The palace of Ayodhya hadn't changed even in the slightest but the people in it did. The three queens had aged consistently and were now devoting themselves to prayer halls. Kaushalya looked up at the huge Shivaling with tear filled eyes. One more year for the vanvaas to end. Her Ram would be back to her. Kaikeyi was in her chambers looking over a list of all the delicacies that were to be prepared for the day. It was Ram's birthday and she left no stone unturned to make it an amazing day. Sumitra was with her son Shatrughan who had his head on her lap for some peace. She was running her fingers through her son's hairs with a smile on her serene face. Shatrughan spoke "One more year Mother. Brother Ram, Sister Sita and Brother Lakshman will be be back to Ayodhya. I can hardly wait for that day." Sumitra smiled at her son "Yes Shatrughan.. One more year. Let us hope this last year passes without no mishaps." She pushed a stray of hair away from her son's forehead and found something wet on her fingers. She noticed that it was Shatrughan's tears "Shatrughan... My dear son.. What happened ?" Shatrughan sat up beside his mother "I am remembering Brother Lakshman, Mother. My older twin.. My temperamental brother. I miss him a lot. I miss joking around with him. I miss teasing him.. I miss getting on his nerves. I miss him scolding me and flaring his nose at me at every mischievous thing I do. I never spoke out loud of my emotions but after thirteen years, it is just too much to keep them bottled inside while pretending to behave like nothing happened. I miss Brother Ram and Brother Bharat." Sumitra cupped her youngest son's cheeks and looked at her in sorrow. Shatrughan continued "I feel my heart constrict with grief everytime I notice Sister Mandavi and Sister Urmila walk into the stables or gardens or the throne room. Grief that they are living their lives like a hermit instead of the princesses they are. I can see it Mother. They pretend to be strong but I can see the sorrow in their eyes. Especially Sister Urmila. She stands like a rock but I know she is broken inside and there is not much I can do about it." Sumitra took her son in a warm embrace as she let her own tears fall. Her younger son was all smiles and jokes but he was a keen observer of people and their emotions. He had become so frustrated over the years that he had burst out today. Add to it, he was in charge of the administrative affairs of Ayodhya. He had help from Bharat and Urmila but all the responsibilities and emotions had taken a toll on him. Her son's ever mischievous eyes were now tinted with responsibility, maturity and if she could add, a sense of longing and absence. He was no longer a young prince. He had grown up into a man yet Sumitra missed his humor. The palace did. She caressed his hairs and placed a small kiss on the top of his head "Shatrughan... Remember this... Ram, Lakshman and Sita have gone out to the forests for fourteen years for a wish fulfillment. They have gone with a clean heart and mind with no thoughts other than the promise given. It has been thirteen years without them... One more year Shatrughan. Just one more year... May this year pass without any hurdles, Mahadeva." Little did Sumitra know that the year was going to be a test of sorts for the three royalities of Ayodhya.

The sound of sanskrit alphabets resounded through the chamber as a group of young girls sat in three rows, one next to the other reading the alphabet out loud and then writing it. There was pure silence after a moment and another more feminine voice was heard speaking out the next alphabet. The woman in question was dressed in a cream colored simple saree, devoid of any jewellery as she looked at the children seated infront of her "Write the next alphabet." One of the girls spoke "Mandavi Didi. When will you teach us numbers ?" Mandavi looked at the little girl and gave a small smile "When you will finish learning all your alphabets, I will teach you numbers. Now finish your alphabets children." The children started their dictation again and proceeded to write them in the parchment. Mandavi smiled at the children infront of her. Life had changed for her since that fateful day, thirteen years ago. Long gone was the adolescent girl who had entered Ayodhya as a blushing bride. In her place was a full grown matured woman in her full-blooming youth. She had never forgotten what Bharat had told her and had proceeded to start tutoring the daughters of the maids. She kept herself occupied in the Royal Library and with the Queen Mothers. Her relationship with the middle queen had considerately improved though there was still a certain animosity left that would probably go when her brothers-in-law, sister and husband arrived at Ayodhya. She was to finish her tutoring classes soon for there was much to be done for the day. She was to help Urmila in the kitchens with the menu for the day. A nostalgic smile spread across her lips. If anyone had told her that Urmila would one day step into the kitchens and cook something, she would have laughed at that person. But now, she was in the kitchens overlooking the preparations along with Shrutikeerti. She was brought out of her thoughts by another little girl who had some difficulty with the pronunciation of a word. In the kitchens, Shrutikeerti was running behind a maid giving orders on how a specific dish was to be made. She had a list in her hand, the same that was in Queen Kaikeyi's too. She was mentally ticking off every item in the list that had already been prepared. One look at the youngest princess and you would be shocked at the alarming rate she had matured into a royal wife. She had retained some of the innocence with her doe eyes but her determined posture spoke of the responsibilities she had taken upon her shoulders. She was not treated to the predicament that her older sisters suffered but she had her share of responsibilities too. Being the wife of Shatrughan, she was required to be present whenever she was needed. Having always been protected by her sisters, it was not an easy path for her. Her oldest sister Sita always wanted her to move out of her shell. Sita would be very happy to see her so responsible. A maid came to her with a question. Shrutikeerti replied "That would be in the fourth cauldron. Let me find Urmila.. Where is she ? You continue with what I told you. " With that Shrutikeerti went on a tour around the kitchen to find her cousin. She found her bent over and adding a final touch to the badam kheer that was bubbling on a large pot. Shrutikeerti looked at her sister with an admiring expression on her face. There can never be someone as strong as her Urmi, she concluded. There was a war raging inside her heart yet she took everything that came her way with a serene smile, not letting go even a tear drop to keep up her promise to her husband. She had a small smile on her face and a twinkle in her eyes and she stirred the contents in the pot. Shrutikeerti walked over to her "Urmi ??" Urmila looked up at her younger sister. She had grown up from a young girl into an adult brimming at the beginning of youth. She was a full grown woman who looked more beautiful than ever. The mischief was gone from her eyes, replaced by a sense of womanly maturity. Shrutikeerti and Mandavi only hoped that the mischief returned once Lakshman returned. She knew her sisters lived with their responsibilities but she knew that their originality remained. Urmila answered "Ya Shrutikeeti.. Did you tell the maids to not overcook the brinjal like they did last year ? And did you take a look at the potato curry and its spice ? You know Brother Ram doesn't eat too much spice. And did you supervise the rajbhog ? The absent-minded Kanta had added too much of kesar to it last year.. Has she done the same again ?? What am I to do with her !!!" Shrutikeerti shook her head at here sister "Urmi.. Its Brother Ram's birthday.. Why are you so excited as if its Brother Lakshman's birthday ?" She regretted her words immediately... She did not want to take Lakshman's name in front of her. It just came out. Urmila's smile faltered for a second at the mention of her husband but then the smile was back again "What if it is Brother Ram's birthday ? He is Soumitra's life. His soul. His reason for living. His other half soul.. I am sure if Soumitra were here, he would have come down to the kitchens to look over all the delicacies and scare the maids over every simple thing." She let out a small laugh. Shrutikeerti smiled and knelt down beside her. She kept a hand on her shoulder "One more year Urmila.." Urmila looked at her sister. Sometimes she wondered how life would have been had they all married into different families. Sita would have probably been the same without going to the forest having settled beautifully with the family, Mandavi would have been the same protective sister and wife without the fate she was suffering now, Shrutikeerti would have retained her childlike innocence and she herself would have probably been part of a family with a husband and becoming a queen.. But would they have been happy ?? But then, temporary happiness doesn 't last long. She knew their happiness resided within the four princes. She knew the four princess and them sisters were the perfect match for each other and somewhere she believed that what they are going through was a lesson to be learnt in helping to shape themselves. They were standing the test of time. No one knew but Urmila had marked every single day on her chamber wall. She had kept a count of every single day for the last thirteen years and she was eager to run back to her chambers and mark another day off. She signed wondering what her beloved Soumitra was doing.

In the lush green forest of Dandaka, a woman was sitting on the banks of a small stream and stringing flowers together for their morning prayer. A small smile teased the curves of her lips and her slanted swam like eyes looked lovingly at the garland of flowers she had just made. A man was seen putting up a fire for food to be cooked. He looked as magnificent as ever with the rays of the sun illuminated on his face. He looked at the woman sitting near the stream and s smile spread across his face. Thirteen years had passed by and he had gotten quite used to the forest environment. The plants and trees gave him shelter and fruits. The animals became his friends and the birds enchanted him with their melody. He walked towards the woman and sat with her helping her out with the garlands. The woman looked at him "Raghunandan.. What are you doing ?" The man look back at her "I am just trying to be of help Sita." Sita smiled back at him "But this is almost done, Raghunandan. Let me finish this and then I shall make food." Ram smiled back at his wife. Sita looked around the place and wondered aloud "Where is Lakshman ? He was supposed to be back by now. Where has he gone ? Raghunandan.. Do you see him anywhere ?" Ram smiled at his wife. His wife had become a mother figure in his younger brother's life. She treated him like a son and Lakshman grew to love her as his mother. He had proclaimed to Ram one day that he saw his mother Sumitra in Sita. Ram had shed tears of happiness at the look of childlike excitement on Lakshman's face. Lakshman had faced the worst. He had left his young wife Urmila for fourteen years to protect him. He had always felt the guilt but when Lakshman had proclaimed that Sita was Mother Sumitra to him, he had felt abundant joy that his younger brother was loved. He was brought out of his thoughts by Sita "Raghunandan !! Where is Lakshman ?? He was supposed to be back by now.." Ram smiled " Worry not Sita. He will be back soon.. He is Lakshman, a fierce warrior.. Nothing shall happen to him." Sita was still not satisfied but she did not say anything. Inside the forest was Lakshman sitting beside the chopped firewood and looking at the clay doll. He trailed his fingers along the figure and a faint smile spread across his face. It had been thirteen years since he'd seen his beloved Mila. He often wondered if she was doing well and if she was taking care of her health also along with her other responsibilities. He knew his wife could be stubborn when she wanted to. He had been treated to her stubbornness few days after their marriage when she had come down with a high fever having stressed herself with one of the festival arrangements. She had stubbornly pouted that she would do her duties while Lakshman had sternly ordered her that under no circumstances was she allowed to get down from the bed. His mother had to intervene and diffuse the situation which in a few seconds would have turned into a creative discussion as they liked to call it. He laughed at the memory. He caressed the doll and spoke to it "One more year my Mila. Its your sacrifice and your love that kept me going ahead for these thirteen years. I need you Mila. I need your love for another one year.. I think of your smile every time and find myself being content." He covered the clay doll with his robe and carried the firewood back to the hut. He found his Mother like Sister Sita waiting for him. He walked over to her and placed the firewood next to the hut. He looked down at her feet "I have brought the firewood Sister Sita." Sita looked up at Lakshman and smiled at him. He went into the hut and brought out the stack of arrows for sharpening them. Ram came in carrying a bowl of fruits and vegetables in hand. Sita had put the garland around the mud shivling and was now readying the fire too cook food. Few moments later, the aroma of freshly cooked food filled the nostrils of Ram and Lakshman. Time seemed to go fast for them as the entered into their last year of vanvaas. Lakshman was at one corner shaping up the arrows and placing them neatly in to a stack. Sita was by the stream playing with the little squirrels that had come by for nuts. Ram was weaving a basket with his hands. The sound on anklets was heard and Ram looked up to see a beautiful woman standing in front of their hut and smiling at him. She was dressed in finery and was walking towards them. She professed of the love she had for Ram and wanted to marry him. Ram's only answer was to advice her to go to Lakshman who was alone while he already had a wife. She approached Lakshman who had shunned her with his eyes. He was irritated when she had approached him, his heart and mind filled with the images of his dear Mila. The presence of another woman who so blantantly expressed to marry him infuriated him to such an extent that he sternly asked her to go away not caring about the tone of his voice. When she persisted, he told her in a final tone that he was and always will be beneath his beloved Brother Ram. Raged that she was being rejected, her eyes fell on Sita who had a small smile on her face playing with the baby squirrels. Her anger at the beautiful Sita grew tenfold and she shed her human form and became her true demonic self. An intuition formed in Lakshman's mind as he watched the woman change form. He took a knife and proceeded to protect his dear Sister Sita. In a defense, he threw the knife in the woman's direction which sliced off part of her nose and she ran away crying and howling in pain.