Dilip and his wife Aarvi were diligently working on building a thatched hut on the serene banks of the Kshipra river. The sun's rays gently kissed their skin as they constructed their new home brick by brick, their hands moving in perfect harmony.

Having left the ashram of Sandipani, the couple had chosen to build their home near the ancient temple of Mahakaleshwar. Dilip believed that living close to the temple would bring them peace and spiritual fulfillment. Since he had discovered the Jyotirling, he believed the deity should not remain unserved, any longer. Aarvi, with her gentle smile, supported his decision wholeheartedly like always.

As they worked, the sound of the flowing river and chirping birds provided a peaceful backdrop to their labor. Dilip's strong hands expertly weaved the thatched roof, while Aarvi carefully tended to the arrangement of stones for the hearth.

But suddenly the distinct sounds of horses approached. Looking up, they saw a group of men dressed in elaborate attire, armed with bows, riding towards them.

"Kya hume jal mil sakta hai ?" The foremost among them asked humbly.

However, as soon as their eyes fell upon Dilip, they were overcome with astonishment. Hastily dismounting their horses, they rushed towards Dilip and knelt before him in reverence.

"Pranaam Yuvraj !" They bowed.

Dilip gazed at them in surprise for a brief moment, his eyes lingered upon the foremost among them, who was his former charioteer Hemant. A flicker of recognition crossed Dilip's face as he recalled the days of their camaraderie on the battlefield. He reached out to Hemant, pulling him up from his humble position and enveloping him in a warm embrace.

"Sut ! Kaise ho tum ?" Dilip was overjoyed.

Overwhelmed with emotion, Hemant found himself enveloped in Dilip's warm embrace. Tears welled up in Hemant's eyes as he felt the familiar comfort of his master's arms around him. The years apart melted away in that heartfelt embrace.

He said, "Yuvraj, mujhe laga aap mujhe bhul gaye honge."

Dilip chuckled as he looked at Hemant, "Tumhe nahi bhul sakta, Sut. Tumhare saath toh itne yudh lade hai, Jay-parajay, dono mei tum mere saath rahe ho."

Aarvi, with a smile on her face, gracefully approached Hemant, "Laajvati kaisi hai, aryaputra ?" She inquired about the well-being of her sakhi, the one who used to be her chief attendant in the royal household.

Hemant bowed his head in front of her, "Use aapki bahut yaad aati hai, Yuvrani. Sadev aapki hi baat karti hai."

"Kya chal raha hai jeevan mei, mitra ?" Dilip asked.

Hemant said, "Saarthi se Sena Nayak ban chuka hu."

"Sena Nayak ?" Dilip frowned, "Tum toh Maharaj ke saarthi ban sakte the, Sut. Isse tum unka daahina haath ban jaate, fir jin 3-4 logo se woh sadev mantrana karte hai, unme se ek tum ho sakte the."

"Mujhe aapke atirikt kisi ka saarthi banne mei ruchi nahi hai, Yuvraj. Bhale woh Maharaj hi kyu na ho." Hemant said.

Dilip sighed, "Mai Yuvraj nahi hu, mitra."

"Kintu humare liye aap hi Yuvraj hai." Hemant said firmly.

Dilip looked at the men around him, and one of them, with a solemn expression, nodded in agreement and said, "Aapke jaane ke baad, Yuvraj padvi ka keval apmaan huya hai Aryaputra."

"Tatparya ?" Dilip asked.

The man said, "Rajkumar Vinda aur Anuvinda, dono hi Yuvraj pad par baithe hai. Aur sunne mei aa raha hai ki dono hi Maharaj banenge. Jab ek kamaan mei do talvaar nahi reh sakti, toh bhala ek rajya mei toh Maharaj kaise ?"

"Avanti laut aayiye, Yuvraj...." Another man said, "Hume vishwas hai ki Maharaj Jayasen aapko aapka pad sammaan sahit lauta denge."

Dilip, with a solemn expression, shook his head with a heavy heart. He turned away and sat at the threshold of the hut, the men gathered around him, their eyes filled with longing and reverence.

Hemant said, "Kya aap Haiheyakul ka kalyaan nahi chaahte ?"

"Kalyaan chaahta tha iss liye toh adhikaaro ka tyaag kiya hai maine. Parivaar mei kalesh na ho, iss liye toh maine vanprasth jeevan swikara hai." Dilip said.

"Kya aap Mahishmati laut nahi sakte ? Maharaj aapko awashya swikaarenge." One man asked.

Dilip sighed, "Mujhe pata hai. Yadi Mai laut jaayu toh Jyesht prasannata se, mujhe apna Rajpaath sab saup denge. Kintu yeh Vinda Anuvinda ke saath anyaaye hoga."

"Toh swayam ka rajya sthaapit kijiye." Hemant said.

Dilip frowned, "Swayam ka ?"

"Ha. Swayam ka rajya sthaapit kar Rajsuya kariye. Avanti ke Samrat ban jaayiye. Haiheya Samrat ban jaayiye. Isse kisi ke adhikaaro ka hanan nahi hoga." Hemant advised.

Another man said, "Avanti ke sabhi Raja, sabhi samant, aapki sewa mei prasannata se upasthit honge. Yaha tak ki Maharaj Jayasen bhi aapko Samrat ke roop mei dekhna chaahenge, isse unhe aashwasan toh rahega, ki unki Avanti surakshit aur sushaashit hogi."

"Rajya sthaapit karna saral karya nahi hai." Dilip said, "Nagar nirmaan kaise hoga ? Sainik kaha se laayu mai ? Rajsuya ke liye dhan kaha se laayu ? Mujhe toh pata bhi nahi ki Rajya sthaapit karne ke liye kya karna hota hai."

Silence fell over the group as they contemplated Dilip's words. The weight of their request and the realization of the daunting task ahead loomed large.

Hemant sighed, "Pata toh hume bhi nahi, ki rajya sthaapit kaise hota hai..... Kintu Yuvraj, yadi aap bhavishya mei yeh karya siddh karna chaahe... Toh hum sab aapke saath awashya denge."

The men stood up, bowed before Dilip and Aarvi, "Ab hume jaane ki aagya de."

As they reluctantly depart, their glittering attire contrasting with the simplicity of Dilip and Aarvi's surroundings, a solemn aura hangs in the air. Dilip and Aarvi resume their work on the thatched hut, the sounds of the departing horses fading into the distance.

Aarvi's gaze remained distant, lost in contemplation. She recalls the days when Dilip's ambitions burned bright, his desire for power and leadership evident. Now, amidst the humble surroundings by the Kshipra river, she witnesses his internal conflict. Dilip, once the crown prince of Avanti, now torn between his past and present.

"Aap shaashan nahi karna chaahte ?" She asked, breaking the silence.

Dilip looks at her, "Maine kaha na, maine vanprasth jeevan swikara hai."

"Swikar liya hai ?" Aarvi asked.

Dilip frowned, "Tumhe kya lagta hai ?"

"Mujhe lagta hai ki aapne vanprasth ko keval chuna hai. Swikara nahi hai." She said simply.

Dilip's gaze turned away, a mix of emotions swirling in his eyes. The memory of his past aspirations clashed with the peace he was forced to seek in the present moment.

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A/N

Waise yeh baat toh hai ki Rajya nirmaan karna saral nahi hai, badi se badi aur chhoti se chhoti baato ka dhyaan rakhna padta hai.....

Also, Dilip calling Hemant as Sut is to show it wasn't a derogatory word
👁️👁️🔪