard Lord Rama talk about the Ashwamedha Yagna.

"Gurudev, Lakshmana is right. The Ashwamedha Yagna is a Yagna which I can perform", said Lord Rama. "Do you think I should?"

"Yes my King. Lakshmana, as always, has proved that he knows exactly what he is talking about, and that he is like you, Kingdom above all", said Gurudev Vasishta. "Ayodhya is blessed to have a King like you Rama, along with your three wise brothers, who have the same knowledge as you do, and who are all like you in one way or the other"

Lord Rama smiled, His Lotus eyes glinting with tears. Out of most people, His Guru, other than His family, understood His brothers' importance the best.

"We can start preparations for the Ashwamedha Yagna then", said the Lord, a smile on His moon-like face.

As He got up from His seat, Somada got a nod from her Ma, and slipped out of the courtroom as the crowd began to disperse. She had a plan to follow.

Lord Rama was being dragged somewhere by His two younger twin brothers, with Bharat following at a more sedate pace. Yet, the smile on Bharat's face seemed to increase every second. He knew that they were planning something, and this was something huge.

"Bhaiya, close your eyes", requested Lakshmana, as they neared Lord Rama's chambers. The Lord simply smiled and closed His eyes. His three brothers led Him into the room.

"Ram Bhaiya?"

He heard Urmila's sweet voice call.

"Urmi?"

"Open your eyes", said the joint voices of Mandavi and Kirti, causing the King of Raghukul to open His eyes and gasp.

The sight that greeted His eyes were beautiful. The room was filled with paintings of Him and His family. There were even some of Him as the King, and some of Him doing His meditation. Only Lakshmana ever came in when He did His meditation, but the painting style was clearly Mandavi's. They had all discussed this and planned this. He could see a few of Somada's paintings, which were mostly of Him and His three younger sisters, a few with His younger brothers. The painting that tugged at His heart though was the one that Urmila had painted. Somada was cuddled into Him, peacefully sleeping, as He held her tightly to Him, in a protective way. Next to that was a painting of Him teaching Somada archery which was by Mandavi, and one of Him, Lakshmana and Somada, laughing over something.

"Jyesht Pitashree?"

Somada pulling His hand lightly made Him look down at her.

"Tell me my Princess", said Raghuveer.

"I made a special painting for you", said Somada.

"Is that what is in the centre covered with the red silk cloth?", asked Lord Rama, smiling.

"It is. Can you please go to the centre of the room and stand, Jyesht Pitashree? That has the clearest view", said Somada.

Raghunayaka smiled and nodded, moving to the middle of the room.

Somada, looking slightly nervous unveiled the painting she had made.

"So Hanuman, you will go to Maharishi Valmiki's Ashram, and invite the great sage for the Yagna", said Raghuveer.

"Can I go with him?"

Somada's voice was heard across the courtroom.

Somada giggled as she held Hanuman's hand and walked to the Ashram of the revered sage.

"Pranaam Maharishi", said Hanuman, as he spotted the revered sage.

"Pranaam Maharishi", said Somada, mirroring Hanuman.

"Vayuputra Hanuman! Lakshmanaputri Rajkumari Somada!", said the sage, smiling.

Both smiled at the sage.

"What brings you here, Bajrangbali?", asked the Maharishi.

"We are here to invite you for the Ashwamedha Yagna being held by Maharaja Ramachandra. Little Princess here wanted to visit your Ashram after hearing stories about the serenity here", said Hanuman.

"This place has always been calm, but it became more loving and prosperous, and much more serene when Vandevi came here", said Maharishi Valmiki.

"Vandevi?", asked Somada.

"Vandevi. Do you want to meet her?", asked the wise sage. Seeing the exicted nod on the face of the little girl, he called one of his students, and asked him to guide Somada to Vandevi's cottage.

Somada walked with the student, her eyes searching for anyone who could be Vandevi. She felt like Vandevi would change her life somehow. Just meeting her for a minute seemed to be enough for Somada. She didn't know why she felt that way.

"That is Vandevi"

Somada looked and her eyes took in the most beautiful woman she had seen sitting on the porch of a cottage, stringing garlands. On either side of her sat two kids, and one of them was talking, while the woman and the other kid were listening to him, smiling.

"Vandevi"

Sita looked up, and she met eyes that were so familiar to her. She met eyes like those of Urmila's, brimming with curiosity and awe, with love melded into it. This was Somada then.

"Vandevi, this young princess wanted to meet you", said the student of Maharishi Valmiki.

"Pranaam Devi. I am AyodhyaPati Maharaja Ramachandraji's daughter Somada", said the young girl.

"Ayushman Bhava putri", said Sita raising her hand in blessing, tears welling up in her doe-like eyes.

"But aren't your parents Rajkumar Lakshmana and Devi Urmila?", asked Luv, to Somada.

"They are Bhai. But I am always known as Raghavaputri, as I am always with my Jyesht Pitashree", said Somada, smiling.

"Always?", asked Kush.

"Always. He Is not just Jyesht Pitahshree, He is my teacher, my guide, my mentor", said Somada. "I wouldn't be who I am without Him"

"Princess, Hanumanji is calling you"

A young girl came running to Somada.

"Oh. I will come. Pranaam Devi. I have to go. My family will be worried"

Saying thus, Somada bent down to touch Sita's feet. She felt Sita's hand on her head, causing her to tear up. She smiled at the beautiful woman, and turned to walk towards where Hanuman was, her heart heavy, feeling exactly like she had to go somewhere without one of her three mothers.

Sita sat there, tears in her eyes, garland forgotten. Her daughter had come. Her Raghunandan's daughter had come.

"Ma, what happened?"

Hearing her sons talk, she quickly shook her head and looked down at the garland, stringing it, her heart on her Lord.

NOTE:

Can you guess what the painting that Somada unveiled is?

For any of you who guess correctly, I will make any creation that you want me to make 😳