The moment Rishyashringa entered his home and his eyes fell on the four young men inside, he knew that they were not just the princes of Ayodhya. Shanta looked radiant serving them food after their long journey from Ayodhya.

" This is my husband, Rishyashringa" she said smiling at him. 

" My brothers!" she exclaimed happily turning to him.

Rishyashringa smiled at her excitement, greeted his brothers-in -law and  joined them to eat.

" Didi did not allow us to wait till you joined us, she insisted us to eat" Ram obliged getting up.

" She is right. I might have come late too. I will eat later with Shanta." Rishyashringa said sitting beside the enoromous Lakshman.

" I heard you all finished your studies in Rishi Vasisht's Gurukul" Rishyashringa continued turning to Lakshman.

"Yes, we had our best time there. We learnt Vedas, archery, horse riding.." started Lakshman going into a fit of cough.

" Don't talk too much when you eat." Bharath admonished. Shatrughan passed his cup of water to his twin. Ram patted Lakshman's back . Shanta asked " Is it true that when you all were little, Lakshman cried if his cradle was removed away from Ram's?"

Lakshman blushed at the memory, " I didnot cry! I just fussed a bit. I don't cry."

Bharath left no time to embarass his brother. " He certainly did cry. Everyone says so. Just recently, when Ram bhaiya had gone to the forest alone and returned a bit late , Lakshman almost c.."

" That's enough, Bharath" cut in Ram seeing Lakshman who was now red and was muttering something under his breath.

Rishyashringa gave a deep laughter seeing the shaking Lakshman beside him and ruffled his hair. He could see the way the brothers loved each other.

" You performed the Putrakameshti Yajna years ago" stated Shatrughan quietly. " We are the result of it."

Rishyashringa looked at him and had a sudden impression of looking into an old, intelligent soul inside a youthful man.

" That is his way of saying thank you" prompted Ram, getting up. " We will serve you and Didi"

Later in the evening, Rishyashringa could not help but notice that Ram was in many ways similar to Shanta. Their eyes, the calm and warmth they radiated, but one look at him in the begining and he was sure that Ram and his brothers were no ordinary princes. He wanted to know more. "How about a duel ?" 

Lakshman and Bharath looked enthusiastic. Shatrughan's face was inscrutable. Ram smiled." It would be an honour to duel with someone as great as you."

" Nonsense, I fight as your brother-in-law." said Rishyashringa going out. 

" I will duel first" said Lakshman bounding into the deep circle carved by Rishyashringa. 

"Yes" said Rishyashringa as they bowed to each other.

Lakshman was ceratinly good and his tall stature would have been a plus point if Rishyashringa was not taller than him. But he got distracted easily. Rishyashringa won in the end saying, " You need to control your  mind. You get angry easily.That distracts you."

Lakshman smiled ruefully as Bharath came up and bowed. Bharat's  style was definitely more swifter but he entered exposing his whole body to his opponent. Rishyashringa had to try his best not to hurt Bharat yet defeat him. Bharath at last gave up, panting. " You do extremely well for a Maharishi."

" I only knew the basics. Your sister refined my moves." Rishyashringa smiled at the memory of Shanta instructing him. Ram got up . Rishyashringa admired the way he stood sideways exposing as little of his body to him. He was calm and composed. His movements were fast and accurate yet controlled. His arms travelled as fast as his eyes. Though he was not as tall, he had very long arms. Their duel went on till it was dark.

" They must be tired, Rishya!" Shanta's voice called out. Immediately the two men stopped fighting. 

" Didi!" protested Bharat. " We wanted to know who would win."

" Ram Bhaiya can fight the same way blindfolded too" Lakshman said proudly. " But perhaps, it would have been difficult to defeat you, Rishi Rishyashringa" he added hastily.

" Perhaps difficult but not impossible,Lakshman" Rishyashringa said looking keenly at Ram who was not affected by any praise. Shanta was weared out by excitement. " You are very happy" Rishyashringa said hugging her that night. 

" Hmm.." she hummed kissing him. " I hope they stay for a long time."

Rishyashringa knew they would not but he did not want to tell that now. " Shatrughan is really quite while Bharat is the handsome one, I guess, a bit cocky but is very kind at heart. Lakshman's whole world revolves around Ram. Ram....is difficult to read. All I know is Ayodhya needs a King like him. They are very special." 

Shanta nodded." Ram is the eldest. He would be crowned as the King. They all are adorable." she snuggled against her husband sleeping peacefully.

Shanta woke up very early that morning. She felt very much fresh and awake. In the dark, she made her way to the lake. She could see a dark figure sitting on the rocks across the lake. 

" Ram?" she called out. He turned around suddenly and smiled on seeing his sister. He got up wishing her. She took her seat next to him, her feet dangling in the water. " You wake up this early?" 

" To see the horizon" he smiled looking ahead. Silence prevailed." We have to leave today, Didi."

" No, you should stay atleast for a day more." she insisted. Ram shook his head. " We will come back soon."

" Is father planning to coronate you?" Shanta asked

" Coronation is still very far,didi. You should not assume that it will be my coronation, my brothers can also be coronated." he said .

" The eldest is..." Shanta started.

 " That should not be so. Just because I was born months or years before them. Capabilty matters." Ram cut in

" You are the most capable to become a king. I am sure father thinks the same." Shanta said drawing circles in the water below. Ram shrugged.

He said softly," Father misses you." .Shanta nodded looking away. 

" Come back to Ayodhya.Please persuade Rishi Rishyashringa. We need you there." he continued.

" I cannot." she said simply a tear escaping her eyes.

" We were born because of what you did. We are forever indebted to you. We want to serve you in Ayodhya." he pleaded.

" I was sent away, Ram. I cannot come back." she whispered.

" You can't come back or don't want to come back?" he asked.

" I don't want to come back. This is my home, my shrine. I cannot enter into a life I was sent away from and nor will I force my husband. It is my duty as a daughter, as the princess of Anga and as a wife to stay here. And I love it here." she said firmly. Ram nodded. He looked at his sister in admiration. 

" Because duty.." Shanta continued.

" Comes first than anything. Nothing is above law and dharma." Ram finished. " For me too."

A sharp pain seared through Shanta when she looked at her brother. She felt sorrow filling inside without any reason. " You need to be strong." She patted him.

" If I have half the strength you do, Didi, then I have no fear." he smiled helping her up.

Hours later ,Rishyahsringa found his wife weeping, just after the Royalties of Ayodhya left. She had put a brave front but broke down when they got on their chariots. Rishyashringa held her close. " He will suffer." she said more to herself. Rishyashringa knew she was speaking of Ram. Rishyashringa could see and know something he would never let Shanta know but he couldn't deny she was right.

* Thank you for reading. Have a nice day