10. THE CONVERSATION
"I wonder where are these two", Mandvi whispered.
" Didn't Urmila come yet?", a worried Sunaina asked Sita.
Sita nodded a NO.
This was strange.
"Shruthkirti please look out for the things of charity. Ask the helpers to get them here immediately." , Chandrabhaga instructed her amidst the tension fearing more chaos as a result of negligence on anyone's part.
"Yes Ma", the youngest of the daughters rushed outside.
Shatrughna couldn't let go off the golden opportunity.
" I am thirsty. I'll go and drink and some water ", Shatrughna informed Bharat.
" I know your thirst", Bharat let out a chuckle.
Shatrughna rushed outside in the open space and saw Shruthkirti who was busy taking out everything from the palankheen.
"I'll help you Rajkumari", Shatrughna put his foot forward and Shruthkirti bumped into him.
" Ouch!!!", she shrieked as her head hit his head.
Shatrughna brought his head close to hers and gave it a hit again.
"What's this?", Shruthkirti asked irritatingly.
" So that we don't get horns ", Shatrughna grinned.
" Move aside. Your help always causes me embarrassment.", she tried walking to the other side.
"What do you know about Rajkumari Urmila and Lakshman bhai?", he asked eagerly.
" What would I know?", she shrugged her shoulders.
"I mean both are missing."
"So?"
"So.. Even we were missing, remember?", Shatrughna winked.
" Yeah.. That caused all the mess in first place. The invitation, the broken pot and so much embarrassment.", Shruthkirti left with a huff.
Shatrughna turned around to see her go. She stopped midway and faced him.
Shatrughna raised his eyebrows.
Shruthkirti walked towards him which made him crimson red.
"I knew you would come back.", he closed his eyes in anticipation.
He felt something near his feet.
" No. No. Don't. You can do this after wedding", he said as he saw her bent at his feet.
"Shut up!!! Am picking up the fallen gold coin", she showed the gold piece to him.
" I see", Shatrughna was disheartened.
Shruthkirti enjoyed his fallen face.
"Anyways, how is your leg? You seem to limp even now."
His face lit up as she enquired about his health.
"It hurts a bit as I fell down twice and hit the same place", he said sheepishly.
" I didn't know that the princes of Ayodhya were so docile and get hurt this easily.", she laughed.
"Raghuvanshis are warriors", he broadened his chest with pride.
" Yes, hurt warriors", Shruthkirti laughed.
"Please I don't want us to be like Lakshman bhai and Urmila ji"
"What do you mean by 'us'?", she frowned.
" Ummm.. Nothing ", he nodded his head.
" And by 'them'?", she asked.
"Can't you figure out the obvious?"
"I can't but Mandvi didi says they both are cooking up something. Is it a surprise dish for us in the Puja?", she asked him like a child.
"It's nothing short of a shock that they both are missing at the same time", he murmured under his breath.
" What? What did you just say? ", she put forward her ear.
" Nothing"
"No tell"
"Okay. I'll tell you in your ears. Don't tell anyone."
Shruthkirti shook hands with him.
Shatrughna whispered something into her ears.
Once he was done,
"Is it?", she asked curiously.
" Absolutely "
"But they didn't tell me anything", she lowered her head in disappointment.
" Just the way you didn't tell about your prank"
"So are they playing a prank with us?", she widened her eyes in disbelief.
" Quite possible. "
"But I know them. They won't do anything like this."
"They trusted you too. But even you pranked me", he gave her a mean look.
" Its okay. It wasn't that big. Am sorry. Stop taunting me over it. I didn't know the rock beneath was that hard", she made a puppy face.
"Well then I suggest you should fall and check it once for yourself."
"Don't make fun of me", she marched from there.
*************************************
He saw her sitting on the big rock eating sugarcane. He walked looking at her. Her beauty was boundless and innocence was seamless. There were around 12 kids who were playing around her. She seemed to have notice him giving her special attention. He walked in her direction. She became conscious of his approach.
An old man crossed his path and he talked to him. He seemed to be waiting for the right opportunity.
He saw her whispering something into the kid's ear on which he giggled and ran.
As Shatrughna's talks were over, he walked in the same direction till he slipped.
Everyone laughed. Shruthkirti clapped.
He tried to get up but couldn't as the boulder hit him hard in the toe.
"Ouch", he took support from the rock and got up.
His toe was bleeding and the leg had cramps.
He took the banana peel and held it high blocking their direct contact.
Shruthkirti realized that something had gone terribly wrong. The kids ran away and she sat frozen at her place.
************************************
" Where were you? ", Bharat asked his younger one.
" Stop treating me like a child", he rolled his eyes.
"Stop behaving like a child"
"Please"
"Did you get water?", he asked.
" Yes. I drank it. "
"You are saying as if you have emptied the well and come", Bharat laughed.
" Stop laughing. People will think you are enjoying Lakshman bhai's disappearance.", Shatrughna warned him.
"That I am", the duo laughed.
Bharat coughed to hide his laughter but was caught by the person whom he wished to be last one to know.
Mandvi glared at him throughout their silliness.
Edited by daydreamers - 8 years ago
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