4. DANGER
"What's the matter kids?"
They heard a voice from the ashram.
It was Rishi Yajyavalkya.
All of them bowed in reverence.
"God bless you all"
"Nothing Gurudev. We were simply going for some work. We thought why not finish it early as there was puja later on", Ram replied.
" Yeah. But I heard some high pitched voices. I thot someone was quarreling", Yajyavalkya said.
Lakshman and Urmila looked at each other furiously.
"No Gurudev. You must have been mistaken. We didn't hear any such noises", Sita tried to handle the matter.
Bharat suppressed a giggle while mandvi stared at him.
Noticing her glare, he composed herself shrugging his shoulders nodding his head.
But nothing helped. The *I'll kill you* look was evident on mandvi's face.
" You have got a terrific luck my boy. One end your younger one gives you a *I'll see you later* look and this princess gives you *I'll kill you* look ", bharat muttered to himself.
" Did you just say anything? ", shatrughna asked.
On this Bharat cleared his voice faking that he got a sore throat.
Shatrughna was puzzled. Mandvi couldn't take off her eyes from this stupid act.
" Disgusting ", Mandvi said to herself.
" what happened didi?", kirti asked.
"Nothing", Mandvi fumed.
" I think we must leave", Ram said.
Yajyavalkya gave them permission.
The brothers followed Ram.
Sita and her sisters also made their way to the palace.
They walked as a thought struck Sita's mind.
"Let's go from the side of the cliff.", Sita said excitedly.
" Why didi?", Urmila quipped.
"I feel we may get to see the golden deer today", she jumped with joy.
" Didi, you and your golden deer. I really wonder if such creatures even exist or not.", Mandvi said.
"We can Atleast go and confirm it. Right Sita didi?", Kirti asked.
The girls agreed and took a different path in the forest.
They weren't walking, they were running. The excitement was visible on their faces.
Cut to Mata Gargi's Ashram
" Mata ", Ram called out as he knocked the door.
" Who is it?", a voice came from inside.
"Mata, I am Ram", he replied.
The four guys stood outside waiting for Mata Gargi to come out.
The door opened and a lady with a smiling face greeted them.
" Pranaam Mata", the four bowed down folding their hands in a namaste.
"God bless you all"
Ram introduced Bharat and Shatrughna to Mata Gargi.
Gargi took them inside and gave them water.
Sitting on the box she asked Ram as what was it that they found their way to her house.
"Mata as you know there is a puja today. We wanted to invite you for the same", Ram said.
" But...", she was too hesitant to complete her sentence.
"Please do not refuse Mata. We know what is holding you back. But is the reason that strong?", Ram asked.
" The society won't understand Ram", she said.
"Mata it is we who make the society. Society doesn't make us. An isn't it right to twist and mend those rules which are nothing but baseless superstitions?"
"But Ram.."
"Mata forget society for a minute. But doesn't Sita have the right to have you in the puja? She has always looked upon you at every juncture of her life. How can you even think she'll be without you on the very important day of her life?"
"Ram these things are easy to say not to practise"
"Mata there's always a need to start with one. If we take a stand for one only then can we expect the scenario to change. There are so many ppl who follow these traditions. But have these traditions added any value to the life of ppl or society? Has it elevated or degraded us? Those who have clear minds will never think ill of these rituals. But ppl with hazy minds are sure to misuse these beliefs".
Cut to the forest
The sisters ran towards the hill panting.
" Didi this is so tiring. ", Mandvi said under her breath.
" Believe me we will get to see them today", Sita said.
"Wouldn't it have been wonderful if we had asked jijashree and his brothers to accompany us?", Kirti said excitedly.
" No", Mandvi and Urmila replied curtly.
The irritation was pretty visible in their tone which Sita noticed but chose to ignore it.
Shruthkirti was scared at the very attack of such refusal.
Cut to the Ashram
Ram's arguments were valid which even Gargi couldn't ignore.
Gargi's concern was Rani Sunaina.
"But why did you choose Mata Gargi?", Sunaina questioned little Sita.
" Because she is fearless.", Sita replied.
Sunaina was aghast at this. Never had she thought in her dreams that Sita would select Gargi.
"Mata, so you will be coming, won't you?", Ram's voice brought Gargi back from the memory that e had stumbled upon accidentally during the Gyaan Sabha.
By bringing in Sita Ram had left no choice for Gargi other than saying a yes.
The brothers were happy that Gargi would be coming. Ram was happier as his surprise seemed to have worked. He had to wait for the evening to see that bright smile on Sita's face.
Ram and his brothers took Gargi's leave when they heard a cry of an injured goat.
Turning around they saw a goat who was limping around the tree.
Lakshman and bharat rushed towards it.
The goat was scared at the sudden invasion of its space by these two strangers.
Bharat asked Lakshman to stay back.
Very quietly taking tiny steps Bharat approached the goat. He called out the goat with some sweet names.
As the goat became more stable,Bharat pulled out his hand to caress her forehead.
The goat closed her eyes enjoying the tender touch of bharat's hands.
As the cost had surrendered, within no time bharat carried her near the hut.
Gargi examined her wound. It was a deep cut on her leg. And she had lost a lot of blood till then.
"Mata is she fine?", asked a concerned Ram.
" She is not. She needs immediate treatment Ram", Gargi said.
The tension was clear on her face.
"Mata you order us, we will get the herbs needed", Shatrughna was quick to respond.
" But how will you recognize them?", Gargi asked.
To this they had no answer.
"Its only me and Sita who know about the herbs", Gargi said.
" You all should have got the girls. I heard they were in the ashram for some time ", she continued.
Suddenly the surprise idea seemed to be nonsensical to Ram.
Bharat got a pail of water and turmeric powder in the plate.
" Thank you son", Gargi said.
"Mata if you say, I'll go and fetch the herbs. I have studied ayurveda for some time now." , Bharat suggested.
"Okay if you say so", Gargi replied.
" But will you be able to recognize them? Coz the herbs found here are different than those of Ayodhya"
"Mata you give me the description. As the appearance, height, location and taste", Bharat promptly replied.
" Its a very small plant dear. Unlike other herbs it's a bit darker in shade. The plant has thorns and the leaves are sour in taste. You'll find them near the hill. Its not very far from here. You will reach within no time even if you go running. There's no need for horses or chariots.", Gargi said.
"Okay mata", bharat said.
" Brother I'll come with you", Shatrughna said.
On Ram's nod Bharat agreed to take Shatrughna with him.
Running along the thickness if the forests and the uneven terrain they saw the hill which Gargi had told about.
"Brother there it is", Shatrughna said pointing at it.
Walking the distance to it Bharat saw some herbs near the foot of the hill. He plucked the leaves of one plant to taste them.
Spotting it out he made a pukish face.
" This is bitter", Bharat said.
"We need to be quick", he said as he sprinted to the adjacent area.
" Did you get it brother?", Shatrughna asked.
"Yes, I did.", Bharat said.
Overjoyed Shatrughna went to Bharat only to find him staring at an anklet which he held in his hand.
" What's this brother? We are here to search the herb not a girl", he chuckled.
"Enough...",
Before Bharat could complete his sentence they heard a scream from the other side of the hill.
" Someone is in danger Shatrughna", Bharat said terrified.
"We'll save them don't worry", Shatrughna said.
Bharat looked at the anklet figuring out if it belonged to the person who was in danger.
Running at their full speed, Bharat and Shatrughna found themselves on the top of the hill.
The sight ahead of them was frightful and shocking.
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