chapter 17

Mandvi did not want to tell him anything. Her sobs were making that young man restless. She was trying to know the truth from Mandvi. But the words were not bursting from the lips of Mandvi. It was as if she had forgotten to speak.

Here in Ayodhya, the sharp eyes of Mata Kaikeyi saw Mandvi going towards the forest. Kaikeyi put two of his spies behind her. they informed Mata Kaikeyi that Mandvi had gone to meet a young man in the forest. Mata Kaikeyi had seen Mandvi's anxiety. She understood that the distraction was not simple, it consisted of meeting and parting. Mother Kaikeyi's body caught fire after being told by the spies, she had burnt Mandvi with so many ill-mannered words, but today she could not seem to get any angry word beyond the heights.

She went with her two servants to meet her son Bharata. Today his two motives were to inform about Ram's return from exile and to bring Bharat to Ayodhya. Also to highlight the tarnished character of Mandvi.

Bharat was filled with joy upon hearing of Rama's return from exile, bowed his head at the feet of the mother, he bowed to her and asked the mother about the well being of both the mothers.

Mother Kaikeyi hugged Bharat and started loving like a small child. Tears were flowing from his eyes, trying to get the love of a fourteen year old son in a few moments.

Suddenly remembering Mandvi, her face filled with hatred.

Human is a very strange creature, they always finds faults in others, the behavior of others bothers them but they never pays attention to his own behavior.

Same was the case with Mata Kaikeyi, Bharat's face also had a hateful conflict for Mandvi. He sent both the servants towards the forest. Giving information about the arrival of Rama in Ayodhya, ordered to come to Ayodhya as soon as possible.

While searching for Mandvi, the servants reached under the same tree where the loving couple was lost in the shadow of their own pain. Seeing and recognizing them, Mandvi said while handling herself,

"Tell me how come"

The servants bowed with folded hands and told that

Rajmata Kaikeyi and Bharata have asked her to come as soon as possible.

She knew that today is a very auspicious day for the people of Ayodhya. Elder brothers Ram, Sita and Lakshman were on their way back to Ayodhya. But her husband Parmeshwar(respected as lord ) Bharat is also coming to Ayodhya. This thought filled her face with pain. In fact, her exile had begun today, a life-long exile in which she would live forever.

The young man was looking at the expressions on her face but he was unable to say anything.

The calm face was being broken covered with filth, a painful smile was visible on his face.

Mandvi told the servants,

"Go ahead, I'm coming!"

The servants left for Ayodhya after getting permission. Mandvi looked at the young man's face, he was staring at her.

Calm Mandvi smiled softly, the young man understood everything. What Mandvi was unable to tell for so long, the arrival of the servants explained the whole thing. The young man was standing, ready to go, he caressed his horse.

Mandvi asked,

" Are you Going?"

The young man spread laughing and said,

"Our Journey Is Over"

Hearing this, Mandvi fell on the other side of the horse with her back. The young man's throat also got filled, he was trying to say a lot but was unable to say it. He came to Mandvi and held her hand and said,

"Mandvi! Always be happy and forget me"

Hearing this, Mandvi started kissing the man's cheeks like a madman. What happened to the young man whose cheeks were not touched for fourteen years? The young man should also be surprised, he got away from Mandvi, rode on a horse and asked Mandvi to sit. Mandvi thought that the young man was taking her with him. But she saw that the horse was galloping towards Ayodhya.

He asked Mandvi to descend at the mouth of Ayodhya.

As soon as he got down from Mandvi, he took out Naulakha necklace from his neck and gave it to Mandvi and said,

"This is my first and..."

"What else?"

Mandvi asked. The eyes of the young man tricked,

"And to understand the last offering."

He turned the horse quickly, put an ad and did not know where he got lost in the forest.

Mandvi started running backwards like a madman, but the young man was nowhere to be seen, darkness fell in front of his eyes. She was repeatedly applying the necklace given by the young man to her chest. But today the hands that wiped the tears in her eyes had gone away from her.

She slowly started moving towards the palace. The city of Ayodhya was lit up. The lamps were spreading light all around. Every man and woman of Ayodhya was adorned. she saw only she looked worse than the maidens and maidservants.

There was no enthusiasm in his mind to dress up. The neglect of the husband, the taunts of the mother-in-law, the separation of the lover, the disregard of the slaves had broken her.

She went to her room and lay face down, the drummers sounded hoarse to her, the clarinet's voices were tearing through her heart, she was very restless but there was no one to support her.

Mother Kaikeyi, Kaushalya and Sumitra were busy celebrating the arrival of their respective sons. The slaves were engaged in decorating and beautifying the city. Shrutkirti was decorating with her husband.

Suddenly Mandvi remembered that the father was also about to come, perhaps he has come. He quickly washed his hands, dressed in royal clothes, looked at himself in the mirror and lovingly wore the necklace given by the young man around his neck. In demand, vermilion and forehead dots were adorning his face.

Suddenly there was a blessing,

"King Janak and Kushadhwaj are coming"

Honoring the guests, Sumantra ji arranged them with Shatrughan in the guest room of the palace. Suddenly, seeing a monkey flying with the wind speed over Ayodhya, the whole city gathered looking at the sky.

Suddenly Hanuman ji, in the form of a monkey, landed near Bharat's hut and informed about the arrival of Lord Rama.

Bharat jumped with joy, the whole Ayodhya city gathered near Bharat's hut to welcome Ram, Lakshmana and Sita coming from the plane. With the reverberation of musical instruments, the sky, the underworld and the earth began to resonate in the three worlds, the hail of Rama was being chanted.

Here in the palace, the mothers were standing decorated with Aarti plate to welcome them. Mandvi, Urmila (who had woken up today after 14 years) and Shrutkirti had punished themselves, but Mata Kaikeyi, with crooked eyes, was surrounding Mandvi. But Mandvi was ignoring them. She tried to smile but the pain inside would not let her smile. Ram's plane was getting closer and the happiness of the people was increasing.

Sumantra ji's happiness was increasing. To see his Rama, Lakshmana, Sita, his mind got disturbed. He used to see Bharat sometimes. In fourteen years, his body had become incapacitated, but his enthusiasm was not lacking. Tears were flowing from everyone's eyes of happiness, as soon as Ram came, everyone ran towards that. Ram touched the lotus feet of his father like Sumantra ji as soon as he got down from the plane. He also touched the lotus feet of Guru Vashisht ji and took blessings. Sita and Lakshmana also did the same. Sumantra ji hugged Rama by his throat.

Bharata ran and grabbed the lotus feet of Shri Ram and asked about the well being of the three mothers as well as Shatrughan, Mandvi, Urmila and Shrutkirti.

Taking everyone, Sumantra ji went towards the palace, Bharat was going along with Ram.

In Rajprasad, the mother was anxiously waiting for her sons, the stream of milk started flowing from her breasts. Tears were flowing from his eyes with joy. Where there was waiting, there was love. The bells of the door started ringing,

"Raja Ram is coming to the city of Ayodhya"

Cheers were echoing all around. Guest people had also gathered in Rajprasad.

Kings and princes of many countries were called. In the city of Ayodhya, the raga-colours(music and dance) started rising, even the wives, who decorated the platter of aarti, were moving forward in eagerness to meet their husbands.

Mothers gazed at their sons, put tilak on their heads and prayed for their longevity. The sons touched the feet of the mothers and put them on their heads, the mothers hugged their lips and wept bitterly.