In the dimly lit hut, Dilip lay on a simple grass mat beside his slumbering wife. The crackling of the dying embers in the hearth provided the only soundtrack to the silent night. Moonlight filtered through the thatched roof, casting a soft glow on his thoughtful face.

His mind wandered back to the days when he was the crown prince of Avanti, the weight of his responsibilities heavy on his shoulders. A pang of regret tugged at his heart as he thought about the kingdom he had abandoned. Was it fair to have given up his right for the sake of his nephews ?

Dilip turned to look at Aarvi. Moonlight filtered through the cracks in the thatched roof, casting a soft glow on her serene face. As he gazed at her delicate features, a pang of guilt swept over him. For years, he had watched Aarvi endure the hardships of their secluded life in the forest, just because of him. He knew that his decision to abandon his royal duties had taken a toll on her, and the lines of worry etched on her face spoke volumes of the sacrifices she had made for him.

The flickering fire seemed to dance in time with the turmoil in his mind. Despite his protestations to his friends about not knowing how to build a new kingdom, a spark of ambition still glowed within him. The desire to rise above his current circumstances, to be something more than a retired prince living in obscurity, lingered in his thoughts like a stubborn ember refusing to die out. The weight of his unfulfilled potential bore down on him, fueling a desire to rise above his self-imposed exile.

He closed his eyes, and suddenly, memories of his past life as the ex-crown prince of Avanti flooded his mind. He could hear the echoes of praises that once surrounded him, the memories of unmatched glory playing like a vivid movie before his eyes.

"Yuvraj Dilip ki jai ho !"

"Haiheya kuldeepak ki jai ho !"

"Yuvraj, aapke parakram se Avanti Bharatvarsh ke sabse shaktishaali rajyo ki ganana mei agaya hai."

"Praja aapke shaurya aur Maharaj Jayasen ke dharmparayanta ki hi prashansa karte thak nahi rahi."

"Sahastrabahu Arjun ke kul ka abhimaan hai aap, Dilipsen."

"Humare Swargiya Pitashree jaante the ki yeh Haiheyavansh ke Surya honge. Iss liye toh Yuvraj ka naam Dilip hai."

A small smile tugged at his lips as he relived those moments of praise and adoration. But as he opened his eyes to the darkness of his modest dwelling, a frown creased his brow. The contrast between his illustrious past and his quiet present weighed heavily on his heart. The embers of his past life as the ex crown prince of Avanti flickered in his heart, reminding him of the ambitions he had buried deep within.

The flickering lamps cast shadows on the walls, as the words of Krishna, the wisdom of his beloved wife Aarvi, and the encouragement of his loyal friends rang in his ears.

"Aapke jaane ke baad, Yuvraj padvi ka keval apmaan huya hai Aryaputra."

"Avanti ke sabhi Raja, sabhi samant, aapki sewa mei prasannata se upasthit honge. Yaha tak ki Maharaj Jayasen bhi aapko Samrat ke roop mei dekhna chaahenge, isse unhe aashwasan toh rahega, ki unki Avanti surakshit aur sushaashit hogi."

"Mujhe lagta hai ki aapne vanprasth ko keval chuna hai. Swikara nahi hai."

"Niyati ke aage toh kisi ka bal nahi chalta. Uske samaksh toh jhukna hi padta hai..... Kintu, kabhi kabhi karm mei khot hota hai aur vyakti niyati ko dosh dedeta hai."

Thoughts swirled in his mind like a tumultuous river. His friends' words echoed in his ears, urging him to build a new kingdom and reclaim the throne that was rightfully his. Yet he hesitated, unsure of his own abilities. In the stillness of the night, he traced the lines of his destiny with uncertainty, wondering if he could truly leave behind his past or if his true purpose lay ahead in building a new kingdom.

Was destiny pushing him towards a path he had long abandoned ? Could he ignore the calling of his blood, the fire of ambition that still burned within his heart ?

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In the seculded spot of Mahakaleshwar temple, Aarvi lit incense sticks and arranged bright flowers at the feet of the deity, her devotion palpable in the serene atmosphere. Dilip knelt down with a broom, sweeping away leaves and cobwebs, his movements slow and deliberate. As he swept, Dilip's gaze wandered beyond the temple walls to the abandoned city of Ujjain spread out before him

His gaze lingered on the old palace at a distance where his ancestors had once ruled, before the capital shifted to Mahishmati by Sahasrabahu. The grandeur of the palace contrasted with the silent emptiness of the city. A wave of sorrow washed over him as he thought of the city's faded glory, a fate much like his own.

"Yadi mai Maharaj hota toh Ujjain ka yeh haal nahi hone deta." He muttered.

Aarvi, absorbed in her prayers, overheard his words and turned to look at him with a gentle smile, "Toh ban jaayiye Maharaj." She said.

Dilip frowned, "Kintu kaise ?"

"Ek samaye tha jab aapke purvaj Kartivirya Arjun iss sampurn prithvi par raaj karte the. Aapke tan mei bhi unka hi rakt beh raha hai. Sampurn prithvi par raaj na sahi kintu ek samarajya toh aap sthaapit kar hi sakte hai." She said.

As Aarvi rose to leave, Dilip's thoughts stirred with uncertainty. Could he, a retired prince, breathe life back into these ruins? The doubts lingered as he followed Aarvi out of the temple, his mind filled with the possibilities and challenges that lay ahead.

Dilip hopefully asked, "Tumhe sahi mei aisa lagta hai ki mai Ujjain ko punah sthaapit kar sakta hu ?"

"Ha." Aarvi smiled, "Aapko bas uchit maargdarshak ki awashyakta hai."

"Wahi toh baat hai." Dilip sighed, "Shaashan karna kathin hai, aur swayam ka samrajya sthaapit kar uss par shaashan aur bhi kathin. Maargdarshak banayu bhi toh kisko ?"

Despite his doubts, the desire to make a difference tugged at his heart. Lost in his thoughts, he pondered whether he had the capability to resurrect the once-glorious city. The idea of creating a new kingdom stirred conflicting emotions within him - fear of failure mingled with a deep desire to reclaim his lost glory.

Walking through the forest, he felt the need for a mentor, someone who could guide him in creating a new kingdom.As they approached their humble hut, a sight caught Dilip's eye - a royal chariot gleaming with the emblem of the sun, and accompanied by a retinue of nobles and servants.

The foremost man, regal and dignified, approached them with a sacred text wrapped in orange fabric. With a slight bow of his head he said, "Kosal-naresh Vishrutavaan ka pranaam swikaar kare, Haiheya."

Dilip's heart skipped a beat as he recognized the signs of fate unfolding before his eyes.

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A/N

Mentor dhundh rahe the, aur Vishrutavaan Rameshwari ka granth le pahuch gaye ✨