Published on:- 7/1/25 [Tuesday]
....

"Kehte hain khuda ne
iss jahan mein sabhi ke liye
Kisi na kisi ko hai
banaya har kisi"

....

In the secluded beauty of ANANG VATIKA [Garden of Love], that belonged to King Abhisaar's royal consorts, where lush gardens bloomed with rare flowers and the air was fragrant with jasmine and sandalwood buzzed with tension.

The moonlight danced on the ornate pillars, but the serenity of the surroundings contrasted sharply with the heated conversation unfolding within the marble pavilion.

Rani Devangana, King Abhisaar's elegant and sharp-tongued first consort/wife, sat at the head of the assembly as her jeweled fingers tapping rhythmically on the armrest of her chair.

Her piercing gaze swept over the other two wives/ royal consorts, as if daring them to challenge her authority.

"Yeh samachar Rajdhara ki Yuvrani ke vishay mein vichalit karne wala hai. Shivaal ne ek jwala jaisi Rajkumari ko hamare rajya mein kyon rakha? Kya uddeshya hai uska?", Rani Devangana began and her tone was icy.

Rani Vasumati, the third wife, known for her calm demeanor but calculating mind, sipped her wine delicately before responding.

"Shayad woh use ek astra ke roop mein upyog karna chahta hai. Rajdhara ab barbad ho chuka hai, aur unki Yuvrani hamare padosi rajyon mein Kundarastra ki prabhutva ko sunishchit karne ke liye ek saadhan ho sakti hai."

Rani Rajmala, the fourth wife, leaned forward as her voice was laced with curiosity and a hint of mischief. "Ya phir, yeh kuch aur bhi ho sakta hai. Kya apne yeh socha hai ki Shivaal ko ush bandi ne sam-mohit kiya ho? Kyunki Wah kabhi bhi daya dikhane wala nahin tha, phir kyon use jeevit rakha hai?"

Rani Devangana's lips curled into a mocking smile. "Sam-mohit? Rani Rajmala, tumhari kalpana bahut vistaarit hai. Shivaal ek yodha aur rananeetik hai. Wah kabhi bhi apni bhavanao ko apne nirnayon mein hastakshep karne nahin deta"

Rani Rajmala countered while her eyes were gleaming, "Ya phir shayad wah ish bandi ko ek chunauti ke roop mein dekhta ho. Ek aisa purush, jo Shivaal jaisa ho, wah hamesha chunauti ke liye tatpar rehta hai".

Rani Vasumati nodded thoughtfully and then responded, "Lekin wah saadharan bandi nahin hai. Wah ek rajya ki Yuvrani hai, jisne humein chunauti di hai. Shayad uska virodh usey akarshit karta ho".

Rani Devangana's expression darkened.

"Mujhe yeh samajh nahi aa raha hai ki Shivaal ne use jeevit kyun rakha hai. Yadi Shivaal ise bandi ko sambhalne mein asafal hota hai, toh yeh Rajdhara ki Yuvrani Kundarastra ke virodhiyon ke liye ek prerna ban sakti hai".

Rani Rajmala said while folding her arms. "Sahi kaha apne didi. Ish bandi ki chunauti do dhari talwar ho sakti hai. Agar Shivaal isey theek se nahin sambhalte hain, toh wah hamare samrajya ke liye ek bada khatra ban sakti hai".

The conversation paused momentarily as a gentle breeze rustled the leaves of the bela trees surrounding the pavilion.

The royal wives exchanged meaningful glances, each assessing the situation with her own agenda in mind.

"Isliye, usey yudh bhumi mein samaapt kar diya jana chahiye tha. Use jeevit rakhna koi samajhdari nahin hai," Rani Devangana concluded in a firm tone.

Rani Vasumati nodded in agreement. "Ya shayad Shivaal usey apni tarah ka ek khel manta ho. Shivaal ko chunauti dena hamesha se hi uska priya raha hai".

Rani Rajmala shrugged.

Rani Devangana rose from her seat, her elaborate silk saree shimmering in the moonlight.

"Tumhare vichar mein kya hum ise nazarandaaz karein? Yadi yeh Bandi hamare samrajya aur hamare bhavishya ke liye khatre ka kaaran banegi, toh hum use nasht karne mein der nahin karenge".

A soft and feminine voice startled three royal consorts.

"Aisi galti mat kijiyega, didi".

They looked back and found the owner of the voice.

"Yuvraj Shivaal hamare rajya ka senapati aur bhavi raja bhi hai. Jo bhi uske raaste mein aayega, woh use kuchal dega. Ye baat sirf Kundarastra nahi, balki padosi rajya bhi jaante hai."

She was Narayani, Maharaj Abhisaar's first concubine, who had come with a third concubine named Gazal.

Rani Devangana asked angrily,
"Tum dono? Yahan kyun aayi ho?"

Concubine Gazal said softly, "Hum dono bas yahan se guzar rahi thi. Ap sabon ko dekha to ruk gayi. Soncha, milte huye chalte hai".

Concubine Narayani said calmly,
"Haan didi. Ap teeno ko dekh kar ruk gaye. Lekin yahan ap sabhi galat vichar kar rahe hai".

Rani Vasumati said in a stern tone,
"Tum dono ko apne kaam se kaam rakhna chahiye".

Concubine Gazal smiled gently and said, "Rani saahiba. Hum sirf aapko bata rahe hain. Yuvraj Shivaal ko humne janam nahi diya fir bhi wo hamare aulad hai. Bilkul Malak aur Hala ki tarah. Unke liye galat nahi sonch sakte".

Rani Devangana rolled her eyes,
"Katha mat sunao. Vishay kya hai?".

Concubine Narayani said softly, yet powerfully, "Rani Devangana, Rani Rajmala aur Rani Vasumati, humne hamesha aapka saath diya hai. Parantu ish baat ko samajhiye, yuvraj Shivaal ki shakti ek samne maharaj bhi kuch nahi kar pate. Maharani bhi Yuvraj Shivaal ko nahi sambhal pati hai. To fir ap teeno kyun Yuvraj se satrutta karna chahti hai?"

All three royal consorts stared hatefully at the both concubines.

"Rani Sahiba! Maharaj ki khamoshi ka apna ek maksad hota hai. Ye baat to sabhi jante hai", Concubine Gazal said. There was a hint in her words.

Everyone understood her words.

Concubine Gazal also said, "Humari baat samjhiye, rani saahiba. Yeh waqt ek naye mod par le jaa raha hai. Hume apne hone wale raja ka saath dena hoga. Hum nahi chahte ki hum me se koi bhi yuvraj Shivaal ke rah me patthar nahi bane".

All three royal consorts looked fiercely at both concubines.

"Pehle putra ko janm do fir Hume gyan dena", Rani Rajmala said in a cold tone.

Her words slashed the heart of both concubines. Concubine Gazal had two daughters and lost so many fetuses in her belly.

Concubine Narayani gave birth to three sons but both died in a week. Now, she had a daughter named Samyukta Samaiyar.

"Putra ho ya putri, Hamara bhavi raja Yuvraj Shivaal hi banega", Concubine Narayani said and held concubine Gazal's hand and then stormed out of the garden.

The three royal consorts of the King fell silent while staring at their disappearing figures and their thoughts were swirling as the moon rose higher in the sky.

Anang Vatika, was now a place of schemes and rivalries, its tranquil beauty masking the storm brewing within its walls.

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