Chapter One - The Return
The return of Lord Ram, Goddess Sita, and Prince Lakshman to Ayodhya after their 14-year exile was marked by unparalleled celebrations and overwhelming joy among the citizens. The entire city was adorned with vibrant decorations, flowers, and colourful rangolis. Streets were lined with lamps, illuminating Ayodhya with a radiant glow that symbolized the triumph of good over evil. The citizens, dressed in their finest attire, gathered in large numbers by the gates of Ayodhya, singing hymns and chanting praises for their beloved crown prince and his family.
Soon, Ravana's Pushpaka Vimana appeared in the sky and descended. Lord Ram, ever the gentleman, gracefully alighted and held out his hand for his wife. Goddess Sita got down with royal grace just like the princess she was. Behind her, the dutiful Lakshman jumped down from the chariot, his eyes scanning the crowd.
The trio of Queen Mothers rushed to them with garlands and Aarathi plates.
"Ram!"
"Mother!!"
"Sita!"
"Oh, Mother!!"
"Lakshman!"
"M-Mother!!"
Prince Bharath arrived just then from his humble hut where he had taken up residence for the last 14 years.
"Brother!!" He ran into Lord Ram's arms.
"Oh, Bharath!" Lord Ram said with emotion.
"Brot - Brother!!" Lakshman said, his voice breaking.
"Come here, my little brother!!" Bharath pulled him into an embrace.
Goddess Sita, who had just pulled back after Queen Sumitra's embrace, looked up. Prince Bharath fell at her feet.
"Get up, Bharath. The ruling authority of this land must not bow down." Goddess Sita chided him with emotion.
Prince Bharath shook his head, "No position is greater than that of mother. Older sisters-in-law are counted as mothers too! Bless me!!"
Goddess Sita blessed him happily.
The three queens hugged the royal couple and proceeded to hug Lakshman, with Queen Mother Kaikeyi repeatedly apologizing profusely for her despicable actions. But Lord Ram calmly forgave her.
"Let's go, dear!!" Queen Mother Kaushalya put her arm around Sita. "To the palace where you belong!"
"Come, dears!!" Queen Mother Sumitra led the way for her son and Lord Ram.
"Wait a moment, Mum." Lord Ram said calmly. "I want you to meet our new friends."
This was when the attention diverted to the Vanaras who were respectfully standing in the shadows unseen.
"Sugreeva! The King of Kishkinda!" Ram called out.
Sugreeva bowed in respect.
"And, of course, Hanuman, King Sugreeva's commander!" Lakshman piped in.
"I am but a humble servant." Hanuman bowed.
As the queen mothers and the people of Ayodhya made necessary introductions and arrangements to lead the Vanaras to the royal palace, Ram couldn't help but chuckle at Lakshman, whose keen eyes kept scanning the crowd.
As the royal chariot led the way, the atmosphere was electric with anticipation. People showered the trio with petals and fragrant garlands, their faces beaming with happiness and reverence. Throughout the journey, Goddess Sita kept her hands wrapped around Lord Ram's arm as he looked around with a smile. All around them, people kept calling out the names of their king and queen, now returned from exile. The entire city of Ayodhya rejoiced, celebrating not only the return of their beloved royals but also the victory of righteousness and the restoration of dharma.
But Lakshman seemed restless. He knew that the people were only ever interested in his brother and sister-in-law. No one acknowledged him. He didn't care—he was looking for one particular face amid the crowd. Soon enough, the chariot gracefully halted.
They could hear melodious music from within the court. Dancers welcomed them with graceful steps inside. The palace was no less splendid, resplendent with lights and festoons. No sooner had they alighted than Princesses Mandavi and Shrutikirthi ran out of the palace howling with joy, with Shatrughna only just keeping up. He immediately rushed into Lord Ram's arms, seeking blessings. He exchanged happy looks with Prince Bharath and hugged his twin, Lakshman. Goddess Sita, Princess Mandavi, and Princess Shrutikirthi were hugging and crying.
Lakshman's shoulders slumped. "Where is she?"
A hand lay on his shoulder, and he started. But it was his brother.
"Lakshman, it is up to you to go and wake her from her 14 years of sleep." Lord Ram reminded Lakshman of the boon by the Goddess of sleep.
"Of - of course, Brother!!" Lakshman said and ran inside.
The servants greeted him the way a prince should, even bowing and wishing him well. But he had eyes and ears only for his chamber.
The attending lady at the door looked up at the sight of him. Her face lit up as she said, "Oh, Prince! It feels so good to see you back!! The princess has only just gone into the room. She seems to have lost touch with time! She'd be delighted!!"
Acknowledging her with a grateful nod, Lakshman entered the chamber.
Princess Urmila looked up from her book. She had been reading it before lulling herself to sleep. Her eyes widened.
"Hey, Surya Dev! I've started hallucinating about him now!!" She moaned as though considering her own sanity.
She had grown considerably thinner, not that Lakshman hadn't over the last 14 years. Her royal robes had fading colors, and she sat straight, taking the bed's support.
Lakshman reached out with his hand. Still skeptical, Princess Urmila reached out her hand. Her eyes widened, and she shook herself, "Is this - is this another dream? The last time, the dream was set somewhere across the ocean! This time, it's set in my own chamber?"
"No, Urmila. It's me!" Lakshman said in a deep voice, filled with emotion. "14 years are over, and I have come back... For you!"
She studied him just like he had upon entering. Her eyes filled rapidly, and she jumped into his arms, leaning against his heart. Lakshman rested his chin on top of her hair, weeping alongside her muffled sobs. His reunion with his dear wife reminded him of his brother and sister-in-law after reuniting in Lanka upon the wicked Ravana's death. There, too, his sister-in-law had rushed into his brother's arms, and he kept repeating her name with emotion amidst her sobs against him.
Meanwhile, Lord Hanuman stood by the chamber door. The attending lady from earlier looked at him curiously.
"My Lord has instructed me to watch over the chamber and not permit anyone to disturb Prince Lakshman and the princess." Lord Hanuman bowed, still trying to remember names. He had met so many new people over the last few hours, and it was a bit challenging.
"Of course! And it is Princess Urmila!" The attending lady said and left.
Chapter Two - The Watch
In the abode of Kailash, Lord Shiva had just finished meditating. The snow shone against the weak sunlight, causing Lord Shiva to breathe deeply in satisfaction. When he gracefully opened his eyes, his gaze fell upon his wife, who looked downcast.
"Parvati? What's wrong?" Lord Shiva asked.
Goddess Parvati looked at him and said, "Pula has let success go to his head."
Lord Shiva looked closely. "Yes, he has taken to behaving arrogantly."
"He was blessed with extraordinary intellect as a result of good karma from his past lives. Not for being so disrespectful. He doesn't deserve that spot amidst much older and wiser sages in the Ashram." Goddess Parvati scowled.
"Yes, Pula Rishi has taken to scorning at people with lesser intellect than him. He has forgotten that intelligence is meant to teach and serve others, not to devalue them. Oh, Princess of the Mountains, do not worry. He will soon embark to Ayodhya, the land Shri Ram rules!" Lord Shiva said calmly. "How about I show you around to bring that smile I've been longing to see?"
It was an ordinary market day as people went about handling their daily transactions and chores.
"Are you sure you have sold me pure milk, not adulterated milk?" A woman demanded from a shopkeeper. Her newly wedded husband, a meek man, trailed behind her.
"Of course I have! Ask your husband!!" The shopkeeper retorted.
"Listen, I'm known as the lady of justice back in my village! You will know why if I find out that this isn't pure milk!" The woman demanded. "Come, dear."
"Well, that chap has struck gold! Those who want to cheat him will first have to face his wife, who will not take any trash!" A second shopkeeper observed.
"Well, in this Ram Rajya, who would dare cheat?" The milkman asked.
At that precise moment, some people screamed in fear, and others added to the chaos by running hither and thither. It was Sage Pula storming the city with his head held high.
"Huh! Fools!!" He scoffed as he narrowed his eyes at the less fortunate.
When an old man couldn't move out of his path in time, Sage Pula angrily cursed him, "You will soon find yourself in the land of Yama!!"
Whether the old man was sick or it was the result of Sage Pula's curse, he collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
Even the guards at the palace stared in alarm and quickly allowed Sage Pula inside. As was customary, a servant offered to lead the way to Lord Ram's court, but he took a different direction. To his dismay, he found the route blocked by a Vanara.
"Get out of the way!! I am in a hurry!" He demanded.
Lord Hanuman meekly bowed, "Oh, venerable sage. I am under strict and specific instructions to prevent any kind of disturbance to the inmates of this chamber at present. Kindly wait for your turn."
"How dare you talk to me like that?!" Pula barked. "You who do not know the scriptures!"
"I can recite the scriptures if you please, venerable sage! But I cannot forsake my duty currently. I will have to forbid you from proceeding further." Lord Hanuman said.
'HOW DARE YOU!!!" Pula bellowed. "DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM? YOU DARE CHALLENGE THE GREAT SCHOLAR, SAGE PULA??!"
Inside the room, Princess Urmila lifted her head and stared at the closed door, "What's that commotion?"
Meanwhile, the sage continued barking, "DO NOT TEST MY PATIENCE!! OR YOU WILL BE DOOMED!!"
Princess Urmila scowled at the door. Prince Lakshman broke away from her and opened the door just as he caught the eyes of his three brothers, also rushing in to investigate the source of the commotion.
"What is going on?" Lord Ram said calmly. "Hanuman?"
"Oh, venerable sage. We did not know you were to arrive." Prince Bharath said.
Prince Shatrughna stared at everybody present. "Is there a problem?" He asked.
"Why, yes, there is!!" Sage Pula bellowed. "This arrogant servant of yours refuses to let me in!!"
"Hanuman did not let you in, oh venerable one, on my orders. You can take out your anger on me, but kindly spare Hanuman." Lord Ram said.
"Aren't you from Mother's kingdom?" Shatrughna suddenly asked.
"Yes, I am from the land of Queen Mother Sumitra!" Sage Pula declared. "Kashi!"
"I am afraid you are mistaken in thinking of this as the visiting chambers of Mother." Prince Lakshman spoke for the first time.
"No, I came to the right place!! For something important!" Sage Pula declared, "You're Prince Lakshman, aren't you?"
"Indeed, venerable one!" Prince Lakshman said. Just then, Princess Urmila took her place by his side.
"I come here seeking your presence in my ashram, Prince! Some miscreants have been terrorizing us lately!!" Sage Pula declared. "Disturbing us during homa's and havans, driving away the womenfolk of the ashram, and creating nuisance!"
Prince Bharath said, "Oh, venerable one. Shouldn't you be approaching the king of the land for such concerns?"
"No! I come here seeking the man whose mother is from my land!!" Sage Pula puffed out his chest.
"In that case, oh, venerable sage," Prince Shatrughna piped in, "My brother is preoccupied at this moment. I could accompany you."
"Preoccupied?" Pula scoffed. "What could preoccupy a man in his private chambers?"
Princess Urmila gripped Prince Lakshman's arm tightly, unwilling to let go. She knew such missions could take weeks to accomplish.
Lord Ram, ever the calm leader, said, "Venerable sage. It is not prudent for a learned one to behave so rashly and ignorantly. It is you who needs help here. And for the problem you are facing, Shatrughna, Bharath, and I are capable of handling it. You need not disturb Lakshman from his moments of privacy for that. You first abuse my dear Hanuman here. And then proceed to tell us of the problem at hand while refusing any help from who you perceive to be outsiders, such as Bharath and myself. Following that, you refuse Shatrughna's help and insist that Lakshman drop all his activities and follow you. Would you call this the action of a wise man?"
"I am not going anywhere, Urmila." Prince Lakshman assured the princess.
"Lakshman, you needn't go anywhere." Prince Ram said. "Princess Urmila, I apologize for this intrusion. You may spend time with Lakshman as much as you please."
"Oh, Lord! Please don't apologize!!" Princess Urmila bowed. "This is not your fault. Thank you for your kindness!"
Saying so, she followed Lakshman back into the chamber and shut the door.
"Hanuman, the next time somebody interferes, I give you full permission to send them away. Tell them that I said so." Lord Ram commanded gently. "I do not want anyone disturbing my dear brother and younger sister-in-law. None of us have been separated for as long as them!!"
"So be it, My Lord!" Lord Hanuman bowed.
"Being separated from Sita for that one year was pure agony for me. I feel for Lakshman, who had to endure that for 14 years. And right when they reunite, we have... You, venerable sage." Lord Ram said in disappointment.
"You are right, Lord Ram! I have been arrogant! Please forgive me, and if possible, help me with this situation!" Sage Pula folded his hands.
"Go back to your Ashram. You will find the miscreants killed." Lord Ram said. "We will make necessary arrangements for your stay tonight so you can leave in the morning."
Burning with shame and embarrassment, the sage trailed behind the King and the two princes.
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