Ayodhya was fully decorated like a newly married bride.Houses were having garlands hanging along the entrance,flags were hoisted on the terrace of each house,the ladies were draped in brand new clothes and jewellery,men were busy making arrangements like arranging flowers and eatables for the sages and the guests.
In the Rajmahal,the scenario was the same.Seats were arranged on both the sides of main court.Valuable clothes and other gift articles were ordered for the guests.
Kaushalya wore a green coloured blouse and red coloured saree,with a waistband.Wearing a heavier golden necklace,she wore the nose pin.Finally getting ready she looked in the mirror for checking if anything is missing or not.
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Same went for Sumitra
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And Kaikeyi
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Having a final touch up,all these queens took the Plate of Aarti and descended to the main gate of the palace waiting for their husband and the guests.
They were accompanied by Sumantra, Vasishtha and few Soldiers well armed with Swords and daggers to their waist.Daasis were in the galleries ready with the plates full of flower petals to shower on the guests.
Within a few minutes, Trumpets and counches were blown matching the beats of the drums indicating the arrival of King Dashrath and the guests.
"Maharaj Dashrath ki jaiii!!!!!!!" "Maharaj Romapad ki jaii!!!!!!!" "Maharani Varshini ki jai!!!!!!!!" "Rishi Vibhandak ki jaiiii!!!!!!!!" "Rishi Shrungi ki jaiiiiii"
Whole atmosphere was filled with these slogans.Ayodhya was filled with excitement and happiness.People were showering flowers from their house tops on the guests. All the queens were having tears of happiness on seeing their husband after 9 days.But they had a bit of sadness. Their eyes were searching for Shanta.However due to crowd both the mother daughter couldn't see each other.
As Dashrath and the guests reached at the door steps,the queens applied Tilak on the foreheads of men.Lastly they went to Varshini and togetherly applied Haldi kumkum on each other's forehead.
Sadness appeared on the face of Ayodhya maharanis.Reluctantly they moved backwords but stopped on the spot on hearing a voice and the word they are yearning to hear.
"Maiyaaa!!!!".Shanta had became a child now,who was eagerly waiting for meeting it's mother,so she called out a bit loudly like a child
"Shantaa!!!"All the three queens said together in amusement.
"Maharaj,humne abhi Putri Shanta ka swar suna.Kya wo bhi aayi hai?Kaha hai wo?Jaldi Bataiye Maharaj!!"Kaikeyi was asking This to Dashrath with excited voice.However Dashrath maintained a poker face.
Vibhandak and Shrungi smiled at each other and moved aside making space for Shanta to come forward. Kaushalya's gaze moved from Dashrath to Vibhandak due to his movement but her eyes widened in shock as they saw Shanta. Same was the condition of Shanta.
"Shaa.....t.aaaa",a broken voice escaped from her mouth which was audible for Kaikeyi and Sumitra.
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Looking at her mothers,Shanta couldn't control her emotions.With tearful eyes she ran towards her mothers and hugged them tightly.All three queens were happy after seeing their Daughter.Tears of happiness flowed from their eyes as they tightened their hold on her. Kaushalya asked,"Kaisi hai humari Putri,vivah uprant apni matao ko bhul to nahi gayi na?" Shanta said,"Nahi mata,bahut yaad aati hai aap teeno ki.Lekin Rishivar aur pitashri ne Prem se mujhe swikar liya aur mujhe Ashram ke jeevan ko swikar karne mei kathinai nahi hui." Finally Shanta seperated from them and bend down to touch their feet but was stopped by Shrungi.He said,"Shanta,Vivah ke uprant Matashri ke ashirwad akele nahi,jode se lete hai." Saying this,both of them touched the Queen's feet in pair. All three of them placed their hand on the pair's forehead and blessed,"Sada sukhi rahe." Then Kaikeyi looked towards Dashrath and asked,"Swami,jab humne aapse Putri Shanta ke baare mei poocha tab apne bataya kyu nahi ki wo bhi yaha upasthit hai?" Dashrath replied with naughty voice,"Agar bata dete to aap teeno ke mukh ki prasannata dekhne ko thodi milti hume?Isliye hum sabne ye yojna banayi ki ant tak Shanta ke baare mei koi Kuch na bole.Lekin putri Shanta ke bachpane ne Sari yojna vifal kardi."he ended with disappointment filled voice.
"Yaha humare pran nikle ja rahe the aur aap sabko thhithouli sujh rahi hai!!!"they said angrily to which Dashrath replied, "Maharani,humare sath atithi bhi aaye hue hai,unka uchit prakar se swagat kariye." Washing all the men's feet,the queens welcomed them in the royal palace.
