Gajendra, Aditya Varma and Bhavani travelled to many villages and towns in Mahishmati on a whirlwind tour. They met the people. They saw their lives. They heard their concerns. They had to skip a few places where the local administrators was inimical. They passed on the word through local scouts, bards, temple dancers and folk singers. The news spread like wildfire to all corners of Mahishmati.

Bhagiradhi and Mrithyunjay also joined them along with their troop of soldiers. They had done everything they could in the few days they had in preparing for a possible confrontation. Now was the time to wait for the ultimate results.

All of them halted at the outskirts of the capital of Mahishmati in a cottage within the woods. The next morning, they were going to march into the capital. The sentries were posted to keep watch.

Gajendra stood on the terrace looking at the night sky. Bhavani joined him holding two glasses of milk. She said, "Turmeric milk. Akka gave this to me. It helps a good night's sleep."

Gajendra confessed, "No, I'd rather not have it. I won't be able to sleep this whole night."

She set the tray with both the glasses on the parapet wall skirting the terrace. The milk sat there untouched and unnoticed. Bhavani breathed in the cool night air. She said, "I love vast and open spaces like this."

"Yes, I know ", he replied. "Closed places make you feel claustrophobic. You love mountains and places where you can breathe freely."

"Tomorrow, Mahishmati is also going to feel what I feel at this moment."

"I wish I could be so sure like you, Bhavani. What if.."

She placed a finger over his mouth, "Hush! All of us came so far believing in you. You must just learn to believe in yourself.

She extended her hand towards him. He caught hold of it. She exclaimed, "Have you ever counted how many stars are there in the sky? One, two, three..."

"No, you missed it. We were at ninety-nine near that star", he corrected her.

She placed her hands on her hips and pouted, "No, I am not. You're wrong. We were near that star not this. This is star ninety-eight."

"No, Kshatrani", he playfully slapped her back. "That is star ninety-seven. The next one is ninety-eight. This one is ninety-nine. You're very weak at math just like Gurukul."

Bhavani made faces at him and turned back, "Ha! Ha! Ha! Very funny."

"Bickering again?" Mrithyunjay said who joined both of them on the terrace. He shook his head in exasperation looking at both the youngsters. "I sometimes wonder if both of you are friends."

Bhavani blushed a beet red while Gajendra looked abashed. He explained, "We were just star gazing."

"I can see that", he chuckled. "By the way, that's one thing both of you have in common with your Akka and me, star gazing."

"What do you do?" Bhavani asked out of curiosity.

"Err...We discuss dreams", Mrithyunjay replied looking a bit disconcerted.
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In the palace,
The news had reached the ministers and the noblemen of Mahishmati that Gajendra Baahubali had come back. They had all been maneuvering till now to capture the throne and declare themselves the king in the event of Maharaj Subahu's death. 

They convened secretly to discuss what their next course of action should be. An elderly courtier among them said, "This throne never rightfully belonged to us. It belongs to the children of Mahendra Baahubali."

"Mahendra Baahubali abdicated the throne before leaving. His children can't come now and stake a claim to the throne after so many years. Maharaj Subahu is dying. Technically, he doesn't have a successor now. The throne belongs to him who is the strongest", a cocky nobleman spoke.

"The enormous public support Gajendra Baahubali has unsettles me. We would be wise not to mess with him", said another minister.

"His sister, Bhagiradhi and brother-in-law, Mrithyunjay have come to Mahishmati with a substantial army behind them. I also heard that the Prince of Gandhar, Dilipa is a very close friend of Gajendra Baahubali. Let's wait and watch how things play out before choosing our sides", a savvy minister said.

The rest of them agreed to this proposition, "Yes, we will wait and watch before deciding."
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At the cottage,
The night had passed bringing forth a new dawn. Gajendra Baahubali touched the feet of his sister, Bhagiradhi. Two drops of tears dropped from his eyes on either of her feet. She flinched for a moment before she placed both of her palms over his head. She made him rise and cupped his face in her palms. She saw the same brother she had lost years ago. She kissed his forehead.

Gajendra broke down sobbing, "I am sorry, Akka. How can I make up for the hurt and pain I have caused you?"

Bhagiradhi shook her head and drew him to her heart. Mrithyunjay, Bhavani, Aditya Varma and Sanga Amma felt their cheeks becoming wet on witnessing this reunion of two siblings who had been cruelly parted by fate but found their way into each other's lives and hearts.

All the streets and avenues of the capital were overflowing with people from all parts of Mahishmati. They had been standing on the sidewalks since midnight itself. The women had drawn colourful and intricate patterns of Rangoli throughout the passage. Flowers were strewn on the path. Cries of 'Long Live Gajendra Baahubali' and 'Bhagiradhi Devi ki Jai' were heard in spontaneous, intermittent spells, throughout.

All the ministers and noblemen stood outside the palace with flower garlands in their hands to welcome Bhagiradhi and Gajendra Baahubali. They had seen the overarching public sentiment in favour of the siblings and voluntarily accepted defeat.

Gajendra Baahubali offered his outstretched hand to his sister. She walked along with him on the streets of Mahishmati. She looked at her people and then at her younger brother. The smile on her lips reached her eyes just the way Gajendra had visualized a countless number of times in his imagination.

Mrithyunjay, Bhavani, Aditya Varma and Sanga followed behind them. Their soldiers marched behind them in unison. The ministers garlanded both of them and placed their turbans beneath their feet unanimously accepting their authority. The war had been won without shedding a single drop of blood.

Bhagiradhi drew a deep breath. Her chest constricted and her eyes closed as she dwelt on every single syllable she uttered, "Jai Mahishmati!"

Her vow, her penance, her dream had reached its home. She raised her right arm as she repeated, "Jai Mahishmati!"

All the people chanted behind her, "Jai Mahishmati!"

Their chests were puffed up with pride and fervour. It echoed from each tiny nook and corner of the capital and reverberated within every single heart. Tears streamed from Bhagiradhi's eyes, her throat choked with emotion, and her voice cracked as she said, "Jai Mahishmati!"

Mrithyunjay wiped his tears as he said to himself, "It seems like an age listening to your voice."

Bhagiradhi's nose was scrunched up and her eyes were drawn into one big question mark as she looked towards Mrithyunjay, "Did you say something?"

Mrithyunjay happily shook his head smiling between his tears. He repeated after her, "Jai Mahishmati!"

Maharaj Subahu wasn't dead but nobody was unconcerned about that technicality. For all practical purposes, he had ceased to exist in their minds in any form, either as fear or hate.

An old man, bent and doubled up in age, slowly rose up and voiced the tricky question that had been running in the minds of everyone present, "Who is going to be our ruler? Bhagiradhi Devi or Gajendra Baahubali? I personally cannot choose between both of them. Choosing one would be doing an injustice to the other's contribution and selfless service."

Bhagiradhi greeted the people of Mahishmati, "This daughter of Mahishmati bows before the love that you bear towards me and my brother. I will make this choice easier for all of you. There is just one choice and it is Gajendra Baahubali. I renounce my claim to the throne. It was the rat race to prove oneself worthier and better-fitted for the throne that drove two brothers apart. It was the quest to stake personal ownership of the kingdom and prove one's sense of belonging that has been the bane of this kingdom. I do not want the same for me or my brother. Mahishmati belongs to every person who will strive for its betterment. I did not take an active part in the fighting. My brother fought for the freedom of this kingdom. I see my late father's goodness in my brother, Gajendra Baahubali. If all of you concur with my opinion, I believe that he will make a good ruler."

This was an unexpected development. The tumult and whispers grew louder and noisier. Gajendra Baahubali stood up with his hands folded. He made an impassioned speech, "I am sorry Akka. I don't agree with you. There should never be a single choice for any kingdom. What if that single choice goes wrong? The people would be left with none. We have something that the previous generations didn't have. I have you and you have me to correct each other if we ever falter at the altar of our duty. This throne and this power are forever tainted for me. I will serve my people but I can never rule over them. I see you as its wise and enlightened ruler. You might have never wanted power but Mahishmati needs you. You saved a dream from shattering. I might have fought. We might have all fought. But you started the spark of this rebellion. If you did so much for us during times of turbulence, how much more can you do for us in times of peace? Akka, adorn the throne of Mahishmati and be our queen."

He bent down on his knees before Bhagiradhi. She paused for a moment. She hesitated and wavered on the brink between acceptance and rejection. She glanced at her little brother before her and at her people. She exhaled as she said, "If this is what everyone wants, I accept it. Mee mate naa sasanam! (Your word is my law!)"

The people cheered loudly as they chanted, "Maharani Bhagiradhi Devi ki Jai!"