After a long meeting with King Dasharath and Kushadwaj, King Janak looked radiant. He called on his daughters and nieces and announced that with the consent of all the princesses, King Dasharath had requested the other three princess marry the other three princes of Ayodhya. Chronologically on the same day as Sita was to be wedded.

The news was approved by Sunaina and Sita who was slyly looking at Urmila. Mandavi and Shrutkirti had no complaints. Nor did Urmila. Her heart was doing cartwheels against her own wishes. Urmila soon found herself in her sanctuary, a small cave  covered with green mosses.

She lay on her back, her head facing the entrance after a swim in the lake,looking at the cave ceiling. Sita was on the lake bed blissfully happy, a few metres away from Urmila's cave. A tall shadow blocked a ray of sunshine on her face. Opening her eyes she found dark brown eyes looking at her. Hurriedly she got up,pulling her angavastram over herself. " Sita bhabi told me I would find you here" Lakshman said. 

" You must have heard of the arrangement" He continued softly, not looking quite into her eyes.

" Yes" Urmila whisphered,her heart in her mouth, Did he not like her?

" You must not marry me" he said his eyes closed. He must have practised saying this for hours.

" You donot like me?" Urmila said softly disappointment etched on her face.

" No!" he exclaimed a bit too loudly." No, I... I am devoted to Ram bhayya. I cannot deviate my attention from him." 

Urmila nodded. " I understand" 

" You do?" he looked genuinely suprised." Then you must understand why I cannot marry you"

" Why not?" asked Urmila fidgeting with her angavastram.

" I cannot care for you  and give you as much as.. others can. I can not give you my all. What if i cannot complete my husbandly duties to your fulfilment?" he said his voice breaking when he said others.

" But you like me?" she asked neutrally,looking away from him.

" Like you? Mila, every waking moment of my life has been consumed by you since the day I saw you fight with your uncle. Your fierceness, wits,smile,beauty captured my heart and soul" his voice had now tuned down to a whispher and he had inched a bit closer.

In the dark  small cave with just a beam of sunshine which was blocked by this man, all Urmila could ask was" Mila?"

 Lakshman looked furious with himself. " I am sorry, I mean Urmila.." he started

" I like Mila better" she cut him short." 

Now,Urmila did a brave move, she reached out for his hand and promised him" I will not come in between your duties toward your brother, I promise" 

Lakshman started,but Urmila continued," I will not break the promise.."

Lakshman looked dumbstruck. He felt her hands. They were calloused due to fighting and were not small  and soft as a princess's hands should be but they fit into his perfectly well. He felt a sudden jolt of pleasure as he looked into her earnest eyes. He pulled her into an embrace and kissed her forehead. 

" I donot just like you,Mila, I love you" he whisphered in her ears, tickling her.

" I love you too,Lakshman" she said her lips moving against his neck. He groaned softly," Stop doing that" he said withdrawing from the embrace.

" What?" asked Urmila.

"  Urmila!" Sita was calling.

Ram was sitting beside Sita near the lake as Lakshman emerged out followed by Urmila from the cave. Ram smiled looking at his brother," Had a heart to heart talk?" 

Lakshman scowled and replied" You seem to be in a very good mood, all credits to bhabi?"

Ram simply smiled. Urmila couldnot stop thinking of Lakshman,his hands,his lips. She was never so mad about anyone. The upcoming days were not as private as the cave had been. There were many ceremonies and the bride grooms were  not to see the brides before their marriage.

A week seemed a long wait for the couples but they knew their days together would be well worth the wait.

* The next chapter is not meant for children under the age of 15. Slightly M content.

Hope you loved reading the chapters as much as I liked writing it. A good day to you. Thank you