The golden sun rays fell on Urmila's face, despite the heavy mist. The grass beneath her feet tickled the soles of her feet. The smell of fertile soil mixed with the fragrances of the exotic flowers that bloomed in Mithila pierced her nose as softly and tenderly as possible. Urmila sighed with relief as she opened her arms to embrace the beautiful scenery that surrounded her.

A cool breeze blew past her and she unpins the veil pinned onto her hairdo and the expensive silk sings its way down to the ground. And with another flick she removes the diamond studded lace that held her hairdo and throws it far from reach. Her hair rippled down all the way till her lower back, swaying merrily to the soft breezes that blew past. She loved the freedom she was given in Mithila away from the strict and conventional guidelines she was told to follow when she lived in Ayodya.

Urmila walks towards the big Mango tree, that tree which held memories of her childhood. Every day, as children, they would come to this place with their dolls and play there for endless hours. It was she and Mandavi, daring and ready for adventure, who would climb up the twisted branches to pluck ripe and luscious mangoes, Kirthi would stay down and keep guard in case anyone saw the two little girls on the tree. Meanwhile little Sita would yell instructions from down below on which mango to pluck, and which to avoid, which was infected by parasites and which has lots of nectar inside.

Urmila smiled at the memory, which seemed very distant, but enough to bring a smile on her face. She took a seat on the wooden bench underneath the shade of the tree, keeping a secured hand over her baby bump. It has been five months since she conceived, and five long months since she left Ayodya and came to Mithila. She carefully took a seat under the shade of the Mango tree, and closes her eyes as she memorizes the mantis's prayer, which was soon disturbed by, her close friend and closet attendant, Priyamwada's shrieking call for Urmila.

Priyamwada, who was wearing a think grey cloak over her shoulders, smiled as she came running huffing and puffing towards Urmila, carrying a silver canister in her hands "Princess!" she exclaimed, sweating profusely, as she stopped infront of Urmila, trying to breath normally.

"What happened?" Urmila asked opening her eyes.

"A messengers comes from Ayodya with goodies for yous. Priyamwada said as she handed over the canister to Urmila.

"Is the messenger still here?" Urmila asks as she takes it into her hands, and gestures Priyamwada to sit beside her. Urmila was surprised as to how the messenger safely reached Mithila when the weather was worsening each day. This year the mist had appeared early, a week before the Autumn Season made way for the Cold Season. The mist had started to grow thicker each day, like a blinding blindfold that hides what lies ahead. Transferring of letters was periodically brought to a halt as the royal birds flew astray while a few flew away to unknown lands and became subsequent meals of predatory birds. Messengers were rarely sent to other kingdoms.

"Yes!" Priyamwada nodded. "Da Kings has told da maids to sends him back after a yummy meals. Poor fellows, he cames all theese way despite this bloody climates to deliver so many gifts your familys sends you! Maharaja Ram has requested Da King to let the messenger to stay in Mithila until this climate becomes gooder again. Forgets about that! He's eating a hearty meals in the dining rooms! The messenger bloke says thees has sweets from Princess Mandavi!"

"What do you reckon is inside, Priyamwada?" Urmila asked, and excited fingers open the canister. Before the mist had appeared, Mandavi and Kirthi would take turns and prepare her favorite sweetmeats and send them over to Mithila once in every fort night. Along with that, her mother in law, Queen Sumitra would send a jar of homemade mango pickle every week. Lakshman wrote long letters and ballads to her every day.

Urmila opens the canister and finds delicious Gulab Jamuns soaked in honey syrup. She shrieks happily and pulls out one and eats it, sighing with pleasure as the sweet works wonder inside her mouth. "You don't knows how much I missed theese!"

"What nonsenses Princess!" Priyamwada says as Urmila devours another Gulab Jamun. "I also misses Princess Mandavi's sweets. Now let me have one!"

"No!" Urmila screamed, while smiling greedily, licking the honey syrup from her fingers. "Mandavi Didi sent it for me! So I must be the only one who will eat this!"

"Come on! Princess!" Priyamwada whines and Urmila turns to face her. "You don't knows how fasts I cames when I gots thees. I was almosts about to slips and falls on those stairs. Ands I think I sprains my ankles too! And you are so rudes, you wonts gives me at least one bites!"

Urmila looked at Priyamwada and passed the canister to her.

"Don't put up a charade Priyamwada!" she said. "I am not such a greedy goose!"

Priyamwada's face lit up as she held the canister in her hands, and pulled out a Gulab Jamun and eats it, humming with delight. Urmila smiled as she felt the baby quicken inside her. She hums with delight as she caresses her baby bump.

"You know Priyamwada?" Urmila says brushing a tear from her eye. "I really miss Angad and Chandra. This is the first time I have been away from them for so long. I don't know how they are. He used to write letters during the first few weeks after I left Ayodya, but ever since this mist set in there is no way for us to exchange letters. I really wonder how everyone is back at home."

Priyamwada gave a muffled cry of realization with her stuffed mouth, and pulled out a scroll from inside her cloak pocket. "Prince Lakshman has written this letters to you. I forgots to give it to yous."

Urmila grabbed the letter from Priyamwada's hand. Urmila held the letter to her chest and a few drops of tears fell from her eyes.

Priyamwada stood up and bowed. "I thinks I should gives you some privacy. Allows me to leaves Princess."

As Urmila saw Priyamwada leave, she opened the letter. The first thing that caught her attention was how his cursive handwriting looked against the neatly folded piece of parchment. She started to read the letter, and she felt the lines speak to her in his voice.

"Dear Mila

How have you been? I have been good, but your absence makes me dysfunctional. I feel lonely without you, as if someone stole my smile from me. The nights are the most treacherous of them all, as your memories haunt me and I lie on the bed, deprived of sleep, thinking of you."

She smiled as another drop of tear fell from her eyes.

"Life would have been even worse if Angad and Chandra had left with you, but I am happy such a thing couldn't occur. They are adorable boys and one seems to forget how time passes so fast when you spend it with them. Angad is has grown tall and his hair is becoming messier by each day. Chandra has become a very voracious reader and he loves to spend time reading all kinds of books in the Royal Library. I suggest you bring a few books for him when you come back to Ayodya. I am sure father-in-law will be pleased to lend a few books to his grandson. Not to forget that his vocabulary has become broadened a lot. Have you ever heard of the word 'virilescent'? It simply means to be macho and manly. Chandra has inherited your studious mindset."

Urmila chuckled and said proudly to herself. "He is my son after all."

"The boys miss you so much, all eight of them, each of them keep on asking me when you will come back. Angad has started to eat his green grams without even leaving a single grain on his bowl. And Chandra has learnt to eat his mashed potatoes like a good boy. Subahu has somehow managed to reduce the mess he makes when he eats his milk porridge. Bhadra has been having a hard time cleaning that stain off his dhotis"

Urmila laughed wholeheartedly.

"Taksha and Pushkal have decided to lock up their mice once you come back to Ayodya with our new born baby. They fear their little mice can be harmful to their new brother or sister. Mandavi and Kirthi are doing well. They miss you the most. Ma wants to know whether you have your daily dose of almond milk every night. She advices you to drink more milk. She wants to let you know that she hasn't sent any pickles this time, and she wants you to refrain from eating them until the delivery. Last night, Ma Kaikeyi asked me whether you like rubies or diamonds. I told her that you prefer rubies. She has decided to make a bracelet for you as an honorarium. Ma Kaushalya has ordered the softest blankets and pillows for the baby's cot, and she has decided to stitch the pillowcases herself."

"Shatrughan and Bharath Bhaiya give their warm regards to you. They are praying that your delivery will be smooth and less painful. All of us are praying for the same. The entire kingdom is excited to welcome you and our new baby, and not to forget, the most excited would be me and Ram Bhaiya. We have decided to make a very well educated and skilled warrior out of the baby, whether it's going to be a son or daughter. And before anything else we will teach the baby that Gold Deer's do not exist. Last time I and Ram Bhaiya believed in those foul imaginary creatures we almost lost Sita Bhabhi to Raavan; so we have decided to make it our big concern to teach our baby that there is no such thing as Golden Deer. Because you never know whether a demon is roaming around in the guise of a golden deer. Take care of yourself Mila. Give my regards to mother in law and father in law. Don't stress yourself. Hoping to see you soon. I miss you very much.

With love
Lakshman"

Urmila smiled as she finished reading the entire letter. She re read the letter again and noticed the drops of tears that had fallen on the parchment. She keeps the letter aside and mops her face with her palms. As Urmila rubs her eyes she feels someone walk past her. Immediately, she turns around and finds a woman walk towards the forest entrance.

Urmila stood up and walked towards the woman. She had long hair pulled into a neat bun, with a golden crown resting on her head. She was wearing a red sari. Red as ripe Pomegranate seeds. Red as Blood. Red as the sindoor she adorned on tip of her hairline.

"Miss!" Urmila shouted as she brisked. She knew each route inside the forest and it is not easy to come outside if one gets lost without the help of someone who knows every nook and corner of the forest. "Where are you going? You should not go in there!"

But it was too late the mysterious woman had walked inside the forest. Urmila shook her head, unpleased. The unknown woman was now in deep trouble. Urmila decided to follow her and walked into the forest. The path she walked was difficult. She walked past narrow gaps between trees, thorny edges and bushy footpaths. Her bare feet avoided the thorns and the poisonous berries scattered all over the trail.

She stopped, hearing a gushing sound similar to a soft roar. Her feat carried her faster and she pushed a branch of a bamboo tree and found a waterfall falling into a lake. Her eyes widened. There were so many swans on the water, some resting and some wadding. The water from the waterfall fell from an enormous height, and splashed on to a huge cluster of rocks. The lake met the end of the waterfall, where a variety of coloured lotuses grew; colorful species of fish swam inside the water. She smiled and walked softly as to not disturb the animals or cause an inconvenience to them, taken aback by the beauty of the scenery in front of her eyes. The black spotted golden deer walked silently around the edge of the lake.

A soft gasp escaped her wonderstruck lips. Was this a demon disguised as a golden deer? She inched behind as she saw a few more walk gracefully towards the waterfall. Sweat began to collect on her forehead and her breathing became erratic, as she pressed a secured hand against her baby bump. Urmila decided to flee as soon as she can and as she turned around she was struck with surprise.

The woman whom she was following was standing there. Her sari was redder now. Red as the Rubies that adorned the crown resting on her head. She smiled pleasantly, and Urmila realized who she was.

"Sita Didi!" Urmila shrieked happily and pulled her into a warm embrace. Her voice shook as tears of happiness flowed down from her face. "Oh! Didi! How have you been? Do you know how much I missed you? Do you know much Ram Bhaiya missed you? Luv and Kush miss you so much. You're alive! Do you know how happy I am? Mandavi Didi and Kirthi would be elated to know that you are alive. And Ma and Pitashree! They would be the happiest in this entire Universe. Ram Bhaiya should be informed right away! He would come running, despite the mist, and take you back to Ayodya! And all of us can live in Ayodya happily! Aren't you excited Didi?"

Urmila broke away from the hug and held Sita's shoulders. "Please say something Didi. It's been so long since I've heard you speak. I want to hear your voice. Please say something Sita Didi"

"I am not the one you seek." Sita spoke, as she held Urmila's hand. Her voice was soft and mature; very pleasing to hear, like the soft chime of the wind chimes. She looked younger than how she was when she walked down the Earth. Her face was fairer than ever and her eyes shone brilliantly like lavish black onyx beads. "But I am the very person you used to know, dear child!"

Urmila looked confused. The person standing infront of Sita was Sita herself, but not Sita. "I don't understand!" Urmila said half confused and half embarrassed.

"Look into my eyes dear, and I shall show you my omnipotent form!" she said and Urmila looked in. Urmila saw how her eyes gleamed, she watched refusing to blink, straining her eyes, but as she accidently blinked. When her eyes opened again she found herself standing on the sea. The water was so bright and surprisingly white- as if it reflected the moon's light. Urmila looked up but the moon was nowhere to be found. Instead a hundred thousand stars decorated the dark sky. She spotted all the constellations. The Hunter was there and so were the Lion and the Capricorn. Urmila wondered how come two constellations for two different seasons could adorn the night sky at the same time.

She turned around and found a huge snake with a hundred thousand snakes lying on the water. The snake's long body was coiled and all of its open hooded heads, lay close by, leaning infront to form an elegant curve, like a canopy. Two people were on the snake's coiled body. Urmila recognized them immediately. Lying on top of the snake's coiled body, with his head pillowed against the palm of his erected arm was none other than the Almighty Maha Vishnu, who bore a striking resemblance of Urmila's brother in law, Ram. Urmila could not believe her eyes. The Almighty Maha Vishnu looked younger, and the brightest smile adorned His visage, brighter than the pink lotus He was holding in His other hand. Seated on the edge of the snake bed, was the same person Urmila met in the forest. Even though Her hands were busy massaging Lord Vishnu's feet, her eyes gleamed with eternal devotion.

Urmila looked amazed. Her Sita Didi was Goddess Lakshmi and her Bade Bhaiya Ram was the Almighty Maha Vishnu. Her eyes blinked and the moment she opened her eyes she found herself in the forest, and the young Goddess standing in front of her was beaming with happiness.

"Are you surprised my dear child?" Lakshmi asked and Urmila nodded. "What you saw was the undistorted truth."

"Does-does-does that mean- you are- you are?" Urmila asked stammering, unable to find the nerve to speak.

"Yes my dear!" Lakshmi smiled and Urmila pressed her palms together and bowed her head, and she bent down to touch the Goddess's feet. But She held her before Urmila could bend properly.

"What are you doing my dear?" she asked as she made Urmila stand. "Do not strain yourself in this condition!"

"Didi- Sorry- Devi!" Urmila addressed.

"Urmi! Why are you hesitating to call me 'Didi'? Sita is a part of me." Lakshmi smiled.

"Didi, does Ram Bhaiya know that he is Lord Vishnu?" Urmila asked curiously.

"He knows!" Lakshmi smiled. "But He is living as a normal man enduring all the worldly burden. There is plenty of time for His return to His rightful place. He will come when he frees himself from all his duties, responsibilities and bonds, until then He will have to live amongst-"

"Didi!" Urmila screeched as she saw a golden deer near the Goddess. Urmila came in between the Goddess and the deer, shielding the Goddess. Urmila spoke to the deer. "I won't let you harm Her, you monster! Go from here! You do not know who this is standing behind me!"

"Urmi!" Lakshmi spoke. "What are you doing? It's not a beast! It's an innocent deer."

Urmila looked at the Goddess and she nodded. "These are the really Golden Deer!"

"But-but- I thought they never existed!" Urmila said.

"They do!" Lakshmi said. "No one will believe them, because I have kept them in here for eons!"

"Why would you keep them in here if they were innocent?" Urmila asked.

"Because of your kind!" Lakshmi said. "These mortals have become greedier for wealth since the past few centuries. They would go to any limit to accumulate their wealth, even if it would mean to hunt these innocent creatures and sell their furs for money. In order to protect them, I kept them here, away from the eyes of greedy mortals"

"But this is a forest!" Urmila exclaimed, as the golden deer walked past Urmila, brushing its golden fur on her skirt. "How can they be safe here! What if someone comes in here! This forest in Mithila isn't safe for these innocent creatures!"

"This forest isn't in Mithila. This is a forest within the forest, and we are in the heart of this forest, which I made to protect them. " Lakshmi replied. "It takes half the lifetime of a normal mortal to reach this place, and even if he does, exiting would take more than half a lifetime."

"Does that mean I won't get out of here alive?" Urmila asked taken aback, and tears were about to roll down her face.

"No!" Lakshmi said. "I brought you here to show you that Golden Deers do exist, and I know how to take you back to Mithila before anyone learns that you have been gone for long. I believe I should take you back to the Garden!"

"Will I ever meet you again?" Urmila asked. "Will you be with me in every step of life?"

"I have been with you all this time" Lakshmi smiled as She pressed a kiss on Urmila's forehead. "I bless you with fortune and wealth my dear. May your husband have a long life and your children prosper in life. And do not worry about your unborn child, she has a Goddess who will be guiding her."

"Take my hand and close your eyes! Open your eyes only when I ask you to." Lakshmi instructed.

Urmila held Lakshmi's hand and closed her eyes, and then she heard a voice.

"Open your eyes dear!" came the soft voice. Urmila opened her eyes and found her in the Gardens standing alone under the shade of the Mango tree. She couldn't believe whether she saw a few minutes ago was a dream or not. She mopped her face with her hands and heard her mother call out to her from the Veranda.

"Urmila!" Queen Sunaina called. "What are you doing in the garden alone? Come inside before you catch a cold!"

Urmila nodded and picked up the canister and the letter and walked towards the Veranda.

"And what is that on your skirt!" Queen Sunaina exclaimed pointing at the golden strands of hair on Urmila's skirt.

Urmila looked up at the skirt and smiled. "That's hair from a golden deer"

Queen Sunaina laughed and said. "You silly girl! You haven't even changed a bit. They don't exist!"

Urmila nodded, but deep down she knew they existed.

TO BE CONTINUED

How was this chapter?

Was it worth the wait?

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What do you think will happen next?

Let me know all this through your comments

Keep in touch because I don't want to delay the entry of Lakshman's Daughter

And wishing you all a very HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Glossary
《To be included later》