The scene shifts to the Rudra side...
Devi Aranyani has just completed the introduction for Devi Narmada and Devi Manasa.
Rudra thanked Devi Aranyani and proceeded to introduce himself to all of them.
"Hmm... I approve of you, you now at least have a basic qualification to learn what we are going to teach you," said Karthikeya while scanning Rudra up and down with their eyes that have judged various warriors and apprentices who wished to learn from him.
"I say this representing all of us, but even if you have achieved this state, through gifts or boons, I don't care. But you need proper training to control these powers and capabilities. And later to evolve into a perfect being who can embody our teaching and show the world what it means to be a warrior who is trained by not one, not two, but five children of Great Mahadev and Maa Gori. Our parents."
Karthikeya folded their arms across their chest and stood with a confident gait in their steps.
"Yes, brother speaks the truth. Boy, you will need so much more than strength, and you will need training to be up to our standards." Devi Manasa said her gaze was cold and practical like that of a serpent.
"Hmm... But brother first, we must decide who will teach him, No?" Ganesha said with a mischievous glint in their eyes.
"Yes, brother Ganesha is right. But how will we decide who goes first, and who goes after?"
Devi Narmada said while looking at Karthikeya, silently smirking at Ganesha.
Ganesha and Narmada smirk at each other.
They could see,
The training had not even begun yet, but they had already found a moment to enjoy.
"I know what you guys are doing... Vinayak and Reva... But fine, I'll humour you. I will be the one who'll train him first. Because he needs to learn how to control his body and power properly. Otherwise, he will not even be able to perform simple tasks, without breaking something or getting lost somewhere, while stumbling around."
Karthikeya said while glancing at Devi Narmada, Ganesha and then Jyoti.
"It's all right with me, and brother is also right; he must first learn control if he wishes to earn more power and use it properly. So, brother can go first." Ashok Sundari said while smiling at her brother Karthikeya and smirking at Ganesha and Narmada.
"What... Boring... You are boring, Anvi. How could you just give up training him first? Didn't you say he doesn't know how to respect and love the forest, even though he got the blessings of the forest?" Narmada argues back.
"Hmph... You don't have to try to make me agitate and fight with brother Skanda. He could also destroy the forest and the residents of the forest by being unaware of how to properly control his powers." Ashok Sundari said while looking sideways towards Devi Narmada.
"Hmm... So what about you, Manasa and Jyoti? I know you want to train him first, don't you? And I can tell more than anyone here that it is Jyoti who wants to train him the most. Afterall she did give him her fire as a gift. So naturally she would want it to develop properly."
Ganesh said while looking at Manasa and Jyoti one by one.
"I know, Kartik. Brother Ganesha wants us to argue, but I will not deny that he is right. I do want to teach him, too. Could you not give way for your twin sister?" Jyoti asked Karthikeya.
Karthikeya frowned with furrowed brows but said nothing. Instead, he turned to look at Manasa.
"I don't care... yet. First, I'll go and meet with my father and especially my mother. I have to see them. Then I'll decide. If it is okay with everyone, I can even teach him at last." Devi Mansa said in an emotionless and cold tone.
Now it was a silent competition between the twins, while Ganesha and Narmada were already content with teaching Rudra at any time.
...
While everyone was talking, Ganesha and Narmada were instigating and promoting a sibling fight.
Rudra stood there with a blank expression, utterly confused by everything happening around him.
And that moment, Devi Aranyani walked up to Rudra, passing Mata Ganga and giving them a polite nod.
Mata Ganga smiled and returned the gesture with a short nod. And continued watching the sibling rivalry with amusement.
Beside them, Nandi ji were smiling wryly and shook their head once or twice as they already knew something like this would happen when Lord Ganesha and Devi Narmada decided to amuse themselves.
"Cough... So Rudra, how are you feeling, pretty good right. I especially chose that fruit for you, you know the fruit of Kalpavriksha, and it wasn't some random fruit, it was the fruit that was borne by the tree, when I granted to Goddess Parvati the boon of a daughter."
"Oh", Rudra replied blandly. He could tell it was something important, but he had no idea how significant it truly was.
Well, but he was going to get the shock of a lifetime.
But not everyone was Rudra; they could tell the difference between normal and abnormal.
And that's what happened.
And the moment the words sank in,
It was as if a bomb had been dropped.
Silence reigned supreme.
Even the banter between siblings was stopped for a moment, and everyone was looking at Devi Aranyani as if they had done something outrageous and such that they didn't have a word to describe their shock; they were feeling it right about now.
Everyone, Goddess Ganga, Nandi, Ganesha, Narmada, even cold and composed Devi Manasa and Karthikeya, were lost for words.
Everyone except two people.
Ashok Sundari herself and Devi Jyoti, who had witnessed everything through the eyes of Mahadev.
"Huh… what happened to all of you? Why are you suddenly silent? Did you already decide? That was quick. I thought you would argue a little longer. Perhaps you all have grown up after all," Devi Aranyani chuckled.
"W… what do you mean we have grown up? Do you even realise what you have done, Devi Aranyani? Why did you do that?" Devi Narmada said in disbelief.
"Yes, Devi Aranyani. I know I may be stepping out of bounds, but even I must ask… why did you do that?" Lord Ganesha asked, disbelief clear in his eyes. Their large ears, which were showing how happy they were, were now showing utter disbelief and confusion.
Then Karthikeya spoke with a cold tone,
"Are you sure it's not the other way around, it's not that we have grown up, but maybe it's you who has grown careless."
"Yes, Aranya. Why did you give him that specific fruit? You could have given him the fruit that appeared when the Kalpavriksha emerged during the churning of the ocean. Even that would have been more than enough." Goddess Ganga said with a questioning tone.
"Huh!... Why are you guys saying all that? Do you think I sent him to Goddess Ganga for bathing in the water of the Preserver, Lord Vishnu? Knowing that power would be beyond him and the fire of the fire. Well, I miscalculated as even the perfect fruit wasn't that powerful, but still, I thought it through okay." Devi Aranyani said while giving a glare to all.
"Huh!... Water of Lord Vishnu!!!!!. What!!??? When, why, how... To me???" Rudra asked like a broken record. Even if he couldn't tell the difference and importance of such fruit.
He clearly knows who God Vishnu is and is just thinking that he was bathed in their water.
Bathed? Was I bathed in their water... Seriously why!? Why the need?
While he was thinking stupid things,
Nandi slapped him on the back of his head.
"It was not water meant for bathing, idiot. It was the water that first touched Lord Vishnu's feet when Mata Ganga descended," Nandi said.
"Oh.. okay.. um sorry I got carried away. Ha ha ha," Rudra gave an awkward laugh.
"And you, be quiet for a moment. We are discussing something important," Devi Manasa said coldly.
And then looked at Ashok Sundari.
"Anvi, how come you are silent when Devi Aranyani did something like this. Aren't you angry?"
"I'm not, sister. Because I already knew that, and Godmother asked for my permission too, while considering which fruit to give. So don't get angry." Ashok Sundari said to Devi Manasa.
Hearing this, all the divine people were more astonished and shocked.
"But why??... Why Anviz, you know what this means now, right? If it were only Devi Aranyani, we could have dismissed it as a mistake by them that they did something by their own violation, and it wouldn't have caused this much problem. But now..." Karthikeya asked with clear confusion and horror on their face.
Devi Narmada and Ganesha went silent, looked at each other and sighed. As they have to accept nowz what ever has happened.
Finally, Devi Jyoti spoke,
"You guys don't need to worry that much."
"And why is that? It clearly is something we need to worry about." Devi Manasa said to Devi Jyoti.
"Because even father and mother know it and gave approval." Devi Jyoti gave a reply to Devi Manasa while looking at everyone
One by one.
Silence...
Now, everyone didn't know what to say anymore.
Silence continued for some time...
Finally, everyone was silent.
Rudra couldn't help himself and asked Devi Aranyani,
"Um... Devi Aranyani, did you do something wrong?"
Devi Aranyani chuckled and said to Rudra while ruffling his hair that had grown bigger behind his head.
"No, it's just they are simply trying to deny the truth that, as of now, as you have accepted the fire and power of Fruit of Kalpavriksha completely. You are now their sibling."
"Oh… that's all? I'm their brother, huh…"
He paused.
"Huh…?"
Then his eyes widened.
"HUH?! I'M WHAT NOW?!"
And Rudra fainted on the spot.
...