* Before you start reading, Luv and Kush are Sri Ram and Sita's sons 

Angada and Chandraketu are Lakshman and Urmila's sons.

Taksha and Pushkala are Bharat and Mandavi's sons

Shatrughati and Subahu are Shrutkirti and Shatrughan's sons.

" Angada! Chandraketu! Lakshman! " Urmila shouted at the top of her lungs. They were nowhere to be found.  She met Mandavi on the way. They had come to Mithila for a visit. " Have you seen the boys?" she asked.

" No, Taksha, Luv and Kush said they would be in the arena. You might find them there. " said Mandavi hurrying after a flustered Sunaina. Sunaina was overwhelmed by so many grandchildren, grandsons to be exact. Luv and Kush were almost seventeen now. Angada and Taksha were nearly sixteen. Chandraketu  was twelve. Shatrughati , though taller than Chandraketu was barely ten. Pushkala  and Subahu  were the toddlers of the house being seven and six respectively. The whole palace of Mithila was filled with laughter and joy. 

Urmila went to the arena. Finding her men safe and happy,she went outside . " Going to your cave?" asked Shrutkirti as Urmila made her way to the forest. Urmila nodded. She missed Sita didi. Mithila brought back her memories with Sita. It was Urmila who was very close to her. She touched the plants on her way . Every where she saw Sita. Tears glistened on her cheeks as she saw the beautiful nature around her. She dropped down beside the very lake she met Lakshman. She touched the soft ground as if caressing it. Sita...

Sita had given  birth to two beautiful boys months before Urmila gave birth to Angada. A few years ago, these two brave boys had stopped the horse used in Ashwamedha yaga. Not knowing they were the sons of Ram and Sita, many soldiers, Bharat, Shatrughan even Lakshman had fought them. And were defeated by the twins. When Sita had heard of the news, she stepped right in time to prevent a huge fight between her children and her husband. Ram saw his wife in many years for the first time. He could not take his eyes away from her while Sita explained Luv and Kush that he was their father. At first, Luv and Kush were angry and rightly so at Ram for abandoning Sita like that. 

The people of Ayodhya had seen happiness and prosperity under Ram's rule but they had never seen him happy. They realised that because of them their King was suffering without his Sita. They along with their King and the rest of the royal family had come to Valmiki's ashram to request Sita to return back to Ayodhya with their princes. 

Sita had looked at Ram her arms longing to hold him, to love him. But she knew she no longer had the right.  She refused to come back.She never had the right to have him as her husband after he abandoned her in the forest. He begged her to come back. Urmila, Shrutkirti and Mandavi had hugged her ,pleaded her to come back. Ram was almost in tears looking lost clutching Lakshman for support. 

Sita had said softly" I cannot come back,please forgive me. I understand you have to follow your Raj dharma.  You gave me up as your wife when you left me in the forest. I have always remained faithful to you,and you also know that. I had done the Agni pariksha so we  would not have to face people's questions. By following Raj dharma, you forgot the dharma towards your wife. You disrespected me not only as a wife but a woman too by leaving a preganant woman in the forest.  I could not live for a single moment without my Ram and I guess it has been as difficult without your Sita. I have lived so far only to fulfill my duties as a mother. From now on, I have entrusted our children in your hands.Let no other woman  of Ayodhya for any reason be mistreated as such." 

" I will live here with you, Sita, I cannot be without you.." cried Ram helplessly. Luv and Kush had started to call their mother trying to go near her.

Urmila could never forget how radiant her sister looked that day. Sita had said in her clear voice." Let me inside you,O mother! If I am your true child.My duties here are complete". She had turned to everyone a beautiful smile enlightening her face. She turned to her beloved for the last time stretching her hand as if saying a fond farewell and in a flash of lightening Mother earth had cracked, taking  her child back to her womb. The skies rained,  nature rejoiced with the union of Sita and  her Mother Earth. Bhumija.

Ram ran to the place where Sita had gone. " Sita!" he had screamed gut wrenchingly. He had threatened  mother earth to give back his Sita. But  Mother earth stayed the same unaware of the wrath and sorrow gripping Sri Rama's heart. Shrutkirti and Mandavi were in tears holding Urmila on either side. Urmila had always been strong but that day her knees gave away. Rain drops mingled with her tears as she whispered " Sita didi". That was the last thing she had remembered that day. Everything after was a blur.

Urmila shook her head trying to clear her thoughts. I will be around you, Urmi.Always. That was what Sita did had told her last. She lay on her back smiling. She could feel her sister everywhere she went. She drifted off to sleep in the cave.

An hour later,Lakshman found his wife curled up the floor of the cave. " Mila" he shook her awake." It is time for dinner.It's almost dark" Urmila got up and hand in hand they went back to the palace. He knew she missed her sister. That day she did not just lose her sister, he lost his brother too. For Ram, joy had ceased to exist. He lived only for his family  and the people of Ayodhya. He had said that no woman in Ayodhya was to be abandoned at any cost. His Ram Bhaiya went  with his  Sita that day. 

After their dinner, Lakshman and Urmila had retired to their chambers. Angada and Chandraketu were to sleep with their cousins that pleased them to no end. Luv and Kush always came to talk with Urmila before going to sleep. When Lakshman entered he saw the trio laughing. " Care to share it with me?" he asked swinging an arm around Luv and Kush's shoulders. 

" About Sita didi. When she was small" Said Urmila smiling.

Luv and Kush took their leave. 

" You look beautiful today" he said trapping her against the wall. " And you look ravishing" she replied with a wink. " Chandra was just mentioning he would like a younger sister or brother. I thought it was a good idea." he said moving close." I would prefer a daughter"

" No.  I am happy with these two.They have given me a grey hair already"  She said playfully pushing Lakshman away. He pouted. " I don't see any grey hair" he said gently pulling her hair letting it lose.

" I meant that they cause more trouble than necessary. And your sons are so stubborn." she continued ,combing her hair.

Lakshman raised his eye brows" And you wonder where the stubborness  comes  from"

" You!" she said huffily.

" It's weird how they become  only my sons when you are displeased with them." He said rolling on the bed making space for her. Urmila draped herself next to him tracing his muscular chest with her fingers. " You don't ever grow old" she stated as she looked at him. 

"  You don't too" He smiled flexing his muscles. 

"Show off" she muttered. He pulled her close to him. " But you love me" 

"  Yes, I love you" she said affectionately kissing his nose. 

" We have a long journey to make tomorrow" he nibbled on her ears softly.

" I know, Just say you are sleepy,Lakshman." She smiled pulling the covers over them. She would miss Mithila. "Sita didi would have been  proud to see Luv and Kush now, isn't it,Lakshman?" 

But Lakshman was already fast asleep. She chuckled and fell back on her pillow. Life had not been very easy but with Lakshman it was easier than breathing. 

* There are stories of Luv and Kush singing the Ramayana in front of Rama in the court before they know his real identity as their father. But as you can see, I have omitted it. Thank you for reading so far. I hope you enjoyed it. I would be glad if my mistakes are pointed out.