JEALOUSY
Urmila stormed off from the Ashram, into the familiar wilderness of Mithila. How dare she? How dare she just flirt with Sumitranandan Lakshman? And how dare he let her talk to him like that? How can all this happen? Urmila hadn't been this furious since the time when Mandavi had told her that she won't be able to master sword-fight, and Urmila did it just to prove Mandavi otherwise. She had only later realized that Mandavi had been joking, and that her sister had faith in her to be able to get it done.
But this? This was too much. How could she watch the man she is in love with.. Hold that thought Urmi!', she mentally chastised herself. It's not like he likes you back. He can probably barely tolerate you. Especially after all that sarcasm you kept using on him. What a childish way to behave with him. Just because you were in denial did not mean you had to resort to that. Ugh!'
Her feet automatically led her to one of her favourite places in the Ashram, Mata Gargi's Ashram. This was the place that Urmila had spent hours in, debating, and learning. She had spent hours here, trying to write her opinions, trying to decipher the Vedas, Upanishads and many other texts; this was the place where she painted; this was the place where she came to almost always when she was troubled. Mata Gargi had always been more than a teacher; most of the time, Urmila felt like Mata Gargi was her third mother. She sat down on the ground, trying to calm herself.
"Putri Urmila?", came a concerned voice. Urmila looked up to see Mata Gargi, a concerned look on her face. Seeing that, Urmila felt a lone tear make its way down her cheek. She got up, and rushed to Mata Gargi, hugging her with all that's in her, deriving strength from Mata Gargi's strong embrace.
Mata Gargi, on her part, was baffled. Her brave Urmila, crying. That too because of an unknown reason. This was not Urmila! And this did not look like it was from the pain of separation that she is soon going to face from Sita. What could it be? Even as she wondered, Mata Gargi hugged Urmila tightly, giving her the comfort she deserved. Even when she was a little girl, Urmila would come running to her whenever she was troubled. Gently easing Urmila out of her embrace, she asked, "Urmi, what is troubling you?"
"Mata, vo", said Urmila, finding it difficult to continue, after hearing Mata Gargi call her Urmi. It had been so long!
"Its nothing Mata", said Urmila, looking down at the ground.
"You call me Mata, and you don't tell me anything?", asked Mata Gargi.
Urmila almost tore up at that thought; Mata Gargi is the one she had spent most of her childhood with. How could she lie to her? Taking a split decision, Urmila blurted out her entire feelings about Rajkumar Lakshman to Mata Gargi.
Meanwhile...
Lakshman sighed in relief when the girl finally left him alone. She was a relative from Sita Bhabhi's side, and so, he decided to be polite to her. Her chattering had irritated him to no end, and his brothers' smirks didn't help either. He looked around, trying to find the woman who occupied his entire mind. He searched all over the pace, but was unable to find her. Where is she? Isn't she the vidhikari of the wedding?'
Oh Urmila! Where are you? Atleast when you are around, I can spend time staring at you, trying to read your expressions, and mind', thought Lakshman. He turned around, to see his Ram Bhaiya smirking at him knowingly. Apparently, he just couldn't hide stuff from Ram Bhaiya. Suddenly, he saw a movement to his side. He turned, to see Bharat and Shatrughan approaching the other two princesses of Mithila.
So Bharat Bhaiya is going to apologise. Good', thought Lakshman. Observing his Bhaiya, he realized that his usually quick with words brother had hesitated because he had been taken in by Rajkumari Mandavi. And what was that? Shatrughan seemed enamoured by Rajkumari Shrutakirti. The four of them made fine brothers. Each falling for a respective sister! Lakshman shook his head. How did they get into this? He found it cute and funny that his twin had fallen for a girl, and smirked, his mind already whirring with devilish ideas to tease him. And Bharat Bhaiya! The sweetness of his brother seemed to be breaking the icy faade put up by Rajkumari Mandavi. Now he had three brothers to tease!
"Lakshman", came the calm voice of his elder brother. Lakshman turned to look at Ram, who, while smirking, said, "Don't forget yourself, Lakshman. Whether Bharat and Shatrughan know or not, I know of your feelings for Urmila, and I will find ways to tease you with that"
Lakshman looked at his elder brother with a Why is it always me when it comes to your natkhat?' face. Ram smirked back at him, before smiling serenely. Before Lakshman could retort, he saw a bright yellow skirt swishing. Ah! She was here! He looked at her, taking in every feature of hers, memorizing it. Ram followed Lakshman's eyes, and smiled, seeing Urmila.
Back at Mata Gargi's Ashram...
"So you are the reason that Lakshman has been happier than ever?", asked Mata Gargi, smiling at the rising colour on Urmila's cheeks.
"What do you mean Mata?", said Urmila.
"Urmila, don't pretend like you don't know. You are too observant to not know", said Mata Gargi.
"Mata!", said Urmila, blushing. She then looked up, and felt like a heavy burden had been lifted off her shoulders. She smiled, and said, "Mata, I have to go now. I am, after all, the vidhikari of the wedding"
"Of course, putri. Don't worry. Everything will happen as per your wish", said Mata Gargi, blessing her favourite disciple.
As Urmila walked away, towards the central area of the Ashram, Mata Gargi thought, Maybe I should go and observe Urmila and Lakshman together. Then, I may be able to come up with a way to bring them together'
Urmila, on her part, rushed to the part of the Ashram, where the haldi ceremony was to begin. As she rushed in, she saw that the two new princes were with her two sisters.
Looks like Rajkumar Bharat apologized to Mandavi Didi. And she is melting. I knew something was going to happen', thought Urmila, consciously reminding herself to not search for Rajkumar Lakshman. Turning her attention to Shrutakirti, she realized that her little sister had gone and fallen for the youngest Dashrathnandan. All four of the sisters had fallen for four brothers!
She felt her entire body covered with goosebumps. He was looking at her. Her entire life, the only time she had felt this way was when Rajkumar Lakshman looked at her. She turned around to find him looking at her intensely, and with a look, which she was pretty sure meant Finally!'. But why should he care?', thought Urmila, caustically. Wasn't he talking to Sulakshana? Wasn't he occupied with her? Oh why was he looking at her like that? He is not supposed to. She can't help falling further, feeling his look on her. Just the thought of...
"Stop it, Urmi!", she mumbled to herself, slowly reaching her sisters. She introduced herself to the two other Rajkumars of Ayodhya. When they left, she turned and nudged Mandavi.
"Mandavi Didi, this is only Ayodhya's manners. You like them, don't you?", said Urmila, smirking, causing Shrutakirti to giggle.
Turning to her little sister, she said, "And so do you"
"Didi!", said Shrutkirti, turning red, but trying to hide from Mandavi.
"Urmi, what are you saying?", asked Mandavi.
"My prediction came right", said Urmila. "Each of the two of you now get a prince"
"You already have a prince", retorted Shrutakirti.
Urmila gaped at Shrutakirti, glared at the now smirking Mandavi, and said, "How times change. A few days ago, you were clueless as to why this Rakshasi was teasing me, and now, you are actually retorting. Kirti, my little sister, I am so proud of you"
Urmila pretended to wipe a tear from her eye dramatically, causing Mandavi to laugh, and Shrutakirti to smile at her sister. Urmila Didi always knew how to get back at everyone!
Seeing the three sisters interact, the three brothers who had lost their heart smiled lightly. Ram, who had decided that teasing Lakshman was suddenly his job, snuck up to Lakshman, and said, "Lakshman, you know Sita was telling me something in the temple that day"
"Bhaiya", said Lakshman, giving his brother a suspicious look.
"Sita was telling me that separation from her three sisters, especially Urmila, will be difficult. So, I wanted to ask you, can I talk to Pitaji about you marrying Urmila, so that Sita and Urmila are always together?", asked Ram, with a presumably innocent look on his face.
"Ram Bhaiya!", exclaimed Lakshman.
"Ram Bhaiya!", said Bharat at the same time. "Look. Rajkumari Urmila and her two sisters approach us"
Lakshman's head automatically turned towards Urmila.
After the haldi ceremony...
Lakshman was utterly confused. Why had Urmila pretended to be ignoring him? Why did she seem angry? Usually, when she left, she would turn, smile at him, blush, and then go. Today, she turned, gave him a part-sad, part-angry look, and rushed away. What was wrong? What had he done? Nothing. Well, except talk to... Oh. He had spoken to Rajkumari Sulakshana. Was Urmila jealous? But why? She had nothing to be jealous for.
You jump into conclusions very quickly, Mila', he thought, smiling fondly. All he had to do now was to see her and talk to her about what she saw.
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