It was Akshay tritiya, one of the most auspicious days of the year. The cosmos had a lot of reasons to celebrate today, and one more was added this year, the swayamvar of Rameshwari.

Kaushalya, Kaikeyi, Sumitra along with Mandavi, Urmila and Shrutkirti were getting Rameshwari ready, who had an unusual divine glow on her face today.

"Suryavansh ka surya." Ulka commented looking at the princess.

"Lagta hai Aaj chandrama niklega hi nahi." Kaikeyi said.

"Kyu Mata ?" Mandavi asked.

"Humari Rama ka saundarya dekh, Chandra swayam laja ke chhup jaayega." Kaikeyi said.

"Virya shulk ke liye baan chale ya na chale, aaj Kaamdev ke baan awashya chalenge daavedaaro par." Urmila said.

"Mujhe toh bhaye hai ki aaj humari Rama ko dekhte hi sab murchhit ho jayenge." Shrutkirti said.

"Satya mei, aaj toh Ram-suta ke tej ke aage samast sansaar ka har rang fika lag raha hai." Sumitra said.

"Bas karo tum sab. Rama ko kudrishti lag gayi toh ?" Kaushalya said and then puts a dot of kohl behind her ears to protect her from any evil eye.

Rameshwari just kept smiling as she looked herself in the mirror, her long and dark tresses were beautifully braided and adorned with ornaments and fresh flowers, who's fragrance pervaded in the entire. She was looking as resplendent and radiant as the rising sun.

"Samrat aur unke anuj, aane ki icchuk hai." A Pratihari informed.

"Unhe andar laaye." Rameshwari said standing up, the pratihari nodded and went outside.

Shri Ram, Lakshman, Bharat and Shatrughan entered the room and stopped in their tracks the moment their eyes fell on Rameshwari, all decked up in the bridal attire.

Rameshwari went towards her father, bent down to touch his feet but he stopped her out of affection.

"Aaj nahi Pitashree. Aaj mujhe aapke inn Shri charano ko sparsh karne de." She said and touched his lotus feet never the less, seeking his blessings.

Shri Ram looked at her with a smile, his eyes moistened with tears. He cupped the face of his daughter and kisses her forehead.

Tears were brimming in the eyes of her uncles also, who were now realising how big their little niece had gotten. To them it felt like only yesterday when they had first seen her, losely wrapped in a white cloth, in the arms of Shri Ram.

"Chale Ramey ?" Shri Ram asked, and Rameshwari just smiled and nodded.

Holding her hands like he always did in childhood, he went outside with her and rest followed behind them. They all left to go to the stadium which was constructed specially for the Swayamvar of Rameshwari.

All the contenders from all around the world had already gathered there, some desiring to just see Rameshwari, others desiring to witness the evident union while some had come as they desired to obtain a woman as glorious as Rameshwari as their wife.

If there was someone who wasn't present at the venue, it was Mrunmaye. He was still in Shripuram, it was Akshay tritiya, the day his parents wanted to get liberated from their lives.

Standing amidst the flowing river, Mrunmaye poured their ashes in the river after doing the final rites. With a stoic face, he came out and looked at Shaurya-shakti, from whose eyes tears kept falling.

Mrunmaye smiled sadly at him as he kept his hand over Shaurya's shoulder.

"Mere jaane ka samaye bhi agaya hai Shaurya. Mere iss avatar ki leela sampoorn hoti hai." He said.

"Jaanta hu." Shaurya Shakti said.

"Meri iccha hai ki iss deh ka antim sanskar tum karo." Mrunmaye said.

"Mujhe aisa dand kis baat ka de rahe hai ? Maine toh keval aapki sewa ki hai bade bhaiya." Shaurya-shakti said sobbing.

"Yeh dand nahi hai mere bhai. Isse antim sewa maan lo." Mrunmaye said.

Shaurya-shakti looked at him and then hugged him tightly one last time. Mrunmaye smiled sadly patting his head. The avatar of Kaal-shakti looked at the avatar of Yuddheswar and wiped his tears.

"Mai apna kartavya nibhayunga. Aur shigreh aapki sewa mei punah Chaitanya Lok mei upasthit ho jayunga." Shaurya-shakti said.

Mrunmaye nodded with a smile, before going to a tree, and sitting under its shed, in a meditative posture, to liberate himself from this material body and attain his true divine form.

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A/N

I felt very very very sad writing this~

But be happy cause you're gonna get two more updates today ✨