Time flew in Ayodhya...
The stronger bonds became more strong while the weaker bonds grew more weak. As Maharaj Dashrath had wanted, he slowly distributed and enlightened the young generation about their upcoming duties as the leaders of the kingdom. He was supremely happy, along with his eldest and youngest queen, because Ayodhya was going to flourish in much able hands... The rajkumars and rajvadhus were performing way better than their expectations.
Still there was something off about Dashrath. He was always in a rush, as if time is slipping from his old wrinkled hands. His health was also mildly declining with time. But his enthusiasm and adore of his son and daughter in laws were blowing new wind of life on his soul.
In the quiet moments stolen away from their royal duties, the couples were getting solace in each other's company.
They walked hand in hand through the palace, their laughter were echoing amidst the fragrant blooms, weaving a tapestry of shared memories that would endure for a lifetime. With each passing day, their love deepened, like the roots of an ancient tree, anchoring them firmly together in the face of any challenge. Especially for Lakshman and Urmila. Because they were getting lesser time with eachother since Lakshman's duty was always outside palace. But their promises to unite at every day's ending was making their love more and more passionate.
In contrast to all the corners of the palace, Megh Bhavan, which was the most beautiful building and the residence of Rani Kaikeyi, was turning more and more dark with time. It was unbearable for Kaikeyi that how his Bharat was given such mere responsibility to be the chief of welfare and state development. And Mandvi was going to govern just over the art and culture department of Ayodhya. According to her, Bharat got such duties because the king considers him and his wife inferior to his other sons and daughter in laws, especially Ram and Sita. So this descision was piercing through her eyes like an arrow of injustice. And Manthara was always there to fuel her misunderstandings up.
The old maid was slowly eating away Kaikeyi's own thinking abilities by leaving only grudges behind. All were witnessing this drastic change in the behaviour of the second queen and the influence of Manthara. But still nobody took it negatively. Because every heart had the same hope, that with time Kaikeyi's dissatisfaction will vanish and she's recognise her own son's worth.
But.... Perhaps it was not acceptable for the kaalchalra. Which came to Ayodhya as the deadly eclipse. And it attained it's first step on that day, when Yuddhajit, the brother of Rani Kaikeyi arrived Ayodhya.... without any notice.
The newly weds had known that their "matulalaya gaman" ritual was yet to happen. But Yuvraj Yuddhajit's sudden arrival was not giving them inner happiness, rather it raised many questions.
"He can't be here for the 'matulalay gaman' ritual. Isn't it didi ? Because as the eldest couple your and Ram bhaiya's 'matulalay gaman' ritual hasn't been done yet. " -Urmila whispered her queries to Sita, who were standing at the 'Atithi Bhavan' (chamber for guests), along with all three queens and maids, where Kaikeyi was serving food to her brother by herself. In contrast to others she wasn't surprised by his sudden arrival. But looking enthusiastic, as if she had wanted this.
"Yes... But he can be here for some other reasons? He can be here to just meet us. Since he is the uncle of Bharat but couldn't attained the wedding. So he must have come to bless us." - Sita added with her signature calm smile.
Sometimes it was unbelievable for Urmila. How effortlessly Sita can see even in every odd. She smiled back to her sister, as she wrapped her hands around.
Just like Sita, others also assumed the same reason behind the crown prince of Kaikeya's arrival, including Dashrath himself.
As the day passed, the rajbhavan of Ayodhya got lit with lamps at every corner. Urmila had lit her diya infront of the shivling, which she had carried with herself from Mithila and waited for her Saumitra to comeback, with desperation in eyes. But unexpectedly, a maid came with the news of Mandvi's arrival in Moti Bhavan.
Before she could question, Mandvi hugged her immediately. Urmila could feel warm tears wetting her shoulder and the rhythmic rise and fall of Mandvi's chest against her, as her heart fastened in some anonymous fear.
"What happened Mandvi didi ? Why are you crying?" - Urmila's concern made Mandvi's clasp tighter while she cried loudly.
Urmila immediately made her sit on the bed and wipped her tears. - "Relax didi. Just tell me what is wrong. Why are you crying like this ?"
Mandvi answered inbetween her uncontrollable sobbings - "He... He is here to.... to take us with him, Urmi."
Urmila squinted her eyes- "who ? Who are you talking about?"
Mandvi replied in same tone- " Mamashree... Mamashree Yuddhajit. He is here to take us with himself to Kaikeya."
Urmila- "What ? But.... But according to Suryavanshi rules, Ram bhaiya and Sita will visit their maternal uncle's house first....."
Mandvi stopped her inbetween- "It's not for the 'matulalay gaman' ritual, Urmi. We are going there for a long period."
Urmila's eyes went wide in shock- "What... But why didi? Why are you going there for long period ? That too this sudden ?"
Mandvi- "This is what maa (Kaikeyi) wants. So she had summoned his brother from Kaikeya to come and carry us. Because of some regal training, which we won't be able to get in Ayodhya.."
Mandvi shed some more tears while entwining her hands with Urmila.
Urmila straightened her back while asking- "What kind of regal training is this ? Which Ayodhya is unable to provide."
Mandvi cried loudly again- " I have no idea Urmi... I don't want to go. Neither Swami wants to go. We are getting forced. Because of this Shatrughna is also bound to come with us, along with Shrutkirti."
Urmila wipped her tears again - " Please calm down didi. Don't cry like this. It can definitely be for your, Bharat bhaiya's, Shatrughna's and Shrutkirti's own benifit. Before marriage, Bharat bhaiya and Shatrughna were getting trained in Kaikeya, isn't it. May be their training hasn't completed yet and for the wedding they had to come back.
So now they can complete it. And as their wives you and Shrutkirti will also learn various skills there."
Mandvi came closer in order to correct Urmila- " That's not the reason behind my tears, Urmi. I'm not crying because I'm separating from you and Sita didi. It's because of Kaikeyi maa and Manthara maa. There's something terrible going in there mind."
Now Urmila's ears opened even more, since she knew that there's something extremely wrong in Manthara and Kaikeyi's secret discussions, which go on every time. - "And what is it ? Tell me didi..."
Urmila's voice diminished a little.
Mandvi gulped air before saying her heart out.- " maa wants me to exceed Sita didi in every field. She wants everyone to see me, how they see Sita didi. Similar with swami as well. She is forcing him and comparing him always with Ram bhaiya. Her only purpose behind sending us to Kaikeya was to cross levels of Ram bhaiya and Sita didi."
Urmila couldn't believe her ears. - "What are you saying Mandvi didi ? I know Manthara maa doesn't like Ram bhaiya and Sita didi. But Kaikeyi maa..... She loves him the most."
Mandvi said hesitantly- " She does. Or maybe.... She did."
Her voice turned into a whisper on the last word.
"Please elaborate it, didi. I know somthing is wrong about them but what is it exactly? " - Urmila grabbed her sister's shoulder.
Mandvi- "I also don't know the exact thing Urmila. But whatever it is, it's just against Sita didi and Ram bhaiya. Manthara maa has been effortlessly brainwashing maa and making her believe that only Ram bhaiya and Sita didi get the respect while Kaikeyi nandan and me get ignored.
I don't have the courage to tell these to Sita didi. It will hurt her a lot. Also Kirti is unaware of all these. But I know, Urmi. There's something mischievous going on in their minds."
Urmila was speechless...
Mandvi added- "I know this is not right... Swami also knows that whatever his mother is thinking is very much wrong. But he can't raise his voice against her, neither I... Manthara has tried to brainwash me and him as well, by saying that everybody underestimate us and many other stupid things. She tries her best to push the direction of our thought processes to opposite way. And by the grace of Mahadev, we are never going to get painted in her colours. But we can't do anything for Kaikeyi maa. These days, she is listening only and only to Manthara. While that sharp old woman is manipulating her in every possible way. "
"Unbelievable...." - Urmila's shocked voice was barely a whisper.
Mandvi wipped her own tears and expanded her points in a serious tone.- "It is like a slow poison, Urmila... which is collapsing the bond between family and rupturing the wall of beliefs..."
Mandvi's grip on Urmila's hand became more firm- " Pitashree Maharaj is going to transfer the throne over to Ram bhaiya after the matulalaya gaman ritual... you know this right? "
Urmila nodded her head in yes.
"And for some reason Kaikeyi maa doesn't want it to happen this early. So she is sending us to Kaikeya, so that Ram bhaiya and Sita didi's rituals would postpone even more. Because Ram bhaiya won't leave Ayodhya now at any cost. Because of the absence of his two brothers and health issues of Pitashree. It's completely Manthara's plan to delay it." -Mandvi said in disgust.
"But why would Manthara maa and Kaikeyi maa want so? " - Urmila questioned.
Mandvi answered- "I have no idea Urmi. Because of this, there has been an serious argument between pitashree and maa. Because he wants us to go for the training or whatever, after the coronation. But maa wants to postpone it. And Pitashree couldn't hinder her descision as well."
Urmila tried to console Mandvi's and her own heart- "Umm... May be she wants you and Bharat bhaiya to become completely able for the duties which you would be getting in coronation. So she's postponing it."
Mandvi- "No, that's not true. There's something very wrong going inside their mind, which I don't know. But whatever it is, It's not going to benifit Raghukul at all.
Pitashree's health has become more weak after this descision of maa. He's totally restless and tensed."
Urmila patted her shoulder- "Don't worry about it didi. Me and Sita didi will take best care of him."
Mandvi exhaled deeply- "I don't even have any other option, except going to Kaikeya. But Urmi, don't let Sita didi know all these. It will hurt her immensely. You know she can effortlessly hide her pain but her heart will break into millions of pieces by knowing all these. Promise me Urmi.... you won't tell Sita didi about these."
Urmila guarented- "I promise, Mandvi didi. I won't tell Sita didi anything. Also i will never let anything wrong happen to our family."
The sisters hugged eachother again.