Mithila had never been more busy than it was at the moment. The palace was decorated with lights and flowers. The guards were given specific instructions on the announcement and the maids were given instructions on how to welcome, what to offer them and how to lead them. Sunaina had woken up al the girls early in the morning. The girls groaned, the loudest being Mandavi's but her mother Chandrabhaga had given her a very stern look and Mandavi fell silent. Sita was taken to the bath chambers by her mother and aunt where she had her long mane of thick hair oiled and washed. She was given a bath with milk and rose petals and she was given another bath with the finest scents there ever were. Once Sita was brought out, she was made to sit down infront of the mirror as her mother and aunt dried her hair and braided it into a thick long braid. All the while, Sita sat quietly but only she knew that deep inside her heart, she was fighting a battle of emotions.. She dreaded her swayamvar now. After her realization of love for the oldest prince of Kosala, she could hardly contain her nervousness of the swayamvar and prayed to the Gods above that he would be the won that she would garland as her groom. Her sisters came out dressed in fineries.. Mandavi was dressed in yellow silks and she had a pleasant smile on her face. Urmila was dressed in orange silks and had braided her hair for the occasion Shrutikeerti was wearing robes of royal blue and her eyes twinkled with excitement at her sister's swayamvar. Urmila looked at Sita as she sat quietly infront of the mirror allowing her mother and aunt to braid her hair. Sita always had a smile on her face no matther what the situation, thought Urmila. But Urmila was no fool. She could sense her nervousness regarding the upcoming Swayamvar.. Her sister was in love.. Urmila murmered a silent prayer to the Gods that Sita would get the grrom of her choice. Her thoughts gave way to a pair of black eyes.. A pair of black intense eyes that looked at her in the garden yesterday. She shook her head. She should be thinking about her sister's choice, not of some prince who she just met yesterday. But a voice in her mind betrayed to her that even Sita met the oldest Prince just yesterday She was brought out of her thoughts by her mother who was calling out to her. Mandavi nudged her in the ribs. "I've been calling you since few moments.. What ever are you thinking about" mused Sunaina slowly to her younger daughter. Mandavi looked at her with hard eyes.Urmila shook her head. Sunaina left the responsibility of getting Sita ready to the sisters and left along with Chandrabhaga. Each sister had an ornament in hand. The ornaments gazrd Sita's smooth skin and made their way to the right places. Mandavi couldn't stop her excitement.

Mandavi : I am so excited.. So many princes on their way to attend the Swayamvar. I just got a glimpse of the King of Magadh.

Shrutikeerti : How did he look like ?

Mandavi : Fine.. But it all depends on who lifts the mighty dhanush, isn't it ?

Urmila stared hard at the thick bangle that she was gliding Sita's hand through. A person who would break the mighty Shiv Dhanush.. She couldn't understand what her father had been thinking when he had announced a contest that whoever ould be able to lift the mighty dhanyush and string it would be the groom for his oldest daughter. Agreed that Sita had lifted it when she was a mere child of ten years old but the contest made no sense to her. But now that she came to think of it, it made sense. It would be no ordinary man that would be able to lift the mighty bow. It had to be someone extraordinary. Sita was special so it had to be someone extraordinary to do that.. She found her thoughts flowing to the oldest prince of Ayodhya.. She knew that her sister and the oldest prince were made for each other. Before her thoughts could deviate to the younger prince, Shrutikeerti's voice brought her back to the moment and she thanked her in her mind for that.

Shrutikeerti : I heard The Mighty King of Lanka, Ravan is one of the contesting royals in the Swayamvara.

Urmila's head snapped towards her youngest sister. King Ravan !! She had heard about him, obviously.. She spent most of her free time in the Royal Library or with her father Rajrishi Janak while her sisters played ir in Mandavi's case, slept. She had gone through enough literature scriptures to know that Ravan was a great scholar and well-versed in the vedas and was very powerful. She also knew that he was the a great Shiva devotee. She felt uncomfortable.

Urmila : He's a great scholar and a very big Shiva devotee. And he's also a powerful king who defeated his brother Kubera for power. He's coming for The Swayamvar ?

Shrutikeerti : Yes. That was what I heard.

Madavi : Doesn't he already have a wife ?

Urmila : Yes he does..

Her thoughts drifted to the scriptures she read about the King of Lanka.. She shuddered.. He was a very powerful king.. She felt Sita stifeen a little and out an arm around her shoulders.. Sita smiled. Urmila felt herself smiling. Sita had so much faith in her love.. Urmila felt hope fill through her.. He sister was the sweetest person and the most caring. Destiny wouldn't be too hard on her. Her sister would get her heart's desired groom.

Sunania had entered the chambers to check on Sita. Sita was decked up in expensive red silks and gold jewellery. She was shining like an ornament herself.. Sunaina smiled at her oldest daughte and kept a hand on her forhead. It was time for Sita to be taken down into the great hall. Rajrishi Janak stood up to welcome all the guests that had arrived for the Swayamvar. The hall was filled with Kings from various kingdoms. The sound of trumphets was heard announcing Sita's arrival. She walked like a the delicate fawn, her steps ever soft and he eyes down and her hands folded down. SHe was being led to the hall by her mother and aunt both by her side. Urmila, Mandavi and Shrutikeerti followed behind with their handmaids. Sita was taken up towards the throne and then taken upstairs from where she would be able to see the various kings participating in the Swayamvar. Urmile took her place next to Sita as a pillar of moral support. Sita smiled in relief at Urmila.. She was relieved that Urmila was there beside her.. She held her hand in nervousness.. Urmila gave her a reassuring smile. Her eyes scanned through the courtroom taking in the assembly of kings from various regions. She had read about the different kingdoms and their kings... She was surprised to see that Ravan wasn't there.. "Strange" she thought. Being a great Shiva devotee, it was strange to see that Ravan wasn't present in the courtroom. Her eyes caught sight of Brahmarishi Vishwamitra. A sense of intense excitement bubbles within her. She scanned the seat next to him and found the oldest Prince Ram. He was seated with a calm smile on his face. She felt a wave of calmness wash through her. She heard a peaceful sigh next to her and saw that Sita had visibly relaxed. She felt Sita's hold on her hand loosen.. She knew her sister had spotted the elder Prince Ram. She felt heat rise up her neck. It felt as if someone was watching her. She looked ahead to catch singht og the younger brother of Prince Ram. He was staring at her with those same intense eyes that had stared at her yesterday at the palace garden. She felt rooted to the spot and couldn't tear her eyes away. His eyes were so intense taht she felt herself turn into a statue so as to not break the moment. She felt Mandavi shake her by the shoulder. She tore her eyes away from the younger prince and looked at Mandavi who was giving her the raised eyebrow.. It was Mandavi's questioning look that demanded an answer from Urmila as to what was happening. She knew Mandavi saw her staring at the younger prince and she knew that Mandani wouldn't let go until she would tell her what was happening. It was not intruding. Mandavi never did that. She knew her limits to people's space.. This was Mandavi's protective streak that was making itself visible. Mandavi saw Urmila go red in the face and she understood that something had transpired but she did not prolong the subject. She just nodded her head and turned back to the competition taht had started. Urmila craned her neck away from the younger prince and focused upon the kings.

Uptil now, none of the kings had been successful in even moving the bow. Her mother had a worried frown on her pleasant face. Her father sat was quite calm. She had always admired her father for his calm demeanour and wished she could have it. She had a quicksilver temper along with a strong-headedness which she inherited from her mother. There was a deafening noise as the mix of the timpani beats and trumpets sounded outside the Great Hall.. A man's silhoutte was visible from where Urmils could see him. As he came closer to the view, Urmila noticed his features. He was well-built, looked of age and had a haughty smile to his face. "He couldn't be a competitor" thought Urmila. The man introduced himself as Malyavan and that he was here from Lanka. Rajrishi Janak welcomed him with the same calm demeanour that he had while he welcomed the other princes. "Welcome Sire.." Malyavan haughtiness send Urmila over the edge with her temper "I am not here to waste mine or my grandson's precious time.. My grandson, the great King of Lanka, Ravan is here only for his turn in the Swayamvar, which I am sure he will be successful in." Rajrishi Janak looked appaled at the man's words. Urmila felt Sita's hands tighten around hers. Rajrighi Janak continued, "Oh Great Sire. This is a competition that has been arranged on the ocaasion of Sita's swayamvar. I am afraid, that unless the the rules of the competition are fulfilled I cannot go ahead." Malyavan scowled at the Rajrishi and called out to his grandson. There was another deafening sound of the trumphet and a masculine figure walked in. Urmila was shocked "So this is Lankapati Ravan." The scriptures do not do justice to his appearance. He was neither young nor old. He had a good-looking face, not youthfully handsome but he had manly grace to him. But his eyes were malicious.. He scanned the hall with a haughty smile, taking in all the kings who had come for the Swayamvar. He looked up at sita and gave an evil smile. Urmila stood in front of her taking a protective stance but he just smiled at her. He folded his hands to Rjrishi Janak in respect "Forgive my intrusion, O King but I simply come here to free you of your worries. I will be the one to lift this mighty bow and wed your daughter." Urmils noticed the lack of respect in his voice towards her father. She felt go red with anger at the audacity of this man. Ravan went to the bow and folded his hands in prayer. His eyes frowned in devotion. Sita closed her eyes murmering a silent prayer to whichever diety would hear her plight. Urmila felt herself yearning for a miracle to happen so that her sister would get her desired suitor.. Ravan gave another sneer at Sita and put a hand on the bow. He felt the smile wash away from his face when he noticed that he couln not ever move it. His eyes turned angry and he tried moving it with both hands. His eues clouded in anger when he was unsuccessful. Urmila have a small smile.. Where was all his power now.. Ravan took his hands off the bow and looked towards Janak "I accept that I cannot move the bow let alone lift it.. But if I cannot do it then no one can.. I am willing to marry your daughter even though the Swayamvar was unsuccessful." Rajrishi Janak stood up from his deat and looked at Ravan. Urmila thought she saw a small tinge of anger in his eyes but it disappeared before she could even see it. Rajrishi Janak continued "I am sorry that you weren't successful if lifting the bow but I am assuring you.. The Swayamvar still continues.. Whoever is successful in stringing the bow will marry my daughter." Ravan's eyes raged with anger "You wish your daughter remain unmarried !!! Then be it.. I will watch till eternity how your daughter lives her life as an unmarried woman !! I would advice the kings in the hall to leave if they wouldn't want to be insulted with an impossible task challenging their strength and bravery." He threw a hateful look at Sita and left the hall along with Malyavan.