Ramayana
Chapter 22
Festivities
The palace of Ayodhya was full of music. Notes of singing by women, by the royal bards, music on flute and strung instruments, music in the air, music from the mountains and the rivers—there was the music of the spheres as it were, that came wafted along on the wings of the breeze.
Kausalya and Sumitra were kept on their toes. There was no end to the sacred ceremonies that needed to be performed under the instructions of the royal priests. The town of Ayodhya had become a part of the palace. The world was humming with the festive sounds of drums and shehnais that were being played in every household from morning to dusk. Sorrow was banished as if never to return.
Manthara, Kaikeyi’s personal attendant, was far from happy these days. She was watching over Kaikeyi’s moods and sultry silence. She had also noticed the widening estrangement between Kaikeyi and the two senior queens—Kausalya and Sumitra. Of late, there was a marked air of jubilation in their quarters and well-planned maneuvers calculated to keep Kaikeyi out of the festivities which had by now reached a fevered pitch in the palace. Manthara had not failed to notice however, that Rama had sought a special appointment with Kaikeyi and the meeting took place in the quiet environment of Kaikeyi’s secluded room in her mansion. It appeared to be a routine courtesy visit, but Rama was not accompanied by his wife. Manthara had tried to eavesdrop on their conversation but from the few words she could hear, she could surmise that they were talking about some secret information which Kaikeyi had received from her own spy network. She had tried to study the faces of both as they talked. Kaikeyi was placid when she was silent and looked at Rama only when she had something to say which always appeared to be a matter of great consequence to Rama. After she finished the few words she had to say, she looked at Rama anxiously. Rama who appeared to be engrossed over the matter looked up at her from his reverie and said something ponderous. Both appeared to be seized over something of grave importance. When she saw Rama bending down to touch Kaikeyi’s feet, Manthara quickly stepped behind the curtain to watch their expressions. She was rather surprised to see no trace of displeasure or anger in either of them.
In her limited understanding of the scenario that prevailed in the palace in those hectic days of celebrations and the eager assimilation of the new princesses in the palace life, there was a curious discrepancy. Bharata and Shatrughna were rather speedily dispatched to the northwest kingdom of Kaikeyi’s father in the escort of Kaikeyi’s brother Yudhajit who had accompanied them to Ayodhya after the wedding ceremony in Mithila. Dashratha looked confused and confounded over these rapid events and spent his days in a distracted state of mind.
Manthara was left high and dry in the excitement. She who was perpetually regarded a hindrance and a nuisance by all, was left to brood over the developments, in her sullen silence.
