Another OS by meee. 😛 Again it shows a hidden moment in Ayodhya.
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Ram paced in front of Sita's chamber anxiously, his usually calm and gentle eyes now riddled with worry and apprehension. He knew custom dictated that he could not be present in her chamber when the Healers were tending to her but in that moment, he felt like disregarding custom and entering the room to be by his beloved's side. This was quite a surprising feeling to him however, since he was one who always lived by the rules and norms and had great respect and adherence to the customs of his homeland. But now one of those customs was preventing him from meeting his Sitae.
His brothers were there, offering silent support but his mothers and sister in laws were in the room with the healers.
A few seconds later, he paused, his head immediately snapping to the door when it opened. His mothers exited the room with a small reassuring smile to him followed by his brothers wives, whose expressions still held concern and apprehension for their dearest sister.
"Ram."- Keikeyi spoke up kindly and he immediately approached her before he anxiously glanced at the interior of the room where his Sitae was still out of his line of vision. "Beta, we will allow you to stay with her while the healers are treating her. She is muttering your name."- Keikeyi explained, a hint of gratitude trickling into his kind eyes as she touched his cheek fondly- "Go to her. Your very presence might heal her."
"Ma.."- he said with a kind bow of his head before he quickly ventured into the room, his expression descending into graver concern when his eyes feel upon his Sitae's sleeping form on their bed. "Sitae.."- he muttered in sorrow as he quickly walked over to the bed, his anxious eyes meeting one of the healers. "Is she hurting?"- he queried in concern and sorrow.
"We gave her the medicine for the fever and sore throat. It should help."- the woman explained kindly as she held out her hand to her young assistant to give her the bowl of warm water and clean white cloth- "We will put the cloth on her forehead so that it can draw the fever out more quickly."- she explained but before she could dip the cloth into the water, Ram held out his hand for the bowl and cloth.
"I will do it."- he said firmly but kindly- "Please give it to me."
"Prince.."- the woman said with a moment of hesitance. "This our duty."
"No it my duty." Ram replied firmly- "It my duty as her husband to care for her when she is unwell. It is a solemn vow we made to each other when we were bound in holy matrimony." -his eyes lingered on Sita's pale face sadly before he looked at the healer- "Please give it to me."
The woman stared at him quietly before she bowed her head and gave him the bowl and cloth.
Quietly she stepped away from the bed and gave her friend a small nod to indicate that they should leave the prince and princess alone while he tended to her.
Ram lowered himself on the bed as the door closed behind the healers, the sorrow magnifying in his eyes now that he was alone with his Sitae. Quietly, he dipped the cloth into the warm water before he brought it to her forehead, his hand trailing down to her cheek while he allowed the cloth to remain there for a few seconds- "Sitae, you are proving to be very stubborn.."- he said quietly as he cupped her cheek, pure affection shimmering in his kind eyes for her. It was during that very hour the day prior when he had found her in rain in the garden, happily jumping up and down while the drops drenched her completely. At the time, he had drank in her happiness with glee and comfort even though he had cautioned her that she needed to come inside soon and change her clothes before she became ill.
"Raghunandan it is the first rain of the summer! Can you hear the music in the raindrops?"- she had asked him happily while he stared at her quietly as the rain drenched him completely as well.
"How long have you been outside Sitae? The rains in Ayodha are not like that of Mithila. The wind blows cold."- he had told her with a hint of concern as his hand travelled through the long strands of his wet hair while he slicked it back.
"I can't remember Raghunandan. I have lost track of time because the rain feels so refreshing upon my skin!"- she replied happily, a soft sigh leaving him as he stepped closer to her and touched her arms, her joyous eyes meeting the concern in his. Her palm came to rest on his chest and he cupped her cheeks as the raindrops continued to hit their bodies lightly.
"Are you feeling cold?"- he queried gently but she had shook her head immediately.
"No. My lord, I feel absolutely perfect in this moment. Is it going to rain all night?"- she queried hopefully, his hand lingering on her cheek before he brushed a lock of her wet hair behind her ear while he stared at her quietly- "I would love to see how the grounds look when it is raining at night!"
"If it does rain into the night then you are not allowed to stay in the rain during the night Sitae."- he said a bit firmly but her smile only grew brighter at his tone. "The wind is blowing cold now. You must come inside."
"Raghunandan."- she complained playfully as she reached up to cup his cheeks- "Would my prince grant me a few more minutes in this beautiful weather?"
"Sitae""- he began with a soft sigh but at the silent plea in her eyes, he lowered his gaze, defeated.
"Very well. Three more minutes."- he supplied, his lips curling up with a small smile when the joy touched her eyes.
"Five more minutes!"- she exclaimed happily before she stepped away from him, her laughter resounding in the garden while the rain continued to shower upon them, his soft eyes following her every movement while she approached the roses and asked the plants if they were also enjoying the rain like she did.
The memory replayed in his mind as he removed the cloth from her forehead and dipped it in the warm water once more before he returned it to her soft skin- "Your Ram is missing you Sitae. Please, get well soon. I can't bear to see you ill."- he said quietly as he cupped her cheek once more and leaned closer to her face, the tears biting his eyes as his heart and soul craved to see those beautiful brown eyes staring back at him with joy and liveliness like that day before- "I will be here when you wake up. Your Ram will be here."
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The sun was beginning to dip beyond the horizon, painting the sky in a beautiful fusion of orange, red and yellow but inside the grand palace chamber of Ayodhya, the young princess was stirring from her dreamless slumber. A soft breath left her parted lips and she opened her eyes slowly, her mind slowly growing aware and conscious of her surroundings.
"Raghunandan.."- she muttered, the name which was etched in her heart leaving her lips without conscious thought. It was then she became aware of the warm palm that was resting on her stomach and she looked to her right, her tired gaze meeting the pair of familiar kind eyes which her soul was aching to see. He lifted his head from the pillow next to hers, the joy trickling into his eyes as his name left her lips once more. "Raghunandan."- she said quietly and she wondered how long he had remained by her side while she was unconscious.
"Sitae.."- the whisper left him with evident joy as he touched her cheek, a heavy sigh of relief leaving him- "You're awake..."- he muttered and she could see the gratitude in his eyes to God for blessing her to recover and return to him. "Are you feeling better? Is your throat still hurting?"- he queried in a rush as he removed the cloth from her forehead and touched the skin there, his heart warming in relief when he noticed the fever was leaving her.
"I am fine, my lord."- she replied quietly and she touched his hand on her cheek, while she stared into his eyes with shimmering affection- "How long have you been here my lord?"
"You are stubborn."- he said instead and she knew he was avoiding her questions- "I told you that the wind blows colder in Ayodhya. The next time I will not allow you to indulge in the rain for so long."- he said firmly, a small smile gracing her face at his words. She could see how worried he had been because of her ill health and she reached up to touch his cheek, his eyes softening at her comforting touch.
"Forgive me. I caused you so much pain. I caused my Raghunandan to worry because of my stubbornness.."- she said apologetically and he momentarily closed his eyes as he touched her hand on his cheek and lowered it to his heart.
"You do not have to ask for forgiveness, Sitae. I can't find it in myself to deny you something that brings you joy. I know you love the rain."- he said quietly, her eyes softening in adoration as he met her eyes with venerated love- "But I can't bear to see you ill.."- he confessed before he leaned closer to her and embraced her close, Sita touching his back comfortingly while they held each other in silence, Ram reassuring himself that his Sitae was now well and safe with him once more.
"Did you have breakfast and lunch my Lord?"- she queried quietly when they parted the hug and he purposefully avoided her eyes while he touched her hand on the bed. "Raghunandan?"- she said as she searched his face until he finally met her eyes, the silent confession reflected in his eyes even though he said nothing.
"How can I eat, when my Sitae is unwell?"- he muttered as he lowered his eyes, her expression descending into concern at his words. "That is impossible.."
"My Lord!"- she exclaimed and she moved to sit up on the bed only for him to gently halt her movements.
"Sitae you need to rest."- he said firmly.
"You need to eat."- she countered before she glanced out at the balcony where night was quickly enveloping the surroundings outside.
"I will inform the maids to bring your dinner for you and the healers need to tend to you again."- he said instead in reply as he moved to leave the bed but she held onto his hand to stop him.
"We will have dinner together then."- she said, his eyes softening while she stared at him in concern.
"Doesn't my Sitae trust me to know I will have my meal?"- he said with a small smile of amusement.
"I know you did not have anything to eat for the day, Raghunandan."- she said knowingly and he bowed his head guiltily at her accurate deduction before he looked back at her- "Would my Raghunandan have dinner with me?"
"Only if my Sitae promises to listen to me when I tell her not to stay in the rains for long."- he said with a hint of tease more in an attempt to see the smile upon her face and in a matter of seconds, his heart was greeted with his wish. Her lips curled up with a soft smile and she lowered her gaze with a small nod before she looked back at him.
"I promise, my lord."
"Solemn promise?"- he pressed on as he lowered himself next to her and leaned closer to her face- "Solemn promise princess?"
"Solemn promise."- she repeated as she brought his hand to rest on her heart- "I will not be stubborn in that regard again for I do not want to see my prince worrying over me again. So it is a solemn promise, Raghunandan."
He smiled at her vow before he cupped her cheek, the affection in his eyes marrying hers before he stood and left the room to inform his family that his Sitae was awake and well.
"Raghunandan."- he paused at the door and looked back at her, the soft smile playing on her lips while he stared at her in curiousity. "Please return soon."
"I will Sitae."- he promised with a small smile before he left the room. When the door closed behind him, she looked out the windows where the rain was beginning to fall. She knew she only had a few minutes before he returned because if he found her out of bed, she was certain he would become annoyed. And so she slowly left the bed and approached the window a bit weakly, a soft sigh leaving her at the breathtaking sight that greeted her of the gardens outside. She was right.
Ayodhya was even more beautiful in the night when the rains from the heavens showered upon the grounds.
She allowed herself a few more seconds to look upon the grounds before she made her way back to the bed. However, as fixed the covers neatly around her, she noticed a piece of parchment was on the bedside table next to a quill. Curious as to its contents, she reached for the parchment, hers eyes momentarily widening in surprise before it softened with pure love and affection for her prince.
Inked onto the parchment, with perfect definition and likeness, was a drawing of her dancing in the rain the day before.
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Anupamaa
Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon
