PRATIKOP (Wrath)

Chapter 11

"How was your trip, Rajmata?" Maharaj Jagadeesan asked as Rajmata Vilasvati returned to the palace and was immediately summoned by him.

She understood that Jagadeesan was aware of where she had been and why.

"It was necessary for the wellbeing of the kingdom." She replied sternly.

"How much you worry for the kingdom!" Jagadeesan said with a smile.
"Kintu iss aayu mein itni cinta sehat ke liye hanikarak hai. Aab samay aa gaya hai ki aap sari cintay chodkar, iswar ke bhakti mein leen ho jaye.

(But at this age, so much worries are harmful for your health. Time has arrived for you to leave all these worries and instead immerse yourself in the devotion of God.)"

Rajmata Vilasvati frowned at her grandson as he loudly called his wife.

"Nivedita?"

As a clueless Maharani Nivedita arrived, he addressed her while staring at his grandmother.

"Pitamahi ke prasthan ki tayyariya karo. Yeh sannyas lekar banbas ke liye prasthan karengi kal.
(Prepare for Pitamahi's departure. She is leaving for the forest tomorrow for penance.)"

Rajmata Vilasvati's eyes widened before she angrily shouted at him.

"Jagadeesan! Tum mujhe niskasit nehi kar sakte! (You cannot exile me!)"

Maharani Nivedita watched them in surprise. Jagadeesan remained unfazed by his grandmother's anger and took a step closer to her before whispering,

"Jo aapne kiya hai, use rajdroh kehte hai. Nirnay aapka hai. Ki aap samman ke saath rath pe birajaman hoke niskasit hona cahengi, yeah aapne pairo ke sahare yatra aarambh karengi.
(What you have done is called treason. Now the decision is yours. You want to go in a chariot honorably or you will start your journey by foot only.)"

***

"His hands are so strong! Look, Arya!"  Rajkumari Viswa exclaimed as she showed Rajkumar Kashyap the little hands of the first of their second eldest son, Ranadhrist. His hands were clutching his mother's finger tightly as he stared at her with mouth agape.

The shadow of fear and distress had been chased away with the birth of the triplets. Well, the pots had burst open at the same day, thus making the three triplets!

And Rajkumari Viswa and Rajkumar Kashyap had delightfully welcomed their three sons,

Ranadhrist, Ranak and Vivardhan.

"Yes! Let me look and by that time, you can change Vivardhan's cloth." Rajkumar Kashyap replied eagerly.

Rajkumari Viswa narrowed her eyes at her husband. Did he expect her to change all hundred of their son's soiled clothes alone?

"Why don't you do it? It'll be good practice. We have ninety six more coming!"

***

"He's so cute! What's his name?" Rajkumari Jayitra asked, peaking at the baby Raani Yamini held in her arms.

"Prabal." Yamini replied with a broad smile.

"That's a nice name." Rajmata Vilasvati said from behind. Yamini and Jayitra greeted her respectfully before Rajkumari Jayitra took her leave.

"Thank you for supporting me, Pitamahi. It means a lot to me. Because of you, I was able to become a mother." Yamini said gratefully.

"I have done nothing. It's you who has given this dynasty a gem in the form of your son." Rajmata Vilasvati said caressing Dharmesth's head. "But from now on you'll have to look after yourself and your son all alone."