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LXXXVIII
THE REUNION WITH RELATIVES
A happy reunion after a long and painful separation. The story of a reunion after a long separation !
The reunion of Shri Ram, Sita and Lakshman with their relatives was going to take place soon that day. The brothers were going to meet brothers; the sons were going to be reunited with their mothers and the people of Ayodhya were going to see their king after a long separation. What an extraordinary kind of reunion! The very thought of it fills with joy and jubilation even the hearts of those who merely imagine it. The waves of joy, jubilation and expectation rose not only in the hearts of Bharat, Shatrughna or Kausalya and Sumitra but also in the hearts of Shri Ram, Lakshman and Sita who were travelling towards Ayodhya. The same kind of wave of joy and jubilation was arising even in the heart of Kaikayi. The citizens of Ayodhya who had grown almost mad with their desire to see Shri Ram had decorated the mansions and the streets o in a fascinating manner with arches, festoons of green leaves and garlands of fragrant flowers.
How deeply Shri Ram and Lakshman were yearning to have a glimpse of their mothers and to touch their holy feet? No one can realise this except those who have the loftiest kind of devotion and affection for their mother. Who can ever measure and describe the feelings of Bharat at this juncture? It is not an exaggeration to say that not only Shri Ram and Lakshman or Bharath and Shatrughna but the entire city of Ayodhya was brimming with joy at the prospect of a happy reunion after a long separation. It was as though joy had assumed a visible
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