Ramayan OS: {The Charm of a Raghuvanshi}

Two pairs of small, tender feet ran across the muddy courtyard, jumping into puddles as their owners shrieked with delight. The aftermath of a rainfall was always a most anticipated thing, especially for their exuberant hearts.

In a corner of the courtyard, their uncle saw their childish antics and chuckled to himself.

They are in four it now,' thought Lakshman, a smirk decorating his face, Nothing can save them from Bhabhi's wrath once they walk across her pristine floors with their muddy feet. It was nice knowing you, buddies.'

As he predicted, the two children were on the receiving end of their mother's tongue-lashing as soon as they entered the tidy cottage, immediately dripping muddy water all over the floor. Sita ordered them to wash themselves up and do something productive'.

Kush and Luv, both twins different in every possible way including their appearance, went to work on their lessons. They did arithmetic, but soon tired of it. Kush, who was more obedient of the two, attempted to force himself to concentrate, but Luv, by far the more mischievous one, kept wiggling around and got distracted by the pretty birds outside. It did not help that the delicious aroma of their mother's cooking wafted by their noses, making their small stomachs grumble with hunger.

Sita, as if reading their thoughts, told them to go play outside for a while, knowing it would take their mind off food until it was ready to eat.

Luv and Kush ran outside without further reminder. They liked their lessons sometimes, but they were still too young to focus for long periods of time.

The gentle animals of the forest beckoned to them, and soon Luv Kush were cuddling the furry rabbits, racing with the playful deer, and helping the squirrels find acorns for their nests.

Kush, although spirited himself, was nowhere near as naughty as his younger brother, and he immediately knew Luv was hiding something when he gave furtive glances at his brother, clutching his cloth bag tightly to his chest.

"What do you have there, Luv?" Kush asked with a frown. "You're not hiding another frog in there, are you? You almost scared Ma last time, and Pitaji says you should never try to scare your mother. It isn't nice."

"No, it's not a frog," Luv told him happily, but before his brother could question him further, he ran away in the direction of their cottage, happy in the knowledge of his new pet.

Kush followed him not far behind, hoping this new pet was not something dangerous.

After being served lunch, Lakshman went back to work outside while Ram took a short nap. Sita fanned him lovingly with the palloo of her saree while Luv Kush attempted to massage his legs with their little hands. Endeared by their efforts, Ram beckoned to them and they cuddled up to their father, seeking his warmth before falling asleep themselves. Sita glanced at the trio with affection, her heart touched by the sweet sight.

Trouble ensued later that afternoon. Ram and Lakshman had gone down to the river to practice their archery, and Sita was in the garden plucking flowers.

Kush was reading the lines his father had assigned him, but he was interrupted by the sound of Luv's panicked shout.

"Mr. Snake is gone!" Luv cried out in dismay.

"Mr. Snake? Is that who you hid in your bag?" Kush asked his brother disapprovingly, "Luv! You know Ma will be very angry if she finds out!"

"She will never know if you help me find him right now," Luv insisted, "Come on Kush bhaiyya, I learned my lesson. I'll never bring a snake into the cottage again!"

Sighing, Kush followed his brother and both boys searched high and low for the missing snake. They finally found it near the earthen pots their mother kept stored in the corner. The snake peeked out from behind its hiding place and looked as if it gave them a mischievous look.

Luv dove to catch it but the snake slithered away. The unfortunate boy fell into the pile of pots and with a loud crash, they all broke into tiny pieces, drenching him with milk and curdled butter.

Sita ran into the cottage upon hearing the loud sound and gasped at the sight that befell her eyes.

"Whatever happened here?" she asked, quickly helping Luv to his feet and checking his body to make sure there were no injuries. Knowing he was fine, her countenance quickly took on a stern look.

Luv looked down at his feet in guilty silence. Kush, not wanting his brother to get in trouble, took the blame upon himself and told his mother that it was he who'd brought the snake into the cottage. Luv looked at his brother in shock but was too afraid to correct him.

The children expected their mother to get angry and yell at them, but they were shocked when her eyes suddenly welled with tears.

"What am I to do with you too?" she cried, wiping her eyes sorrowfully, "Despite all my pleas, you continuously land yourself in trouble. What if something had happened to you?"

Just then, Lakshman entered the cottage and stopped at the sight of his sister-in-law crying.

"Bhabhi, what happened?" he asked in shock.

Kush once again took the blame upon himself, but this time Luv interrupted him and told the truth. He could not let his Kush bhaiyya be blamed for something he did not do.

Lakshman calmly walked over to the snake, who was watching everything with an interested eye, and with a keen glance he spoke to it serenely.

"Naag raaj, I entreat you to withdraw from here. You are causing distress to my mother-like Bhabhi, and that is not tolerable for me. I plead with you, please leave from here."

The snake looked at the tall man before him with respect, and it bent its head in obeisance. What a turn of good fortune that it had been able to meet the divine King of the serpents himself! How could he not heed the orders of the mighty Sesh Naag?

Seeing the snake slither away, Sita sighed with relief. It was not that she was scared of snakes per se (although her sister Urmila loved them), but she feared for her children's safety. What if it had bitten them?

Lakshman gave his nephews a stern look, though his eyes crinkled in amusement.

"You mustn't trouble your mother like that, children," he warned them in a firm tone. "Do you think your father would be happy to see tears in your mother's eyes?"

The boys glanced at their feet guiltily.

Sita stood up in stony silence and said, "Do not talk to me, either of you! You have no idea how much I worry for your safety, surrounding by dense jungles as we are. I am in no mood to hear your excuses. Just leave me alone, both of you!"

She walked out of the cottage and went to her garden. Luv Kush ran after her but a simple look from her sent them scampering.

They ran up to their father, who was coming up the path with his bow slung over his shoulders. They clung to his legs and babbled the entire story to him, talking over one another. They fell at his feet continuously, begging for forgiveness and promising never to be naughty again.

Ram could not help the chuckle that bust forth from his lips. He knew he ought to reprimand them, but he felt they'd been punished enough by their mother's silence. Nothing could be more grueling for a child than to live with the feeling of hurting their mother!

Taking a seat on the bamboo bench his brother had built for him, Ram gathered his sons close and asked them again what was wrong.

"Pitaji, Ma is angry at us. What should we do?" Luv asked his father tearfully.

"Luv Kush, there is only one way to win a woman's heart," Ram told them with a smile.

Sita, who was nearby and heard them, shook her head angrily. "No! There is no way these two can appease me today,"

Ram gave his sons a look that said, Make me proud, my boys.'

Luv Kush suddenly brightened up. They recollected a story their father had once told them. Their father had always been a very well-behaved boy who hardly got in trouble, but as a very young child he'd once snuck into the royal kitchens and secretly ate all the Raj bhog that had been prepared for a divine ritual to Lord Vishnu. He'd looked quite adorable with the sticky sweet all over his mouth, but his mother had not been pleased. What followed was a very cute display of small Ram seeking his mother's forgiveness. Needless to say, it did not take long for Mother Kaushalya's heart to melt and scoop up her little son into her arms.

As Sita walked away, her mouth drawn into a frown, Luv Kush followed after her as fast as their little feet could carry them.

"Ma, forgive us!" they cried out continuously, holding their ears with both hands and bending their knees in repentance. What should have been a repentant punishment became great fun for them, and soon both children had adorable smiles on their faces.

No mother could possibly stay angry after such a display, particularly not the Mother of the universe.

Wiping her tears away, Sita scooped her small children into her arms and kissed them repeatedly on their cheeks.

"Don't you ever scare me like that again!" she cried, hugging them close, "Do you hear me?"

The boys nodded, happy to have earned their mother's forgiveness. The world was right again.

Lord Ram chuckled. Turning to his brother, he said with a slight smirk, "It works every time."

"Only you, bhaiyya, only you," Lakshman shook his head fondly.

"Well, no one can resist the charm of a Raghuvanshi," Ram said in a feigned smug voice. "Particularly not the Nimivanshi ladies."

"Nimivanshi ladies have the Raghuvanshi men wrapped around their fingers, swami," Sita sweetly responded as she walked past.

Ram accepted her statement with a gracious nod of his head. He caught his sons' eyes and winked at them.

"Your boys have the blood of both dynasties running through their veins," Lakshman said in wonder. "They shall turn out to be a force to be reckoned with. I almost feel sorry for the world."

Luv and Kush exchanged a glance at their uncle's words and giggled mischievously. Their adventures for today were over, but what new mischief awaited them tomorrow!