HARIHARESHWARI 14 : CHANDRA CHAYAYAM SINGHASANAM

CHAPTER 64

"Yuvraj aane ki aagya chaahte hai, Maharaj." A pratihari told Jayasen who was in his room, looking through some scrolls of important affairs of the capital city Mahishmati.

Looking up from his work he said, "Aagya hai."

The pratihaari went outside and within a few moments, Dilip crossed the threshold of the room, his stoic expression betraying none of the tumultuous emotions that churned within him.

"Kaho Dilip." Jayasen asked.

Dilip took a deep breath, steeling himself for what he was about to say, "Van mei jaane ki iccha hai meri."

"Ha toh jaao." Jayasen smiled, not understanding what his younger brother actually meant, "Waise bhi yudh ke baad thak gaye hoge. Vihaar par jaake tumhe accha lagega."

"Mai nandan-van vihaar ki baat nahi kar raha, Jyesht." Dilip said, his gaze unwavering as he clarified, "Mai Vanaprasth ki baat kar raha hu."

Jayasen chuckled thinking it to be a jest, "Vanaprasth ? Aur tum ? Upahas mat karo, anuj."

"Mai upahas nahi kar raha." Dilip said.

Jayasen's smile faltered as he studied his brother's face, and realized that Dilip was deadly serious. Shock washed over him as he processed the implications of those words.

"Tum.... Tum jaante ho tum kya keh rahe ho ?" Jayasen asked his voice laced with disbelief.

With a firm voice, Dilip said, "Maine nirnaye le liya hai. Mai aur Aarvi Vanaprasth ashram swikar chuke hai. Bas aapki aagya chaahiye."

Jayasen stood up from his desk and went towards his brother, his face etched with confusion and shock. Keeping his hand over Dilip's shoulder he said, "Anuj, jeevan ke sabhi aashramo ka ek niyamit samaye hota hai. Vanaprasth hetu tumhari aayu nahi hai abhi. Abhi Grihast jeevan ka anand lo. Yovan ka bhog karo. Van-vihaar ke aayu mei Vanaprasth nahi kiya jata."

"Mera nirnaye atal hai." Dilip said sadly.

Jayasen shook his head, "Tum Avanti ke Yuvraj ho. Haiheyavansh ke shresht yoddha ho. Tumhare bina yeh Rajya durbal ho jaayega."

"Maine Magadh ko parast kar diya hai. Maine chhoro aur Dasyu ko bhi parajit kar, Avanti ke aadhin kar diya hai aur kar dene par vivash kar diya hai. Ab iss Rajya par koi Sankat nahi aayega, Jyesht." Dilip said.

"Aarvi ke baare mei nahi socha kya tumne ? Use kyu van ke kathor jeevan jeene par vivash kar rahe ho ?" Jayasen asked.

"Woh swatantra hai, Jyesht. Uska swayam ka nirnaye hai ki woh mera anugaman karegi." Dilip said.

"Tumhare jaane se Mahishmati suni pad jaayegi Dilip, Avanti suni pad jaayegi." Jayasen said, "Mera chhodo, Rajadhi toh tumhe apne putra jaisa prem karti hai na ? Yadi hum dono ka nahi toh Vinda Anuvinda ka mukh dekh lo."

At the mention of his nephews, Dilip shifted his gaze, which didn't go unnoticed by Jayasen. He then recalled that last night, Vinda and Anuvinda had taken him somewhere. And before that Jayasen was sure that he didn't see any signs in Dilip that showed that he wanted to retire to the forest.

"Kahi..." Jayasen's eyes widened with anger, "Kahi yeh woh unn dono udand balako ke karan toh nahi !?"

Dilip looked back at him, and held his arm, "Unhe kuch mat kahiye, Jyesht."

"Kaise na kahu !? Unhone tumhe Rajya chhodne par vivash kar diya hai ! Mujhe yeh swikarya nahi !" Jayasen blazed in anger.

"Unhone apna bhaye mere samaksh prakat kiya hai ! Unka dosh nahi hai isme !" Dilip said.

Jayasen shook his head, "Nahi, unn dono ko dand awashya milega !"

"Jyesht aapko meri saugandh !" Dilip said.

Jayasen looked at Dilip, his anger giving away to sadness, "Apni saugandh de mujhe asahaye aur nirbal kyu kar diya, anuj ?"

Dilip smiled sadly, "Vinda Anuvinda ko kuch bhi mat kahiyega Jyesht. Unhone toh keval apna bhaye prakat kiya tha. Van mei jaane ka nirnaye mera hai. Aur waise bhi, bade toh baccho ke sukh hetu tyaag karte hi hai."

Jayasen struggled to find the words to dissuade his brother, to make him see reason. But he knew he couldn't persuade Dilip, once he had set his mind on something. Jayasen couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness at the thought of his brother leaving, he knew that he had to respect Dilip's choice.

"Yadi yahi iccha hai, toh jaao." As the words left Jayasen's lips, he felt a wave of guilt wash over him. He knew that his own sons, vying for the throne, had created an atmosphere of rivalry and discord that had pushed Dilip to this drastic decision.

Dilip could feel a lump in his throat, as he smiled sadly, his eyes glistening. He knelt down and touched the feet of his elder brother. Jayasen shut his eyes, stopping the tears from escaping, he turned his head to the side, raising his hands.

"Yashashvi bhava ! Samartho bhava ! Ayushmaan bhava !" Jayasen blessed with whole heart.

Dilip stood up his head lowered and hands still joined. With a final, lingering look at his brother, he turned and left the chamber.

Jayasen sighed covering his face with his hand, letting the tears escape, "O Narayan.... Mere anuj ka kalyaan karna... Woh iss anyaye ka adhikaari nahi.... O Hari, use mujhse adhik samman ho..." He prayed earnest.

□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
A/N

Ek yeh do Bhai hai.... Aur ek... You know who-🌝