" For the greater good." Ram said looking away. " The residents of Ayodhya were.."

" Bhadra" growled Lakshman. " It was that washerman, Bhadra. His wife came back to their house later than usual from her parent's house and he doubted her. He claimed he was not King Ram to take a wife who was in some one else's place. He dared to doubt Sita bhabi's purity.."

" Did you?" Shanta asked Ram sharply.

" Not even for a second." he replied instantly. " The people follow and respect their leader. If they donot trust me, how can they expect me to rule well? I wanted to give up the throne but.."

" We stopped him." Bharat cut in. " Ikshvaku clan would come to an end. Whatever you have sacrificed for didi for us, would be over."

" Like it hasn't already!" Shanta said . " You didnot just send away Sita. You sent away the child in her womb too. Yes, King Dasharath gave me up years ago but he made sure I had a secure life in Anga. Some may consider it a disrespect. But it was not. Not as much as you have disrespected your wife." she said turning to Ram.

"Sita is your wife. You said once that you would not marry any one else other than Sita because that would be direspecting her and your relationship is based on love and respect. So have'nt you disrespected her now?" Shanta continued  restraining herself from shouting.

" I removed her position as a queen. Once I have finished my role as a king I will go back to Sita. That is where I belong. " he whispered. It was the first time Shanta had seen Ram cry. But she was not done yet.

"  Did she not protest?" Shanta asked.

" Lakshman left her on my orders. He said she was shocked, dismayed, in pain..but not angry." Ram broke down. " She accepted it."

"Ikshvaku clan holds promises to every single male. But what you have done is.." Shanta continued in a fit of rage.

" Enough" Rishyashringa said placing a hand on her shoulder. " Can't you see he is suffering enough? He is torn between his duties as a King and a husband. But Sita is no ordinary woman. She knows what's  happening now is for the good. She could have protested outright,but she didnot. She respects his decision. It is not in your hands to hurt him."

Shanta looked at her valiant brother who had killed Ravan, lifted the bow of Lord Shiva, killed scores of demons, who had fought on even though he was severely injured. She had never seen him look so defeated. He looked like a broken man. " I am sorry, Maharaj" Shanta whispered stepping back.

Ram looked at her hurt brimming in his eyes. " Maharaj? Didi, I am your brother" Shanta was strongly reminded reminded of a teenage version of Ram in his element. She stepped forward pulling him in an embrace. " You don't look too well. You have'nt eaten today?" she asked him softly.

Lakshman beckoned her aside. " Ram bhaiya has not eaten anything since Sita bhabi left. After the court, he dons the garments of a sage and sleeps on the floor. He shouts in his sleep.." Lakshman couldnot say anything further. 

" He will eat today." Shanta said firmly leading Ram to the dining hall. She sat next to him as the attendants served him food. He closed his eyes tiredly as she stretched out her hands to feed him.He refused hesitantly. Suddenly Shanta realised he was doing the same things Sita was doing . He had donned simple robes as she did, he slept on the floor as she did, he would certainly eat as she did. She brought out fruits. " You will eat this" she said firmly.

Ram smiled. " You read my mind,didi " he said. 

Years  passed by and Shanta and Rishyashringa now resided near Ayodhya itself though a bit far from the Palace. When the decision to hold Ashwamedha Yaga was taken, Shanta was  worried. 

" What's worrying you, darling?" Rishyashringa asked as he hoisted her up a tree to collect their food for the day. 

" Ram is conducting the Ashwamedha Yaga. You must have a wife by your side to do that. Will he marry again?" she asked as she plucked the fruits.

Before Rishyashringa could answer, a sound of clacking hooves  could be heard. A messenger dismounted the horse and gave the letter to Rishyashringa. Shanta peered from above the tree. " Read it aloud" she said.

Didi,

All the arrangements of Ashwamedha Yaga has been done. We await Rishi Rishyashringa to conduct the  ceremony. The people have requested  me to marry  as a wife should always be physically  present in the ceremony. But I have refused to marry again. I have a wife already, Sita. Though she will not be there physically, she resides in me as my Ardhangini. I have made a golden statue of Sita to sit next to me during the Yaga. You should be present as always.

Yours,

Ram

" He came up with a good  solution, did'nt he?" Rishyashringa asked catching Shanta as she dropped in his arms.

"He is my  brother ,after all" she laughed.

After the ceremony, the horse used in the Yaga   was let loose  and was stopped by two young boys, twins. And they turned out to be the princes of Ayodhya. Luv and Kush. Upon knowin their true identity, Ram, the royal family and the whole of Ayodhya including Shanta and Rishyashringa had turned up to bring Sita and the two boys to Ayodhya upon  the request of the people of the city. They had realised the grave mistake they had done in sending away their Queen and made their King suffer so much. 

When Ram had requested Sita to come back to Ayodhya in the Ashram of Valmiki, she had asked for a day to decide. Ram had declared he would give up his throne, his title , everything, even if the Ikshvaku clan would decline, he would give up anything for Sita.

Shanta went inside the Ashram as everyone else who had come to bring Sita back waited for the next day for the return of their Queen. 

" You will come, Sita?" Shanta asked hesitantly after a brief exchange of endearments.

" What do you think I will do, Didi?" she asked as she sat near the large windows looking at the moon. 

" You will not come back" sighed Shanta,sadly . " I, myself, in your place would not have."

" I don't know. I might decide to go  back." Sita said closing her eyes as tears fell down rapidly. "The society will not change just because I will decide to come back. They must repent what they did with all their heart. If I return and forgive , they will not realise their mistake. But I cannot live any longer without Ram. I have seen Ram after so long and it seems like a dream. Not even a single day in Lanka had I felt such sorrow because I knew my husband would come for me but after I was abondoned,I lived only for my children. Women are disrespected and discarded. No one should tolerate this."

" You will not forgive Ram?" Shanta asked slowly.

" I will forgive him, didi. He is already forgiven. It is the mindset of the society that I need to change before going back." Sita said.

" Going back to Ayodhya?" clarified Shanta.

" Going back to where I belong" Sita smiled.  Then Shanta realised what Sita was talking about. She looked at the young woman before her caressing the sleeping boys lovingly as if it was the last time. Tears clouded her eyes as she hugged her sister-in-law. "Do what you have to do but  know this, Sita, your Ram loves you infinitely. He is my brother . I cannot see this happening tomorrow. I hope it will not happen. Either way, I cannot stay here,my girl. If you go away, Ram will.."

" He will make sure the society respects women, he will rule well and will return into my arms" she cut in softly.

Shanta wiped her tears. " For the greater good. As a wife, as a queen, as a daughter, as a sister, I salute thee. But most of all as a woman, I salute you." She said embracing her sister-in-law for the last time before rushing outside. Ram and Rishyashringa were waiting for her. 

" Did she tell she will come back?" Ram asked expectantly.

Shanta felt sick at heart. How could she tell him such  news? She could not lie to her brother.  "Do you remember what father used to say? We should always hope for the best after we do everything we can." Shanta said patting Ram's shoulder, hoping the darkness would hide her tears. " I and Rishyashringa will leave now."

" But why?" Ram asked confused. 

" We need to arrange everything for the welcome of ...." Shanta broke down silently, turning away from Ram.

" To welcome Queen Sita and the princes." finished Rishyashringa rubbing Shanta's back lightly. Ram nodded and smiled. " We will meet you tomorrow." He bounded back to his quarters for the night happily, unaware of the tragedy that was to befall the next day. Rishyashringa comforted Shanta as they headed back.

Years to come, after Sita went back to Earth, Shanta and Rishyashringa stayed near Ayodhya watching the princes grow and Ayodhya flourish under Ram's rule. They lived blissfully in their humble abode till their last breath. Some say that Shanta and Rishyashringa gave up their bodies centuries later upon their own will. Shanta is said to be the female version of Lord Ram in many scripts. Rishyashringa was the epitome of self control and was said to be one of the greatest sages and husband. Their story is not as famous as the Ramayan but people often overlook the fact that Shanta was the reason for the Ramayan to take place. Salutations to the scion of Ikshvaku.

To Shanta's sacrifice and strength. For duty and the greater good.

* I know it's been a long chapter but this is it. Thank you for reading. I would love to correct my mistakes. I hope I have done justice to the unsung heroine, Shanta. Have a great day :)