6. A MESS
"What's the matter? Why is she weeping?", Ram asked.
" Even am clueless Jijashree ", Mandvi couldn't take off her eyes from her little sister.
" Bharat what has happened? I mean you meeting the princesses, Shatrughna limping and Shruthkirti weeping. Its all so stressful. Please tell us what has happened", Ram was now worried.
" Brother we went to the hill side to get the herbs. But we heard someone scream. The sight before us was dreadful. Some demons had captivated the princesses. They were tying them with ropes."
"But how did they reached the other side of the hill. The way to the palace is different isn't it?", Lakshman was curious.
The girls had gone to help Sita. So the guys could talk without being monitored.
" Yeah it is. We don't know how they reached there. We were busy fighting the demons. And when Sita bhabhi got to know about the goat, we rushed to the ashram"
"Okay. What's the matter with his feet? Why is his limping?", Ram pointed at Shatrughna.
" He slipped on the way brother ", Bharat laughed.
Lakshman joined him.
" But then why was Shruthkirti crying?", Ram asked.
Bharat rolled his eyes.
"Even I have no clue of it brother. But Shatrughna slipped and Shruthkirti started weeping", Bharat was too modest with his reply, they felt.
" Are you sure you have no idea?", Ram tried to reconfirm.
"Yes brother, I have no idea.", Bharat said lowering down his eyes.
" Raghunandan "
They heard Sita calling Ram.
"What is it Sitae?", Ram followed the direction of her voice.
" The goat is all right now", she said happily.
"I see.", Ram echoed her excitement.
" I ummm in fact we want to talk to you all", he continued.
"Yes please.", Sita said getting up.
"How did you land near the cliff? You all were going to the palace, isn't it? Did anyone by force took you there?"
"No Raghunandan", Sita said with solemnity.
"Then what was it? Please do not hesitate to tell us"
Sita did not utter a word.
"Sitae?"
"Raghunandan am scared you'll be angry"
"I won't be. I promise. Now tell how did the demons trap you?"
"We went to see the golden deer"
"Golden deer?", Lakshman was surprised.
Ram stared at Lakshman signalling him not to make things tough for Sita.
Lakshman kept quiet and Sita continued.
" Yes Lakshman. Golden deer. They are a rare species. In fact they are rarely found. They are found twice a year in this forest"
"Okay. So you saw them today?"
"Yes we did. But they were demons in disguise", Shruthkirti sobbed.
" Why the hell are you wailing now? We are safe now.", Urmila had taken a lot of sobs from her little sister now.
"Urmila!!", Mandvi shushed her.
" Why are you telling me?", Urmila now targeted Mandvi.
"Because you are making unnecessary noise", Lakshman retorted.
"" Lakshman", now it was Bharat's turn to quieten his little bro.
Before Urmila could say anything, Mandvi jumped in.
"Why are you asking him to be quiet?", Mandvi roared.
" Because he is being rude", Urmila glared at Lakshman.
"You are no less", Mandvi slammed Urmila.
Ram and Sita stood and watched the battle. It was fun.
Amidst this chaos Shruthkirti's pitch was increased.
Everyone tried to calm her down, till a voice came up.
" Am fine."
Everyone turned around to find Shatrughna smiling sheepishly.
And miracle or not only God knew.
Shruthkirti had stopped crying.
All were amused. Bharat simply rolled his eyes.
"Did you tell me the whole truth Bharat? You really don't know what the matter is with these two?", Ram took Bharat aside and whispered in his ears.
But his whisper was too loud to be heard by a figure standing next to them.
" Do not trust him"
They both turned their heads to find Mandvi.
Bharat almost slapped his forehead. He knew this lady is not going to leave him for what had happened on their first meet.
Ram glared at Bharat.
Before he could ask him anything two voices interrupted the train of his thoughts.
"Look at him. Your twin. I am sure he has done something so Shruthkirti was crying", Urmila shouted.
"How can you even say that? My brother is limping and your sister is crying. My brother slipped so he is limping. Your sister seems to be fine. Why don't you ask her what has happened?", Lakshman raced towards her.
" Shruthkirti it's better you open your mouth now", Mandvi warned her.
"Its okay Mandvi didi. Nothing has happened", Shatrughna intervened.
" See your twin is asking us to shove everything under the rug. He definitely has done something", Urmila got a chance to taunt her rival.
"What the hell have you done?", Lakshman asked Shatrughna.
They only got silence.
" I...I...I had pranked him", Shruthkirti stammered.
"When?", Sita asked.
" In the morning", Shruthkirti replied.
"Oh! So here is our culprit.", Urmila said as if she had held a murderer.
" What culprit? Your sister just now said she had pranked my twin. So she is the culprit", Lakshman retorted.
"I see. Just like a short temper you have short memory span also. Tch tch tch", Urmila sounded pitiful.
" What do you mean?", Lakshman was pretty offended by her remark.
"I mean its your brother who has invited Mata Katyayni and Mata Maitreyi to the puja. See he turned out to be your reflection. You didn't do the work yourself. You asked him to do", Urmila screamed.
" She's mad. She's mad. Do you get it brother she's completely mad", Lakshman went to Ram.
Ram simply looked on.
Edited by daydreamers - 9 years ago
