Shri Ram was visibly subdued in the celebrations of Vibhishan's coronation. He didn't hurry to call for Devi Sita, instead he asked Hanuman to send a message to her.

"Hanuman, Sita ko jaake humare Vijay aur Ravan ke vadh ki suchna de aao. Aur yadi mere liye koi sandesh hai toh dede." Shri Ram said.

"Jo agya prabhu." Hanuman said.

Without wasting a moment, he went to Ashok Vatika and informed about Ravan's death and their victory to Devi Sita.

Coming to know that she wasn't a captive anymore, she choked up out of happiness and joy. She stood still absorbing the news as words failed to come out of her mouth.

"Hanuman, tumhe dhanyawaad karne ke liye mere paas shabd nahi hai aur naa hi dene ke liye kuch." She spoke after a while.

"Mujhe kuch nahi chahiye Mata. Kintu yadi aap aadesh kare toh yeh Rakshasiyo, jinhone aapko itna pratarit kiya hai, unka vadh kardu." Hanuman said looking at the Rakshas women.

"Uski awashyakta nahi hai Hanuman. Inhone jo kiya woh apni iccha hetu nahi apetu apne Raja ki aagya ka palan karne hetu kiya. Kadachit niyati ne hi mere liye itne kasht likhe the. Isme inka koi dosh nahi, aur yadi hai bhi toh mai inhe kshama karti hu." Devi Sita said stopping Hanuman.

"Uchit hai. Kya Shri Ram hetu koi sandesh hai ?" Hanuman asked.

"Mai unhe dekhna chahti hu." She said simply.

Hanuman then returned and informed Shri Ram of Devi Sita's words. Listening to it he got overwhelmed and his eyes moistened. He appeared lost in his thoughts, as he stared at the ground. After a moment he addressed the newly crowned king of Lanka.

"Vibhishan, Sita ko leke aao. Aur usse kehna ki snaan kar, sugandhi laga, Sundar vastro aur aabhushan dharan kar mere samaksh aaye." Shri Ram said.

"Jaisa aap kahe." Vibhishan nodded.

He went to Ashok Vatika and informed Devi Sita about Shri Ram's wish and told her to take a bath from head, apply ointments and get dressed in beautiful garments and adorn herself with ornaments. He had already arranged it all for her.

"Kintu bina snaan kare Nath se milne mei kya apatti hai ? Mujhe unse abhi milna hai." Devi Sita said.

"Unke man mei kya chal raha hai, yeh mai nahi jaanta devi. Kintu aapko unki baat maannani chahiye." Vibhishan persuaded.

"Uchit hai." Devi Sita agreed.

She then took a bath, got dressed in red silk garments and decked herself in gold ornaments. Vibhishan arranged for a palanquin to take her to Shri Ram.

The Rakshas soldiers began pushing the Vanars away to make for the palanquin. Shri Ram was irked and asked them not to. He wanted everyone to see her, especially the Vanars because they had staked their lives for her.

"Usko kaho ki paalki se utar, mere samaksh aaye." He ordered.

Lakshman, Vibhishan, Hanuman and others were puzzled by the grimness in his voice. They were confused as to why he was suddenly behaving so coldly.

Devi Sita got out of the palanquin and walked towards Shri Ram. All eyes were on her, she was a little shy, a little embarassed, but the light of meeting her husband after so long danced on her face.

She came and stood beside Shri Ram, but to her suprise there were no emotions in his eyes. He seemed lost and distant.

He then talked to her, slowly but firmly, the use of his words indicated that he wanted everyone to listen.

"Ravan ne tumhara Haran kiya jab mai Parnakuti mei nahi tha. Yeh karya kar usne mere shaurya ko lalkara tha. Tumhara Haran ne ikshvaku vansh ko kalankit kiya tha. Apne parishram aur apne bandhuo ki sahayata se maine Ravan ko uski udandata ka dand diya. Tumhe yeh pata hona chahiye ki yaha tak ana aur Ravan ko parajit karna, tumhare liye nahi tha. Yeh maine apne kul par lage kalank ko mitane hetu kiya." Shri Ram said.

Everyone was dumbstruck, while Devi Sita felt as if she was paralysed.

"Tumhare charitra par shanka utpann huyi hai. Tum itne din Ravan ke yaha rahi, aur tumhara roop aur saundarya aisa hai, ki woh swayam ko rok hi nahi paya hoga. Kaunsa pati apni uss patni ko swikar karta hai jiska bhog kisi anya ne kiya ho ? Iss liye Ravan ka vadh kar mujh par aur mere kul par jo kalank laga tha, woh maine mita ke apna karya kar diya. Ab tum kahi bhi aur kisi ke bhi paas jaane hetu swatantra ho. Chaahe tum Bharat ke paas jaao, Lakshman ke paas ya Sugreev ke paas, ya yadi tumhe Lanka mei rehna hai toh raho. Tum swatantra ho." Shri Ram said.

Everyone was disturbed hearing it, the coldness in his voice was palpable. Lakshman and Hanuman were confused, if everything was done to remove the taint from his name, then what was the suffering he had been going through for months ?

Was he the same Ram who would mutter the name of his wife even while asleep ? Was he the same Ram who couldn't stop his tears due to separation ? Was he the same Ram who like a mad-man asked trees, mountains and animals for the whereabouts of his wife ?

Was he the same Ram who threatened to destroy the entire world for her ? Was he the same Ram who wanted to kill himself because he couldn't bear the separation of her even for a moment ? Everyone who knew him personally wondered.

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A/N

Yeh Agni-pariksha ka scene itna important hai, iss liye maine Mata Sita and Shri Ram ke prem aur virah ki vedna par focus kiya.

Because until and unless you don't know the intensity of their love, you will misunderstand Shri Ram here.