Bharata stormed into the palace fuming like foliage in a forest ablaze, as the dispersed yet clubbed clouds of his feelings sublimed into anger. He walked towards his mother's chambers, barely sabotaging an outburst. Immediately thereafter, a fearful yet concerned Mandavi followed, most certainly aware of the extent of her husband's anger and that her mother-in-law would have to face the brunt of the hurricane that was to rake. As she walked down the corridors towards the room, loud and anger-stricken voices helped her imagine the heated exchange that went on, in. Peeping from the side of the door, she witnessed mother and son bickering bitterly.
"How could you, mother?" Bharata demanded "Bhaiya loved you like he loves his mother Kaushalya, if not more. And what did you do, you sent him into the forests for 14 long years? How could you cast away someone whose love for you is beyond everything else in this world, oh mother? How can you be so heartless?"
"My son, i did it for you! I wanted you to be the king!" Kaikeyi reasoned guiltlessly and Bharata would have called that shamelessness that moment.
"You should have known that i would never sit on the throne, not until Rama bhaiya is alive, have you lost all sense of reason? And you weren't even moved by your dying husband's longing for his son, were you? Ah, i am sorry, not your husband, my father, my helpless father whose peerless love for his son and that for you, an impudent and thankless woman rendered him lifeless. Alas, the word he gave you cost him his very life!" A spurt of words from him and Kaikeyi lowered her gaze, finally able to see the light of the day but Bharata was not satisfied. He wanted more, he wanted to lash out at her, wanted to punish her for her misdeeds but Mandavi walked in right in time, unafraid.
"Come, come with me, arya!" She took his hand and led him to his own chamber and he didn't object, not for a second as he willingly walked alongside.
Once there, Mandavi stared right into his eye.
"Aryaputra, do not let yourself be crushed to pulp under the unbearable burden of your emotions. Let your heart out!"
As though he had been just waiting for her to beseech him thus, Bharata started to sob and cry, overcome by deep, unfixable remorse. Mandavi embraced him and placed his head gently upon her shoulder and let him cry as he started to curse himself, fate and his mother.
"My mother, her behaviour puts me to shame! And she tells me she did it for me? She brought me into this world and she doesn't know me at all? Doesn't she know that i have no unhealthy desire for that accursed crown? And even if i did, she didn't have to do this, banish my elder brother and his wife and thrust them into the vulnerabilities of a jungle. She literally brought about the death of my father, Mandavi! I hereby state that i do loathe the very blood that my heart pumps because it is hers and i have nothing save hate for her in my heart." Said Bharata, anger and disgust dancing in his eyes.
"Do not say so, my lord! "Came Mandavi's voice, soaked in patience "It is not hate, no, neither hate nor disgust but it is the rusted blow on the high reverence you hold for your mother that has you suffering thus. You do not hate your mother, arya nor does she fail to understand you. It is just her ambitions and the love she has for you that supplies ample excuses to support each one of her actions."
"Love? What kind of love is this? Love is known to be unconditional and it indisputably doesn't drive one out of his/her mind!" Bharata frowned.
"Her love was adulterated, my lord. Adulterated by her accomplices, her attendants, people who planted the saplings of envy within her heart and she was unsuccessful in checking their growth. Her heart is now like a field that is infested with pests and weeds and the confrontation you just had hopefully would free her off all the ill feelings she has for Rama bhaiya and purify her mind. However you must also understand that love was one of the reagents that dragged her into this." For not a moment did Mandavi lose her calmness as she explained it all to him.
"You are right, my dear and i feel that in a way i too am responsible for everything, everything that has happened. Will bhaiya and sita bhabhi ever forgive me? Perhaps, i have lost the right to call them that! Will i be able to face Lakshmana as he in protectiveness for his bhaiya and maa would look sceptically at me? I would probably die a million times to that one look he gives me, oh raghukulvadhu. And what about Urmila, how would i greet her every morning knowing well that i caused her separation from her husband and didi? More than mata, i am to be blamed for all that is happening, i caused the death of my father, the departure of my brothers and bhabhi who is in every way a loving elder sister to me, i am to be blamed for i was away and i neglected all of those scornful feelings and never bothered to look back until now. I wasn't able to look through the conspiracy of sending me away so that my mother could send Rama bhaiya into exile and here i stand today, wounded and distraught for i am powerless against the wants of cruel fate." Bharata was nearly in tears as guilt was internally corroding his soul.
"It is in no way your fault therefore stop accusing your own self. Neither should you grieve over the demise of your illustrious father, nor should you penalize yourself for causing the exile. It is nobody's fault my lord, as you put it, it's all fate! Let justice be served, arya. The one above all, Lord Shiva is the one who does everything and is responsible for everything. We are like the actors in a play as he directs us in accordance with the script that has come out of his own artistic instincts and so let us just be actors. Understanding that your mother is not entirely at fault, seek her forgiveness for your words to her were harsh and hitting and also that of your brothers and sister-in-law. "Nothing was to affect Mandavi's composure as she consoled and commanded him.
"But how, Mandavi? Do i really have the courage to confront those two men, radiant like the very sun, clad in barks of trees? Will i be able to look at Janak putri who would be decked in flowers, giving up on all her priceless ornaments? "Bharata questioned his capabilities, thoroughly embarrassed.
"You will be, my lord. I have faith in you! Besides, you haven't done anything wrong. I'm sure they'll clasp you to their bosoms and welcome you whole-heartedly and when they do, ask them to come back!" Exclaimed Mandavi, her face lighting up with a smile.
And for the sake of a thousand smiles like that one, Bharata resolved that he would go and get his Rama bhaiya back.
~
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah
Tum Se Tum Tak
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