Shri Ram had stopped crying and composed himself, as he looked at the kingdom from the balcony of Rameshwari's room, with her in his arms.

"Praja ke sukh hetu, Sitey-Maa ko mujhse dur rehna hoga putri." He said.

"Aisa sukh toh sahi nahi hai. Kya Praja ko dandit nahi karna chahiye ?" She asked innocently.

"Nahi Ramey." Shri Ram said.

"Par kyu ?" Rameshwari asked.

"Accha batao, jab Shatrughan chacha ne tumhari kheer kha li thi, tab tum kiske paas aayi thi ?" He asked.

"Aapke paas." She said.

"Jab tumse Lakshman chacha ke angvastra par rang lag gaya tha aur woh krodhit ho gaye the, tab tum bhaag ke kiske paas aayi thi ?" He asked.

"Aapke paas." She said.

"Aur jab Bharat chacha se tumhara khilona tut gaya tha, tab tum kiske paas aayi thi ?" He asked.

"Aapke paas." She said.

"Tumhare jeevan mei koi bhi kasht hota hai, tab tum mere paas hi kyu aati ho ?" Shri Ram asked.

"Kyuki aap Pitashree hai." Rameshwari said slightly tilting her head.

"Aur yadi tumhe Pitashree ke karan hi koi kasht pahuche, toh tum kiske paas jaogi ?" He asked.

And she became silent, not having an answer to this question.

"Pitashree ke baad toh koi nahi hai." She said.

"Thik uss hi prakaar, praja ke Pitashree unke Maharaj hote hai. Unhe jo bhi kasht ho, woh apne Maharaj se jaa ke kehte hai. Aur yadi Maharaj ke karan hi praja ko kasht ho, toh woh kiske paas jayenge ? Iss liye ek Raja ka pratham kartavya hai ki woh Praja ki prasannata sadev sunishchit kare chaahe iske liye use kuch bhi karna pade." He explained simply so she can understand.

"Kintu yadi praja Maharaj ke prasannata ke baare mei na soche toh ? Kya laabh fir ?" Rameshwari asked.

"Maharaj praja se waise hi prem karta hai jaise ek Pita apni santaano se. Aur Ramey, laabh-haani toh vyapaar mei dekha jata hai. Prem mei nahi." He said.

Rameshwari looked at him a little uncertain, for she was caring only about him out of her love, and he knew it.

"Ramey, mai jaanta hu ki tum praja par krodhit ho kyuki tumhe apni Pitashree ki chinta hai. Kintu mai keval tumhara Pitashree nahi hu. Mai ek Raja hu Ramey, samast Kosal-desh meri santaan hai." Shri Ram said.

He took her little hand in his big one, and looked at her with a smile.

"Aur iss liye tum praja se krodhit na hona, kyuki tum bhi keval meri putri nahi, apetu praja ki Rajkumari ho. Tumhare liye bhi Praja ka sukh mere sukh se upar hona chahiye. Tumhare liye praja ka kalyaan sarvopari hona chahiye. Yahi Raj-dharma hai putri, jiska palan unn sabko karna padta hai jinke paas Rajya ka bhaar ho." He said.

"Uchit hai Pitashree." She nodded understanding.

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A/N

And we say life of kings were easy... At least not for the Indian ones who ardently followed Raj-dharma ✨