"Maa..."

One year old Akshaya kumara cried shaking Mandodhari's bangles. But she didn't respond to him.

"Akshay... Don't disturb mother..." Said Athikaya and picked up his baby brother while the kid started to play with his long heavy hair.

Mandodhari glared them. They were Ravana's sons. Athikaya got his heavy black hair and chocolate brown colour from his father while Akshaya kumara inherited Ravana's thin lips and sharp nose.

Athikaya sighed. He was really sad for Mandodhari's plight. Even though she wasn't his real mother, Queen of Lanka considered him as her own son.

A sudden swift wind put out the fire which was burning on the gigantic lamps of the palace. The only one light remainded reflected the golden decorations of the wall in entire room.

Mandodhari heard that strong footsteps.
She raised her head from the pillow. Through that dim yellow light she looked him.

A pair of large eyes with numerous eyelashes... Perfect eyebrows resembling a bow...

"Ravana..." She murmured.

"No maa... I am Meghnad... I am back"

Mandodhari gasped. She wiped her tears and rubbed her eyes.

It was Meghnad. Her first born.

"Aayushman bhava putra... (Long live my son)" She said placing her hand over his head.

Meghnad smiled. "You misunderstood me as father, didn't you?"

Mandodhari couldn't smile back.

"It's alright maa... Many people do the same... I am exactly looking like pithasree..."

His voice was filled with pride. Mandodhari remembered that five year old boy, smiling at her carrying 'Chandrahasa' in his hands and asking the same question.

'Maa... I am looking like father, aren't I?'

Mandodhari embraced him tightly. He was back after five long years.

The boy who left his palace at the age of twelve to study sword fight and archery from Shukacharya now grown into a seventeen year old fearsome warrior. From Ravana and from other messengers she heard that he became an expert in different celestial weapons and magical war techniques.

But his resemblance with his father was unbelievable.

Meghnad's eyes exactly matched with Ravana's. His hair was a little curly than his father's. Lips and jawline were the same. Only difference is that his skin complexion was more lighter. A creamy colour, just like Mandodhari's.

"If you wear a beard, then I swear no one can distinguish you and father..." Said Athikaya with a smirk while Meghnad laughed and hugged him.

Akshaya kumara stared at that stranger.
At that moment only that child gained Meghnad's attention.

Mandodhari smiled. "Your little brother... Akshaya kumara..."

Meghnad couldn't believe what he heard.
His eyes became wet due to happy tears.
He hugged the child tightly.

"My brother... Younger than sixteen years..."exclaimed Meghnad kissing on his cheeks.

Suddenly Meghnad remembered that his mother was crying when he entered but before he could ask something he felt his father's presence.

"Welcome back to home, my son... Meghnad..."

Before he could bend to gain his blessings he was tightly embraced by Ravana, his father.

"Pithasree..."

Ravana cupped Meghnad's face.
"I heard about your valour my son... I heard about your smartness. I know you will be the pride of this golden Lanka..."

Ravana laughed in joy. Mahadev gave him three princes. They will help him to be the emperor of this whole world...

"Come on... I want to admire your skills..."
Said Ravana but was stopped by Mandodhari.

"Before that you have to answer me... Ravana..."

Ravana glared Mandodhari with fury filled eyes. He knew what she meant.

Athikaya indicated Meghnad to follow him and both silently walked out of the chamber with Akshaya kumara.

The absence of her children gave a great relief to Mandodhari. Otherwise it would be really hard to speak about their father's nasty deed in front of her teenager sons.

"How could you behave like that Ravana? You are the only reason for her suicide..."

Ravana nodded. The arrogance reflected on his face gave Mandodhari suffocation.

"Vedhavati... She was a heavenly beauty..."

Mandodhari couldn't control her sobs. The picture of a lady burning her self in the fire pierced her mind.

She was familiar with her husband's illegitimate relationships. She suffered it all silently. Athikaya was his illegitimate son, but Mandodhari didn't mind that. She raised him like Meghnad and considered his mother Dhanyamala as her own sister.

But this time, everything was different. Ravana forcefully tried to make Vedhavati obey for his greedy mind. He shattered her purity. She couldn't bear that and decided to end her life.

But before that she cursed him.

'The reason of your death will be a lady...'

"You can't escape from her cause Ravana... You have to pay for that..."

Ravana laughed like mad. He hold her hand and made her sit on his lap.
Mandodhari tried to move away but his grip was strong.

"Really! Do you think anyone in this world can defeat the mighty 'Lankesh Ravana '... You have to believe your husband my dear wife... Stop worrying about that silly curse..."

Mandodhari bit her lower lips. She wished to end her painful life by a dagger at that moment.

Ravana was being more and more overweening and immoral day by day...

She tried her best to correct his path but miserably failed.Meghnad's worship for his father's self pride scared Mandodhari the most. She was losing her son... Her son may be another Ravana...

With an aching heart Mandodhari remembered the Ravana for whom she fell in love. He was arrogant at that time also but there were a lot of difference.

He loves her with a passion,she had no doubt in it. And that made her weak. That made her stay with him.

Mandodhari loved her husband... No, she still love him the most...That's why she was afraid.

'She can't lose him... She can't lose her love...'

I know all of you are waiting for Lakshman's story but I am sorry I can't move on with out this chapter...
The upcoming one will be focused on the royal family of Ayodhya...