This is a imaginary conversation between Princess Urmila and her husband Prince Lakshman regarding the most disturbing event of the Ramayana when Lord Ram exiled Mata Sita to the forest.
Urmila was very worried and troubled by the unfortunate turn of events. All her sisters had already accepted everything as it was. But she was not ready accept this that easily. She didn't know which responsibility of hers should she fulfill in such a situation. Of that of a Sister? Or a Daughter-in-law? Or that of a women?
She sat in a corner of her room downhearted and dejected, wiping her tears, trying in vain to console herself. Lakshman entered the room and was shocked to see her in a pathetic state. Even though he was himself disappointed by the recent happenings, he never expected to see his love in such a state, for she was the bravest and most courageous one among her sisters.
Lakshman sat next to her saying : "Mila! Why are you like this? I have never seen you like this. Not even when I left you behind here for fourteen long years."
She didn't respond. Wouldn't it be right to say that she didn't know how to respond or she forgot how to respond?
Lakshman insisted : "Say something Mila. Don't hold yourself. I can't see you like this anymore."
Urmila dried her eyes and asked him interrogatively : "Will you too exile me if ever a question is raised on my chastity?"
Lakshman understood what she was going through then.
Lakshman : "No Mila. I won't!"
Urmila asked with little sarcasm : "Why won't you? After all you follow your brother."
Lakshman replied calmly : "Brother is neither happy doing this. As a king, his citizens are his first priority. It is his dharma."
Urmila : " My question is about you Prince Lakshman. I know that it is pointless to raise my voice here in a forlorn attempt to stop my sister from being exiled. "
Lakshman : "Why do you think you will be questioned ?"
Urmila : "My sister, who had proved her chastity by going through the great agni pareeksha, was questioned and accused and had to undergo this mortification of being exiled by your brother, how am I an exception?"
Lakshman : " Trust me. I won't let that happen to you Mila."
Urmila: " How are you planning on doing that? Will you go against your brother, your dharma?"
Lakshman : " No. I can't Mila. But I will not allow this to happen to you either. "
Urmila looked confused.
Lakshman : " I will die before that..."
Urmila closed his mouth with her palm even before he could complete what he said. Tears ran down her cheeks.He nodded his head in a 'no' and wiped her tears.
Urmila : " I am sorry, my love ! I had no intention to hurt you. I never doubted you or brother Ram. It was just that I was trying to remind myself of the reality of the society I live in, the truth of a women in our society, a society where a women needs to prove her chastity umpteen times to others for her to be accepted by them. Hope this tradition breaks soon. "
*** The End ***
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