LakshMila SS- Their Story - Page 3

THEIR STORY- PART 2

"What do you think you are doing?"

The four men heard an angry female voice; Rishi Shatanand smiled in an I-should-have-known' way, Brahmarishi had a full blown smirk, Ram had a subtle impressed look, along with his usual serene look, and Lakshman was frozen.

Hai Bhagwan! Now it's a voice. Is she an angel?', thought Lakshman. Fantastic, Lakshman. Absolutely fantastic. You haven't seen her, and you are calling her an angel? How does she look?'

The Lakshman, who avoided contact with women folk generally, was now quite eager to see the person behind the voice.

A relatively tall girl stepped towards the Asura. She was breathtakingly beautiful; her face was scrunched up in anger and irritation, as well as in shock.

"What are you doing? These are the fields of Mithila", said the woman.

"I know. Which is why I am clearing it", said the man, smugly.

"Why are you doing that?", asked the woman.

"Noble lady, is this the manners taught by your parents? To greet a guest that way?", said the man.

"A guest wouldn't come and destroy nature like this", said Urmila.

"Who are you, young lady?", asked the man, pompously.

"How dare you talk to Choti Janak-putri like that?", came the voice of an angry man from the crowd.

"Ah!"

The smirk on his face infuriated Lakshman.

"You must be Rajkumari Urmila then"

Urmila gave him a defiant look.

So this is Rajkumari Urmila', thought Lakshman. Woman of passion. The name suits her'

"Accept the greetings of Lanka's Prime Minister, Malyavan, Princess", said Malyavan, bowing to her.

"Pranaam", said a wary Urmila. "You still haven't answered my question, Pradhan Mantriji. Why are you destroying the fields of Mithila?", asked Urmila.

"For his arrival of course", said Malyavan. Seeing the look on Urmila's face, he continued, "The greatest of the great, the ruler of the three worlds, Lankadipati Ravan is coming for the swayamvar of your sister, Rajkumari Sita"

Urmila looked irritated at this news.

"He will win her by breaking the Shiva Dhanush", said Malyavan. "And may also ask you for a bride. Your father can't deny him then"

The part lascivious look on Malyavan's face angered Lakshman. He turned to look at Ram, almost pleading with him to go and argue with Malyavan. Ram gave Lakshman a calm down' look, and turned to Rishi Shatanand.

"Rishivar, should my brother and I step in?",asked Ram.

"Haan Rishivar. A woman should never be treated like that", said Lakshman, anger visible on his face.

"If it was someone else, I may have requested you. But this is Urmila. She can take care of herself, as you will see soon", said the sage.

"Look putras", said Brahmarishi. "She is getting ready to argue back with him. Just watch. She will surprise you"

The two brothers looked at their teacher with surprise on their faces; their Guru was so sure about the princess; she had to be something!

"What makes you think Lankadipati will win the swayamvar, Pradhan mantriji?", asked Urmila, squaring her shoulders and lifting her chin.

"He is the strongest in the world, and the greatest Shiva-Bhakt", said Malyavan.

"Is he?", asked Urmila, staring at the minister.

"Of course he is. Haven't you heard of his love for Lord Shiva?", asked Malyavan."And he will win your sister's hand, and also ask for yours. There are very few women as fierce as you"

Urmila took a deep breath, and said, "Let me see if he actually wins the swayamvar"

"He will, Rajkumari. Mark my words", said Malyavan.

"I doubt it", said Urmila. "There is no way that swayam Mahadev will let him win this swayamvar"

Malyavan glared at Urmila, but controlled himself, and said, "Didn't you hear what I said, Rajkumari? He is the greatest Shiva Bhakt"

"If he is the greatest Shiva Bhakt, then he would know the norms and ethics of coming to a swayamvar; of coming as a guest. Destroying nature for one's own uses is selfishness", said Urmila. "If Lanka's ethics are like this, and if the way you just treated me is how all the Lankans treat their women, there is no way Mahadev will let Lankadipati win this swayamvar"

Malyavan made a move forward, almost as if to hit her, but stepped back in the last minute. He glared at Urmila, who glared right back. It was a long, livid moment.

Rishi Shatanand was looking worried, Brahmarishi Vishwamitra was smiling lightly, and observing the brothers out of the corner of his eyes. Ram now had an impressed look on his face, his respect for this woman rising every second. And Lakshman? Lakshman seemed to be angry and impressed; a tinge of longing adorned his handsome face.

Malyavan stepped back, and said, "Mark my words, Rajkumari Urmila! Lankadipati will come and win the swayamvar"

He turned and stalked off in a huff.

Urmila sighed, and smiled at the villagers, telling them to go and take care of their chores.

Under her breath, she muttered, "Hey Mahadev! Please let Dasharathnandan Ram come for the swayamvar and win Sita Didi's hand"

Suddenly, Urmila felt her entire body heat up, like she was aflame. She turned, and met a pair of dark, brown eyes. Those eyes seemed to pierce through her very soul; her entire body was evaded by breathlessness. She felt her face turn red, and she slightly bit her lower lip, as was her habit. He was tall, fair, and incredibly attractive. Forcing herself to move to the person standing next to him, she turned her head further. The second man was also very attractive, but Urmila felt like he was a brother to her. He had a serene expression, and his eyes seemed to be filled with endless love and compassion. She turned to look at the two familiar figures next to these two young men.

"Brahmarishi", she said, before rushing towards them, and falling at the learned sage's feet.

"May your knowledge and wisdom prosper, may your innate curiosity and will power grow manifold. May you always be the same loving girl that you are now", said Brahamrishi Vishwamitra.

Urmila smiled at him, and turned to greet Rishi Shatanand, who was more like a father to her and her three sisters.

"Urmila, these two men are the princes who safeguarded my Ashram from the Rakshasas. This is Ram, and this is Lakshman", said Brahmarishi. "Putron, this is Rajkumari Urmila, Rajarishi Janak's younger daughter"

"Pranaam!", chorused all three of them.

Urmila couldn't believe that she was unable to actually look at the twinkling eyes of Rajkumar Lakshman. She felt a blush cover her fair face. She looked down at the ground, before raising it again to talk to Brahmarishi Vishwamitra.

"We have come here to see the Maha Shiva dhanush. The one that has to be lifted for Sita's swayamvar", said Brahmarishi. "Come with us till Rishi Yagnavalkya's Ashram, putri"

"Ji Brahmarishi", said Urmila, smiling at him, and allowing him to move forward. She walked alongside the two princes of Ayodhya. Her analyzing mind automatically took in the brothers' obvious love for each other, and their protective nature about the other. They both seemed to love each other equally; more than they loved anyone else.

Even their future wives', said a nagging voice at the back of Urmila's head.

"Your Mithila is beautiful", said Ram, interrupting Urmila's thoughts.

"Thank you, Rajkumar", said Urmila, smiling, realizing that his praise was genuine. He is so much like Sita Didi', thought Urmila.

"Mithila has been one of the kingdoms Lakshman and I wanted to visit from whn we were young, for this is the land of gyan", said Ram. "We both were incredibly excited when Gurudev told us that we would be coming here, right Lakshman?"

"Ji Bhaiya", said Lakshman. Ram smiled lightly at his brother. Lakshman had finally met his match, it seemed! Then Ram sighed.

Lakshman, I am not going to let your stubborn nature get in between your happiness', thought Ram.

Urmila felt butterflies in her stomach; just hearing his voice did this to her.

There goes my sensible nature', thought Urmila. She kept trying to steal glances at the younger prince, and saw that he seemed to be doing the same. She blushed and looked at the ground. Sita Didi had told her that he was the fun-loving prince; she could also see that he was the most loyal, simply by observing his love for his elder brother.

"Princes", started Urmila.

"Ji", said Ram; Lakshman stared at her.

"I would like to applaud you two for saving the horse you used for the Ashwamedha sacrifice", said Urmila.

"It was our duty, Rajkumari. An animal should never be killed for man's use, and neither should fields be destroyed", pointed out Ram.

Urmila smiled at him, embarrassed. She turned to look at Lakshman, who had an indescribable look on his face. She blushed, and looked away.

They reached the Ashram, and Urmila, after taking her leave, rushed off to the royal palace to tell her elder sister that Rajkumar Ram had come. Even as she went, she felt stares on her back. She turned discreetly, met Rajkumar Lakshman's eyes, blushed and went away.