Pls note : Some words in the scene will be put in bold , these words may sound like spell errors but they are not . As Ram and Lakshman are kids , they dont pronounce some words correctly , so highlighted them in bold.
It was a day after the winter solstice and the princes were in Ayodhya on their halfyearly
holiday. It had been three years since they first left for the gurukul. Uttaraayan,
the northward movement of the sun across the horizon, had begun. Six months later, in
peak summer, Lord Surya would reverse his direction and Dakshinaayan, the southward
movement of the sun, would begin.
Ram spent most of his time, even on holiday, with Guru Vashishta, who had moved
back to the palace with the boys; Kaushalya could not do much besides complain.
Bharat, on the other hand, was strictly confined to Kaikeyi's chambers, subjected to
incessant tutoring and interrogation by his forceful mother. Lakshman had already started
riding small ponies, and he loved it. Shatrughan ... just read books!
Lakshman was rushing to his mother Sumitra after one such riding lesson when he
stopped short, hearing voices outside her chamber. He peeped in from behind the
curtains.
You must understand, Shatrughan, that your brother Bharat may make fun of you, but he
loves you the most. You should always stay by his side.'
Shatrughan was holding a palm-leaf booklet in his hand, desperately trying to read as
he pretended to pay attention to his mother.
Are you listening to me, Shatrughan?' asked Sumitra, sharply.
Yes Mother,' Shatrughan said, looking up, sincerity dripping from his voice.
I don't think so.'
Shatrughan repeated his mother's last sentence. His diction was remarkably clear and
crisp for his age. Sumitra knew that her son hadn't been paying attention, and yet she
couldn't do anything about the fact that he'd not been genuinely listening to her at all!
Lakshman smiled as he ran up to his mother, yelping with delight as he leapt onto her
lap.
I will lithen to you, Maa!' he said with his childish lisp.
Sumitra smiled as she wrapped her arms around Lakshman. Yes, I know you will
always listen to me. You are my good son!'
Shatrughan glanced briefly at his mother before going back to his palm-leaf booklet.
I will do whatever you tell me to do,' said Lakshman, his earnest eyes filled with
love. Alwayth.'
Then listen to me,' said Sumitra, leaning in with a clownish, conspiratorial
expression, the kind she knew Lakshman loved. Your elder brother Ram needs you.' Her
expression changed to compassionate wistfulness as she continued. He is a simple and
innocent soul. He needs someone who can be his eyes and ears. No one really likes him.'
She focused on Lakshman once again and murmured, You have to protect him from
harm. People always say mean things about him behind his back, but he sees the best in
them. He has too many enemies. His life may depend on you...'
Really?' asked Lakshman, his eyes widening with barely-understood dread.
Yes! And believe me, I can only count on you to protect him. Ram has a good heart,
but he's too trusting of others.'
Don't worry, Maa,' said Lakshman, stiffening his back and pursing his lips, his eyes
gleaming like a soldier honoured with a most important undertaking. I will alwayth take
care of Ram Dada.'
Sumitra hugged Lakshman again and smiled fondly. I know you will.'
Dada!' shouted Lakshman, banging his little heels against the pony's sides, willing it to
run faster. But the pony, specially trained for children, refused to oblige.
Nine-year-old Ram rode ahead of Lakshman on a taller, faster pony. True to his
training, he rose gracefully in his saddle at every alternate step of the canter, in perfect
unison with the animal. On this vacant afternoon, they'd decided to practise by
themselves the art of horsemanship, at the royal Ayodhya riding grounds.
Dada! Thop!' screamed Lakshman desperately, having abandoned by now any
pretence at following vaguely-learnt instructions. He kicked and whipped his pony to the
best of his ability.
Ram looked back at the enthusiastic Lakshman and smiled as he cautioned his little
brother, Lakshman, slow down. Ride properly.'
Thop!' yelled Lakshman.
Ram immediately understood Lakshman's frantic cry and pulled his reins as Lakshman
caught up and dismounted rapidly. Dada, get off!'
What?'
Get off!' shouted an agitated Lakshman as he grabbed Ram's hand, trying to drag him
down.
Ram frowned as he got off the horse. What is it, Lakshman?'
Look!' Lakshman exclaimed, as he pointed at the billet strap that went through the
buckle on the girth strap; the girth, in turn, kept the saddle in place. The buckle had
almost come undone.
By the great Lord Rudra!' whispered Ram. Had the buckle released while he was riding, he would have been thrown off the dislodged saddle, resulting in serious injury.
Lakshman had saved him from a terrible accident.
Lakshman looked around furtively, his mother's words echoing in his brain.
Thomeone tried to kill you, Dada.'
Ram carefully examined the girth strap and the attached buckle. It simply looked worn
out; there were no signs of tampering. Lakshman had certainly saved him from an injury,
though, and possibly even death.
Ram embraced Lakshman gently. Thank you, my brother.'
Don't worry about any conthpirathieth,' said Lakshman, wearing a solemn
expression. He was now certain about his mother's warnings. I will protect you, Dada.
Alwayth.'
Ram tried hard to prevent himself from smiling. Conspiracies, huh? Who taught you
such a big word?'
Thatrughan,' said Lakshman, looking around again, scanning the area for threats.
Shatrughan, hmm?'
Yeth. Don't worry, Dada. Lakhthman will protect you.'
Ram kissed his brother's forehead and reassured his little protector. I feel safe
already.'
The brothers were all set to go back to the gurukul two days after the horse saddle
incident. Ram visited the royal stable the night before their departure to groom his horse;
both of them had a long day ahead. There were stable hands, of course, but Ram enjoyed
this work; it soothed him. The animals were among the handful in Ayodhya who did not
judge him. He liked to spend time with them occasionally. He looked back at the sound
of the clip-clop of hooves.
Lakshman!' cried Ram in alarm, as little Lakshman trooped in atop his pony,
obviously injured. Ram rushed forward and helped him dismount. Lakshman's chin had
split open, deep enough to urgently need stitches. His face was covered with blood, but
with typical bravado, he did not flinch at all when Ram examined his wound.
You are not supposed to go horseback riding in the night, you know that, don't you?'
Ram admonished him gently.
Lakshman shrugged. Thorry... The horthe thuddenly...'
Don't talk,' interrupted Ram, as the blood flow increased. Come with me.'
Ram hastily sped towards Nilanjana's chambers along with his injured brother. En route,
they were accosted by Sumitra and her maids who had been frantically searching for her
missing son.
What happened?' shouted Sumitra, as her eyes fell upon the profusely bleeding
Lakshman.
Lakshman stood stoic and tight-lipped. He knew he was in for trouble as his dada
never lied; there was no scope for creative storytelling. He would have to confess, and
then come up with strategies to escape the inevitable punishment.
It's nothing serious, Chhoti Maa,' said Ram to his younger stepmother, Sumitra. But
we should get him to Nilanjanaji immediately.'
What happened?' Sumitra persisted.
Ram instinctively felt compelled to protect Lakshman from his mother's wrath. After
all, Lakshman had saved his life just the other day. He did what his conscience
demanded at the time; shift the blame on himself. Chhoti Maa, it's my fault. I'd gone to
the stable with Lakshman to groom my horse. It's a little high-spirited and suddenly
reared and kicked Lakshman. I should have ensured that Lakshman stood behind me.'
Sumitra immediately stepped aside. Quickly, take him to Nilanjana.'
She knows Ram Dada never lies, Lakshman thought, filled with guilt.
Ram and Lakshman rushed off, as a maid attempted to follow them. Sumitra raised her
hand to stop her as she watched the boys moving down the corridor. Ram held his
brother's hand firmly. She smiled with satisfaction.
Lakshman brought Ram's hand to his heart, and whispered, Together alwayth, Dada.
Alwayth.'
Don't talk, Lakshman. The blood will...'
Scene 2 ( My Brother , Together Always : As Teens )
It's a wonder Bharat Dada allowed you to tie a rakhi, Roshni Didi,' Shatrughan broke
the awkward silence even as he teased his elder brother.
Yes,' said Lakshman. Our dear dada certainly loves women, but not necessarily as a
brother.'
And, from what I have heard, women love him in return,' said Roshni, as she gazed
fondly at Bharat. Haven't you come across any dream lover yet, someone who will
sweep you off your feet and make you want to settle down?'
I do have a dream lover,' quipped Bharat. The problem is, she disappears when I
wake up.'
Shatrughan, Lakshman and Roshni laughed heartily, but Ram could not bring himself to
join in. He knew Bharat was assiduously hiding the pain in his heart with his jest. He
had still not gotten over Radhika. Ram hoped his sensitive brother would not pine for
her forever.
My turn now,' said Ram, as he stepped forward and held out his right hand.
Lakshman spotted Vashishta walking by in the distance. He immediately scanned the
area for possible threats, as he had not completely set aside his suspicions regarding
their guru.
I promise to protect you forever, my sister,' said Ram, looking solemnly at the golden
rakhi tied to his wrist, and then equally, at Roshni.
Roshni smiled and applied some sandalwood paste on Ram's forehead. She turned
around and walked towards a bench to put away the aarti thali.
DADA!' screamed Lakshman, as he lunged forward and pushed Ram aside.
Lakshman's tremendous strength threw Ram back. In the same instant, a heavy branch
landed with a loud thud at the very spot that Ram had been standing a moment ago. It had
first smashed into Lakshman's shoulder, cracking his collar bone in two. Shards of bone
jut out as blood gushed in a horrifying flow.
Lakshman!' screamed his brothers as they rushed towards him.
He'll be all right,' said Roshni, as she stepped out of the operation theatre. Vashishta,
Ram, Bharat and Shatrughan stood anxiously in the lobby of the ayuralay. Sumitra sat
still on a chair against the wall of the hospital, her eyes clouded with tears. She
immediately rose and embraced Roshni.
There will be no permanent damage, Your Highness,' assured Roshni. His bone has
been set. Your son will recover fully. We are very lucky that the branch missed his
head.'
We're also lucky that Lakshman is built like a bull,' said Vashishta. A lesser man
would not have survived that hit.'
Lakshman opened his eyes in a large room, meant for nobility. His bed was big but not
too soft, providing the support needed for his injured shoulder. He couldn't see too well
in the dark but he detected a soft sound. Within moments, he found a red-eyed Ram
standing by his bedside.
I woke Dada up, thought Lakshman.
Three nurses rushed towards the bed. Lakshman shook his head slowly and they
stepped back.
Ram touched Lakshman's head gently. My brother...'
Dada... the tree...'
The branch was rotten, Lakshman. That's why it fell. It was bad luck. You saved my
life once again...'
Dada... Guruji...'
You took the hit for me, my brother... You took the hit that fate had meant for me...'
said Ram, as he bent over and ran his hand over Lakshman's forehead.
Lakshman felt a tear fall on his face. Dada...'
Don't talk. Try to sleep. Relax,' said Ram, turning his face away.
Roshni entered the ayuralay room with some medicines for the prince. A week had
elapsed since the accident. Lakshman was stronger now, and restless.
Where is everyone?'
The nurses are still here,' said Roshni with a smile, mixing the medicines into a paste
in a bowl and handing it over to Lakshman. Your brothers have gone to the palace to
bathe and change into fresh clothes. They'll be back soon.'
Lakshman's face contorted involuntarily as he ingested the medicine. Yuck!'
The yuckier it is, the more effective the medicine!'
Why do you doctors torture patients like this?'
Thank you,' Roshni smiled as she handed the bowl to a nurse. Turning her attention
back to Lakshman, she asked, How are you feeling now?'
There is still a lot of numbness in my left shoulder.'
That's because of the pain-killers.'
I don't need them.'
I know you can tolerate any amount of pain. But, for as long as you are my patient, you
won't.'
Lakshman smiled. Spoken like an older sister.'
Spoken like a doctor,' scolded Roshni, as her kindly gaze fell upon the golden rakhi
still tied around Lakshman's right wrist. She turned to leave and then stopped.
What is it?' asked Lakshman.
Roshni requested the nurses to leave. She then walked back to his bedside. Your
brothers were here for most of the time. Your mother too was here; so were your
stepmothers. They came to see you every day, remained here for most of the time and
only went back to the palace to sleep. I'd expected that. But you must know that Ram
refused to leave for one full week. He slept here in this room. He did a lot of the work
that our nurses should have rightfully done.'
I know. He's my dada...'
Roshni smiled. I came in late one night to check on you and I heard him talking in his
sleep: "Don't punish my brother for my sins; punish me, punish me".'
He blames himself for everything,' said Lakshman. Everyone has made his life a
living hell.'
Roshni knew what Lakshman was talking about.
How can anyone blame Dada for our defeat? Dada was just born on that day. We lost
to Lanka because they fought better than us.'
Lakshman, you don't have to...'
Inauspicious! Cursed! Unholy! Is there any insult that has not been heaped upon him?
And yet, he stands strong and steadfast. He doesn't hate, or even resent, anyone. He
could have spent a lifetime being angry with the entire world. But he chooses to live a
life of honour. He never lies. Did you know that? He never lies!' Lakshman was crying
now. And yet, he lied once, just for me! I was out riding in the night, despite knowing
that it wasn't allowed. I fell and hurt myself pretty badly. My mother was so angry. But
Dada lied to save me. He said I was in the stable with him and that the horse kicked me.
My mother instantly believed him, for Dada never lies. In his mind, he tainted his soul,
but he did it to save me from my mother's wrath. And yet, people call him...'
Roshni stepped forward and gently touched Lakshman's face, wiping away some of his
tears.
He continued with fervent vigour, tears streaming down his cheeks, There will come a
time when the world will know what a great man he is. Dark clouds cannot hide the sun
forever. One day, they will clear and true light will shine through. Everyone will know
then, how great my dada is.'
I already know that,' said Roshni, softly.
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