Free SITA’S SISTER by Kavita Kane

Ram being my son-in-law! And Bharat and Shatrughna are handsome young eligible princes that no princess in her right mind would reject!’
    Mandavi tightened her lips, the subtle reprimand finding its mark.
    ‘But you don’t look as happy as you claim to sound,’ Urmila persisted. ‘I can sense a certain reluctance, some hesitation…What is it, Ma? What is troubling you?’
    Her mother gave a helpless look and her doubt hardened. Janak interposed gallantly. ‘Your mother has some reservations about this proposal…’ he hesitated, his tone grave. ‘Though the four princes are individually exceedingly suitable for each one of you, my little princesses, your mother is not too keen on the idea of four sisters marrying into the same family of four brothers. Her argument is that it would complicate the personal equation between you sisters, or your husbands respectively.’
    Urmila suddenly recalled Lakshman’s sardonic accusation that she had been ready to kill him for her sister and understood what her mother was worried about. Urmila knew her mother was not a woman controlled by sentiments; she was sensible even in the most trying moments of crisis. And right now, she was able to register her mother’s gnawing misgivings. Sita was not convinced though.
    ‘Ma, what could be better than us sisters getting married into the same family?’ she questioned. ‘That means we shall always be together—as sisters and sisters-in-law. What I had been dreading the most has been wonderfully averted! I shall not have to leave my sisters for my new family. Oh Ma, the most wrenching moment for any daughter on her wedding day is to say farewell to her parents and her home—to be separated from them forever. If I can take my sisters with me I would consider myself the luckiest of all girls! The thought of leaving you and father is breaking my heart…’ she stopped, her voice tremulous. ‘How could our staying together harm us? Will marriage lessen our love for each other? No, Ma, it shall strengthen it further, as no one knows us better. We love each other too much for anything or anyone to come between us.’
    ‘And your husbands?’ Sunaina asked sharply. ‘If such a situation arises, and it will happen someday, sometime—before any one of you, where you are cornered into choosing between your husband and your sister, whom would you choose, dear?’
    Sita looked perplexed. ‘But why would it happen? My love for my sisters and my love for my husband would never clash, for, besides myself, both of them realize how deeply we feel for each other. Both would know that I love them unconditionally and both would think twice before causing such hurt. They would, rather, try to avoid such a crisis—something I can be assured of from my sister but not from a stranger sister-in-law. Oh Ma, having a sister for a sister-in-law is a boon! Don’t ever worry about us. We shall look after each other beautifully, I assure you, I promise you!’
    Sunaina smiled. ‘I don’t need your promise, dear. I am not doubting the affection you have for each other. It is the other way round. Will you be fair on your sister or your husband as the situation demands, or worse, will you be able to be fair on yourself for having to make that difficult choice?’
    ‘Don’t make it sound so ominous, Ma!’ cried Sita. ‘You are postulating a sequence of events which might or might not happen. I am confident they won’t; we won’t let it happen, shan’t we, Urmi? Oh Urmi, say something!’ she begged.
    Urmila found herself at a loss of words. She wanted to say so much, her heart stirring with an uneasy intensity but she realized she agreed with both of them. Like Sita, she was certain of their love for each. But she could she drive away that unspoken fear that her mother was speaking of. Was this just their optimistic idealism speaking and would it hold true for the men? Would the brothers stand for each other and ignore their wives or would they be