chapter 13

Suddenly the sweet sound of the parrot and the parrot broke the princess's sleep. He saw that many animals and birds were sitting around her, admiring her. Many types of fruits have been planted. She was hungry, she ate to her heart and looked at everyone with a humble gaze, loving everyone with the touch of her hands.

Mandvi was very happy today, it was getting evening and she started towards the palace. As soon as she entered the palace, she realized that many eyes were staring at her. She felt a little scared but then she overcame her fear. She proceeded towards her room. In the room she changed her clothes and was about to sleep after having refreshments when there was a sound of knocking on the door, when she opened the door, she found Shrutkirti. She took her inside and made her sit next to her.

Before Shrutkirti could ask the question, she asked about Urmila. She told that

"ever since Bhaiya(brother) Ram, Lakshmana, Sita have left the palace, since then they have lost their consciousness, the royal doctor is engaged in treatment, but is unable to understand the cause of the disease."

While exhaling a long breath, Mandvi expressed regret, Shrutkirti also inquired about her well being and requested to sleep. After Shrutkirti's departure, she was again lost in the fabric of her thoughts and Nidra Devi(goddess of sleep) took her in her arms.

After many days today, I was able to sleep peacefully.

The sunrise the next day brought a ray of hope to her, because today she

"Silent exile of Mandvi"

Today, she had completely given up the clothes of the palace and like an ordinary woman, she started working with the hostesses inside the palace. Suddenly Sumitra's eyes fell on Mandvi's clothes and ornaments, she was shocked that what happened to the daughter-in-law of their house today? How is she dressed as a forest dweller?

She called Mandvi where the three queens were sitting.

The three queens were seated together. Mata Sumitra's face was calm. She greeted Mandvi with a smile, touched Mata Sumitra's feet and asked her the reason for calling her. Kaikeyi also looked at her from top to bottom with sharp eyes, Kaushalya also asked with sad and faint eyes,

"O daughter! What happened to you?"

She touched the feet of Kaushalya and Kaikeyi and said,

"Mother! I'm fine"

And no one was able to understand the inner conflict of Mandvi, mother Kaushalya and Sumitra were calm, but could not stay with Kaikeyi. She asked in a stern tone the reason for Mandvi's filthiness.

Mandvi looked at Kaikeyi questioningly with a sarcastic smile, but she said nothing, just came out of the room with folded hands.

She went to the garden and started collecting vegetables and flowers. She then came home, took a bath, recited worship and went towards the forest.

Now there was no distance between the forest and the palace, the prick of thorns in the feet gave a sweet feeling, the sound of birds sounded as if they were calling her. Even the wild animals were not frightening her. She was going to meet her friends in the forest who were true friends of her forest dwellers.

Today she started arranging a hut for herself by going to the forest. Blood had come out from the tips of her hands, which was a witness to Mandvi's silent exile, she still did not get disturbed.

She was thinking that what would happen if the husband did not perform his husband's duty? I will definitely follow my wife's religion with my husband. The corners of her eyes were wet, her chest was bursting with pain. She was repeatedly trying to forget Bharat's behavior but was unable to forget. The more she tries to forget, the more her wounds become green. She was looking for her fault. She was repeatedly asking herself her mistake but she was not getting any answer. She wept bitterly. Even in this wild forest, there was no one to wipe her tears, she was wiping her own tears by sobbing. Animals and birds were also getting sad over her condition, but they could only try to make her happy.

Usually the small children of the parrot sat on her shoulders. She forgot her sorrow and started loving them, while caressing them, she realized that even her womb has been heard, why did the Creator give her so much pain? The husband did not consider her as a wife, the dreams with which she came from her father's house to her husband's house, not knowing how many dreams she had, not even a single one could be fulfilled.

She again engaged in the construction work of her hut. Animals and birds started helping her, that forest dweller had now thought that the forest was her home.

Today her mind was not going to go to the palace, but still she walked towards Ayodhya with cumbersome steps. The moon had illuminated the whole of Ayodhya with its light. But there was no justification for that light in Mandvi's life. She was moving forward searching for herself in the dark. Suddenly a shadow was staring at her with angry eyes. She was shocked, seeing the angry woman in front of her, she started trembling with fear, she was none other than mother Kaikeyi. Kaikeyi asked with a stern voice,

"Where are you coming from?"