The first rays of the sun had already fallen on the city of Ayodhya, and Devi Sita had scattered the grains of rice on a square area of the royal courtyard which was plastered with cow dung and clay with the sign of svastika is marked on it.

Shri Ram walked in holding Rameshwari in her arms, who was about to directly experience the warmth of sunlight. Vasisth was walking beside him, sprinkling ganga jal while reciting Vedic mantras.

Reaching the prepared square, Shri Ram held his daughter up where the rays of sun can touch her and she absorbs their warmth.

"शिवे ते स्तां द्यावापृथिवी असंतापे अभिश्रियौ।
शं ते सूर्य आ तपतुशं वातो वातु ते हृदे।
शिवा अभि क्षरन्तु त्वापो दिव्या: पयस्वती:।।" Shri Ram recited. (May the devlok and prithvi ensure your welfare, may the rays of sun ensure your welfare and infuse the air of purity in your heart. May the holy rivers also ensure your welfare.)

Shri Ram lowered his arms, holding her close to his heart once again.

"Ram, kuch samaye tak Purvbhadra par surya ki kirne padne dena. Isse shishuo ki haddiya shaktishaali hoti hai." Vasisth said.

"Jaisa aap kahe." Shri Ram agreed.

-----

The citizens of Ayodhya had even arisen before the sun today, they were quick to complete their daily chores, while some put a halt on their work.

All were quick to rush to the palace gates, but there they saw an old woman was already waiting.

She was standing with the help of a stick, her body was slouching suggesting some sort of deformation. Just by looking at her they could make out such a body structure would cause immense pain.

But she was smiling and waiting for the door to be opened. She was none other than Damini, the one cursed by Narad Muni but secretly blessed to get the glimpse of her isht-devi.

"Maai, aap hai kaun ?" One person asked.

"Ayodhya ki toh pratit nahi hoti. Kaha se hai aap ?" Another person asked.

"Kanchipuram se hu." She said.

"Kanchipuram ? Dravid rajya wala ?" A person asked.

"Aap itne dur se aayi hai ? Humari Rajkumari ke darshan hetu ?" Some other person asked.

"Aapki Rajkumari ki pratiksha toh mai, sahastro varsho se karti aa rahi hu. Aaj avsar mila hai milne ka. Aaj mujhe mere samast kashto se nivaaran mil jayega." Damini said, tiredness evident in her voice along with enthusiasm of getting free from the curse.

"Ha ha kyu nahi ? Humari Rajkumari, Mahadev ka vardaan jo hai." They said.

Suddenly they all got a glimpse of Shatrughan standing over the fort gate.

"Dwar kholiye Rajkumar !"

"Shigreh dwaar kholiye !"

"Hume Rajkumari se milne dijiye !"

They all pleaded with excitement, unable to contain their happiness.

"Aap sab chinta mat kijiye ! Rajkumari se milne ka avsar sabko milega ! Kripiya ek pankti bana ke khade ho jayiye, Maharaj Ram Chandra ka aadesh milte hi dwaar khol diye jayenge !" Shatrughan said.

The crowd cheered happily and were quick to form a line starting from Damini, and went on till the midway of the city.

The ones standing in front of the line weren't able to contain their happiness, after all they were going to be the first citizens to behold their princess.

But suddenly they all frowned seeing some godly looking men and women, dressed in plain attire, about to break the line and stand before.

"Arrey arrey ruko ! Kaun ho tum sab ?" The citizens asked stopping them from breaking the line.

"Mahendra kehte hai mujhe." The man said, who was in reality Indradev had come in disguise with the rest of the devtas and their devis.

"Toh yaha kyu aaye hai ? Waha dekho. Sab pankti mei khade hai. Aap bhi piche jayiye. Jab aapki baari aayegi tab hi andar jaane milega." One of them said.

"Piche jayu ? Aur mai ? Dekho, tum mujhe jaante nahi." Mahendra said.

"Jaan ke kya karenge ? Aap kya Devraj Indra hai ? Yadi hote bhi toh bhi yeh Ram-Rajya hai, yaha sabhi karya niyam se hote hai. Jayiye, piche khade ho jayiye." Another one of them said.

"Itne dussahas se mujhse mere shatruon ne bhi baat nahi kiya hai." Mahendra said.

"Oh ho ? Itna abhimaan ? Pankti tod ke Rajkumari ko dekhne ko ? Dekho humare jeete jee nahi jaane denge." They said.

"Piche chalte hai Swami, devi ke darshan mei koi bhed-bhaav nahi hota." Devi Sachi whispered to him.

"Uchit hai." He said and walked to back of the line with the rest of the gods following him behind, some chuckling among themselves.

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A/N

Bechare Indradev ko piche khiska diya Ayodhya vaasiyo ne 🤣🤣

And our Damini is here after a long time ✨✨