"Yadi, dhani aur nirdhan vyakti mei vivaad ho, aur woh dono Rajya ke nyayalay mei nirnaye ke liye aaye toh mantriyo ko dhan-adi ka lobh chhod kar uss vishaye par vichaar kare aur samadhaan nikale. Pitashree bhi nyayadhisho ko lobh se bachne ki salah dete hai." Rameshwari said.

Luv Kush nodded understanding the discourse that their elder sister had been giving them. Ulka was sitting beside her, ready to write whatever the princess told her to.

"Kya tum dono ko pata hai ki yadi nirdosh ko dand mila toh kya hota hai ?" Rameshwari asked.

"Kya ?" The twins asked.

"Ulka, yeh likho." Rameshwari said.

"Ji." Ulka dipped her quill in the ink, ready to write, as the Ram-Suta looked at her brother.

"Niraparadh hone par bhi jin par mithya aarop laga ke dand diya jata ho, aise vyaktiyo ke netro se jo ashru girte hai woh pakshpaat-purn shaashan karne wale Raja ke putro aur pashuo ka nash kar kardete hai." She told as Ulka wrote it down.

"Satyavachan." A familiar booming voice said.

Everyone stood up in respect as Shri Ram entered the room, a small smile on his face as they all bowed before him.

"Aapne yaha aane ka kasht kyu kiya Pitashree, hume bula liya hota." Rameshwari said.

"Ha Pitashree." Luv nodded.

"Hum aapke paas agaye hote." Kush said.

"Darbar ka karya aaj jaldi samapt huya toh socha ki putro ki pragati dekh lu, aakhir unki jiji kya padha rahi hai unhe." Shri Ram said sitting in front of his kids.

"Parakh lijiye." Rameshwari said confidentally.

"Uchit hai." Shri Ram smiled and then looked at Luv Kush, "Kya tum dono ko meri gatha abhi bhi yaad hai ?" He asked.

"Kanthast !" The twins said, they had remembered the entire history written by their Guru Valmiki by heart.

"Meri gatha mei kaunse teen Rajya, mukhya bhaag mei hai ?" Shri Ram asked.

"Ayodhya, Kiskindha aur Lanka." The twins said.

"Ayodhya mei mujhe, arthat uss samaye ke Yuvraj ko vanvaas mil gaya aur tab ke Maharaj Dashrath swarg sidhaar gaye. Kiskindha mei Sugreev aur Vali ke shatruta thi aur baar baar Raja badle gaye. Aur Lanka mei toh Yudh hi hogaya aur samast Rakshas kul ka naash ho gaya. Toh mujhe yeh batao, aisi bhishan sthitiyo mei bhi, inn Rajyo mei arajakta kaise nahi huyi ?" Shri Ram asked.

Rameshwari smiled knowingly and looked at Luv Kush who pondered for a moment as to why even facing such unstable and difficult situations, there was no anarchy in Ayodhya, Kiskindha or Lanka.

Remembering the discourses given by their elder sister, the answer was quick to come to their mind.

"Mantriyo ke karan !" Luv said.

"Aur Lok sevako ke karan !" Kush said.

The twins looked at their elder sister who nodded with a smile, assuring them that their answer was the right one.

"Satyavachan. Dridh mantriyo aur lok-sevako ke karan Ayodhya, Kiskindha athwa Lanka mei arajakta nahi huyi." Shri Ram smiled, "Mai santusht hu tum dono ke gyaan se." He said causing his sons to smile in delight and satisfaction.

"Aaj Darbar mei kya huya Pitashree ?" Rameshwari asked.

"Samrajya ki aaye par charcha, vyastha se sambandhit kuch naye nirnaye, sadev ki tarah Shravasti ke vikas ki prashansha ki gayi aur...." Shri Ram trailed off, thinking whether to say further or not.

"Aur mere vivah ki charcha ?" Rameshwari guessed.

"Ha. Bahut se vivah prastav aaye hai, Mantrivar bhi keh rahe hai ki tumhari aayu ho gayi hai vivah ki, tumhara kanya daan karne ki iccha toh mujhe bhi hai...." Shri Ram paused looking at her, analysing her expressions, "Kahi mai vridh pita ke bhaati khich-khich toh nahi kar raha ?" He asked, causing her children to chuckle.

"Vridh toh Lakshman chacha hai aap nahi. Aur aap kabhi khich-khich nahi kar sakte. Jaha tak raha vivah ka prashn.... Mai sajj hu." Rameshwari said and looked down.

"Satya ?" A wave of joy swept over Shri Ram.

"Ha Pitashree." Rameshwari nodded with a smile.

"Iska arth hai ki Jijashree se vivah hoga Jiji ka ?" Luv asked.

"Jijashree ?" Shri Ram asked confused.

"Rajkumar Mrunmaye. Wahi premi hai na Jiji ke." Kush said.

"Luv Kush !" Rameshwari exclaimed with heated cheeks.

"Pitashree, Jiji ka vivah kab hoga ?" Luv asked.

"Mai bhi tumhare jitna utsuk hu putra Luv, kintu iska yeh arth nahi ki mai apni Ramey ka haath kisi ko bhi dedu." Shri Ram said.

"Tatparya ?" Kush asked.

"Tatparya, Yadi kisi bhi vyakti ko meri Ramey se vivah karna hai, toh swayamvar ka ayojan mai karunga kintu woh Virya shulk de. Maharaja ho Raja ho, devta ho ya Asur, Gandharv ho ya Yaksh, bina apni veerta ka pramaan diye, koi bhi meri putri se vivah nahi kar sakta. Fir chaahe woh Shripuram-kumar Mrunmaye hi kyu na ho." Shri Ram said.

"Ab Rajkumari Rameshwari jaisi virangana ke liye toh virya shulk na rakhna toh anyaye hai." Ulka said.

"Yadi Pitashree ki yahi iccha hai toh mujhe swikaar hai." Rameshwari said with a smile.

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A/N

For those who are wondering what is Virya Shulk -

From Ramayan Unravelled by Ami Ganatra ✨