Lakshman and Urmila drabbles updated on Pg 14- 16/3 - Page 4

REALIZATIONS- LAST PART

Urmila turned to see the man who has been occupying every waking and sleeping thought of hers. He looked impressed, surprised, and a little dazed. An expression of love adorned his handsome face. Was that for her?

Lakshman on his part was impressed with Urmila. He did not know she was a warrior too. He thought that it was just her intellectual nature, and her cooking skills, which were as good as Sita Bhabhi's. She never ceased to amaze him. He realized that Urmila would have given the snake a tough fight till the end. The only problem was that she didn't have a weapon at that time. He also couldn't forget the look on her face when he had given her the Neel Kamal.

"Pranaam", said Urmila, feeling embarrassed at being caught like this by the man she loves.

What if he doesn't like the fact that she knows a little bit of sword fighting?', thought Urmila, though automatically correcting herself. He is no ordinary prince. I don't think he will think of it in a bad way. I have faith'

"Pranaam Rajkumari Urmila", said Lakshman, smiling at her, loving the way red easily flooded her fair cheeks.

Urmila loved the way her name rolled off his tongue. She wished he would call her that all the time, or something even more intimate, like... Stopping herself for the millionth time that day, Urmila blushed, and looked up at Lakshman.

"What are you doing here?", she asked, bringing up her usual defense mechanism of defiance.

"I came to practice my archery, but got distracted by seeing a princess practice sword fighting", said Lakshman, smirking at Urmila.

Urmila blushed further, hating how colour easily flooded her cheeks.

"Why Rajkumar? Haven't you seen people practice sword fighting before?", she asked, raising her chin in defiance.

"I have. Just not a princess", said Lakshman, mumbling, "And none so beautiful with a sword in hand"

"What was that Rajkumar?", asked Urmila, tensing, though hoping it was something complementary.

"Nothing Rajkumari", said Lakshman. "Where did you learn sword fighting?"

"Would you belive it if I said by myself? With a little bit of help from Chote Pitaji", said Urmila.

"By yourself, Mi-Rajkumari?", said Lakshman.

What had he been about to call her? Did he have a special name for her?', thought Urmila, as her heart beat sped up rapidly.

"Yes. I wanted to learn, so I watched the warriors of our army, and learnt watching them and practicing", said Urmila, wondering why she was sharing so many details with Lakshman.

Urmila, stop fooling yourself. You love him; you want him to know about you', her inner conscience told her.

"That's different", said Lakshman. "You are really talented, and must have real interest in warfare to learn simply by watching"

Blushing, this time with the combined fact that Lakshman had complimented her, and the fact that she doesn't do well with compliments, Urmila said, "I don't know about talent, but I've always been interested in warfare, especially sword fighting. Plus, I love tactics and war logic"

Lakshman smiled at her embarrassment. All he wanted to do at that moment was to wrap her in his arms, and never let go of her. He wanted her to be his. But, what could he give her? He didn't have anything to offer her. Except his heart. But, he wanted to be selfish. For once in his entire life. He wanted his Mila to actually be his, but how was he going to tell her all this? Does she also feel the way he does?

"Rajkumar, are you okay?", asked Urmila, concern colouring her voice, seeing him lost in thought.

"Ji?", he questioned.

"You look like you are waging an internal war Rajkumar. Are you okay?", she asked again, this time with more concern.

"I am", said Lakshman, a little dazed, though smiling lightly. She was too observant!

"Are you sure?", she asked.

"Of course Rajkumari", said Lakshman.

Urmila looked at Lakshman, love evident in her eyes. Her loving, soothing expression made Lakshman want to kiss her face, all propriety be damned.

Urmila, on the other hand, blushed, but refused to drop her gaze, wanting Lakshman to trust her enough to tell her. She took a deep breath. She was going to try and coax it out of him in a different way.

"Rajkumari", started Lakshman.

"Please, Rajkumar Lakshman. Don't insult my intelligence by telling me you are fine. It is clear that you have a lot on your mind. If however, I am the problem, then I will leave, and let you continue your pondering", said Urmila, turning to go.

"NO! Mila, stop", cried out Lakshman, grabbing her wrist to prevent her from leaving, realizing what he said only after he said it. He blushed, but refused to let go of Urmila's hand.

Urmila felt her heart leaping out of her chest. Mila', he had called her. Oh! How she already loved that name. She slowly turned her head, the tingles starting from her wrist which he was holding, and spreading to her entire body. Her eyes met his, and she felt the entire surroundings around them stop. Only the two of them existed. She wished that life could just be this; her and him staring into each other's eyes.

She felt his gaze burn right through her, even as he moved towards her.

"Mi-Raj", started Lakshman.

"Call me Mila", she interrupted, blushing at his passionate gaze.

"Mila", started Lakshman. "Where did that come from? Why would you be the problem?"

"I don't know. I just thought that maybe", she faltered.

"Never Mila. You will never be the problem. But I, I am the problem", said Lakshman, realizing that the time to tell her the truth had come.

"What do you mean, Rajkumar?", Urmila asked, wondering what he was talking about.

"Mila, I love you. Truly, and absolutely. I love you to distraction", said Lakshman, blushing, but staring at her, with all the love he could muster.

Urmila blushed, and almost tore up. She had dreamt of different ways of hearing those very words from his lips, but this was better than her imagination. So much better.

"What is the matter, love?", asked Lakshman, concerned. "Why are you crying?"

"These are happy tears. You have no idea how long I've wanted to hear those words from you", she said, wiping away the tears that leaked out of her eyes.

She smiled a beautiful smile at him, making Lakshman melt, simply looking at her large doe eyes.

"But wait", said Urmila. "Why would you be a problem here?"

Lakshman took a deep breath, and said, "Mila, my entire life, I've always thought that I wouldn't marry, and that I would always be with Ram Bhaiya, listening to him, and carrying out his orders. I never thought I would fall for anyone, so making the decision to serve Bhaiya was very easy. But then, then I met you. From the second I saw you, I fell in love with you. I felt connected to you, Mila, in a way I never felt with others. I want to marry you. But"

"But, you think that by marrying me, I would ask you what your Dharma is to me, as a husband, right?", asked Urmila, cutting him off. "But I never would do that"

"Mila", said Lakshman trying to cut in.

Urmila, however, continued like she hadn't heard him, and said, "You and Jijashree are two bodies, yet one soul. There is no way I would come between the two of you, just as I know Sita Didi never would. As a daughter of Rajarishi Janak and Rani Sunaina, two pure people who always follow the path of Dharma, I swear to you, Rajkumar Lakshman, that after we marry, there is no way I will exert your Dharma as a husband to me when it comes to Ram Jijashree. This I promise"

Lakshman stared at Urmila with all the love in the world, and Urmila stared right back, with equal amount of love. At that second, both of them knew that their love was eternal; beyond anything material. Their love would allow them to face everything together, their head held up high. Unable to restrain himself, throwing all propriety out of the window, Lakshman reached forward, and pulled Urmila into his arms. A surprised, yet delighted Urmila, hugged him back, feeling the tingles running through her body multiply. They just stood there, hugging each other, forgetting the world outside. For a short while, atleast.

Lakshman, after what seemed like a very short time for both of them, realizing that they were in a public place, reluctantly pulled away from Urmila, trying his best to ignore her pout.

"Does that mean that I can talk to Bhaiya about us tonight, Mila?", asked Lakshman.

As Urmila was nodding her head, they heard a voice say, "What about you and Urmila, Lakshman? Have you both finally decided to confess your love to each other?"

"Bhaiya!"

"Jijashree"

Lakshman and Urmila chorused and blushed, Urmila looked at the ground, embarrassed that her Jijashree had been there, while Lakshman gave his big brother a Why Bhaiya? Why do you love embarrassing me like this?' look.

Ram smirked at his little brother, though his eyes showed his happiness at his Lakshman's happiness.

"Does this mean that Urmila is going to be related to me in two ways Lakshman?", continued Ram, now smiling.

"Ji Bhaiya", said Lakshman, smiling.

"Fantastic. I will be talking to Pitaji soon then. Why wait till tonight?", said Ram, smiling at them.

Urmila looked up, smiling at her Jijashree. Or was it Bhaiya?

"Give me leave. I need to get going. Or Mata Gargi will get worried", said Urmila, bowing her head low.

"Of course", said Ram. "And Urmila, call me Bhaiya. You're after all going to marry Lakshman"

"Ji Bhaiya. Though, only if you call me Urmi", she said.

Ram smiled and nodded at her.

Urmila, turned looked at Lakshman, silently taking his leave, and walking away, slowly, but with a bounce in her step.

Lakshman watched her with love, and Ram watched Lakshman with happiness and love.

After Urmila disappeared from sight, Ram asked, "Do I have to randomly pull you into a hug Lakshman? Or will you be doing that?"

"Bhaiya!", said Lakshman, though moving forward to hug his brother. Ram hugged Lakshman tightly, happy for his little brother, and for the unique princess who is now his sister.