This chapter is my tribute to the soumitras. And it shows the bond between them according to me and this has no relation to future chapters main plot, So, this just reflects their bond.

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-:Vasisth Maharshi Ashram, Raghavas boyhood (16Y):-

In the Ashram, most of the students loved the Raghavs but a gang of six kids just hated them for no reason, the head of the group is like Shakuni and Duryodhan combination for Kauravs, always he said negative things to other five. Usually Ram is a sort of Amarendra Bahubali among the students and everyone loved him alot and he is no less than a brother to all except the tretaug Dhuryodhan and his idiotic gang members.

No one dared to tease Ram when Lakshman is around, if Lakshman is not there, they tease but Ram just smiles and ignores. Even if they challenge a fight with Ram, he fights a defensive game and wins of course! They can't even tease Bharat, even if Bharat ignores, Ram doesn't, they are scared if they might face Ram's wrath. Even Bharat is master in all things so are Ram, Lakshman and Shtrughan, but still Bharat is everyone's go to person when the need some help where mind works more. Ram is also a brilliant student but still, Ram is somewhat not a good company like Bharat and if things go wrong, Bharat is like our friend whereas Ram is kinda most teacher or lecturer. Bharat is easy to talk and purely understanding, the main thing is he never refuses to help others even if that is the guy who bullied him.

They don't dare to talk ill about Ram or others infront of Bharat. Bharat don't show his strength but he can destroy the gang of 20 students in a five minutes fight!!

They don't tease Ram infront of Lakshman, as everyone knows, anger has built a multi-storeyed apartment on his nose, they fear they might get punished but still the gang leader teases him(laksh), still Lakshman don't respond because as everyone knows, Ram don't like Lakshman bashing someone black and blue and finally get punished by their guru. Lakshman don't want to see his Ram bhaiyya sad so he too remains silent. Finally, the little Raghav is their prey.

The whole universe know that Shatrughan is the coolest prince and he can rarely get disturbed. Even after essays long teasing Shatrughan, all that they earned is just a smile and eye rolling and time wasting.

So one evening, the gang started teasing Shatrughan again while cleaning the one of the gurukul hut and they under estimated the power of youngest Raghav. That day, Ram, Lakshman and Bharat and many other students went to forest to learn about survival skills, Vasisth is along with them.

The Duryodhan of the useless group started "Shatrughan, oh, Shatrughan....Oh.......little chick of Ram! oh toddler! oh puppy brother of Bharat!" And the teasing goes on.

Shatrughan just ignored them continued with sweeping the floor. They teased Bharat also but Shatrughan suppressed his anger because, Bharat don't like Shatrughan beating anyone.

Then Dushhasan of the group with a brain as little as Shishupal bad mouthed Lakshman by saying "Hey your twin, Lakshman is there right, he is such a unlucky boy! all he knew is just fight and learn and serve. He is literally the servant of Ram and he don't love you at all always he does serving Ram and Bharat sometimes. Seriously, he don't even care your existence puppy!!"

Shatrughan gave an angry glare but remained silent, still the pot didn't break. The boys looked at each other and the Dushhasan of tretayug with shishipalic sense said " Friends, what is the synonym of Lakshman?"

Only Shatrughan know how much pain he is going through.

"Foolish angry bird" they all laughed in unison and one of them said "Even if Ram asks him to jump off a mountain, he foolishly jumps down!" Another one said "Haa, once we should mimic Ram's voice and ask him to jump off the hill! Let's see what he would do". Shatrughan was all silent, he walked near the entrance of the hut without windows and stood there.

The six Shishupals thought he is going out. "Go toddler go! talk to your mothers Ram and Bharat!!" the brothers laughed but there was another boy in the room who is also Shatrughan's junior by four years, he felt bad for Shatrughan and wanted to kick these idiots out of this place but he can't, all these horrible people there are older and stronger than him. All he wished is that Ram or Bharat to come here soon. The coolest prince became like combination of Ram and Lakshman now. We know the combo is deadly right.

Shatrughan banged the door and locked it. He turned back and looked angry. The idiots stopped laughing and the little boy started celebrating in mind.

"How dare you call my brother like that?" He creaked as he started walking towards them with bare hands. The boys didn't expect Shatrughan being this serious as he didn't even respond when they teased Bharat.

"How can you say he is your brother? He rarely cares for you" Adwaith stated.

"But I care for him every moment I am with him! He is devoted to Ram bhaiyya and Bharat bhaiyya in the same way I am devoted to him and I love him more than myself and my life! Today, for bad mouthing him, you all gonna pay for it"

"Hey...hey what happened to you? why are you coming near us?" the gang leader stammered.

"Oh, thought the youngest Ramanuj is as soft as Ram bhaiyya, you thought Lakshmananuj is as tempered as Lakshman bhaiyya and impulsive who don't think much when angry? you are wrong" He smirked.

"So.." the Jalagandha (Adwaith) of the group gulped down. Shatrughan went more closer and swiftly he attaked the guy who cracked about Ram's mimicry idea, he made some strong moves on his (Adwaith's) body and the Adwaith fell down on the floor and groaned with pain.

Withstanding the fact that youngest Soumitra is master in bashing others without leaving traces of the attack, the boys were petrified, Shatrughan who is the most calmest guy, used his power in attacking, outside the practice arena. The other boys also got the similar treatment, none of them could escape from his attacks. After all the six shishupalic silly creatures are done with the dose, their junior clapped with joy and exitement.

Shatruhan took back his broom and continued with his sweeping and threw the trash in the pit while glaring at them seriously signalising, next time they are going to be in this state if they speak another word against his dear twinnie or Ram or Bharat.

One of the boy said "Hey Shatru! you.......you did this to us right, we will complaint to Ram about this!"

"Go on, then I will also say how you spoke about my Lakhan Lal, in that case, Ram bhaiyya is going to take revenge on you in the practice arena"

He smirked and went out the place to take a bath. The little boy went near the boys on the floor and said "Oh-oh, see if you tease me again, I will complain to Shatrughan bhaiyya, then he will bash you again! dare to touch me again!" He additionally smacked the boy's arm and ran out of the hut. Avinay and Adwaith and others groaned with pain. They looked like cockroaches which fell on their back and couldn't get up.

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In the evening ( 7' O clock), the idiots' room.

Bharat and Lakshman were treating the idiotic gang without knowing that their brother only bashed them.

Lakshman was following Bharat's instructions and half-heatedly, he is treating them with care. Ofcourse, Lakshman is soft too until they mess up with them to wake up the dragon inside him.

"Adwaith, who attacked you with this technique? looks like the damage is severe, it takes atleast 4 to 5 days to recover, first of all who did this to you?" Bharat asked examining Adwaith's shoulder.

"sh...Shadow" he replied. "Shadow? are you crazy?" Bharat sounded.

"Yeah, your shadow!" he replied indirectly.
"Hey, did your brain got hurt? I don't even know who to properly use these techniques" Bharat took an oil and massaged his shoulder.

"Aree, leave it! a doctor should ask questions related to injury not incident" Adwaith whined.

'well, why do I even care, I am just following guruji's orders' Bharat thought.

Vasisth knew about who the shadow was but remained silent as he knew that Shatrughan never attacks anyone without a proper reason and ignored about it and felt this should happen to this bastards.

Bharat and Lakshman were done with their work and Bharat left first as Ram called him and then after minutes Lakshman too left the place. While walking towards his hut, the little boy came there with a million dollar smile, he was holding a sweet box in his hand which was sent by his parents the last day.

"Lakshman Bhaiyya!" the boy exitedly said. Lakshman cupped the boy's left cheek and said "Hey, you look so happy today Anay, what's the reason?" he smiled.

"Ha bhaiyya, I am very very happy today!!! Today I got freedom!!!" He said.

"Freedom?" Lakshman quizzed.

"Yeah! your brother freed me from that atrocity gang!!! Take, this sweet box is for Shatrughan bhaiyya and all of you" He said as he offered the box. "What did Shatrughan do?"

Lakshman was puzzled. "He bashed that Adwaith and his gang!!!" He jumped with joy.

"What?!!"Lakshman was shocked. "What happened tell me!" Lakshman asked with utmost concern. "Bhaiyya, first sit down" he said as he made him sit on a bench and started to narrate the whole story.

"Really?" Lakshman asked with shining eyes.

"Yeah bhaiyya, why would I lie to you?" he boy said with a smile. "Okay, bye bhaiyya, my room mates must be waiting for me to come, don't forget the sweet box. The white sweets are especially for Ram bhaiyya he is also helping with our works. Convey my thanks to Shatrughan bhaiyya too and Bharat bhaiyya too" he said and walked away.

Lakshman never knew that Shatrughan loves him this much that even teasing or bad mouthing him a little could make the coolest prince angry, yeah Shatrughan is calmer than Ram in gurukul days, and after he grown up too. Laksh never knew that Shatrughan address him as 'Lakhan lal' and calls himself as 'Lakshmananuj'. Lakshman wiped his moist eyes and walked away with the sweet box in his hands and a smile on his face.

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Lakshman entered the hut were all four brothers shared (1 hut=4 students residence) Ram and Bharat weren't there in hut, they were actually helping their juniors with some tasks. Ram and Bharat being the Mr. Helping hands all the time, they couldn't deny them, they like helping their juniors even though, it's sleep time.

Shatrughan was peacefully sleeping on his cot after a long cleaning day, he was very tired. Lakshman smiled as he saw his twinnie sleeping happily and peacefully after bashing a gang without traces for him. Lakshman sat on his cot and took Shatrughan's head into his lap, Shatrughan looked like a little baby to him. This was the first time in his life he behaved like an elder brother. He caressed Shatrughan's hair and Shatrughan snuggled into Lakshman's lap and half-consciousnesly thinking it was Sumitra. "Maa" he purled as he put his hand around Lakshman's knee. Lakshman grinned silently.

"Yeah Putr" he sounded jokingly. "Oh, paa it's you. I wish to tell you something" Shatrughan said silently.

"Hmmm" Laksh hummed.

"Pa, why Lakshman bhaiyya need to be soo clingy with Ram bhaiyya? He forgot about my existence completely. Last week when Ram bhaiyya left the new meditating spot, he blindly followed him , leaving me alone. Such a fool he is! if it was not for Ram bhaiyya who came back searching me, I would have been lost in the forest. What kind of elder brother leaves his younger brother like that? can't he learn from Ram bhaiyya and Bharat bhaiyya that how to be a good elder brother? seriously! He doesn't even love me too, he don't even care my existense.

Only Bharat bhaiyya and Ram bhaiyya love me like a brother but him, he considers me like his room mate only. Bharat bhaiyya hmmm, I can say he is as loving as you are and Ram bhaiyya is as loving as ma, he cares for me a lot.

But Lakhan lal, for him, I am just his forgotten twinnie, Thats it, I feel so bad when he just leaves me behind and follows others, I don't even get attention from him as much as that Adwaith gets. Papa, see he went to treat that Adwaith and others now, he didn't even meet me once after coming from the forest. He doesn't care about me at all. If I get fever he beahaves as if he is my neighbour, see Ram bhaiyya and Bharat bhaiyya take care of me like parents, whereas, he being my twin, becomes my neighbour.

Papa do you think, he hates me? While he being so nice and caring towards others, why did he forget me? Papa, is he really my twin or I am Bharat bhaiyya's twin? Truly, to him I am just his room-mate kinda person but I love him as much as I love Ram bhaiyya. Papa you have answer for many questions right, tell me if Lakshman bhaiyya loves me or not. If I was born before him, he would love me may be, because he only know how to be a Anuj only. May be Avinay was true, may be he really doesn't care me or he hates me. Leave it Papa, I am used to his ignoring behaviour, how much does he ignores me doesn't matter, he is always my lovely Lakhan Bhaiyya, no one should talk Ill about him or they will end up like Avinay and his useless gang. Good night papa" Shatrughan said these words unknowingly, he turned to the otherside and hugged Lakshman's arm lovingly and went back to sleep.

Lakshman's eyes filled with tears, he don't know that his twinnie has such a heavy heart which is concealed with his fake smile. Lakshman once closed his eyes to let his tears flow down and remember the last moment he has been a brother of Shatrughan. No, not even once he felt like he need to be a good elder brother. Ofcourse he loves Shatrughan too but he never protected him like an elder brother but like a boy who is dear to you. When he looked back into his 16 years of life, all the time he had been a good younger brother of Ram and Bharat, Shatrughan looked like a sidecharacter.

He remembered how he left Shatrughan alone in the forest and left with Ram, he remembered how many times he chose his another friends over Shatrughan. He thought how thoughts would have run in Shatrughan's mind when those idiots were speaking like that. he chose to always be a good Anuj and ignored that he is also Agraja of his one and only Anuj. He remembered how many times Shatrughan approached him for help in silly things eventhough he know all. He remembered how he stubbornly served Ram when Shatrughan caught fever and even while Ram wants to take care of Shatrughan, Lakshman thought Ram would get fever. Always, Ram and Bharat took care of Shatrughan like their Anuj but Lakshman, always he acted like a well wisher only. He never knew that there is a lot pain behind Shatrughan's silly acts to gain attention from his twinnie. He just imagined how Shatrughan felt when the gang spoke like that. He got to know how much Shatrughan craved for brotherly love and care from Lakshman.

'These many years I thought I was a good brother but I miserably failed as a brother. Really, how could I even forget that Shatrughan is also my Anuj in the same way I am to Ram bhaiyya and Bharat bhaiyya? How could I forget about Shatrughan? When did I become such a horrible person? I never spent time with Shatrughan alone and I was busy like a Anuj, while being with ram bhiyya always and got his love, care and attention he gave me like an elder brother and I being Shatrughan's elder brother gave him nothing! But how could he love me so much? I am a bad brother!' Lakshman thought while tears are flowing down his eyes like a waterfall.

Lakshman slowly freed his arm which Shatrughan was hugging and placed Shatrughan's head on the cot and stood up. He wiped his tears and looked at Shatrughan, his forgotten brother. He knelt down beside the bed and placed his hand on Shatrughan's hair and spoke "I am really sorry Shatrughan" he couldn't speak more. He pressed a kiss on Shatrughan's forehead at left the hut with a heavy heart.

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Lakshman went near the peepal tree and sat down. He was lost in his own thoughts. But a small sound got him out of his thoughts roller coaster.

"Lakshman bhaiyya" he called from behind. Lakshman turned back to see Shatrughan standing some feet far from him and he looked normal. Lakshman didn't respond. Shatrughan went even more closer to the tree and saw lakshman sitting there with his face down. Shatrughan placed his hand on Lakshman's shoulder, Lakshman just asked him to sit down. Shatrughan sat beside him.

"Lakshman bhai what happened? Why are you sitting here alone? When I woke up, Ram bhaiyya and Bharat bhaiyya returned to the hut and talking with each other but you were not there, so I came searching for you. Tell me why are you sitting here?" Shatrughan asked trying to look at Lakshman's face.

"Bhaiyya" he called again.

"Did you fight Adwaith and his friends?" Lakshman asked with a low voice suppressing his guilt and sadness. Shatrughan didn't expect this response, he immediately cooked up a lie and said "yeah, they teased me....so I fought with them. Is that wrong?"

L: "Did you got hurt?"
Sh: noo... But are you angry on me for fighting with them?
L: pch
Sh: are you going to give me a lecture now?
L: pch *shooks head lightly*
Sh: then what happened? Why are you sitting here alone?

Lakshman rose up also Shatrughan too. Lakshman made a step further to not show his face to Shatrughan.

"Please tell me what happened" Shatrughan asked with concern gripped to his voice. "Nothing" Lakshman covered. "Okay leave it. Anyways you will not tell me. Come you did not eat anything since you came back to the gurukul, come fast, I am leaving" Shatrughan said and turned back.

'How can I even expect that he will even talk to me when he is sad, I couldn't be his best friend atleast. He will talk to Ram bhaiyya or Bharat bhaiyya, I choose not to make him sad and lack of privacy with my presence' Shatrughan thought.

"Shatrughan...." Lakshman called.
Shatrughan turned back. Even before Shatrughan gave a response, Lakshman gave him a hug. Shatrughan also hugged him.

"Bhaiyya, are you okay?" Shatrughan asked as he felt wet on his shoulder. "Hmmm" Lakshman sounded. "Is that something you don't want to tell me. Even I don't ask" Shatrughan said as he hugged Lakshman even more lovingly. He didn't understand why his twinnie was crying silently and alone, he chose not to ask anything more and just hug him for long. Lakshman felt as if he is hugging his long lost son for the first time in years.

Lakshman's thoughts:

' I am sorry Shatrughan, I was such a fool to not feel your love and care for me. Eventhough I never treated you like an Anuj, still you care for me a lot. Love you Shatrughan, from now on, I will not ignore you'

Shatrughan tried to break the hug and talk to his Lakhan but Lakshman hugged his more firmly refusing to leave him. Shatrughan became more worried now, he carresed Lakshman's back to assure he is not alone. That night was the first time he saw Lakshman like that, Lakshman was shedding tears and trembling while hugging Shatrughan firmly.

Unable to bear the sad silence he tried to talk to Lakshman again "Bhaiyya, please tell me what is bothering you this much. If that's a secret, if that is something you don't want to share with me, atleast talk to Ram bhaiyya. Bottling up all your sadness isn't good for your health"

Lakshman shook head, still hugging his Anuj as if someone is going to kidnap him.

"Then what happened bhaiyya? Did that Adwaith and his bunch of idoits spoke some rubbish with you?" Shatrughan inquired. Lakshman shook his head again. "Okay. Just talk what ever you want but don't be silent, I feel I am losing something. Did you had a bad nightmare?" Shatrughan said with a low voice.

Lakshman nodded. "What is that?" Shatru asked. "You left me somewhere" Lakshman replied trying to not cry. "Why would I leave you Bhaiyya? You are my dear Bhratha right, I will never leave you" Shatrughan said closing his eyes in relief. "But that dream was horrible" Lakshman started to sob. Shatrughan tried to get back and speak to Lakshman. "Please Don.....don't leave me, I need you. I want to hug you for sometime. I don't want to get seperated from you, please be with me sometime like this, I feel better. What if......what if something happens to you? What if you were lost? What if..if....what if some one attack you or any animal does" Lakshman said as he placed his hand on back of Shatrughan's head protectively and hugged him even more tightly.

Shatrughan caressed Lakshman's back and assured Shatrughan is okay. "Don't worry bhaiyya, I am always with you. See, I am alright. You are also hugging me, who dares to hurt me if you are along with me, say. I am safe and sound and I am with you only. I am fine. Now you need rest, let's go to the hut. Come"

"No...I don't belive you. Don't leave me Shatru, please, be with me. I am scared" *sobs*

                      "Scared? Really? It's not a part of your dictionary. It was always you who forgot me, there was not a single day I forgot you, I will not leave you" Shatrughan assured while he stated the painful truth unable to hide it for long. He also shed tears. "I am sorry" Lakshman said. "For what?" He asked.

L: That day I left you alone in the forest right, what if some animal attacked you and hurt you? I am irresponsible.....

Sh: why are you digging the past? Ram bhaiyya and you came back that day right, that day I didn't follow you and it was my mistake and I am irresponsible. You are very good brother. *Shatrughan smiled*

L: aren't you angry on me for leaving you like that? *Lakshman breaks the hug*

Sh: You didn't leave me, you just followed bhaiyya like a good brother, it was me who didn't follow you both. So tell me who is wrong?......... it's me, it's only me right, why are you blaming yourself?

L: Wasn't it my responsibility to take care of my Anuj?

Shatrughan felt a little sad but being a PhD in lying to people to hide his sorrow, he said,

Sh: bhaiyya, see, on that day Ram bhaiyya also didn't call you but you followed him right, can you say he is a bad brother for not calling you? So, you like a good Anuj followed him, and being an elder brother, you need not to call me too, I should have followed you. It should be me who need to tell sorry. So, I am sorry.

L: I got a nightmare that you were lost in the forest because of me. *Helds Shatrughan's face in his both hands*

Sh: Even though you don't be with me most of the time, I trust you that you will never let anything bad happen to me.

L: what made you trust me so much?

Sh: I trust you because I love you. I trust you because you are my bratha Lakshman and not any stranger. I trust you because deep down, you are still like the little Soumitra who gifted me a clay statue. I trust you because no one in the world can hate you. I trust you because you as dear as my life to me. I trust you because, I know you love me. I trust you because I love you and you are irreplaceable in my life.

L: Really?

Sh: don't you trust me?

L: Who on the earth cannot trust their most loved and one and only Anuj?

Sh: do you love me?

L: Ofcourse I love you alot!

Sh: I thought you don't even....

L: I love you so much, I care for you more than I care for my life.

Sh: Truly? *tears*

L: swear on Ram bhaiyya

Lakshman cupped Shatrughan's face and pressed a kiss on his forehead and smiled.

Sh: Bhaiyyaaa*hugs tightly and happy cries*

L:*hugs protectively and smiles with shining eyes*

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*Raghavas room/hut*

Ram and Bharat were talking endlessely about many memories, they were sitting outside the room. Just then, Lakshman and Shatrughan also returned to the hut with a trillion dollar smile on their faces but they were silent. Ram and Bharat were laughing after cracking an inside joke. Soumitras just went inside and arranged all the 4 cots for sleep. Shatrughan went out and called Ram and Bharat. But when he saw there, Bharat was sa worried Shatrughan went near them and asked what happened. Bharat said " Bhudevi mata is kidnapped" Ram was silent and Shatrughan gave a weird look.  "Can you please explain what you meant?"
"He meant that Bhudevi is kidnapped by Hiranyakashyap" Ram said in a sad tone. Shatrughan just face palmed. Bharat and Ram were reading some kids books.

"Bhaiyya, Varaha Swami already saved her. Now come and sleep" Shatrughan said.

"Why always Lakshmi Matha must face all these difficulties? Everytime her husband when he must erase evil, he plans a tale and then always she will be the victim" Bharat said.

"The best thing happened to Lord Vishnu is his marriage with Mahalakshmi" Ram said.

Shatrughan felt he need to bang his head to any pillar; suddenly his first two brothers became so emotional that they are speaking in this weird way. "Bhaiyya, what happened to you both?" Shatrughan asked.

"Anyways Lakshmi Devi is great" Ram quoted. "No, Lord Vishnu too, I love him a lot" Bharat countered.

"Hey, has any silly ghost entered you or what? You both are arguing between who is great, ultimately both are one one. They are inseparable!! Now it's bed time. Come in" Shatrughan ordered passively.

They went in. There Ram and Bharat continued to talk. Lakshman couldn't sleep, Shatrughan's sleep is disturbed by his brothers talk. Lakshman and Shatrughan were sitting on Shatrughan's bed only. "Bhaiyya I can't sleep if Ram bhaiyya and Bharat bhaiyya continue talking like this. Looks like Anay's soul entered them, they are speaking non stop"

Lakshman chuckled. "Don't worry. They are just being too emotional suddenly. They read primary class syllabus today, as most of their syllabus have only story based and maths and basic biology, they are upset after hearing those stories. They are really lovely, today why I don't know I feel their age decreased. They are behaving like best brothers rather than lecturing us."

" I want to go to Ayodhya" Shatrughan stated. "Why?" Laksh asked.
" I miss ma and pa. They are coming in my dreams too. Mostly ma" Shatrughan said.

Laksh remembered about Shatrughan's dream. He knew that still Shatrughan don't know that Laksh heard his words. He asked Shatrughan to place his head in Lakshman's lap. Shatrughan didn't expect this from him. 'what? Is this real for real? Is he really Lakshman bhaiyya or Bharat bhaiyya?' he thought. "Shatrughan, what happened?" Lakshman asked. "Nothing" Shatrughan said. Now Lakshman himself made his twinnie keep his head in his lap. Lakshman ran his hand through Shatrughan's hair and it just took minutes to put his brother to sleep. After he slept, Lakshman put soumitra's head carefully on the pillow and kissed his forehead and he also went to sleep.

Still Ram and Bharat were talking in one corner of the room, at last they also fell asleep. Bharat hugging Ram's arm and his head on Ram's shoulder, whereas Ram's head leaning on Bharat's head and his right arm still holding a parachment.

That was the first night when Bharat and Ram talked continuosly till sleep consumed them, and that was the first time Shatrughan fell asleep in Lakshman's lap.

Thanks to Avinay, Adwaith and their bunch of bastards.

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Thanks for reading
Do vote and comment if you liked it.
What is your opinion on Lakshman and Shatrughan's bonding?

Personally, I feel they love each other so much, just they spent a lot of time seperated and from each other and they are more attached to ram and Bharat respectively than each other in their adulthood, I mean after they United in ayodhya when Bharat and Shatrughan returned from Kekeya rajya.

Thank you
Jai SitaRam!!