Two days later, the princesses were bustling about in their chambers. They were getting ready for their customary morning prayer. There was hustle for a comb and a small fight for a pair of ear rings. Sunaina entered the room.

Sunaina : Good Morning Girls.

The princesses greeted their mother/aunt with large smiles on their faces. Sunaina's eyes shone with love for the four girls.

Sunaina : Sita.. Urmila. I need the both of you to go to the garden and get some flowers for the pooja. The maids are busy in the kitchen.

Urmila : Maa. What's so special today that the maids are so busy in the kitchen ?

Sunaina : Dear. We are hosts to the two princes from Ayodhya and Brahmarishi Vishwamitra. The maids are lending a helping hand in the kitchen.

Sita : Oh Mother !! Can I help too ? I would love to help cook.

Urmila : Ever-helping Sita...

Sunaina : Urmila. Stop teasing your sister.. Sita.. Sure you can help. First you both get some flowers. Once we finish the morning pooja, we shall go. Mandavi. Shrutikeerti. I need your help with the pooja thali and prasad.

Sunaina left with Mandavi and Shrutikeerti. Sita and Urmila left to the gardens. The girls loved the gardens. Mithila was known for its vast and lush greenery. The sisters loved to escape into the gardens and enjoy venturing into their imagination where they travelled to different worlds. Urmila was bustling with excitement.

Sita : What happened to you, Urmila ? You seem so excited.

Urmila : Because Brahmarishi Vishwamitra is here. Their stay is not far from here. What if he comes here !! We'll get to see him Sita !!

Sita : Dear Sister. I don't think the Brahmarishi would be traversing through here. He would be meditating..

Urmila's face fell. She was looking forward to meeting the great sage. She had heard so much about him and wanted to meet him. She followed her sister to the flower bushes. They weren't alone. Someone was there. It turned out to be a man. By the look of it, he looked like a Prince. This must be one of the Princes of Ayodhya, thought Urmila.

Urmila : Atleast we get to meet someone, don't we Sita ?

But her sister wasn't listening to her. She looked at her sister and noticed that she was looking at the Prince. Urmila's eyes travelled to the Prince who seemed to be having eyes only for Sita. Urmila felt like she was intruding into a beautiful private moment. The gaze her sister was giving was filled an emotion she quite couldn't name - could this be love. A twig snapping sounded somewhere and both the Prince and Sita snapped out of their trance. Sita looked so flustered and couldn't speak anything. Urmila had two options - she could either welcome the Prince and introduce Sita and her or they could just run away. She was never going to go for the second option. Her parents had brought her up with the best manners and she would never let Mithila bow her head down. She decided at the former.

Urmila : Greetings My Prince. Allow me to introduce ourselves. I am Urmila and this is my sister, Sita.

Prince : Greetings Princess Sita and Princess Urmila. I am Prince Ram from Ayodhya. I am here with my brother Lakshmana.

Another prince stepped out into the light with an identical basket in his hand like that of his brother. They looked so learned and strong. There was a touch of divinity to them. He just nodded at them.Urmila had a hard time looking away from the younger prince whose black eyes wouldn't stop looking at her. She had to tear her thoughts away from him.

Urmila : I hope you're finding your stay comfortable.

Ram : Ofcourse Princess. It is not about the stay. Its about the people and their hospitality that makes the stay comfortable. I am glad to have experienced that. Mithila is very beautiful.

Urmila felt the genuine sincerity in his voice. She felt proud. Happy pride for her Mithila.

Urmila : I am glad you find our Mithila beautiful. I would love to be host to you around Mithila but unfortunately, my sister and I need to get back to the palace.

Ram's eyes travelled towards Sita who looked down shyly. With another smile at the princes, Urmila held Sita's hand and walked away to the palace. They just made it in time to the pooja. The family was waiting for them. They placed the flowers on the thali and went to stand beside Mandavi and Shrutikeerti. Sunaina performed the morning harati while Sita who had regained her composure distributed the prasad amongst the family. The princesses were left alone in the pooja room.

Mandavi : Why were the two of you late ?

Urmila : What ?

Mandavi : To the pooja. It doesn't take too much time to get flowers and you both know your way too well to get lost.

Urmila : Oh..

Mandavi : So ?

Urmila : We met the two Princes.

Mandavi and Shrutikeerti : What ?

Urmila : We met the two Princes.

Mandavi : Our chambers !! Now !! Tell us everything. Each and everything.

Mandavi dragged Shrutikeerti and left for their chambers. She seemed excited for whatever had transpired between Urmila, Sita and the princes. Urmila looked at Sita whose cheeks were returning to normal though still flushed and she regained her composure. Urmila brushed it off thinking it must be due to them almost running to make it to the pooja on time.

Urmila : Shall we ?

Sita : Let us..

They sat down on the bed. Mandavi had seated herself towards one edge, Shrutikeerti on the other and Sita and Urmila in the centre.

Mandavi : Start. Tell us everything.

Urmila : There isn't much to to tell Mandavi. We met them while plucking flowers for pooja. We introduced ourselves and left.

Mandavi pursed her lips. Her cousin was a handful and didn't give anything else a second glance other than a glance.

Mandavi : You look so bored talking about them.

Urmila : What do you expect, Mandavi ? I had my hopes up about meeting the Brahmarishi but I happened to meet the Princes.

Shrutikeerti : What are they like ?

Urmila : Well. The eldest Prince was really nice and genuine. I could sense the sincerity that oozed when he spoke.

Shrutikeerti : The younger prince ?

Urmila frowned. She had looked at the younger prince not more than a few seconds but she remembered his features correctly.

Urmila : Well. He didn't speak. He was stoic and had a crease between his brows that made him look like he was frowning all the time.

Their conversation was interrupted by Sunaina. Two maids stood behind her with two thalis.

Sunaina : Keep the thalis there.

Sita : Maa. What is this ?

Sunaina : Your clothes and jewellery for your Swayamvar Sita.

Sita just looked down her hands as she sat and Urmila couldn't help but notice that there was no excitement at all at Sita's face. Sita was an expert in hiding her moods but Urmila knew her better. Something was bothering her.

Sunaina : I brought these here so that there won't be any hustle-bustle in the evening. And girls. You will help your sister get ready, won't you ?

Mandavi : Ofcourse Badi Maa.

Sunaina smiled and left the chambers. Mandavi and Shrutikeerti went to the jewellery thali and started sorting out the ornaments. Sita got off the bed and walked towards the balcony. Urmila followed suit.

Urmila : What happened Sita ?

Sita : Nothing Urmila. I am fine.

Urmila : Don't lie to me Sita. I know you. Something's troubling you.

Sita : Oh dear sister !!! I don't know what to do !!

Urmila : What happened Sita ?

Sita : I don't know Urmi !! I haven't been myself since I met the eldest Prince. I know I sound immature but I can't seem to cease thinking about him. Even during the pooja, my thoughts kept drifting off to him. Its like, all of a sudden I am dreading my swayamvar.

Urmila stood rooted to the spot. Slowly, the blankness in her mind gave way to realization. Her sister was in love.. With the eldest Prince of Ayodhya. Sita hadn't realized that. Of course she hadn't. Sita had been contented with whatever had been to her that she never realized that there was something she could have wanted.. She took Sita's hands in her own.

Urmila : My dear Sita. You are in love..

Sita : What !?? Urmi.. That can't be possible. How ??

Urmila : Oh Sister. You can't stop thinking about him and you aren't looking forward to the swayamvar. And I noticed that the little excitement you had when Father announced your swayamvar is not there anymore.

Sita's eyes widened with her own realization. She was in love. She remembered the morning scene where she stood rooted to spot upon seeing him.

Sita : Oh Urmi.. What must have been thought !!! I just stood there like.. Like a..

Urmila : Like a crazy, lovelorn girl..

Sita : Urmi !! Please don't make me feel worse.

Urmila laughed lightly. Her sister just found love. She was happy for her. But there was a nagging feeling. Sita's swayamvar was tomorrow. She couldn't help but wonder. It was so convenient that the Princes had made their appearance at this exact time. She hoped she was right. They were called in by Mandavi. Mandavi and Shrutikeerti had finished sorting out the ornaments.

Mandavi : This is the last day we'll be spending before Sita's swayamvar. Let's talk. Since we'll all be busy from tomorrow with the wedding preparations.

Sita tensed beside Urmila. Urmila gave her an assuring look hoping to change the topic.

Urmila : Let us not get all weepy now. We still have time for that.

Mandavi : I can't believe the palace will be filled with Princes from various places tomorrow.

Shrutikeerti : Do you think the Princes are here for Sita's swayamvar ?

Urmila's eyes shot towards her. Shrutikeerti had just voiced her question. Sita's hopeful eyes looked at Shrutikeerti.

Mandavi : What makes you think so ?

Shrutikeerti : Its just too much of a co-incidence that they visit at time of Sita's Swamyamvara.

Mandavi : Maybe they've come to take a look at the mighty Shiv Dhanush..

But even Mandavi couldn't argue with Shrutikeerti. Sita looked at Urmila and Urmila gave her a reassuring smile. Shrutikeerti had voiced her thoughts and she hoped that her sister would get whom she desired.