Part I
As he walked aimlessly in the dark, Lakshman was not sure
what he was feeling- angry, confused, scared - perhaps all of them. From a
distance he could see the whole Ayodhya decked up to commemorate the princes’
marriages, but here he was, running away from all of it.
It all began, Lakshman thought, with the cocky, smart alec,
too- big- for- his-boots Shatrughan. Shartughan along with their brother Bharat
and father Dasharat had arrived in Mithila the day before to solemnize Ram and Sita’s
wedding.
Rama and Lakshmana were sitting in their room when Shatrughna
rushed in, breathless with excitement. He stopped abruptly on seeing his eldest
brother there. “Oh Brother” he said folding his hands “I didn’t expect to see you here”. Shatrughan stood politely but it was obvious
he was bursting to tell something. Rama, indicating to him to sit down, asked
in an indulgent voice “Is there something you want to say Shatrughan?”
Shatrughan burst out,
“Shrutakirti. …..I have found out……. Her name is Shrutakirti.”
Lakshman released the knot he was tying on his bow and
looked up.
Rama looked amused. “Who is Shrutakirti?”
“Your youngest sister-in-law, brother. The younger daughter
of Maharaja Kushdhwaja” replied Shatrughan
triumphantly.
“So what of her?” persisted Rama, with a faint smile on his
lips.
“Um…nothing. Nothing
at all….Just that….Isn’t it a beautiful name?” replied Shatrughan, trying to
control his excitement.
Lakshman looked at him disapprovingly.
“Did you find only the name beautiful or…..?” asked Rama
with a laugh
“Now that you ask, brother, she is beautiful too. Very
beautiful” replied Shatrughan, grinning.
Rama stood up and patting Shatrughan on the shoulder, left
the room.
Shatrughan settled
himself on a couch and closing his eyes murmured blissfully “Shrutakirti…”
Lakshmana left the bow he was stringing and walking up to
Shatrughna, remonstrated with his twin.
“Shatrughna, is this any way to speak to brother Rama? How
can you talk so freely about girls in front of him?”
“Why what was wrong in that? I only mentioned that
Shrutakirti was a beautiful name.”
“How does it matter ?” grunted Lakshmana picking up the bow
again.
“Will I not want my future wife to have a beautiful name?
Shrutakeee…….erti. Sounds so good” answered back Shatrughna.
“Your future wife?” sputtered
Lakshmana. “Chi….chi…Very bad. How can you think of getting married before
brother Bharata?”
Shatrughna sat up on the couch and answered “Don’t worry
brother. I have found out that Maharaja Kushdhwaja has another daughter.
Maandavi..... she is going to be
brother Bharata’s wife .
“Brother Bharata’s
wife? You’ve decided that too?”
“No not me. Brother Rama will. Why did you think he just
left the room? By tomorrow all our marriages will be fixed”. Shatrughna
collapsed, laughing.
“It’s less than twenty hours of your arrival in Mithila and
already you have found out so much?” asked Lakshmana incredulously starting to
string the bow again. “From where did you get so much information?”
“Guess?” asked Shatrughna winking.
“Shrutakirti?”
“Exactly, brother” replied Shatrughna getting up. Shatrughna
walked and stood behind Lakshmana. Placing his elbows on Lakshmana’s shoulders
he leaned forward and whispered in his ears “And guess what brother? Maharaja
Janaka has one more daughter. Isn’t it perfect? Four brothers here and four
sisters there”
The bow slipped from Lakshmana’s hand as he suddenly became
very still.
Shatughana jumped forward and picking up the bow handed it
to Lakshmana. “Don’t you want to know the fourth sister’s name?”
Lakshmana shook his head furiously
Shatrughna held his twin
firmly by his shoulders and whispered “Urmilla”.
hello mam, are these stories written by you or are they translations by some author.
ReplyDeleteThese stories have been written by me. They are not translations. Thank you for reading. Hope you enjoyed them
Deletehello mam, are these stories written by you or are they translations by some author?
ReplyDeleteGreat article, thanks. I just signed up to RSS on this blog. putlockers
ReplyDeleteIn this write up, the readers will get information on future technology and learn to what extent modern technology has been developed to assist the growth of human civilization. Technology of the Future would be more sophisticated and user friendly. The rapid technological advancement will make technology more convenient and usable. ดูอนิเมะออนไลน์
ReplyDelete