The night was a long one, Laxman and Urmila were together, rejoicing and waiting for the sun to rise.

"From tomorrow I will be the most busy person in Ayodhya. I probably won't be able to come to you for days, because the worry of the entire Kingdom will be on me." Laxman said.

"Nath, not even the Maharaj will worry so much." Urmila chuckled.

"If Maharaj worries with me being there then what is the point of my existence ? To take away the worries of Maharaj is my duty, from administration to military to economy, I have to be alert in every sphere." Laxman said.

"You forgot one sphere, Soumitra." Urmila said. Laxman looked at her and understood what she meant.

"Beloved Urmila, you are my strength, my consciousness and my inspiration." Laxman said.

"You only play with your words." Urmila said.

"My dear, if Bharat Bhaiya and Shatrughan were here then a little responsibility would've been shared by them also. I'll ask Mata Kaikeyi to call Bharat Bhaiya and Ripudaman from Kekeya tomorrow itself. So I can spend some time with my Urmi." Laxman said and Urmila chuckled.

But false were his hopes, because Kaikeyi was planning something else. In Kopbhavan, she lied in a black saree with her hair tangled and open, all the jewelleries thrown around.

Dashrath after knowing she was in Kopbhavan, came running to his beloved queen. And asked for the reason of her sadness.

"Kaikeyi, what troubles you ? Tell me what can I do to make you happy again ?" Dashrath asked but Kaikeyi ignored him.

"My beloved, I will do anything you ask. I'll even lay down my life if it pleases you." Dashrath said.

"What will I do with your life ? You're forgetful Maharaj, you have forgotten your promise." Kaikeyi said.

"What promise dear ?" Dashrath asked.

"Don't you remember the Devasur sangram ? Where I saved your life ?" Kaikeyi asked.

"How can I forget that ? Since that day my entire life, my each breath is indebted to you." Dashrath said.

"After I saved you life by taking the chariot away from the battlefield with efficiency and took care of your wounds, you had given me 2 vardaans. And asked 'Kaikeyi, ask whatever you want and I shall give it to you' but I had told that I will ask when the time comes." Kaikeyi said.

"Beloved, you don't need those 2 vardaans to ask me anything. I have always fulfilled every desire of yours, haven't I ?" Dashrath asked.

"But I wish to ask for those two boons only." Kaikeyi said.

"Alright fine. Ask." Dashrath said.

"How do I know that you will fulfill it ? How do I know that you won't back away once I ask for it ?" Kaikeyi asked.

"I swear on you dear, I will fulfill it." Dashrath said.

"Is there anyone you love more than me ?" Kaikeyi asked.

"Our dear Ram." Dashrath said.

"So why don't you swear on him ?" Kaikeyi asked.

Dashrath frowned at that, he sensed something was up but it was his duty to make Kaikeyi come out of the Kopbhavan, hence he didn't resent.

"Alright I swear on Ram that I will fulfill those to wishes of yours." Dashrath said.

"Now as you have sworn on your dear son Ram, you have to fulfill my two wishes." Kaikeyi said.

"Ask away dear." Dashrath said.

"My first wish is that Bharat becomes the King of Ayodhya." Kaikeyi said.

Listening to that the eyes of Dashrath widened.

"And my second wish is that Ram should be exiled into the forest for 14 years." Kaikeyi said.

□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
A/N

You know why Dasrath gave Kaikeyi 2 boons ? Why specifically 2 and not more or less ?

In Mahabharat, during Dyut Sabha, even Draupadi only asks for two boon and refrains from third even after insisted by Dhritrashtra.

Yagyaseni said - O supreme among kings! I am not deserving of a third
boon from you. It is said that the vaishya has one boon and a kshatriya
and his wife can have two. O Indra among kings! A king can have three boons and a brahmana one hundred.

A Kshatriya and Kshatrani can only have 2 boons.