Ram was in his chamber doing meditation before going to sleep. Suddenly the quiet atmosphere of the chamber was disturbed. The door of the chamber opened with a thud and little Lakshman came running and with a jump landed on ram. Ram lost his balance for a moment but somehow regained it soon. Lakshman hugged him tightly.
"What happened Lakshman?"
Lakshman was huffing just then came shatrughan and behind him bharat. Now not only Lakshman but all three of them were huffing.
"will any of you tell me what is going on and why are you three huffing " demanded ram
"Bhaa...... Bhaiyaa..actually... we..we... " started bharat
"okay have a breath first than continue "
After a moment bharat started
"actually bhaiya we had a quarrel that who loves you most. And then shatrughan came up with the idea of having a race to your chamber and the one who will hug you first will proove his love"
Ram was shocked hearing this.
"seriously? A race for prooving who loves me more! "
"yes bhaiya!" said the three of them in unison
"but i thought amongst us shatrughan runs the fastest but how come lakshman won" asked ram
"bhaiya when anything related to you is happening how can i accept defeat. I can fight with the whole world for you" lakshman responded proudly
Ram was in awe hearing this.
"bhaiya you know this was chote's(younger brother) trick behind keeping race as a competition because he knew he runs the fastest amongst us" pointed laksh
Shatrughan was all red on getting caught by his elder twin.
"Bhaiya now lakshman bhaiya claims he loves you the most. But who do you love the most amongst us bhaiya? " asked an innocent shatrughan
"me?.... I... "started ram but was cut by lakshman
"shatrughan what kind of a question is this. We three are equally dear to ram bhaiya. He loves the three of us equally. Don't insult bhaiya's love for us by asking such a question" replied laksh
Ram looked at his laksh lovingly. He was indeed ram's soul. Even though all three of his brothers are very dear to him but lakshman he was special. Lakshman is ram's breath he cannot live without him.
"sorry" said shatrughan
"no need to say sorry! Now come we should sleep before mata gets to know"
The three of them climbed their respective beds and in no time they were asleep. But ram he was thinking about the events which took place few moments back. He was admiring his laksh. Everyone knew lakshman as a strong shot tempered prince but only ram knew how soft and kind his laksh was at heart, how protective he was for his family especially his ram bhaiya. Felling obliged to have a younger brother like him he went to sleep.
NEXT DAY
In a few years the princes were to be sent to gurukul but king dashrath was reluctant he wanted them to learn in palace but being an important ritual of raghukul he had to send them. The princes always used to learn even the basic things about fighting and warefare in gurukul but king wanted his princes to know sword fighting even before going to gurukul. That was very unusual for everyone around but no one objected. In order to fulfill the king's desire Vijay the chief commanding officer of Ayodhya army was given the responsibility to teach the princes swordfighting. Today he brought them to the armory. Four of them were very excited especially lakshman. Vijay showed them some basic techniques and they practiced for a while.
"Vijay uncle i will just be back i need to go to washroom" said lakshman
"be quick" replied vijay
After using washroom lakshman was going back to the armory. He was passing by Keikeyi's chamber when he heard something which would be the most dreadful thing he would ever hear.
"Ram would die keikeyi! Ram would die! " he heard a tensed dashrath.
Lakshman's world came down crashing in nano seconds. He could not process what he just heard. What his ram bhaiya why? How? The ever strong lakshman was now crying. For it was Ram bhaiya his ram bhaiya.
"maharaj what are you saying. Our ram! Our ram why would he die?" cried keikeyi
Dashrath narated to keikeyi the whole incident of Shravan kumar and how he was cursed to face separation from his son.
Keikeyi was affected by this revelation. But there was someone who was completely devastated. 6 year old lakshman was broken completely broken. He left for the armory in his thoughts. When he reached armory he saw ram practicing with bharat and shtrughan waiting for him.
"Lakshman you are late" pointed vijaya
He did not reply. Instead he picked his wodden sword and started practicing with shatrughan still lost. All his thoughts were directed to ram bhaiya how much he loved him, how ram bhaiya took care of him like his mother. Suddenly he shrieked. Due to lack of attention he was slow in defending and shatrughan's sword hit his neck. The next moment ram dropped his sword hearing his cry and was near him.
"Laksh are you fine? Show me where are you hurt? You idiot where were you lost? See you got injured. " spoke ram in a tensed voice
Tears formed in lakshman's eyes seeing ram's concern but he did not show them.
Just than everyone reached there.
"laksh are you fine" said everyone in unison
"sorry bhaiya i didnt know you will get injured" appologised shatrughan.
"dont be fool chote(younger brother) it was not your fault"
"today's session is over laksh you go have rest" vijay said
Ram to lakshman to their chamber and was applying medicine when he suddenly hugged him tighly.
"what happened laksh? Is it hurting that bad" asked ram in concern only if he knew the pain in his heart for the fear of loosing his bhaiya.
"Promise me! Promise me bhaiya you will never leave this laksh. This laksh is nothing without you bhaiya" cried lakshman still not leaving him
"why will i leave you. Even i am nothing without you laksh. Now have rest i will se you at lunch and yeah no masti" warned ram
The whole day laksh did not leave his chamber. This was unusual because laksh is not the one who will sit around easily. Ram knew something was bothering him and it was directly or indirectly related to ram. He had never seen laksh cry but today he saw him crying like a 2 year old. He also knew he will never tell ram about his worry.
He decided to take sumitra's help. He walked to her chamber.
Outside Sumitra's chamber
Ram asked the dasi to inform sumitra about his arrival and seek her permission before entring . But the dasi told him that none of her kids need to ask for permission to see her.
Ram entered her chamber.
"Pranaam mata! " (greetings mother)
"ram you here? Come have a seat"
Ram sat beside sumitra.
"Mata i wanted to talk about lakshman. Something is wrong with him"
Ram than narrated her the entire story.
"don't worry ram. I will talk to him. He cannot hide anything from me" smiled sumitra
Ram left her chamber after a while telling her about his day what he learnt etc.
Sumitra than went to find lakshman. She found him in his chamber. He was looking out of the window.
"Lakshman"
"mata! Prnaam mata"
"how's your wound. "
"its fine mother. It will heal in two to three days.
Sumitra saw the sadness in lakshman's eyes
"What's the matter laksh? Why are you lost and sad? You know ram is soo tensed about you"
It was as if lakshman needed this. He wanted to share his sorrows with someone. Someone who could tell him what he heard was not true. He started crying. Sumitra took his head in her lap and ruffled his hair quitely giving him time to open up. After crying for about half an hour lakshman started narrating him the entire story. Sumitra was shocked she could not believe her ears. She also wanted to cry just like lakshman for ram was an apple of everyone's eye. Sumitra was attached to ram since the day he held her finger in his little palm. How could sumitra forget that feeling. But this was not the time to break down. She had to be her son's shield both ram and lakshman. All those things whic guru vashisth said while naming ram came ringing to her ears. Her heart refused to belief what lakshman told him. No mahadev would never do this.
"laksh whatever happened was destiny it was not in our control. But have faith in mahadev he would never do such a thing. Dont make these tears and your love towards ram your weakness make it your strength and ram's shield lakshman. Kaushalya didi does not desrve this. Not at all. Forgive me lakshman for what i am asking you to do but it is important. Promise me laksh that whatever problem will come ram's way you shall be the one to face it first lakshman. You shall be the one"
Lakshman beamed with confidence his mother was right he shall be ram's shield.
"I promise you mother. I will always be ram bhaiya's shield. Every obstacle which comes his way will face this lakshman first. I shall be his brother his companion his friend his servant his child or even his mother if the situation demands so" promised lakshman now happy.
Sumitra's eyes filled with tears. She was proud of her son.
All the gods and goddesses in the three worlds were witness to this sacrifice. Vishnu and adishesha were always like this but sumitra her sacrifce set an example for mankind her sacrifice will never be forgotten.
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So guys this was ch 4 hope you like it. Do review.
Take care! Stay safe!!