In the city of Mahishmati, the night draped everything in a deep velvety darkness, pierced only by the flickering lights from the palace windows.

King Jayasen lay on his ornate bed, his regal form relaxed, a content smile gracing his lips. As the distant sounds of the city's nightlife drifted in through the open windows, a sense of peace settled over the king.  Dilip's exile had been a painful chapter in their shared history, but ever since, the news had reached him that his brother had established a new city in Ujjain, crowning himself as its king. Jayasen felt a sense of pride.

Though initially saddened by Dilip's departure, Jayasen now found solace in the knowledge that his brother had found purpose and fulfillment as the ruler of Ujjain. Dilip's decision to abdicate his crown-prince position had been a source of turmoil in Jayasen's heart, fueled by the emotional manipulation of his own sons.

"Mujhe pata tha Rajadhi, ki Dilip vanvas mei santusht nahi hoga. Woh kisi mahaan udeshya hetu janma hai." Jayasen said.

Queen Rajadhidevi smiled, exuding an ethereal beauty, her face bathed in an otherworldly glow that seemed to illuminate the chamber. Her smile mirrored Jayasen's sentiments, sharing in the joy of Dilip's accomplishment and especially the happiness of Aarvi finally getting what she deserved.

Jayasen said, "Swabhimaani hone ke karan, anuj ne mujhse tanik sahayata nahi maangi. Kintu kal ko yadi Dilip Avanti ka Samrat bhi banna chaahe toh mai uska saath dunga. Tum kya kehti ho ?"

"Mai bhi unhe Haiheya Samrat bante dekhna chaahti hu." Rajadhidevi said, "Humare putro ke karan Dilip aur Aarvi me bahut kasht jhela hai." Her smile wavered, replaced by a shadow of sorrow.

She couldn't help but be haunted by the realization that the suffering Dilip and his wife Aarvi endured was a consequence of her own sons' actions. She recalled the emotional turmoil Dilip had faced when coerced to relinquish his birthright, a decision that had inflicted deep wounds on his soul.

Jayasen kept his hand over hers, and assured, "Mujhe lagta hai ki ab humare kul mei dukh ke din samaapt huye. Aisa abhaas ho raha hai ki, aane wale din sukh-samriddhi se paripurn honge."

"Sukh ke din aane toh wale hai." Rajadhidevi smiled knowing as she tenderly took Jayasen's hands and guided them to her belly, her eyes shimmering with joy, "Aapki teesri santaan jo aane wali hai."

Jayasen's eyes widened in astonishment as he sat up straight in bed. A smile slowly spread across his face, illuminating his features with pure joy and excitement. He couldn't contain his happiness as a chuckle escaped his lips, filled with overwhelming delight at the prospect of becoming a father once again.

Overwhelmed with happiness, he cupped Rajadhidevi's face tenderly, his touch filled with love and excitement. Leaning in, he gently placed a kiss on her forehead, his heart brimming with joy.

However, unbeknownst to the king and queen, in another part of the palace, Vinda and Anuvinda, were engaged in plotting something sinister against their uncle Dilip. The treacherous brothers convened secret meetings with subordinate kings, concocting sinister plans to undermine Dilip's newfound reign.

The room was shrouded in darkness, illuminated only by flickering lamps casting eerie shadows on the walls. The brothers sat at the head of a long table, their faces masked in shadows as they whispered sinister plans to the gathered kings.

Vinda said, "Hum jaante hai, ki aap sab Dilip ko apna Maharaj bante dekhna chaahte hai. Kintu kya aapko lagta hai ki woh ek kushal shaashak ban sakte hai ?"

One of the kings replied, "Awashya Yuvraj. Veer yoddha hai woh, shaant swabhaav hai unka." The other kings nodded in agreement.

One by one, they voiced their support for Dilip, praising his integrity and leadership qualities. They expressed their unwillingness to betray him, citing his noble character and dedication to the kingdom.

"Yadi aapko lagta hai ki Dilip yogya hai, toh uchit hai. Aap unka swamitya swikarya kar sakte hai." Anuvinda leaned back on his chair and said, "Humne jo aap sabhi ke liye vichara tha woh ab vyarth jaayega. Kintu koi baat nahi."

"Kya vichara tha ?" Another king asked.

Vinda smirked and said, "Humne socha tha ki jab hum Avanti par Raaj karenge, toh sabhi Rajao aur samanto toh shresht padvi, pratishtha aur vetan denge."

As the brothers spoke of their intentions to reward the kings once they took control of Avanti, a sense of conflict arose among the gathered rulers. All of them were torn between their loyalty to Dilip, and the allure of the riches promised by Vinda and Anuvinda.

Some of the kings shifted uncomfortably in their seats, while others furrowed their brows in deep contemplation. The weight of their decision hung heavy in the air, each one grappling with their own moral compass and desires.

Anuvinda said, "Dekhiye, yadi aap Dilip ke paas jana chaahe toh koi baat nahi. Kintu yadi aap humare paksh mei rahenge toh laabh mei rahenge."

"Aisa laabh jo aapko koi nahi de sakta. Padvi milegi, vetan badhega, pratishtha bhi bhar-pur milegi." Vinda said.

Doubts crept into the mind of the subordinate kings. Greed began to whisper in their ears, clouding their judgment and stirring up desires for power and riches. Despite their initial reservations, the kings found themselves swayed by the allure of a prosperous future under Vinda and Anuvinda's rule. for Avanti, the kings felt their resolve weaken. Slowly but surely, the shimmer of gold and the promise of influence began to overshadow their sense of loyalty to Dilip.

"Uchit hai."

"Hum aapka swamitva swikarenge."

"Hum Dilip nahi, aapke paksh mei khade rahenge."

"Humare saath se, Haiheya Samrat aap dono hi banenge."

The kings succumbed to their greed, turning their backs on Dilip and pledging their allegiance to Vinda and Anuvinda. The brothers smirked triumphantly, despite Dilip's backing of chieftains, their newfound support from the kings had solidified their position.

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A/N

The subordinate kings chose to support Vinda Anuvinda.....

How will Dilip become the Emperor of Avanti now ? 🌝