THE STORY OF LIFE | A 21ST CENTURY RAMAYANA

AN ACCIDENT

Ram walked away from him as Lakshman called his chauffeur for the keys and went out on a drive with his car. Ram came to Siya and said," he's so stubborn at times. I can bring him. Lets see,if his mind changes in sometime. " Siya took his hand in hers and walked in.

Urmila,Shatrughan and Shruti stood next to Bharat and Maanvi, and Siya noticed exactly she had heard till now. A lady hugged and kissed Bharat and Maanvi again and again, and she understood it was THE Mandira Aunty. As Ram and Siya walked in, Kraanti walked up to them and hugged them. As they walked towards Mandira and bent to take her blessings, she moved a step back and said,"may God Bless you." Siya and Ram looked at each other as they were bent, and knew it was going to be tough time coping with her. Urmila looked around for Lakshman, and Siya walked up to her and whispered in her ears,"He will come in a few minutes." "I dont care," she angrily replied. Mandira said sarcastically,"So, is our Lakshman late again?" Ram just put up a little fake smile. They went up to their rooms and put all the luggage in. "It has been an hour almost. Where is Lakshman?" said Ram as he sat on his bed in his room. Just then, his phone rang, and taking the call, he yelled,"NO!!" Siya dropped the glass of water in his hand from the shout and asked,"What happened?" Ram rushed down with Siya running behind him. Hearing all the sounds, everyone

came out of their rooms and asked him,"What happened?" Ram stopped and tried to say something, but tears escaped his eyes. Urmila looked around, and asked ram,"Bhaiyya where is Lakshman?" Ram burst out crying on hearing his name. Urmila ran up to him and shook him up and asked crying," Bhaiyya, please tell me? Is he ok?" Ram held Urmilas hand tightly and said," I am sorry Urmila. I am a very bad brother..I" Bharat took the phone from Rams hand and called the number that had called recently. On hearing what the man had to say, he dropped the phone and sobbed. Maanvi tugged at him and asked,"What happened?" He replied in a broken tone,"Lakshman.. Lakshman.." "WHAT?!" Urmila yelled. "Accident. He had had an accident." said Bharat.

"NO!!!! NO!!!! HE CANT!!!" yelled Urmila as she stepped back slowly and hit one of the glass tables, toppling it over. Siya gasped and clutched Ram's arm tightly. She saw her sister Urmila standing there, shaking and clueless. She ran to her and took Urmila in her arms. She said to her, sobbing,"Don't Worry Urmila. Nothing will happen to him. We all are with you. God is with you." She moved away from Siya, leaving Siya shocked. Urmila looked down and with the same helpless face said,"All because of me. I did this. I scolded him in the morning, I left him alone. I .. I am responsible for his accident." She couldn't control herself any longer and burst out crying,"All because of me! If only... If only I hadn't left him alone... if something happens to him.. I .. I will .." Siya held her by the shoulders tightly and said,"Urmila, look at me. Nothing happened because of you. Nothing WILL happen to him. Have faith in your love." Urmila looked up at her as she said the word LOVE'. She didnt realise till then how much she loved him. Yes, she knew she did love Lakshman, but that her love for him had crossed boundaries of any sort dawned on her then. Siya looked at Ram, who was crying heavily with his face hidden in his palms. Siya was in a huge dilemma. She herself couldn't cry, for

two of her life's treasures were broken now. 'I have to stay strong,' she thought. She made Urmila sit and walked to Ram and took his wet hands in hers. Till then. she controlled herself, but on seeing Ram cry, tears few down her cheeks. "Please, dont cry. Its not your fault. Nothing will happen to him." she said. "No. Its all my fault. Had I forced him to come with me, he wouldn't have gone out. And the accident.." He cried again. Siya wiped his tears with her loving hands. He looked at her and said,"Siya, will God forgive me for what I have done? Its all my fault, clearly. I dont know what to do Siya, I really dont." Siya gulped in her tears. She remembered the fact that she had to be strong now. She said,"You know where Lakshman is admitted right? Lets go there, and arrange for everything for him. Arrange the best treatment for him. And stand strong for him. Lakshman wouldn't want his Ram bhaiyya to be upset like this." The elders came down by then, hearing the news. Sumitra and Kraanti wept and Dashrath sat quietly alone, tensed and sobbing. Mandira looked around, least concerned about what happened. Kraanti and Sumitra walked up to Ram and Siya, and Sumitra said,"Ram, Lakshman is my dearest. Please, please do something. Save him." Ram looked at his aunt's plight and her light of hope in him made him stronger. He placed his hands on Sumitras and said,"Masi, I will give my life, but I will bring Lakshman back, fit and fine." Ram called for Bharat and Shatrughan and walked out quickly to reach to Lakshman, with the sisters emotionally drowned following them behind.