#mandavi

Unfortunately, your king, besides being a royal sage, is something of a romantic, and the elders do not seem to notice this rather obvious connection. Well, no matter! – the women are practical, and they know the real world! You are, therefore, summoned to their quarters. Queen Sunaina gently explains to you the gentle predisposition of the princes of Ayodhya (well, some of them), and equally gently asks you to direct the attentions of the princesses to their many manly charms. Surely, this is beneficial for both of you – as you are already close to the princesses, it would not be unseemly for you to try and gossip, and perhaps sway the affections of the girls. This way, not only would you receive a hefty promotion and have a royal sponsor for your dowry, the king, softened by the girls' affections, would be convinced to wed them. Sunaina and Chandrabhaga care little for political alliances, but their sons-in-law should be honourable men and protective of their girls.

Now your job is to convince your innocent, quiet, shy princesses of the compatibility and marriageable nature of Ayodhya's gremlin princes. This is extremely hard because

a) Rama, the best one, has already been snapped up by Sita

b) with Rama about to wed, Bharat is left holding the metaphorical leash around Lakshmana and Shatrughana's necks, and unused to the double dhamaka, the ever patient prince has become curt and withdrawn.

"The prince Bharat has such lovely manners!" you croon. Bharat turns to the manservant offering him water and offers a deadpan "thanks" while wrangling one of his brothers by the scruff. It is not the charming picture you hoped it would be.

c) Lakshmana yells. A lot.

"He is all silly bluster!" you insist. Urmila raises an eyebrow at you as Lakshmana tries to fistfight another king for insinuating that Janaka rigged the swayamvar.

You grasp at straws. "He's already so protective of his sister-in-law! Imagine how safe his wife would be."

"No thanks," Urmila scoffs. You despair.

d) the youngest prince is so... pampered.

"Bhaiyyaaaaaa," he whines, "I don't want to sleep."

"Then what do you want? To stay awake and stand guard in a protected palace?" Bharat scolds him.

"Drown yourself," Lakshmana scowls.

"Shatrughan, would you like a lullaby?" Rama asks.

"Yess!!!" says the youngest Raghu prince.

Shrutakeerti listens to this account from a manservant and looks at you cautiously.

"This is a secondhand account," you plead, all but begging, "and not trustworthy! Mithila can hardly bear to wish her daughters away so soon."

Silence.

"I'm so sorry, but I don't want to be his mother," Shrutakeerti says at last, sounding well and truly apologetic, and this is such a logical conclusion you cannot even argue.

Well then. Your princesses are the noblest princesses in the world, like stars in the darkness of Aryavarta, and they deserve the very best. And if that means you will have to straighten up these good-for-nothing princes, then you will.

The promise of Sunaina's reward is a nice bit of extra motivation.

To start, you categorise them into difficulty levels:

▪︎ Level 1: Rama

Easiest level. Man has his shit together. Has already won the swayamvar and Sita's heart. Has brought you the opportunity of a reward because no way you'd be matchmaking the rest if he was not Sita's fiance. Favourite prince. Best boy. You'd hug him if you could. Raam naam satya hai ✊🏽

▪︎ Level 2: Bharat

Easiest among the unengaged brothers. Medium level difficulty. Already soft-spoken and well-mannered. Does not cause trouble unnecessarily. You're pretty sure he's a romantic at heart. Now, if only you can separate him from his inherited duty of parentified elder sibling for even half a minute and knock into his neither unimaginative nor thick head the idea of courting Mandavi, who is tall and graceful and not at all as much of a gremlin as his little brothers (and no, you're not biased), and win over Mandavi's heart... it will all work out!!

▪︎ Level 3: Lakshmana

This one is... harder. Scratch that, this is THE hard level. He's a fine young man, very handsome, good and honourable, but... the temper. Urmila, of course, is so sweet, and so rarely gets angry (and no, again, you are not partial, you are not blind to the follies of your own, shut up, haters), but putting them within 5 feet of each other might trigger the end of the world, so you are... a little cautious. If only you can get Lakshmana away from the hordes of rude suitors, and from his terror of a twin, maybe he would be calmer. Perhaps a well-timed conversation with Urmila in a sufficiently concealed nook (in public, naturally) with sparse population will be enough to shake his desire for lifelong celibacy. If not, well, maybe you can speak to some convenient people until word reaches Rama's ears, and certainly, a man as responsible as him would not deprive his younger brother of the joys of marital life for the sake of his service. It's going to be FINE!

▪︎ Level 4: Shatrughan

Okay, this should be called the nightmare level. That boy needed to man up! Fortunately, you are extremely resourceful. What better way to man up a boy than put him to work? You would thus charge him with coordinating with Mithila for the wedding preparations! Some responsibility will do him good, his brother Rama agrees, so you set forth. And persevere. And persevere. And persevere. Even when he wants to get the very dark and very expensive purple cloth for the pavillions. A spoiled prince such as him probably never had to count money. You persevere even when he insists on filling half the menu with desserts; of course a child such as him has a sweet tooth. You persevere, even when he tries to cancel the orange marigold arrangements for yellow ones; his brother likes yellow and consideration of other people's likes and dislikes is an entirely desirable quality in a man. But then he throws a tantrum about the timing of the rituals and tries to have it shifted so his brother wouldn't have to wake up at dawn and you people of Mithila are honest, god-honouring, ritual-keeping people and if an upstart prince from Kosala thinks that he can—

Suitor dead, system restart needed to continue.

Anyway, threats!!!

⊙ Level 1: King Janaka

Hates the meddling, thinks his daughters should think and decide for themselves.

Does not desire external influence.

Has legitimate concerns about the sanity of the combined party of Kosala-Mithila bride/groomzillas.

Has not recovered from the heart attack Parashuram's arrival gave him.

Will probably cry if he has to send off his other daughters.

Unfortunately, the only person who can sniff out your involvement and order you to stop.

⊙ Level 2: Queen Kaikeyi

Has somehow already sniffed out your involvement.

Is already pissed about not being able to see Rama's marriage, will blow her top if she loses the chance to see others' too.

Will probably also blow her top if four separate celebrations somehow get combined into one. You grudgingly agree with the sentiment.

Has the express power to put a stop to at least one marriage (her son's), quite possibly more.

Happens to be the only person apart from Dasaratha and Kousalya that Rama will obey without question. If you cost Mithila Sita's marriage with Rama, it will probably be jailtime instead of rewards.

⊙ Level 3: That one nosy king from Pragjyotisha

He is looking at princess Mandavi?????

Princess Mandavi is looking at him?????

"He's better-looking than in his portrait," Princess Mandavi says.

"He's not a bad conversationalist," Princess Mandavi says.

"Hmm, maybe an alliance with Pragjyotisha won't be so bad," King Khushadhwaja says.

Bharat does not even notice.

⊙ Level 4: The prince of Vanga

He is serenading Princess Shrutakeerti???

He is SERENADING Princess Shrutakeerti!!!!!

He is READING HER POEMS!!!!!!!

She is SMILING!!!!!!!

Princess Shrutakeerti is SMILING at the FUGLY Prince of Vanga and Prince Shatrughan is INCORRIGIBLE and your reward is walking away WHAT THE FU–

⊙ Level 5: King Dasaratha's minister

Keeps trying to convince him that each prince must bring in a new matrimonial alliance.

Refers to King Dasaratha's blissful marriage with Queen Kaikeyi to insist that love blooms in the unlikeliest of unions.

Thinks one of the princes should ally with a princess of Lanka.

Says Mithila had until recently a slow economy???? YOU HAD DROUGHTS?????

Says second daughters don't bring in much??????

SAYS PRINCESS URMILA IS HARDLY THE CATCH HER SISTER IS! THE JERKFACE, YOU ARE GOING TO–

Character dead, system restart needed to continue.

⊙ Level 6: THAT SHREW OF A WOMAN STROKING PRINCE LAKSHMANA'S ARM AND LAUGHING WITH HIM, THAT @$#%€₩, CELIBATE YOUR FOOT—

(This is Shanta. Her husband and son haven't yet arrived.)

Allies:

Sunaina: Employed you.

Chandrabhaga: Same as above.

Sumitra: Unavailable but there in spirit. Will probably accept a frog for a daughter-in-law as long as that marriage happens.

Vasishtha: Knows the boys since childhood. Same as above.

Rama and Sita: Too busy staring lovingly and longingly at each other across flower gardens but would agree if they could.

Some notes:

You will win even if you don't want to, and so it is fortunate that you want to win.

If you lose somehow, Hanuman will show up at your place to smack you sing you the Ramayana.

You can marry the single extras with the dowry sponsored by Mithila's royal family.

You cannot kill anyone, no not even Ravana, sorry.

Everytime one of the Raghu princes miss, clown music will play.

Everytime one of the princesses miss, clown music will play.

Everytime one of the elders miss, clown music will play.

Lots of clown music, actually.

She is not directly mentioned in this version, and it is unclear whether she, as Bharata's wife, exists in any form in this particular tradition since Maarkandeya does not seem too bothered with Bharata's marital situation.

So Rama & Lakshmana go to Mithila, Rama wins Sita in the swayamvara (and she chooses him too if you take her lifting the shiv dhanush as canon) and although there's nothing to support it, I hc that Lakshmana and Urmila married out of having siimlar fiery tempers and both adoring their elder sibling

So Rama/Sita and Lakshmana/Urmila happen out of love. By contrast, BHarata/Mandavi and Shatrughan/Shrutakirti have their marriages arranged bc it's convenient to have Ayodhya's 4 princes marry Mithila's 4 princesses.

I don't think Bharata/Mandavi had a bad relationship by any means, simply that their marriage didn't begin with a soul-deep connection the way R/S did, or with a spark the way L/U did.

THeir marriage was one of convenience (at first).

Now in order to fully appreciate my hcs, I need to talk about BHarata's family tree. Some versions have a backstory that Aswapati, Kaikeyi's father, had the ability to talk to animals but per a curse, could not reveal this knowledge to anyone else on pain of death. One day, Kaikeyi's mother heard him talking to some swans/birds and wanted to know what he was saying. Tl;dr she wouldn't back down and he banished her that day

Aswapati and his wife had 8 kids together (7 boys + Kaikeyi) yet she demanded to know a secret that would be his death & he exiled her.

WHich led to Manthara, her wet nanny, becoming Kaikeyi's mother figure. Kaikeyi grew up to be a warrior and saved Dasharatha's life in battle by acting as his charioteer. Yet when she gets married, she has to put all that aside and she's expected to produce a child (which she fails to do first). She's his favorite wife, but at the expense of her individuality & martial skills. And her childhood trauma leaves her terrified of losing his favor/place. The only leverage she has over him is those two boons. In my headcanon, Dasharatha and Kaikeyi loved each other fiercely, but they never communicated their fears/expectations, which led to Kaikeyi's panic on day. She once saved his life in battle, yet she ended up demanding an unspeakable oath from him, and he died loathing and cursing her.

Then there's Rama/Sita. They loved each other enough to go into exile and fight wars for each other, yet he put her through one (almost two) Agni Parikshas, exiled her while pregnant, and ultimately drove her to commit bhumipravesh.

So Bharata comes from a long line of marriages that were based in love but did not work out.

(I also hc Lakshmana/Urmila undergoing a very rough patch after he helps exiles Sita without telling anyone.)

In contrast, there's Bharata and mandavi. A lot of versions have him living at Nandigram while she wastes away in the palace, which... . It makes no sense for her to be alone in the palace just a few miles away, especially when Bharata wants to emulate Rama,who took his wife with him. So I hc that they went to Nandigram together, and there, when they had lost almost their entire family and had the burden of a kingdom suddenly thrust on their shoulders, they had no choice but to lean on each other, and in doing so, their marriage became one of true respect, companionship, and love.

THere's no real canonical support for like 80% of this, but I just love the idea that out of all the marriages that didn't work out in Rmy, here's one that was arranged, but ended up stronger than many of the others.

And because I wanted someone to end up happy.

Best of Luck Nikki.

Roli Aunty.

1. She does not leave Nandigram, no matter how her husband protests; after all, there is Shurtakirti to see to their mothers, and now that Sita and Urmila are both lost to them, Mandavi has nothing left for her in Ayodhya’s palace.

2. She sends medicines to Manthara faithfully. Bharat might not want to see her; but no more will he forgive himself if the nurse of childhood, the grandmother in all but name, perishes. 

3. Mandavi  stutters when speaking before crowds, sobs for days when helpless to grant a subject’s request, sniffles humiliatingly when losing an argument with advisors. Not having any reason to do so before, she’d never realized; in a kinder world, she might never have had to.

4. She is talented at remembering the preferences of ambassadors, the particular quirks that can win concessions for Ayodhya from the most stony-faced of strangers, and fourteen years later, when Sita returns at last, it is to Mandavi she turns for suggestions on this subject.

1) Ayodhayan brothers body concept

2) Janakis body concept

3) and 4) random Rama and Lakshman concept(scenarios,character design and costumes)

5) Sita with a bunny.

Rama: My lady, let us walk in this beautiful forest, with the birds singing and the animals dancing, while we speak gently and softly and romantically to each other.

Bharat: *stares*

Bharat: *catches their eye*

Bharat: *blushes and smiles*

Bharat: *stares again*

Lakshmana: Hii! 😏😏

Lakshmana: You are picking flowers wrong! Let me show you the right way.

Lakshmana: *deep breath*

Lakshmana: *infodumps*

Lakshmana: *infodumps*

Lakshmana: *infodumps*

Lakshmana: sorry I'm celibate, and too tsundere to share my interests in a normal way but Ram bhaiyya said I can express myself anyway I want :D

Ok yeah I'm here with my headcanons and stuff because why are you all sleeping on the second generation of Ayodhya cousins?!?! Like damn people get up

Also this is part 1 and will be more focused on the early times and their relationships with their aunts and uncles

BIRTH ORDER:

Luv Kush (twins) → the oldest

Subahu → born 5 months after Luv Kush

Taksh → within a year after Luv Kush and Subahu were born

Angad and Shatrughati → 2 years after Subahu was born, they are both of similar age. Having a difference of only two months between their births

Chandraketu → only a year apart from Angad

Pushkal → exactly 6 months from after Chandraketu was born making him the youngest of the bunch

Now for the headcanons and for less confusion I am putting who is who's kid because I myself forgot the names sometimes 😭😭

Luv and Kush – sons of Ram and Sita

— They are the avatars of Bala and Utsaha (LakahmiNarayan's actual kids and my dearies)

Luv is Bala's avatar, Kush is Utsaha's avatar

— Born in Vanvas and weren't present in Ayodhya till they were older so they take more time to become friendly with the other cousins

— looks like the perfect mixture of their parents with skin colour and eyes like of Ram and other facial features of Sita

— Luv is more quite and a believes in punching, while Kush is the over excited younger one who also believes in punching but won't punch you without arguing.

— After they come to Ayodhya, they become the closest to Urmila and Shatrughan.

— Both of them had lot's of trouble to get used ro the palace life .

And when they spent nights awake not feeling well, missing Sita and or unable to sleep Urmila and Shatrughan were the ones other than Ram, who comforted them in an instance with stories and lullabies.

Taksh and Pushkal – sons of Bharat and Mandavi

— Taksh is the most notorious of the bunch. He is the most hyper and mischievous. He loves to question everything and anything.

— Since he had started to talk, he'd everyday crawl up to Ram's lap after the court sessions ends and ask him a ton of questions starting from the moustache of some ministers to why the sun sets.

Ram loves to answers all his questions and is always amazing by how he always comes up with such unique questions.

— Taksh takes his looks from his mother. They look too similar.

While Pushkal looks like his father with chubby cheeks and sharp eyes that he got from Keykeyi.

— Pushkal is the baby of the bunch and gets pampered by everyone for that. He gets everyone's attention but he is quite and just wants to be left alone most of the time.

— Pushkal is the closest to Shrutakirti out of all his uncles and aunties. They both do gardening together and both of them looks to eat sweets.

Angad and Chandraketu – sons of Lakshman and Urmila

— Angad is the carbon copy of his uncle Shatrughan in nature. He loves to dance with Shatrughan.

— But due to being named after Angad the Vanar. His favourite uncle is also Angad. (Shatrughan and Angad both argue over who's Chhota Angad's favourite uncle)

— Angad and Shatrughati even though are born the closest and grew up the most similar in age don't get along.

They are always bickering and fighting with eachother. Only on rare occasions are the seen being friendly and brotherly with eachother.

— Chandraketu is absolutely attached to Urmila. He is always with her whenever she goes and whatever she does.

But he looks like the second Lakshman.

— Chandraketu the biggest rambler. He is always chattering with everyone and anyone. He makes friends in an second.

This is also the reason why he gets along with Dhruv (Angad's son) the most as he's a listening and is always ready to listen the endless rambles.

— Don't tell Angad but Chandraketu is Sumitra's favourite

Subahu and Shatrughati – sons of Shatrughan and Shrutakirti

— Subahu being born the first in the family (because Luv Kush weren't there) was the most pampered one before.

— He took his role as older brother the best and loves to show his authority to his younger brother and cousins.

— Even after Luv Kush came to Ayodhya, Subahu was still the most sought out to by the adults for responsibilities. He is always eager to help out everyone with everything.

— Shatrughati is the most hot tempered one. Sometimes people even compare him with Lakshman. They get along the most because of their similar nature.

— Shatrughati hates being called by his full name and would much rather prefer Shatru.

Which causes a lot of confusion between calling him and calling Shatrughan.

— Angad is the only one who calls him by his full name resulting in most of their arguments.

.

OK IK THIS ARE VERY UNORGANISED AND RANDOM BUT I AM TRYING OK I AM TRYING I PROMISE I WILL COME UP WITH BETTER ONES IN THE FUTURE TOT

And I haven't proof read it too so forgive grammatical errors

But yeah here are some very random headcanons....