The Princes of Ayodhya-The Ramayan Through Short Stories

A Friendly Alliance

The entire next day, Sita was restless, pacing around, flabbergasted by her own manners, terrible she thought they were! She hadn't even introduced herself to the poor princes, and she definitely ought to! They must think that her father raised horrible children, and she would not allow such disgrace to fall upon his name.

"We ought to introduce ourselves again!" Sita cried, getting up quickly from her bed as her sisters looked up. She still felt terrible about abruptly running away from the two princes just about feeling flustered. If she continued doing this, she would be a terrible wife!

"Oh finally! We weren't quite sure what was troubling you, and Urmila guessed princes." Mandavi handed over a coin to Urmila frustratedly and she grinned. Shrutakirti looked up from her embroidery curiously, eager to meet the visitors in person.

"Wait, we want to come this time too!" cried Shrutakirti, and Mandavi agreed, sitting up. Urmila rolled her eyes. What were they missing out on, just two lovebirds and a boring brother. Sita would surely disagree.

"Okay, that would make it less awkward as well." Sita was quick to agree, much to Urmila's confusion, and dragged along Mandavi and Shrutakirti down the stairs, past the guards, out the gates, and into the flower garden, where they hid behind the bushes as Ram and Lakshman continued talking and laughing together.

"Well, go on!" urged Mandavi to Sita. Sita shook her head, turning a light red with uncharacteristic shyness. Mandavi turned towards Shrutakirti. "You were always excited about speaking, you lead us!"Shrutakirti shook her head as well, with characteristic shyness. Mandavi scowled. "Well, someone has to do it." And with that, Mandavi pushed Urmila out, and Urmila had grasped onto Sita's hand.

"Erm, hi!" Sita squeaked, and Ram turned around slowly, raising an eyebrow. Mandavi and Shrutakirti had stepped out of the hiding place again, to support their sister. "We're sorry for leaving so abruptly last time, father had some important business." Urmila cleared her throat, feeling that her sister's acting was horrible.

"She's Sita, and she'll choose her husband in the Swayamvar that's happening two days after this." Lakshman froze. Oh no, she was Sita? He had to convince his brother to attend the wedding, and more importantly, compete! And one way to do that was get them to talk to each other! He poked Ram's shoulder pointedly, gesturing for him to acknowledge their presence, as he was too busy staring.

"Er, right. Hello Sita! I'm Ram, Crown Prince of Kosala, son of Dashrath. This is my brother, Lakshman, third prince of Kosala. It's nice to meet you! And who are these...?" Ram trailed off. Urmila sensed Lakshman's plan, and scowled. As if he had a right to mess with their lives! But something told her to stay silent, and so she did, very reluctantly.

"Well, that's Mandavi, eldest daughter of Kushadwaj, who is my father's younger brother. Then Urmila, my younger sister." Lakshman chewed on his lip at the name. "And there's Shrutakirti, the youngest of us." Sita finished, inhaling sharply.

"Let us show you the best flowers!" cried Shrutakirti. "Red ones, with gold trim. Have you seen them?" Ram shook his head, and an excitable Shrutakirti began to lead them towards her favorite place in the flower garden as Sita and Ram began to speak to each other.

"Wow, your favorite flower is the lotus? Mine too!" Ram said and Lakshman raised an eyebrow. If they continued finding common things among themselves, they would officially be more similar than he and his twin, practically the same person! Urmila poked his arm, and he turned towards her quickly, eyebrows raised.

"Why don't you speak, you are such a boring person, self-righteous indeed. You act as if you're doing us a very big favor, coming here." she snapped sharply. "Why do you frown all the time, as if everything displeases you? You have no right to be displeased!" Despite her outburst, Sita didn't notice her as normal, and Urmila couldn't help but feel hurt, as if she wasn't worth noticing.