Ramayana: The legend of Prince Ram

[Kaikeyi grooming herself]

[Enter Manthara]

Manthara: Bad times ahead Kaikeyi, My child!

Kaikeyi: Why, dear Manthara?

Manthara: Child, King Dashrath plans to coronate Ram as the yuvraj.

Kaikeyi [Excited]: Oh god! Manthara, you have given me such wonderful news! How I longed                                                              for this to happen! Our Ram…My Ram shall become the next king. I am so happy Manthara! Take this [Gifts her a necklace].

Manthara: [Throwing the necklace onto the floor]: Kaikeyi, I feel angered by your innocence! How can a woman, a royal woman be such a fool! Don’t you realize the consequences of Ram Becoming the prince? [Moves away]

Kaikeyi [Grooming again]: I know. The whole of Ayodhya shall be happy. The king shall be happy. But, I shall be the happiest!

Manthara [Moves closer]: You are a fool. You are blinded by your love for Ram. You treat him as a son but he…He does not look up to you as a mother.

Kaikeyi [Confused]: What are you saying Manthara?

Manthara: That Ram does not like you.

Kaikeyi: But…but…He respects me more than what Bharath does. He is very much attached to me.

Manthara: He appears to be attached to you. Just think, tomorrow, Ram becomes the king of Ayodhya. Then, Kousalya becomes the `Raj Mata’. Then, she shall start commanding you.

Kaikeyi: You mean to say, Kousalya shall oppress me?

Manthara [Sighs]: Thank god! The truth finally dawns on you. Then, you shall become Kousalya’s servant. Your son Bharath, Ram’s servant. In future, Ram’s sons shall claim Ayodhya as their kingdom. Your grandchildren shall serve them……It goes on. Once oppressed, always oppressed.

Kaikeyi: What do you want me to do, Manthara? I am lost.

Manthara: Kaikeyi, The king loves you…

Kaikeyi [Cuts in]: More than Kousalya and Sumithra.

Manthara [Venom in her voice]: Yes…Use it for your plan. The king cannot see you depressed. Throw away all jewellery and flowers. Lie down crying. I shall send for the king. Remember, once you had saved Dashrath in a battle with the Asuras. He had granted you two boons. Use them now. With one boon, send Ram away to the forest for 14 years. With the other, ask for Bharath to be made the yuvraj.

Kaikeyi: Oh Manthara… I don’t know how to thank you. Without you, I don’t know where I would be. Thank you, Manthara!

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[Kaikeyi in the floor, Hair untied, crying]

[Jewellery by her side on the floor]

[Dashrath enters]

Dashrath: Kaikeyi, my dear, why have you fallen onto the floor? It looks as if the moon has dropped from the sky without shine. Your rosy lips look withered. The stars in your eyes are missing. Tears are running down your cheeks like pearls. Tell me what you want me to do…shall I shower diamonds on you? Tell me your bidding. Stop crying, dear. My heart is squeezed by your lamentation. [Supports her to get up]

Kaikeyi: Lord, do you really love me?

Dashrath: Kaikeyi, what are you asking? Can a person live without breathing? Can I live without your love or without loving you? Can a person survive without the heart? You are the queen of the kingdom of my heart.

Kaikeyi: Will you do what I want, my lord?

Dashrath: Surely, my dear.

Kaikeyi: Do you remember the two boons you had given me when I saved you from the Asuras long time back?

Dashrath: How can I forget that? Seldom do we come across royal queens showing how brave they are. Tell me, what do you want of those boons?