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the bubbling smile immediately drying up. Had she been staring at him too long? Ravan was apoplectic with unbridled anger by now. He was still struggling with the bow and after another agonizing hour-long minute, he finally surrendered. He looked up, and had the grace to look regretful but his next words tainted the fleeting graciousness.
    ‘With folded hands, I admit defeat that I cannot move the sacred Shiv dhanush,’ he said superciliously. ‘I must have fallen short in my penance to Lord Shiv that I could not do what I was asked to. But this I do know, that if I cannot move it, none present in this room can. So, King Janak, do you wish your daughter to remain unmarried? Because no one in this room will be able to string the bow—it is impossible to even shift it. What sort of a suicidal condition have you laid for your daughter? Do you want her to remain a spinster?’ he sneered. ‘I would not wish that, sir, and despite everything, am ready to marry her.’
    His sheer conceit took her breath away, as a tide of anger overtook Urmila. How dare Ravan insult her father and sister? Furious, she watched her mother’s face go ashen in fear and worry. Her father remained calm.
    ‘I regret that you were not able to string Rudra’s bow, O king! But as a Shiv devotee you would know that I shall have to continue with the condition I have placed,’ he said firmly, his face tranquil and his eyes looking evenly back at Ravan. ‘Have no fear, sir; my daughter will not remain unmarried and lonely as it would be truly an extraordinary man who will eventually wed her. I shall wait for such a man to string the bow.’
    The anger in Ravana’s glittering eyes suddenly died down and was replaced with contempt. ‘You might have to wait for eternity or till your daughter grows old!’ he snorted. ‘We shall soon see…and I have no time now though I shall wait and watch till infinity for your daughter Sita to get married to some precious man who fulfils your impossible condition. Meanwhile, since I would hate wasting this visit, I would not mind marrying your other daughter; she is as ravishingly beautiful as the world claims her to be!’
    Even her mild-mannered father was shocked at the words; he stood speechless with horror. Ravan had clearly uttered those insulting words to salvage his broken pride. They were the defeated words of a crushed man who had lost his esteem and ego in harsh public glare.
    Urmila felt his lascivious gaze on her. His eyes glittered wolfishly in his cruel, dark face. His open, blatant look made Urmila cringe but she lifted up her chin fiercely. She looked squarely up at him, her eyes sparkling with unsuppressed fury and loathing. It was a long, livid moment. And from the corner of her eyes, she thought she saw an angry movement. It was Lakshman, being restrained by Ram. Sita moved toward her sister protectively. Ravan’s eyes turned to Sita.
    ‘This humiliation has happened because of you. I shall never forget this day, fair lady. I will remember this…’ He said softly, the tone menacing.
    And saying his last, lingering words, he stormed out, leaving behind a pall of gloom. The mighty Ravan having been defeated, many disheartened kings followed suit and quietly left the raj sabha without daring a chance.
    ‘Shall we begin again?’ said Janak, requesting the others to be seated. ‘The man who strings this extraordinary bow shall win my daughter’s hand in marriage. Only then…’ There was a stern note of warning in his words.
    Many kings, princes and nobles obliged and attempted lifting the bow. None could push it even an inch. All returned to their seats, mortified and defeated. ‘I have been saying this over and over again that the terms of this swayamvar are simply unattainable!’ Mandavi broke in agitatedly. ‘By now at least thirty princes must have tried their luck…even the powerful Ravan couldn’t do it!’
    ‘Mercifully,’ retorted Kirti. ‘Did you see how he looked at Sita?