"Katha ka arambh Vaikunth se hota hai." The sutradhaar said. He then looked at the side where two actors were ready to enter. "Arrey dekho, Hari aur Harihareshwari iss hi oor aa rahe hai." He said taking few steps back.

The two Nat and Nati entered, dressed in godly attire, as the audience looked at them with full attention, while Shri Ram and Rameshwari had smiles plastered on their faces.

"Na ho sakta ! Na ho sakta !" The Nati playing Harihareshwari said raising her hand, with a frowned face turned to the other side.

"Ho sakta ! Ho sakta ! Tapasya ke karan kuch bhi ho sakta !" The Nat playing Narayan said with a small mischievous smile and

"Arrey prabhu, arrey devi, kya nahi ho sakta aur kya ho sakta ?" The sutradhaar asked.

"Sutradhaar, yeh kehte hai ki mere swami, mere pati Shreeshaktiswar mujhe chhod, uss Varun-putri ke paas chale jayenge." The Nati said with exaggerated expressions.

"Devtao ko tapasya ka fal dena hi padta hai. Tumhara pati chala hi jayega." The Nat said doing artful gestures with his hands.

"Mai na maanti !" The Nati said folding her hands with a huff.

"Sun le meri baat Devi, keval tera nahi apetu sampoorn Jagat ka Pita hu mai. Meri vaani jisse niyati bhi badhya hai, woh asatya na hoti." The Nat said with a proud expression, slightly raising his head and gesturing a 'no' by moving his index figer.

And so the expressions of the Nati also changed to an unsure one. The expressions of Rameshwari witnessing the act also changed, as the smile on her face dropped.

"Jagat Pita ki vaani toh asatya na hoti. Toh kya mere praan-priye uss Jalasya ke liye mera parityaag kardenge ?" The Nati asked taking a step towards the audience. "Kya kisi ke tapasya ka fal dena mere anant prem se adhik mahatvpurn hai unke liye ?" She asked looking at the audience.

"Iska uttar toh tere swami hi denge." The Nat said keeping one hand over his hip, while the other hand gestures the Nati to go.

"Uchit hai." The Nati said walking towards the other side of the stage, as the Sutradhaar and Nat playing Narayan stood aside.

"Sun Sutradhaar, Hariharsuta aur Shreeshaktisut ke madhya hone wale vivaad ko sunne hetu apne kaan sajj karle." The Nat said, secretly meaning the audience to pay attention.

And just as he said that, the royal family were on the edge of their seats. Whereas Rameshwari was looking at the play quite warily.

From the other side of the stage another Nat entered dressed in godly attire, he straightaway went to the Nati. But she turned her head and went to the centre stage as the Nat followed her with a frown on his face.

"Kya huya hridaye-swamini ? Kyu hai yeh bhaav tere mukh pe ? Chinta ka karan bata, toh iss kshan naash kardu uska. Aagya de iss sevak ko." He said.

"Hey Shreeshaktisut, kya mere prem se badh kar kuch hai tere liye ?" The Nati asked with folded hands and a raised brow, her expression showing suspiciousness.

"Tere prem se badh kar tu hai mere liye. Raat din keval tera hi sumiran karu mai, fir kyu hai yeh prashna tere adharo pe ?" The Nat playing Shreeshaktiswar asked with slightly extended hands, showing his confusion.

"Toh na jayega na mujhe chhod uss Varun-putri ke paas ? Jo raat din keval tujhe paane ki tapasya kare ?" The Nati asked.

"Kyu apmaan kar rahi tu mere prem ka ? Kya vishwas nahi raha meri nishtha par ?" The Nat asked folding hands with an offended expression.

The royal family kept looking at the Nat Nati who now walked to the right side with their argument while Rameshwari looked at them with a saddnened expression.

"Kya kiya Narayan aapne ? Kyu lagaya apni hi putri ke grihasti mei aisa kalesh ?" The sutradhaar asked walking to the centre stage with the Nat playing Narayan.

"Jagat Kalyaan hetu Sutradhaar. Woh dekh udhar, Shakra ne Durvasa rishi ka apmaan jo kiya hai." The Nat said pointing at the left side, where two new actors entered one dressed in godly attire while other dresses in sagely attire with a long beard.

"Indra ! Tune aur tere airavat ne mere dwara diye parijaat pushp ki mala ka apmaan kiya hai !" The Nat playing Durvasa rishi said angrily

"Shaant ho jayiye Rishivar. Krodh kyu karte hai itna ?" The Nat playing Indra said with a proud expression.

"Indra ! Tujhe teri dhurt vyavhaar aur ahankaar ka dand awashya milega. Atyant abhimaan hai na tujhe swarg ke vaibhav par, toh mai tujhe shraap deta hu ki devta shreeheen ho jayenge !" The Nat playing Durvasa rishi curses raising her hands.

"Lo. Durvasa rishi ke shraap ke karan, devtao ka vaibhav gaya, Harihareshwari ka virah ho gaya aur meri patni Lakshmi bhi samudra mei chali gayi." The Nat playing Narayan said to the Sutradhaar with a sad expression.

And so the curtains were closed as the first part of the play was over. The royal family began praising the actors.

"Ab tak ye Natya kaisa laga Ramey ?" Shri Ram asked but frowned seeing tears endlessly rolling down the eyes of his daughter.

"Ramey ?" Before he could do a thing, she just got down from his lap and ran outside.

He stood up to go behind her but Lakshman caught his hand.

"Mai jata hu bhaiya. Aapka uth ke jana uchit nahi hoga." He said.

Shri Ram nodded as Lakshman left the hall going behind Rameshwari.

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A/N

So this Natya portrayal was inspired by the Natyas written by Mahakavi Bhās.

And honestly I really like the portrayal of Indian plays compared to western ones, as the characters very much connect with the audience.