Urmila and Laxman

Urmila longed to meet her father alone before leaving for Ayodhya. Suddenly she was feeling his absence acutely. In those rushed days and hours, she could hardly be her own self. Of course, he was going to feel the absence of his daughters too. She knew he would look forward to his sons-in-law for political as well as moral support. But she knew well that there was a deep silence his heart now. 

She was glad when her father himself  summoned her to his chamber to have a talk with her. 

"Urmila," he said, "I know, I have not given you  the attention which you deserved. I know you would not hold a grudge though; you never complained, but I know it. You are an artist who believes in the beauty of life. But life will be beautiful only if you are able to reconcile beauty and agony. Now you must aim at making life meaningful."

Urmila said, "That's not easy."

Janaka said, "Everyone wants life to be easy. Very few there are who want it to be meaningful. Art and beauty may separate. But neither of them can be separated from the pain of life. Give space to yourself. I know, you need to create it for yourself most of all."

Urmila was silent. She could have her own space in Mithila in her father's house; she did not know what life was going to be like in Ayodhya. 

Her father understood her silence.

"Have no misgivings," he said. "Your husband has a mind of his own, though he appears to be living in the shadow of his brother. I know, you will never err in your duty towards him. But let it be more than a duty. All these brothers are inseparable from each other. They are not dissolute and their life is dedicated to Rama, the eldest of them. You rarely come across a brotherhood like this. You are entering into a family where relationships are tested and have to withstand the rigours of adversity. This is no ordinary dynasty; but my daughters are no ordinary princesses either. Go ahead without misgivings."

Urmila bowed down, but before she could touch his feet, he supported her and made her stand up. He wanted to look at her before giving her his blessings.

"Preserve the beauty, peace and harmony of your soul at all times. I know your strength and fortitude.Your beautiful soul is your best companion and guide."

Laxman

Laxman entered Urmila's chamber and found her in a plain attire, working at a canvas. The portrait was half done, with just a few preliminary hints of the character of her subject. He tiptoed and stood behind her, watching her apply delicate suggestive hints around the corner of the eyes. She was at once one with the subject and out of it too, giving space to both: the subject as well as the artist. Laxman watched the progress of the portrait silently. After a few deft strokes and highlights the character emerged vividly. Laxman was flattered to see his own likeness. He quickly stepped back as he saw Urmila moving backward to see the picture in a perspective. Just then Urmila felt his presence and turned back.

"Oh," she said in a surprise.

"Oh!" said Laxman in response, and both laughed to get over the uneasiness.

Laxman looked at his own image and she looked at Laxman, afraid to ask him his opinion, because she knew, people rarely approve of  the artist's rendering of their own visage. But there was no trace of any disillusionment mingled with an angry disapproval on Laxman's face as he looked at the portrait. 

"Do I look like this rogue in the portrait?" He asked Urmila. She looked at him for a moment and then went to make a few alterations, and Laxman watched the portrait come alive as she darkened the areas around the mouth to capture the play of light and shadow.

She put the brush down and said, "There! I will have to work a little more at it. Enough of it for the time being!"

The palette was there with the colours freshly mixed on it. Laxman said, "Let me try my hand at it."

"Oh no!" she exclaimed and made a move to take away the brush from his hand, but before she could do it, Laxman had dipped the brush in the vermilion, and made a mark with it on her forehead.

"There! That completes my own work of art!" said he.

Urmila stole a glance at him as he stared at her with smiling eyes, and she realized what was missing in the portrait--the look in his eyes that seemed to say, "You can't hide from my eyes!"