After blessing her son who was about to be coronated, Kaushalya ran to the temple and sat down with eyes closed in front of the Vishnu Murti.

Her heart was filled with emotion and gratitude, it was her culmination of all her efforts and her dreams for Shri Ram. He had become capable and was being recognised for it.

You see, life as the Maharani or Ayodhya had been a mixed bag for Kaushalya. She was the eldest and the chief queen of Dashrath. The citizens looked up to her and respected her as a mother figure.

But after Dashrath married Kaikeyi, Kaushalya's relationship with her husband was never the same. The princess of Kekeya was young, attractive, charming and even valourous enough that she saved the life of Dashrath in Devasur Sangram.

The King had every reason to favour her, but the problem was that Dashrath was so lust-stricken by Kaikeyi that in her presence he desired no one else and even she indulged him ever so happily.

But since the birth of Shri Ram, Kaushalya had found a new meaning to life. His son had imbibed her devoutness, kindness and humility.

Whatever her situation with Kaikeyi be, Kaushalya ensured that Shri Ram would treat all his father's wives alike and with equal respect. Shri Ram loved Kaikeyi like his own mother, and Kaikeyi too reciprocated wholeheartedly.

Kaikeyi never differentiated between Bharat and Shri Ram, if not she loved the son of Kaushalya even more. Well the qualities of Shri Ram were such that no one could remain unimpressed.

And that's why when Manthara, the handmaiden of Kaikeyi, who was rattled by the news of coronation told this to her, the reaction was not what the old woman had expected. Kaikeyi who was resting, jumped with joy.

"Manthara ! Isse uttam samachaar kuch ho hi nahi sakta ! Mujhe Ram Bharat jitna hi priya hai. Mere Ram mei ek shresht Raja banne ke saare gun hai aur woh sabhi Rajkumaro mei jyesht bhi hai, mujhe vishwas hai woh apne bhaiyo ka dhyaan waise hi rakhega jaise ek pita apne putra ka rakhta hai. Rajan ka yeh nirnaye sun mai atyant prasann hu. Maang Manthara maang ! Tu aaj jo maangegi mai woh tujhe dungi !" Kaikeyi said.

Her composed response flustered and frustrated Manthara even more. She let out an exasperated sigh.

"Apni Murkhta ke karan tujhe yeh shadiyantra nahi dikh raha Kaikeyi ? Ek baar Ram ko rajya mil jaaye, toh baad mei uske putro ko singhasan praapt hoga. Bharat aur uske putra toh bhula diye jayenge. Rajan tumse mithe mithe baat awashya bolte hai kintu karte wahi hai jo Kaushalya chahti hai. Lakshman aur Shatrughan se Ram ko bhaye nahi, usko bhaye hai Bharat se. Ram ke alawa keval Bharat singhasan par apna adhikaar maang sakta hai. Apni satta sunishchit karne ke liye Ram Bharat ka vadh bhi karwa sakta hai." Manthara said.

"Kuch bhi mat bol Manthara, mera Ram Bharat ke saath aisa kabhi nahi karega." Kaikeyi said.

"Kaikeyi, Bharat adhiktar Kekeya mei raha hai. Sambhavna hai ki Ram ko jitna sneh Lakshman se hai utna Bharat se naa ho. Bhulo mat Rani, sautela bhai shatru samaan hota hai. Aur Kaushalya toh ab Raj-Mata ban ke itraayegi. Tumne usse jitne taane diye hai, uss sab ka pratishodh legi Kaushalya." Mathara said.

"A-Aisa nahi ho sakta." Kaikeyi denied but her weak spot was hit.

"Kyu nahi ho sakta ? Raja Dashrath ki priya Rani hone ke karan kya tumne kabhi Kaushalya ka upahaas nahi udaya hai ? Woh tumhe apne daasi banayegi ab. Tum apne aur Bharat ke Durbhagya par roti rehna." Manthara said.

The old woman had struck the raw spot and instigated Kaikeyi's motherly insecurities and co-wife's jealousy.

"Mai Kaushalya ki daasi nahi banungi." Kaikeyi said as emotions got better of her, she started to believe that Dashrath had indeed deceived her.

"Toh wahi Karo jo mai kahu." Manthara said.

"Kya ?" Kaikeyi looked at her.

"Devasur-sangram ko smaran karo. Tumne Rajan ke praan bachaye the aur unhone tumhe 2 var diye the. Tum unke baare bhul gayi kintu mai nahi. Unka ab prayog karo. Pehle var mei Bharat ke liye Rajya maango aur dusre var mei Ram ke liye vanvaas." Manthara said.

"Manthara, Bharat ko Rajya mil gaya toh mera karya ho jayega. Ram ko vanvaas kyu ?" Kaikeyi asked.

"Praja Ram se atyant prem karti hai, mohit hai sab uss par. Woh tab tak Bharat ko Raja roop mei swikaar nahi karenge jab tak Ram unke samaksh ho. Aur yadi Ram yaha ho hi na, toh Bharat praja ke hridaye mei apna sthaan bana sakta hai." Manthara said.

"Uchit kaha tumne." Kaikeyi nodded.

"Ab jaisa Mai kehti hu waisa karo. Apne abhushan aur Sringaar utaaro aur Krodhagar mei Maharaj ki pratiksha karo. Jab woh tumhare paas aaye toh unse baat kya unki oor dekhna bhi mat. Apne netro aur mukh-bhaav se apne krodh aur dukh ko abhivyakt karna. Rajan tumhare liye pagal hai, na woh tum par krodh kar sakte hai na hi tumhe niraash dekh sakte hai. Rajan tumhare liye apne praan bhi de sakte hai. Unn par apne iss prabhaav ka upyog kar unse yeh 2 var maango. Rajan mana nahi kar paayenge." Manthara said.

And this idea apealed to Kaikeyi.

-----

"Maa ki asuraksha aur Saut ka maatsarya." Amarsri muttered.

"Manthara ne atyant neech daav khela hai." Srinav said.

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A/N

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*Dials agressively*

Hello ? Shatrughan bhaiya ? Danda leke aao aur yeh Manthara ko maar maar ke laal kardo 😭😭

A MEME TO LIGHTEN THE MOOD -

Those who watch Anupama serial.... Or should I say forced to watch it with parents 😂😂😂..... You will agree that Anuj Kapadia is Srinav energy 🤣🤣