The tension that prevailed around was thick enough to be sliced through with a sharp knife. Different paired of eyes looked around at each other and Bharat's eyes stayed still at Ram. Ram smiled at his brother and gave a nod in his direction. No one noticed the grief-stricken face of Mandavi. It was like as if no one cared about the soul that stood there with a look of disbelief on her face. Guru Vashisht had started to chalk out plans as to how the administration would run in the absence of both Ram and Bharat. A small voice questioned out "Is this Dharma that you preach ? Then what of mine ?" The audience turned towards the source of the voice to find a grief stricken Mandavi, all lost and furious. She couldn't control her emotions anymore. The past two days had taken a toll on her mental stability and she could do nothing but vent out her frustration "Is this the Dharma of the Raghuvansh clan to not take the consent of their wives before giving away words of fulfillment on a silver platter ?" There was sharp gasp from the onlookers. Sita softly spoke "Mandavi... This is not the way to speak." Mandavi turned to Sita "No Sita.. I can't take it anymore.. it is all too much to take in.. I am a human being with emotions.. And no matter how much do I portray myself to be strong, I am not. I am not strong like Urmila. Urmila might be strong enough to send her husband on an exile for fourteen years but the same can't be said for me. I am strong enough to send my husband on an exile for fourteen years." A voice resonated from behind "Perhaps I can be of some help." The source of the voice was traced back to Rajrishi Janak who stood at the entrance of the hut with a grum expression on his ever calm face.

An hour after the party left for Chitrakoot, Urmila retired to her chambers to revise the vedas that she had studied. She had always been the most studious out of the four along with being an artist. While her older sister always showed more of an interest towards shaping up her culinary skills, Mandavi took refugee in reading history and Shrutikeerti was the youngest and more inclined towards dance. She was going through the pages when she was informed by a guard that Rajrishi Janak and Rani Sunanina had arrived at Ayodhya. Urmila dropped her vedic book on the table and ran towards the entrance of the palace. The sight of her mother after so long made her feel overwhelmed with emotions so strong that she rushed towards her mother's welcoming embrace. Sunaina took her younger daughter into her loving embrace and patted the top of her head "My daughter.. My brave Urmila... My mature child.." Urmila broke from her mother's embrace and looked at her mother with a serene smile on her face. Sunaina took a long look at her daughter and her saffron clad appearance. Her Urmila was not a fan of jewellery but she did not suffer the hardships that she was undergoing now while at Mithila. A deep voice came from the back of Sunaina "My Urmila.." Urmila looked towards her father and ran into his outstretched arms. Rajrishi Janak enveloped his lovely daughter into his protective embrace and closed his eyes. When they had heard the news of the exile and The King's deteriorating health, Sunaina had straightaway demanded to see her daughters and Rajrishi Janak too obliged. He himself was worried about his daughter. He knew Sita would follow her husband into exile. His oldest daughter was an independent woman and she knew her responsibilities and her thoughts were different. But his younger daughter had a mind of her own. And he also knew Lakshman's devotion towards his older brother. He didn't know how his youngest was coping up with the happenings." Inside Urmila's chamber, she told her parents everything what had transpired since the topic of exile started. Sunaina was furious at her daughter's predicament but Urmila had put her foot down firmly and defended her husband by telling them what had transpired between then at Mithila. In the end Sunaina grudgingly accepted the genuinity of her son-in-law. Janak had suggested taking the three sisters to Mithila for the remainder of those fourteen years but Urmila had politely refused stating her promise to her husband. Janak smiled at his youngest daughter with tears in his eyes. He remembered the first time he held little Urmila in his arms and now she was all grown up and taking up bigger responsibilities. It was time he realized that she was not a little child anymore. They had left immediately for Chitrakoot to meet the others.

The learned king looked around at the people present and his eyes lingered a bit more on Mandavi who looked devastated. Eventhough he had a faint idea of what might have happened, he wanted to be sure. Mandavi cried out "Uncle" and rushed to him. He enveloped his older niece into his loving embrace and let her cry to let out her pain. Mandavi could only sober few words "Bharat.. Leaving too... How can I !! I am not strong enough.." Janak understood what had happened. His doubt grew into reality and he sighed with pain. Mandavi was going to face the same predicament like that of his youngest Urmila. He was wise enough to understand that Bharat would make sure to hold on to the word given to his Brother Ram. He took a look at the middle prince who looked nothing less than a mess as he looked at his wife sob helplessly. He knew he had wronged her but the guilt was too much that he couldn't help but proclaim such a condition. Now the guilt doubled and he wished nothing more than Mother Earth to swallow him. The learned sage looked at his niece "Mandavi... As much as Bharat was impulsive enough to give his word, it is duty that he follow it." Mandavi sobbed "Why me Uncle !!! What did I do ?" Janak asked her "How did you feel when you heard about Ram, Sita and Lakshman leaving to the forests for the duration of fourteen years ?" Mandavi blinked for a few times "I felt very guilty.." Janak persisted "And ?" Mandavi continued "I wanted to do anything that would make my guilt melt down." Janak advised slowly, as if speaking to a child "You were so burdened with the guilt of wronging that you wanted to do anything that would lessen the guilt. Bharat is the son of the person who had meted out such a predicament. What do you think must be going inside him ? Don't you think he would be coursing through every drop of guilt and wanting to lessen the burden down ?" Realization hit on Mandavi as she let her Uncle's words sink in. She looked at her husband who looked grief-stricken at her. A fresh batch of tears made their way through her cheeks. Bharat voiced out "I am the one who is your sinner, Mandavi. I know that I am not deserving but if you can, please forgive me." Mandavi shook her head "No please.. It is I who is wrong here. I have spoken out of context and with selfishness. Please forgive me." She joined her hands together in a sign of forgiveness. Rajrishi Janak cleared his throat "If I may, might I suggest something ?" Once the approval was given, he spoke "I would like to take Mandavi back with me to Mithila in hopes that it would lessen the burden on her." Mandavi looked at him "Uncle.. What about Urmila ?" Rajrishi Janak looked at Lakshman and then back at Mandavi "Urmila had made herself quite clear with her priorities when she had told me that she would prefer staying back at Ayodhya. Tell me dear. What would your choice be ?" Mandavi braced herself "I would want to spend the reminder of these fourteen years at Ayodhya, Uncle. Like Urmila, I too am a daughter-in-law of Raghuvansh and so there is a question of my duty towards the Royal family. I would like to stay back at Ayodhya, Uncle." Janak smiled at his niece. Today, he was proud of the teachings that he had taught them. He turned towards Guru Vashisht "It would be wise for Bharat to spend his forest years, stationed at Nandigram. This way, he can also help with the administrative affairs of the state." Bharat wanted to protest but Guru Vashisht advised him "What Rajrishi Janak has spoken in true. Till Ram comes back and takes his place as the king of Ayodhya, you will have to help Shatrughan with the administration." The next many moments were filled with an emotional farewell. The party that had started from Ayodhya with hope now started their return journey with grief. Their vanvaas had begun.

Back at Ayodhya, the party had reached. The people looked expectantly for their beloved Ram but were disappointed to not find anyone. Bharat had announced that he would take part in the affairs of the state but would under no circumstances take his place on the throne of Ayodhya. Instead his beloved brother's footwear would sit on the throne as a blessing and also that he would sped fourteen years of his life at Nandigram and would return only when Ram did. In Bharat and Mandavi's chambers, Bharat profusely apologized to Mandavi for putting her through such a fate. Mandavi had refused his apologies only saying that she understood why he had taken such a decision "I do understand why you had to take such a decision. Had I been in your place, I would have probably done the same. I understand your guilt and the depth of the burden you are having. If you can, please forgive me for behaving so impulsively back at Chitrakoot." Bharat held her soft palms in his rough ones "No Mandavi. Never do it. I am unknowingly putting you in a disastrous fate for fourteen years." Mandavi closed her eyes filled with pain and shook her head negatively. Bharat's voice brought her out of her reverie "Promise me one thing Mandavi." Mandavi looked at her husband and he continued "I know how much you love teaching and reading. I want you to continue your hobby of reading and I want you to take your teaching hobby ahead. You are a wonderful woman Mandavi. I want you to impart you knowledge to people." Mandavi's eyes clouded with tears and the couple engulfed each other in a parting embrace that would be their final one till fourteen years. Moments later, Urmila found Bharat and Mandavi standing in her chamber. She was shocked to see Bharat dressed in robes of saffron and quite understood what exactly was going to happen. She turned to look at her cousin standing beside her husband with a brave smile on her face. Urmila looked at Bharat who had his hands folded asking for forgiveness. Urmila widened her eyes "Brother Bharat.. What is this ? Why are you asking for forgiveness ?" Bharat replied "It is I due to whom you are standing here alone without dear Lakshman by your side.. Urmila shook her head "No Brother Bharat. It is not your fault. Please do not ask for forgiveness." Bharat still had his head down "No Urmila. If it were not for Queen Kaikeyi and her boons, this day wouldn't have come. You did not have to part with Lakshman." Urmila gave a sad smile "Brother Bharat. Soumitra had made it quite clear to me about his responsibilities. That day in Mithila, we had a talk where he had poured out his heart infront of me. It was and will always be Brother Ram first for him. And he is just doing his duty towards his brother.. And this decision of me taking up the attire of a forest dweller was entirely mine. I do not have any complaints about anyone. Please do not consider yourself guilty. It is not your fault." With that, Bharat folded his hands and left the palace for Nandigram.