The night sky was aglow with the bright lights from the earthen lamps, in Ayodhya. The pale crescent moon shone like a silvery claw in the night sky.

In the brightly illuminated bhavan of Shri Ram, peaceful silence was occasionally enhanced by the giggles of his daughter.

Shri Ram was giving her the daily oil massage, Rameshwari didn't feel the harshness of his firm hands now. She had gotten used to it, and was now enjoying in fully.

He too was feeling blissful, they never got to spend alone time till now, which was rather quaint, he thought as he massaged her legs, so they soon get stronger enough to stand.

"Jab tumhare paer shaktishaali honge, toh tum shigreh khadi hoke chalna seekh jaogi." He said with smile.

When he was finally done with the massage for the night, he picked her up and placed her in her cradle, swinging it.

But right now, there wasn't an ounce of sleepiness in her eyes. She sat straight up in the cradle, making it clear she didn't want to sleep.

"Tumhe Pitashree ki nidra se koi shatruta hai kya putri ?" He asked in jest, making her smile widely.

"Uchit hai. Ek katha sunayu ?" He suggestion, seeing her clap her hands, he took that as a yes.

"Chalo mai tumhe mere Aaradhya Mahadev ki ek katha sunata hu. Unke Natraj avatar ki." Shri Ram said with a smile.

Picking her up in his arms, he took her too the bed. He sat down with his feet up, leaning on the head-board, with her lying comfortably on his chest.

"Sansaar mei Apasmaar namak ek jeev hai jo adhyatmik agyaan aur aalas ka pratik hai. Ek baar uska prakop shrishti par chha gaya tha. Har jagah, agyaan ka andhakar tha. Aur aisi stithi shigreh hi pralay ka karan ban sakti hai." He narrated.

Rameshwari looked at him with her big observant eyes, getting caught in the weave of his tale as he patted her back for her to fall asleep.

"Kintu, Mahadev ke hote huye, yeh sansaar andhakar mei kaise jaa sakta hai ? Yu toh Shiv sangharak hai, kintu woh apne sansaar-rupi santaano ke liye rakshak ban jaate hai. Kintu yaha vidambana yeh thi, ki Apasmaar ka vadh nahi kiya jaa sakta. Jaanti ho kyu ?" Shri Ram asked.

Rameshwari looked at him with her big eyes, mouth slightly parted open. She tilted her head, wanting him to answer.

"Yadi Apasmaar ka vadh kar diya gaya, toh gyaan hetu parishram karne ki awashyakta nahi. Aur koi bhi vastu tab hi mulyavan hoti hai, jab usko praapt karne hetu parishram kiya jaaye. Iss liye agar Apasmaar ka vadh ho jata, toh gyaan ka kya mulya rehta ?" He said.

"Oo..." She muttered.

"Iss karan aisi vipda ko bal se hal nahi kiya jaa sakta tha. Agyaan ko keval gyaan ki parajit kar sakta hai. Iss Mahadev apne Natraj roop mei prakat huye. Nat arthat abhinaye aur nritya karne wala, aur Raj arthat Raja. Iss liye Natraj ka arth hota hai abhinaye, nritya aur kala ke swami athva devta." Shri Ram said.

Rameshwari was finding it hard to keep her eyes open due him patting and caressing her back, but she tried to stay awake for the sake of this punya-katha.

"Natraj ne kala ke bal se, nritya kar, Apasmaar ko apne daahine paer ke niche daba diya. Aur iss prakar sansaar mei agyaan aur gyaan ke madhya santulan sthapit kiya. Mahadev ka yeh adbhut swaroop hume yeh sikhata hai ki agyaan ke andhakar ko keval gyaan ki talwaar hi kaat sakti hai. Aur kala, nritya aur sangeet, manushya ke jeevan se agyaan aur aalas ke andhakar ko dur karte hai." He said.

"Om..." Rameshwari said drowsily, making Shri Ram chuckle.

"Om." He said caressing her head, as she quickly fell asleep.

Shri Ram looked at her, she was finally in deep slumber, comfortably snuggled over his chest. He smiled pulling the duvet over them and then looked at the night sky.

The moon was shining bright, but his moon was away from him tonight. He was really missing his dear wife, waiting eagerly for this night to pass so the morning comes with her.

-----

The morning sun came in Ayodhya, with Devi Sita along with her sister and mother-in-laws. And Shri Ram's mood was lifted that now he was finally getting to embrace his dear wife.

"Meri bina aap ek raatri tak nahi reh sakte." Devi Sita chuckled, as her husband refused to let her go from his embrace.

"Tumhare bina toh mujhe swarg bhi nahi chahiye Sitey." Shri Ram said.

"Jaanti hu." She said with a smile.

"Tum toh aise keh rahi ho, ki mujhe nahi pata ek raatri ka virah tumhare liye bhi kitna kathin raha hai." He said looking at her.

She looked at him, his eyes carrying nothing but love. And this made her blush and then giggle, it was funny to her how her cheeks still become red in his embrace after so many years of marriage the same way they did when he embraced her for the first time.

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A/N

Chalo next chapters se there's gonna have a good old time skip 🌝🌝

So be afraid.... Be very afraid 🌝