[Chapter One] EDITED
~Urmila~
I have been raised by a Queen and have
been taught every single thing that a princess should do to keep my family
happy. Even though I was the daughter of King Janak and Queen Sunaina,
preference was always given to my elder sister Sita. Please don't get me wrong
I love my sister. And I know that even she loves me back. But, for instance,
she got to choose her groom, but I wasn't. My parents came to me and announced
that they have already chosen a man for me and that I was supposed to get
married on the same day as my sister. Just like an obedient daughter, I agreed
upon their choice. The very day I married Laksman, one of the twin sons of
Queen Sumitra and King Dasharath of Ayodhya. I wasn't even given an opportunity
to see him properly before marriage. At least sister Sita saw Raghuvanshi Ram
before the swayambar took place. I saw him beside his brother Ram in the
swayambar. He was tall and well built and had a very strong aura radiating
through him. His protective eyes scanned the entire Rajya Shabha for any kind
of danger. Once satisfied, he took the seat next to his brother Ram. While his
eyes racked over everyone in the Sabha, it held mine for a fraction of a second
before Sage Vishwamitra introduced them to my father, King Janaka.
While we rejoiced the garlanding
ceremony of our sister Sita in our private room, my mother came to congratulate
her. She also said that King Dasharath wants his other sons to get married to
three daughters of Mithila and that they have chosen sister Mandvi for his
second born Bharat, Suthakirti for Shatrughna and me for Lakshman. I wish even
I had an opportunity to choose my groom just like my sister. However, I was
delighted with the choice.
Look at my destiny; even though I was
married to a prince, I didn't get to live a happy married life. Looks like I
was born to sacrifice.
"Probably the darkness of my life
will never subside, my mind told me in my dream as I lay on the palatial bed.
It has been a regular occurrence now. A dark cloud loomed over my sleeping
form. However, today I saw them parting and sun rays washing over me. From a
distance, I could hear millions of people rejoicing. "Raghupati
Ramachandra Ki Jai...Siya pati Ramchandra ki Jai, the voices were slowly coming
closer. I could hear the voices of my cousins trying to wake me up. It has been
a while since I have heard their voices.
They both were chanting the same words.
"Urmi, wake up sister. Your beloved husband is back. They chanted these
words like mantra softly against my ears. This cannot be true I thought.
Probably they are trying to wake me up. My husband is long gone. He will take
fourteen years to return. I wanted to dive deeper into my sleep. The depressing
thought kept nagging me whenever I tried to wake up. My sisters can never
understand my pain. No matter how much they sympathise with me. My husband
chose his brother over his wife just like my parents chose my sister over me.
He is answerable to me when he is back. He has not only punished me but, his
mother as well. Her son was not there to support her during the demise of her
husband, former King of Ayodhya. As a daughter-in-law, I couldn't take care of
her due to the boon given my Nidra Devi. My husband is answerable each an every
pain that we had to endure due to his decision.
"Urmi, wake-up my child. It's time
to celebrate and not sleep." her feeble voice was like a piece of music to
my ears. I was slowing coming out of the sleep. Her pleas and cries were making
me fidgety. I had promised my husband that I will not cry until he is back on
his demand and that I will take care of his parents during his absence. There
was another woman who kept that promise and that Mata Sumitra. She must have
heard his son, which is why when he left she came to me and held my hand.
Unable to sympathise she promised me that she will divide the pain.
Why is she crying then? Did something
bad happen to my husband in exile? That thought jolted me awake. Feeling
disoriented I looked everywhere in the room. The moment my vision got cleared I
saw my cousins, Madvi and Suthakriti sitting right beside talking to each other
stating how happy they are that I am now awake. Mata Sumitra was in tears
caressing my sleep-woken face. Few Dasi's hurried to get me water and fruits. I
wasn't hungry I wanted to tell them trying to hide my panic. I couldn't form a
single word as I was feeling choked. I wanted to ask them whether my husband's
safety but, nothing came out.
"You are awake my child. Finally,
you are awake," she hugged me while sniffling. "I have waited for this
moment my child for such a long time," she cried sweetly. I hugged her
back seeking for her comfort. I might be sleeping, but I know she used to come
to my room and sat beside me for hours whispering sweet nothings just to make
sure that I don't feel alone while my husband was gone. Her comforting fingers
took away all the fear that I had for my husband not coming back ever.
"Mata, how long have I been
sleeping?" I questioned her after breaking the embrace. My dasi, Ahalya
gave me a glass of honey water. The sweetness of the liquid soothed my sore
throat.
"It has been fourteen years, Urmi.
We all were really concerned for you. What happened to you, my child? We
thought you would never wake up." I wanted to tell him about Nidra Devi,
how one night while I was deeply thinking about my husband, she came to me and
said that my husband has sent her to me. She told me that he wishes to stay
awake to serve his brother and my sister every night for the next fourteen
years and refused to sleep. Since it is against the law of mankind, she then
asked him to name someone who would want to take his share of sleep for the
next fourteen years. My husband took my name and asked Nidra Devi to pay a
visit to me. At least he thought about me. I asked Nidra Devi to fulfil my
husband's wish. Since then, I have been sleeping probably.
As if everybody was in a hurry. Mata
Sumitra ordered my dasis to arrange my dress that has been specially chosen by
my mother-in-law, handcrafted by young widows of Ayodha. She also instructed my
cousin Mandvi to get the ornaments that she has specially selected for me. I
wanted to tell her that I don't want to get dressed and wear these ornaments. I
wanted to remind her that my happiness left me along with my husband's
departure. And it isn't returning anytime soon.
"Urmila, you shouldn't waste
anytime further. They can arrive at any moment. You should get ready soon.
Mandvi and Suthakriti are going to take care of your Shringaar. You should look
like a bride today. After all, you are going to meet your husband after
fourteen years.
Hearing about my husband arrival feels
surreal. I wasn't hallucinating when I heard thousands of people chanting. It
is more prominent now that I am awake which also means they are not far away
from entering the palace.
Mata Sumitra nodded in approval when my
dasi told her the bath was ready. I felt like a bride but this time like a
deserving one. Mandvi took me to the palatial bath. The vessel was filled with
mild and rose petals. Other dasis took off my clothes and wrapped me around
with bath cloth. They made me sit on the small throne and started poring
fragmented oils on my body. I closed my eyes and tried to calm my jumping
nerves. As excited as I was, I was even more excited thinking what will be his
reaction when he would see me for the first time after ages. They took time and
massaged every part of my body than help me to get inside the huge vessel.
"Today, I am going to make sure
that you look so beautiful that your husband will regret leaving you here and not
taking you along." cousin Mandvi chirped. I might have blushed because my
dasi's were whispering about how beautiful I looked. She took some turmeric
past and started applying on my skin. The coldness of the paste sends
goosebumps all over my body. It was followed by sandalwood pack, which was then
washed with rose water. I felt rejuvenated.
My hair was washed and dried with
fragmented smoke and was left open. Sister Mandvi stuck some gold strings and
pearl drops on it. My dasi's draped the blue silk dress. I loved the intricate
gold and stonework on it. The blue colour reminded me of my husband. Suthakriti
made me wear all those ornaments sent by Mata Sumitra, and I absolutely loved
how Mata Sumitra took time to find the right ones. It suited my dress and the
occasion. Finally, my sringaar was completed with the crown that was a gift
from my husband on my wedding night. I looked at myself in the mirror and
blushed furiously. As my sister Mandvi said, it would be difficult for my
husband to take his eyes off me. I still cannot believe that he is back in the
kingdom and to me.
"You are looking so pretty,"
Mata Sumitra's voice cracked as emotions started to overwhelm her. She took a
pinch of vermillion and applied in my partition. "Now you look
complete," she smiled.
I glanced in the mirror one last time
before taking a deep breath. My eyes started to prick due to the rush of
emotions. No, I refused to cry. I wanted him to see that I kept his promise.
Not a single drop of tear came out from my eyes while he was gone. Only then I
am free to cry as much as I want to.
Mata Sumitra ordered Sister Mandvi and
Suthakirti to accompany me to the Raj Sabha and make sure to be by my side all
the while. I touched her feet and took her permission.
"Saubhagyawatibhawa," with that I took the first step towards my new
life. The wait is finally over.
As we approached towards the Sabha, I
could hear a huge commotion. Thousands of people were fitting with each other
to see Shree Ram, Devi Sita and brother Lakshman. We took the private lobby to
reach the private balcony dedicated to the Queen and the Princess of the Raghu
Vansha.
The Raj Sabha was filled with Prajas
and well-wishers. Brother Bharat eagerly waited for brother Ram's arrival. He
was still holding the pair of wooden sandals that belonged to brother Ram.
Finally, his wait will be over. His dream and his wish will come true. His
brother will be soon crowned as the King of Ayodhya.
Slowly the crowd parted. Someone named
Hanuman entered the room Sabha. One of my cousins explained who he was and said
that Hanuman was the most devoted Bhakt of brother Ram. His contribution is
immense in bringing back sister Sita from Lanka.
Hearing about my sister's sacrifice
brought new emotions and sadness inside me. How like a selfish sister I was
thinking that I was the only person who has sacrificed. My sister's sacrifice
was much greater. She fought alone with all the Rakshasha Clan. Never losing
her dignity. This is what love is, I realised then. She stood strong against
all odds and proved her Satitwya in front of the entire world. I felt anger
towards my brother-in-law who insulted my sister by asking for Agni Pariksha.
How could he not trust his own wife?
I was fighting with my own thoughts
when they entered making me freeze. Everything seemed to happen in slow motion
after that. Brother ram and sister Sita entered first. The whole Rajsabha
erupted with their Jai Jai Kaar. Hanuman guided them towards brother Bharat.
When the hall started chanting my husband's name, he came in the view. He was
right beside his brother as he was supposed to be. I wanted to break the rules
and go running towards him not caring about what people might think about me.
However, I refrained myself from doing so. Brother Ram demanded to meet Mata
Kaikeyi first. Mata Sita and my husband accompanied him. He met Mata Kaushalya
and Mata Sumitra in their private rooms. After meeting his mother he came and
joined Bharat. We witnessed a very emotional scene in front of our eyes.
Gradually the crowd departed.
Suthakriti held my veil as I made my way towards my husband. The whole time my
eyes were on him but, somehow he refused to acknowledge it. My heart sank at
the very thought. Why would he ignore me like? Still, I held myself strongly
determined not to crumble. My sister Sita met me half way. I could hardly make
out what she was trying to tell me. She whispered how sorry she was. She also
whispered that its now time to meet my husband and be with him forever and that
she will make sure that nothing of this sort happens in future. I could see
brother Ram was asking his younger brother to go and meet his wife. However,
his younger brother still refused to meet my eyes. And then it broke me apart.
I collapsed on the floor touching his feet. He didn't move or react. When I
looked up, he moved away crushing my heart into pieces.
"Arya? (Husband)" I called
him in my shaky voice, but my plea was futile.
[2350 words]
Edited by Koeli_Appy - 5 years ago
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