They would be trying out their strength at the bow in exactly one week. Till then father had arranged for them to be involved in activities like hunting, sight-seeing, etc. to keep them from getting bored. Also, I suspect he wanted to delay his own disappointment as much as possible. He seemed to have grown somewhat fond of them. It was natural for anyone to like them, but my father was not just anyone. He was my father, and I could not help feeling a pang of jealousy for these outsiders.
Anyhow, I met them sometimes in the gardens. We made a lively threesome, when we were sure of our privacy, squabbling over every issue under the sun. That is, I and Lakshman squabbled, Ram tried his best to maintain his composure and his wise demeanor, but we usually managed to pull him in. It wasn't so difficult, given my somewhat radical views and Lakshman's temper, and Ram's own somewhat rigid sense of right and wrong. Our discussions usually left all three of us shaken at the end.
R.: Tomorrow.
I: What?
R.: Tomorrow all this ends.
Lakshman suddenly became serious. I was still not getting it.
I: What ends?
L.: Our friendship, what else?
I: Why? Have you decided not to break the bow after all?
R.: You know that's not possible.
I: Yes. The bow can't be left for Ravan to use.
I used to love taunting him like this, 'cos he could not protest this in front of his younger brother. Lakshman had once commented, " This is the first time I am seeing a girl making a guy blush." But today Ram didn't take the bait. I was confused. I looked from one to the other.
R.: After marriage, a girl is expected to behave in a certain way with her in-laws. You cannot joke and jump there as you do here.
I: Do you think I behave this way with everyone? You are the first real friends I've ever had.
Ram and Lakshman looked at each other.
L.: What he means is that you won't even be able to do that with us.
I: Why?
L.: Hasn't anybody told you anything yet?
I: You forget, you are talking to a motherless child.
L.: I am sorry. I didn't mean that.
I: I know. It's okay.
L.: See, after marriage, you'll become my Bhabhi. Our relation will become a lot more formal.
R.: And you will become my wife and the future queen of Ayodhya. There will be a lot of expectations from us. We'll be required to behave in a certain way.....
I: I get it. Tomorrow it all ends.
The cheerful atmosphere seemed to have evaporated. We all looked at the setting sun. Soon it would be time for me to leave.
R.: There's one more thing that I need to tell you, and it's important that I do this before tomorrow.
I: Go ahead.
R.: While we were in Jansthan, I and Lakshman decided that the only way to bring peace to those people was to uproot the might of Ravan. But even with the entire strength of Ayodhya, it might take around 5-10 years to bring this about.
I: So your point is...?
R.: My point is: would you be willing to marry someone who would be absent from your life for such a long time? I might not be able to give you the bliss of family life at all, 'cos I will not return till Ravan is defeated.
I: Oh! You mean, you plan to leave me behind?
R.: Why should it be otherwise? Battlefield is no place for.....oh! I am sorry. We've argued over that before.
I: Good, you remember! Now, I will give you two choices: If you decide to string that bow tomorrow, rest assured that I will accompany you every step of your life. I will walk with you through Hell if that's what it takes to bring Ravan down. If you think that that's not the way a Queen should behave, then you are free not to string the bow. I will personally go one night and destroy it so nobody can use it, and that will complete this part of your mission.
R.: No. You are right. A Queen has as much responsibility towards her people as a King, and slightly more, because she's the one who guides the king in times of darkness. My Lady, I would be honored to have you as my Queen.
L.: She reminds me of mother Sumitra. They're fire, both of them. But tell me this Sita, who will rule the kingdom in the absence of Ram? And Ram, wouldn't it be better that she does? She would be much better than me or Bharat or Shatrughan.
R.: Yes she would. But it is her choice. Either of you or Bharat would be good for the job, in case she decides not to. Shatrughan is too young.
L.: I am not leaving your side. You really think you could do it on your own?
I: And neither am I. I happen to know some medicine, in addition to archery. You will find me useful in your task.
R.: So, now it only remains to convince Bharat somehow.
He said it with such a straight face that we started laughing. Of course, it would not be an easy task convincing Bharat. But we could worry about that later, when time came.
Anyhow, I met them sometimes in the gardens. We made a lively threesome, when we were sure of our privacy, squabbling over every issue under the sun. That is, I and Lakshman squabbled, Ram tried his best to maintain his composure and his wise demeanor, but we usually managed to pull him in. It wasn't so difficult, given my somewhat radical views and Lakshman's temper, and Ram's own somewhat rigid sense of right and wrong. Our discussions usually left all three of us shaken at the end.
R.: Tomorrow.
I: What?
R.: Tomorrow all this ends.
Lakshman suddenly became serious. I was still not getting it.
I: What ends?
L.: Our friendship, what else?
I: Why? Have you decided not to break the bow after all?
R.: You know that's not possible.
I: Yes. The bow can't be left for Ravan to use.
I used to love taunting him like this, 'cos he could not protest this in front of his younger brother. Lakshman had once commented, " This is the first time I am seeing a girl making a guy blush." But today Ram didn't take the bait. I was confused. I looked from one to the other.
R.: After marriage, a girl is expected to behave in a certain way with her in-laws. You cannot joke and jump there as you do here.
I: Do you think I behave this way with everyone? You are the first real friends I've ever had.
Ram and Lakshman looked at each other.
L.: What he means is that you won't even be able to do that with us.
I: Why?
L.: Hasn't anybody told you anything yet?
I: You forget, you are talking to a motherless child.
L.: I am sorry. I didn't mean that.
I: I know. It's okay.
L.: See, after marriage, you'll become my Bhabhi. Our relation will become a lot more formal.
R.: And you will become my wife and the future queen of Ayodhya. There will be a lot of expectations from us. We'll be required to behave in a certain way.....
I: I get it. Tomorrow it all ends.
The cheerful atmosphere seemed to have evaporated. We all looked at the setting sun. Soon it would be time for me to leave.
R.: There's one more thing that I need to tell you, and it's important that I do this before tomorrow.
I: Go ahead.
R.: While we were in Jansthan, I and Lakshman decided that the only way to bring peace to those people was to uproot the might of Ravan. But even with the entire strength of Ayodhya, it might take around 5-10 years to bring this about.
I: So your point is...?
R.: My point is: would you be willing to marry someone who would be absent from your life for such a long time? I might not be able to give you the bliss of family life at all, 'cos I will not return till Ravan is defeated.
I: Oh! You mean, you plan to leave me behind?
R.: Why should it be otherwise? Battlefield is no place for.....oh! I am sorry. We've argued over that before.
I: Good, you remember! Now, I will give you two choices: If you decide to string that bow tomorrow, rest assured that I will accompany you every step of your life. I will walk with you through Hell if that's what it takes to bring Ravan down. If you think that that's not the way a Queen should behave, then you are free not to string the bow. I will personally go one night and destroy it so nobody can use it, and that will complete this part of your mission.
R.: No. You are right. A Queen has as much responsibility towards her people as a King, and slightly more, because she's the one who guides the king in times of darkness. My Lady, I would be honored to have you as my Queen.
L.: She reminds me of mother Sumitra. They're fire, both of them. But tell me this Sita, who will rule the kingdom in the absence of Ram? And Ram, wouldn't it be better that she does? She would be much better than me or Bharat or Shatrughan.
R.: Yes she would. But it is her choice. Either of you or Bharat would be good for the job, in case she decides not to. Shatrughan is too young.
L.: I am not leaving your side. You really think you could do it on your own?
I: And neither am I. I happen to know some medicine, in addition to archery. You will find me useful in your task.
R.: So, now it only remains to convince Bharat somehow.
He said it with such a straight face that we started laughing. Of course, it would not be an easy task convincing Bharat. But we could worry about that later, when time came.
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