in a quandary…’ he again lapsed into a long pause. ‘He has asked for the hand of the other three girls in marriage for his other three sons,’ he said shortly. ‘Chronologically, it is Lakshman for Urmila,’ he paused watching the colour rise on his daughter’s face; that meant a possible affirmative from his otherwise fastidious daughter. He smiled and that enigmatic smile told Urmila that her father realized her feelings for Lakshman.
‘…Bharat for Mandavi and lastly, Shatrughna for Shrutakirti,’ he continued. ‘Since none of us have even seen the other two princes, he has duly sent across their portraits. You can, of course, look at them. What do you say, my princesses?’ he asked, looking expectantly at each one of them. ‘I have not given my reply yet for I wanted to know your opinion,’ he said gently, but there was a ring of firmness in his voice. ‘There is no pressure, please let me know how you wish it to be. It is up to you to decide. It is not mandatory that you abide by our wishes.’
‘Is it your wish that we marry the princes?’ Urmila asked succinctly.
‘Honestly, I don’t have anything against them. They are fine young princes—brave, noble and kind. I already know Lakshman. Frankly, I couldn’t have found a better man for you, dear,’ her father enthused. ‘…and he has stood up for you more than once, if I am right…,’ he pressed on, his tone light, his eyes teasing, watching his daughter go vividly scarlet. ‘So, he sufficiently qualifies to be a suitable son-in-law for me. He is infinitely better than any from that angry gang of princes who were out to seize you!’ he said with mock horror. ‘So, Urmila, do you agree with me that Lakshman makes for a fine groom for you?’
Not deceived by her father’s light banter, Urmila knew he was seriously asking her to acknowledge her feelings, her free choice. She nodded slowly, her face breaking into a shy, lovely smile.
‘Yes, I abide by your decision,’ she said discreetly, but her heart was singing. She now had her parents’ permission and her heart’s sanction; it could not have been more legitimate.
‘Now how about you, Mandavi? And Kirti?’ asked Janak, turning to his nieces who were standing silently near Urmila.
Kirti walked to the tiny portraits of the princes kept on the carved table. She picked Shatrughna’s portrait and stared at it for long. After a long minute, she quietly kept it down and nodded her consent.
‘I can’t fault him his looks. I would not mind marrying the prince,’ she said, her voice firm.
‘Are you sure? You have not even met him!’ interrupted Mandavi sharply.
‘From the stories I have heard, the four princes of Ayodhya are very alike—brave and clever, and above all, kind and respectful,’ her younger sister argued wisely. ‘I don’t think I can get a better marriage proposal than this one. I accept.’
‘Uncle, would it be ungracious of me to answer in a while? I need time to come to a definite decision. Honestly, I am confused…’ Mandavi’s voice trailed off uncertainly.
‘Take your time, dear, you have a full day to make up your mind,’ her father, King Kushadhwaj, assured her gently. ‘Whatever your decision, we shall stand by it.’
‘Yes,’ agreed Janak. ‘The decision is entirely yours. Let us know by tomorrow morning, dear.’
Sunaina had not spoken a word. Her brows were creased in consternation. She was a woman of strong opinions and did not hesitate to voice them. Her husband had profound respect for them and was often in agreement. That she had not uttered a word during this crucial conversation was not just unusual, it was worrisome. Were the senior members of the family hiding something from them?
Urmila decided to be upfront. ‘Ma, aren’t you happy with my decision?’ she asked bluntly, staring at her mother.
Sunaina’s worried face wreathed in a smile. ‘Oh no, dear, not at all!’ she exclaimed. ‘I am as proud of Lakshman as of
‘…Bharat for Mandavi and lastly, Shatrughna for Shrutakirti,’ he continued. ‘Since none of us have even seen the other two princes, he has duly sent across their portraits. You can, of course, look at them. What do you say, my princesses?’ he asked, looking expectantly at each one of them. ‘I have not given my reply yet for I wanted to know your opinion,’ he said gently, but there was a ring of firmness in his voice. ‘There is no pressure, please let me know how you wish it to be. It is up to you to decide. It is not mandatory that you abide by our wishes.’
‘Is it your wish that we marry the princes?’ Urmila asked succinctly.
‘Honestly, I don’t have anything against them. They are fine young princes—brave, noble and kind. I already know Lakshman. Frankly, I couldn’t have found a better man for you, dear,’ her father enthused. ‘…and he has stood up for you more than once, if I am right…,’ he pressed on, his tone light, his eyes teasing, watching his daughter go vividly scarlet. ‘So, he sufficiently qualifies to be a suitable son-in-law for me. He is infinitely better than any from that angry gang of princes who were out to seize you!’ he said with mock horror. ‘So, Urmila, do you agree with me that Lakshman makes for a fine groom for you?’
Not deceived by her father’s light banter, Urmila knew he was seriously asking her to acknowledge her feelings, her free choice. She nodded slowly, her face breaking into a shy, lovely smile.
‘Yes, I abide by your decision,’ she said discreetly, but her heart was singing. She now had her parents’ permission and her heart’s sanction; it could not have been more legitimate.
‘Now how about you, Mandavi? And Kirti?’ asked Janak, turning to his nieces who were standing silently near Urmila.
Kirti walked to the tiny portraits of the princes kept on the carved table. She picked Shatrughna’s portrait and stared at it for long. After a long minute, she quietly kept it down and nodded her consent.
‘I can’t fault him his looks. I would not mind marrying the prince,’ she said, her voice firm.
‘Are you sure? You have not even met him!’ interrupted Mandavi sharply.
‘From the stories I have heard, the four princes of Ayodhya are very alike—brave and clever, and above all, kind and respectful,’ her younger sister argued wisely. ‘I don’t think I can get a better marriage proposal than this one. I accept.’
‘Uncle, would it be ungracious of me to answer in a while? I need time to come to a definite decision. Honestly, I am confused…’ Mandavi’s voice trailed off uncertainly.
‘Take your time, dear, you have a full day to make up your mind,’ her father, King Kushadhwaj, assured her gently. ‘Whatever your decision, we shall stand by it.’
‘Yes,’ agreed Janak. ‘The decision is entirely yours. Let us know by tomorrow morning, dear.’
Sunaina had not spoken a word. Her brows were creased in consternation. She was a woman of strong opinions and did not hesitate to voice them. Her husband had profound respect for them and was often in agreement. That she had not uttered a word during this crucial conversation was not just unusual, it was worrisome. Were the senior members of the family hiding something from them?
Urmila decided to be upfront. ‘Ma, aren’t you happy with my decision?’ she asked bluntly, staring at her mother.
Sunaina’s worried face wreathed in a smile. ‘Oh no, dear, not at all!’ she exclaimed. ‘I am as proud of Lakshman as of
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