Kaikeyi's Fateful Boons

"Oh, great king of the Raghu clan!" she addressed her husband. "Years ago, during a battle between the gods and the demons, you fought on the gods' side. The enemy's arrows broke your chariot, and you were unconscious—do you remember that incident? You were barely alive. That night, I became your charioteer, driving you out of the battlefield. Afterward, I removed an arrow from your body, served you, and restored your health. When your consciousness returned, you had granted me two boons."

"Yes, I remember everything," Dasharath immediately replied. "You can ask me for two boons. I will fulfill them." 

Upon hearing this, Kaikeyi was beside herself with joy. She wiped her tears and tried to smile. 

"Emperor," said Kaikeyi, "all your ancestors were true to their word, and I am sure you will also honor your word. My first demand is that my son, Bharat, be made king. My second demand is that Ram must be exiled for fourteen years".

The emperor was dumbstruck. Just a few minutes ago, he had promised to fulfill Kaikeyi's demands. He fell to the ground, unconscious, out of shock. When he regained consciousness, he saw that Kaikeyi was still standing there. Seeing her before him, he felt like a deer trembling before a lioness. He sat down in the doorway, full of sadness and disappointment. 

"Please don't exile Ram," he caught Kaikeyi's feet and pleaded with her. "I can survive for some time without water, air, and light, but not a moment without Ram." 

But Kaikeyi was not ready to listen to anything in the darkness of jealousy, greed, and ignorance.