The distance kept smoothly decreasing, as the ladies proceeded while humming numerous devotional songs. They used to stop every evening at a nearby place and took rest in temporarily made tents, coz the mother-in-laws were very protective regarding girls health. They fed them fresh fruits and juices sometimes even from their hand. The young ladies felt privileged.
It was just one day left to reach the Somnath temple. In the routine schedule they had their meals and further were sitting around a bon-fire. The old ladies were reciting some great stories and incidents of various Lords and Kings in order to imbibe the best values in those unborn infants.
When the story ended, all of them moved to their respective tents. Two big tents were arranged one for the elderly queens and one for the young sisters. As they got up to move after the girls approached their tent, mothers proceeded for their. Shrutkirti kept standing at the entrance of their tent. She observed her Mother-in-laws and then looked back to her sisters, there was no single inch of emotion of warmth less in them. She had seen these mothers sharing happiness, becoming support in sorrows and had always amazed on the balanced relation they maintain.
She carried her curiosity in her bright eyes and made her way to mothers' camp.
Shrutkirti stood on the porch and asked, "Mata may I come in?"
Kaikeyi was arranging some glasses she turned her face and replied, "Ofcourse dear! Come. You want something."
Shrutkirti: No just"was just feeling like to talk.
All the three mothers smiled broadly they made her sit on the bed and sat around her. They adored the glow she carried on her face.
Sumitra: yes sweety, we are your ears, had something special?
Shrutkirti: Umm yeah kind of, Mata you won't mind me asking you a little personal question?
Sumitra: Not at all beta.
Shrutkirti: Mata we spend time together, love each others company as we have shared it since childhood. We were sisters and now sister-in-laws, But---
Kaushalya: Don't hesitate sweety, you may ask your mother anything.
Shrutkirti: How did you three manage the relation you had, that too so beautifully???
Her question brightened their eyes, they exchanged soft smiles while her sisters too approached them, Maandvi raised her eyebrows and uttered, "KIRTI, what kind of question is that."
Kaikeyi: No no Maandvi, don't interrupt her. This is the best quality of all you sisters that you don't keep your questions to yourself. I know its credit goes to Rajrishi Janak ji. So if you all also wish you are most welcome come and sit here.
The three were a bit hesitant on entering, this question was not new to them, they had thought of it since long but for Ayodhya's maryada they kept silence on this topic.
Stars twinkled brightly and wind went slow, the clear dark blue sky indicated that all were quiet to listen to their Maharanis, who had never told much about their relationship. All ladies sat in a circle. The young girls were made easy through Mothers soothing gesture, they sat with curious eyes and Kaushalya took the charge to start.
Kaushlya: See girls I understand you all may have found our relation a little mystic. Reason being that you have never seen such relations in your life, Mithila's culture has been quite different to Ayodhya. And our sons also did not adopt the culture of polygamy. If I say that we are proud of them for this, it might indicate that somewhere we were not happy with Maharaj Dashrath and his ideologies, which is certainly not true. We have seen this custom before our marriages also and thus for a king like Maharaj Dashrath it was absolutely fine. But yes I would say that we are proud of our sons because you all wanted them to remain in monogamy and they respectfully accepted it. Similarly girls Swami once asked me also that do I have a problem with this system, and just stated that till the time you find this custom worthy I won't disrespect it.
Sumitra: and we could feel it since our very first day. The amount of love and warmth we got from Kaushlya jiji is in itself evident for her polite and positive nature.
Kaikeyi: True Sumitra! Jiji never made us feel that she is the first queen and hence the most powerful and important one. It me who was the most ambitious one, be it due to my upbringing or whatsoever; but I understood after my marriage that sacrifice is needed in every relation. Who would understand it better than you guys, you have so easily proved the best way of strengthening any relation. You know one thing, one fact was very openly discussed among us that I was most dear to Maharaj. (lowering her eyes she continued) and he even got the punishment to do so... to love me so much.
(Sumitra kept her hand over Kaikeyi's and comforted her with a nod.)
Kaikeyi: Haah! You know girls, I was the only daughter of my father with my seven brothers. I always wished for a sister & post our marriage I got one elder sis and in sometime only I was blessed with a younger one too in the form of Sumitra.
Urmila: That's so sweet Mata! but was this sisterly relation maintained without any envies? I mean don't get me wrong, but as sisters even we used too fight sometimes...
Kaikeyi: yes dear, you are correct, we too had many problems.. but.. with Maharaj (laughs). The best part of our relation was this only I guess; whenever I had an argument jiji used to make me aware of Swami's particular choice, his likes and dislikes...
Sumitra: Till the time one doesn't go selfish for only his/her benefits, comfort and name; the relations are maintained with utter beauty and ease.
Kaushalya: and then above all we were women. We understood each other the best, we could feel other's problems. Just the way you four remain with each other. Many times looking at you makes us feel back to those good old days! We have got four daughters in the form of daughter-in-laws!! I always wished to have a baby girl, and so I was blessed with one,
(Kaushalya's eyes went lost in a corner, she continued)
Her birth was like a boon to all of us. She brought jolliness to our days and nights. Such an admirable, mature girl was she, but her destin"y"(her voice broke) well all I know is, she was all capable of fighting with any circumstance.
Sita: Yes Mata, our Shanta didi is very brave. She even preached us, how to be an ideal wife!
Sumitra: No doubt!
Sumitra pacified Kaushalya and escaped her from going weak.
Kaushalya faced Shrutkirti, "You were asking about the balance no, they were my biggest support in that fateful time! What more could I ask for?" she smiled pleasingly.
The girls lowered their heads, not in shame but in respect of these worthy, the three queens of Ayodhya!
Kaikeyi: I would say the best phase of our lives started when our sons came in our life. Daughters, once you will become mothers...then you shall understand it's a whole new life.
Maandvi: yes Maa, we can assume it by the way all your sons respect you three in together. We were too mesmerised by it. Your love is same for them! Infact this is one of the biggest reasons we got confused on your bonding, but positively! Right Didi?
Sita: Absolutely! May I say one more thing Maa...
Kaikeyi: sure darling.
Sita: Who actually needs to go to a pilgrimage, when one has Mothers like you!
Three of the ladies were touched by their respect. They made the girls sleep there itself in their laps that night. They recollected all the good and bad memories of their life and stated that this is another amazing phase of life as they are going to be Grand mothers!!!
Next day they again started for their journey and reached Somnath Temple!
The girls were grateful to Lord Shiva for blessing them with such awesome In-laws!
Young ladies took a leave from there and left for Mithila with Sumanta ji while the mothers were residing there for some more days!
Next Part highlights:
Back in Ayodhya...
S: After so long all we brothers are together no Bhaiya!
B: Yeah Shatru...
R: We were never away Shatru, you know in these 14 years we had seen so many pairs of brothers and everywhere I could proudly state that I am blessed with the best Anujs.
L: and we are blessed with the best Jyesht!
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Hope you liked this part!
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