"Oh Raghunandana, I am devoted towards you from my heart and soul, how can I live amdist luxuries when you shall be stumbling at your way in the forest for food?"
I twitched my eyebrows and faced in a opposite direction from Abhimanyu while pressing my one paw to the pillar with my other palm clutching my uttarīya--just below my cleavage. Trust me, I am totally unaware from the fact of how come the authentic tears are flowing like a stream down my slidy eyelashes. I am just imagining my position if I have to be far from my home. It's working !I glanced at my brother who blinked his eyes and reflected a huge beam of grin.
My eartips stiffened as I perceived the nearing footprints of Abhimanyu. He locks me on the either side in the chamber of his palms as he leaned them against my shoulders and swung me towards him.
"The journey isn't bed of roses. I promised in the name of holy fire to keep my wife happy and prosperous. Didn't I? "
He actually by hearted it but conveying too nicely.
Oh no, I am dipped into the character totally, that grief and sorrow were bulging out at the words of Abhimanyu. I nodded negatively as I glanced upto his eyes.
"Didn't I take the vow of following my husband wherever he goes? Didn't I take the oath to share his grief whether I can share his happiness or not? You can't compell me to not perform my duties, Raghuveer."
He sticks his eyelashes to one other for few moments and unlatches them.
"Fine."
My pitāmahi appreciates the stage-plays artists who just peep deep into the deepest corner of the character's soul for the sake. I tie his hair neatly and dive my fingers through his hair, estrangling his rough hair. Ah! Doest he not combs his hair or what? And why did Seeta had to do this? Hmph!
The next scene contains the entry of Lakśama and Ūrmiḷa. It was all planned by pitāmahi! She says Śri Rāmānavami doesn't mean everything should revolve around Rāmā and Sita, what about the woman who struggled in silence? I stole this sentence from jyesthā. We both happily sprint away from the scene as my brother, Oops! Lakśama and Ūrmiḷa come into picture.
Bhārgavi provided a testimony of being a great actress. She enacted through her eyes! Her eyes themselves described hues of different emotions. Sorrow, grief, pride accompanied by the burden of responsibility and what not? It had pricked my pitāmahi hard when she lended my brother his bow. I could sense the changing expressions of my grandmother.
She spoke a line " My responsibility hinders me in order to accompany you but I can't spend my life in luxuries when you would be walking in forest but yet the same time, I am not gonna retire to any forest till you return."
She even mentioned about Urmila saying 'More often isn't mentioned regarding Ūrmiḷa's sorrow but yes, I don't know why but I am able to taste her loneliness and silence.' They both had an eye conversation before the commencement of the further scenario where he would be with me and svāmi---tch, I mean Abhi. This role play! The saline screen of tears blurring the vision of Rāni Kauśalya pulled me back to the scene where jyesthā held me tight in her embrace during the farewell ritual of Seeta aka me. I developed hatred towards the vicious and cunning behaviour of Mantara! Boost your energy Vatsu! You are gonna be the cyosure of the next scene. I had to address the name Raghuraayi with my whole force in a harsh scream at the arrogant laughter of Rāvana before the abduction. What was the necessity for Seeta to cross the Lakśamanarēkha?
The squirrel sobs of mine amidst the silent moonlight and flowers in the Aśoka Vātika had devoured my patience levels the most while practice. I thank the nymph who cursed Rāvana to death if he misbehaves with a woman! We all had a solemn session of Rāmāyana from pitāmahi Devāki in brief in order to have an indetail inscription of the epic. Trijata isn't a demoness from nature as I study her character. Daughter of Vibhiśana she is! The ardent devotee of gods. After reaching to the end of the bumpy road towards the victory, Lakśama was battling between life and death, how cruel of Meghnāth? Regards to Hānumān, who dragged Lakśamana from the clutches of death maze. Finally, after a queue of struggles and pricky obstacles, Rāvana was slayed!
According to my grandmother he wasn't that bad from first! He had the blood running through his veins of a great sage! What made him so arrogant and dip in the liquid of ego? The widowed stage of Sulocāna wasn't worth to witness nor queen Mandodari's! They were innocent. I admit my mistake of underestimating Abhi, the rage and fire in his eyes for Rāvana was inexpressible when he got to acknowledge the fact from Jatāyu. The scene when he was posing questions regarding Seeta to the trees and rocks was breathtaking!
Push yourself more Vatsu. I made my voice heavy and my expressions too numb at the sight of agniparikśa. Of course, Rāmā never asked Seeta to give a testimony of her chasity, it was Seeta who did so who didn't wish to see a dark spot on her husband's respect. Wow, I remember the words of my grandmother. As we wrapped up the stage play, jyesthā spoke the closing quote but me, a curious kid jumped towards my parents. My eyes searched for my parents all the time during the play. My mother stretched her arms forward and fisted her curved paw on the either side of my forehead and pressed it against her palm on the either sides of her narrow forehead.
"So, I would like to fold up the play with my last statement conveying you all my regards and hoping bundle of compliments from you all!" My jyesthā grinned with satisfaction. Pitr̥vya resumed " You proved that you are my daughter."
Abhimanyu's face colour changed rapidly !
"Such a partiality! You didn't even talk regarding our skills!" Abhimanyu's point was valid.
What can he do? His daughter is precious for him. Special kid of him, right!
"Stop, stop. Your sight shall cast negative effects if you stare at her like that without flapping eyes. Move now, you dusted away the evil sight." My father's words acted like a fuel to my mother's burning rage.
She widened her eyes swiftly at him with a tint of curtness. My mother and father! They won't change.
"After all whose daughter she's?" My father flipped his hair in pride.
Pitr̥vyā Rukmiṇi's voice silenced the commotion. Before few moments, every parent was busy in praising their kids.
"Everyone did a nice job and especially--"
Everyone stared at her with wide and curious eyes. " Especially our Abhimanyu, Cāru and Vatsu!"
I squealed at the mention of my name.
Glossary:
Rāni: queen
Jatāyu: a character in Ramayan who's a bird
Agnipariksha: a test of purity meant for married ladies in Hinduism.
Ashoka Vatika: the garden which is named as Ashoka.
Lakśamarekha: the line drawn by Lakshmana by his arrow for the protection of Seeta.