Third POV
Before Rudra could fall to the ground, Devi Aranyani, who was standing near him, quickly stepped behind him and caught him.
She sat down and gently placed his head on her lap, stroking it with quiet care and affection.
Her eyes rested on his face, which now appeared peaceful, giving no hint of the shock he had just experienced.
Around them, the soft roar of distant waterfalls blended with the chirping of birds.
The calm atmosphere of that sacred place carried a tranquil presence.
And in that moment, with Rudra's head resting on Devi Aranyani's lap, the scene looked almost surreal.
Silence…
"Sigh… to think he actually fainted. But it is understandable. He has just received the revelation that he is now the brother of divine beings, the gods he worships, and most importantly, that he is now considered a child of Mahadev and Mata Parvati," Devi Narmada said after some time.
"And Father and Mother… to think they would actually allow this to happen. Why would they? Are you hiding something, Jyoti, something we should know?" Karthikeya said while looking at Devi Jyoti.
"Why would I know about that? Even if I reside in Father's third eye, I cannot hear their thoughts, you know. So how would I know what they want and why they allowed this to happen?" Devi Jyoti replied calmly.
"Why are we ignoring what actually matters? We all know this. If Father and Mother allowed this to happen, it means that it was meant to happen, and they wanted it to happen. So it is confirmed that…" Ganesha said after noticing that the conversation was simply going in circles, while everyone avoided accepting the reality in front of them.
They then looked at the unconscious Rudra and said,
"He is our new brother. The sooner we accept it, the better it will be."
"Yes, he is now our sibling, and we should treat him kindly. And now you could say I also have a kind of twin brother, do I not?" Ashok Sundari said with a smile that felt as if flowers had bloomed.
"If my sister did this, then there must be a reason. And it will not be a bad decision, so accept it and move forward. And it is not as if this is something terrible. He is a nice child, and you all are going to train him, too. So, you will have time to spend with him and learn about him," Goddess Ganga said in a gentle maternal tone.
"Alright. If you all have decided to treat him, or at least consider him our brother, I will not say much more. But I will accept him only after he proves that he is worthy. Because if he is to stand as my brother, then he must be worthy of it," Karthikeya said after silent contemplation.
"Are you alright, sister Manasa? You have not said anything. Are you feeling alright? I know what you are feeling right now must hurt you deeply. But keep in mind, it is not his fault that he is now our brother," Ashok Sundari said to Devi Manasa.
"I know it is not his fault… but still, how can he be accepted after he has just entered Kailash, while I… I am still not welcome here. I would have been angry at him, but it is because of him that I have finally been called to the grounds of Kailash. Right now, I thought… maybe just maybe I was finally welcomed here. That I could call this place my home and have a place with all of you."
Her voice trembled.
"So no, I do not care what any of you think or decide. But I am going to meet Mother and Father. How could she accept him as her child when she has never given me the love I wanted, the love I should have received from her? I need answers, and I need them right now."
Devi Manasa vanished with the hiss of a serpent, dissolving into drifting mist.
After hearing her outburst, every divine being present fell silent.
A quiet sadness filled the space.
Because they all knew how much she had suffered.
While everyone was focused on Devi Manasa, Rudra had stirred awake, by their earlier outburst. He could feel the frustration, sadness and hurt in her voice, as well as he could see the tears that were glistening in her eyes, ready to fall.
Devi Aranayani noticed his distress and held his head in their firm grasp together and shifted his focus from the lingering smoke toward their face.
They looked in his eyes and shook their head.
"Don't think anything, Rudra, it's not your fault, and you haven't done anything. It's just something that happened in the past between Manasa and Goddess Parvati. And since then, their relationship hasn't been that good." Devi Aranyani said to Rudra.
Rudra looked at her properly this time, and as he looked, he saw that Devi Aranyani were swiping his tears away.
"Devi Aranyani, can you tell me what happened between them that their relation is so bad that Devi Manasa thinks that they are not welcome on the Kailash?" Rudra asked Devi Aranyani.
"No, I can't of you don't know it. It would be better for Goddess Parvati to tell you herself. So, wait for them to tell you. I can't just barge in and take their chance to justify and tell their truth." Devi Aranyani shook their head.
"And don't worry, they will tell you the truth soon." After saying that, Devi Aranyani focused on one corner of the Kailash, specifically a Banyan tree under which Devi Manasa manifested and started to cry while curling at its base.
And just then, another presence descended at that place.
The being looked at Devi Aranyani's side, and it felt as if their eyes met for a time, and that being gave a nod and shifted their focus to Manasa, who was crying.
"Hmm... forget about that for now, you'll know when it will be time." Devi Aranyani looked at him with a smirk and said,
"Why are you still naked on your upper body? Do you like your new physique that much and love to show off?"
"Huh!... What are you saying, Devi Aranyani? It was you who told me to discard my earlier clothes, and maybe you have forgotten, but I only received a dhoti from you, didn't I?"
Rudra asked in confusion.
Seeing Rudra was now focused on this topic.
Devi Aranyani smiled to themselves and, after that, with a mischievous smile, said
"I did give you Chandra Vastra, but you still aren't using it to manifest the vest that should have come forward if you just desired it. Why is that?"
"Huh! I could?... but you can't blame me, can you? i didnt know I could its not as if you gave me a manual or instructions. Did you?" Rudra asked with an accusing tone.
"Is that so? Then why are you still naked? Didn't Devi Aranyani already tell you, you just have to imagine and desire the vest, and it would manifest itself?" Ganesha said with a mischievous tone and chuckled.
"That, I was just out of focus, and it didn't manifest. I am doing it now." Rudra blushed and closed his eyes to imagine a vest over his upper body.
And as
As he tried to imagine it, the Chandra Vastra stirred like living silk.The flowing fabric along his upper body shifted and gathered, threads of pale radiance weaving themselves into form.
A vest slowly manifested over him.
It was sleeveless and perfectly fitted, its colour a soft silver white that carried the gentle glow of moonlight rather than the harsh shine of metal. Along its boundaries and lower hem ran intricate engravings formed from delicate threads of black and faint gold, woven so finely they seemed almost carved into the fabric itself.
The base of the vest extended slightly longer than ordinary garments, tapering in elegant layered panels that moved softly with every motion, completing Rudra's warrior prince presence with quiet authority.
Though light in appearance, the vest carried an unmistakable sense of divine craftsmanship... protective, regal, and timeless.
At the same moment, the symbol that once rested at the base of his neck faded from his skin.For a heartbeat, it vanished entirely.
Then it reappeared, engraved into the fabric itself... resting precisely at the base of the vest's V-shaped neckline upon his upper chest, as if the Chandra Vastra had claimed it as its sacred seal.
Rudra opened his eyes and looked at his new look in the reflection in the river, and it wouldn't be a lie to say that he liked what he saw. It was perfect, more than perfect.
Looking at his new look, he was beyond satisfied.
"Whistle... You look dashing and complete now, Rudra. This looks perfect on you." Devi Aranyani said with a mesmerising look.
"Yes, it does look perfect on him. It seems I made the right decision by giving this to you. Right 'BROTHER'." Ashok Sundari said with a satisfied smile.
Hearing the term Brother in such enthusiasm, Rudra couldn't help but smile wryly and say,
"This... Um Devi Ashok Sundari, can we wait for some time? I don't think I can casually accept that we are brother and sisters. I'm but human, and you are a God and Daughter of Mahadev and Mata Parvati."
"But we are, but it's alright, I can do this much for my Little brother, but you also have to do something for me. Or I'll continue to say, brother. Humph." Ashok Sundary said to Rudra.
Rudra readily accepted her request.
"Yes, please, tell me, I'll do my utmost to fulfil that condition."
"It's nothing much. I know you won't stop using 'Devi', so I want you to say Anvi instead of Ashok Sundary." Ashok Sundari said to Rudra with arms across their chest.
"And I won't accept NO as a response. It's either this or you say sister instead."
"Alright... Devi... Anvi." Rudra said with a defeated expression.
"What... then, me too, you have to say Devi Aranya or Aranya tome too." Devi Aranyani said to Rudra.
"And don't forget about me, you have to say Devi Reva or Sister to me too." Devi Narmada said.
"You can call me anything for now, Rudra. It's still time we can develop our relationship further." Lord Ganesha said.
"You have to address me as Teacher, Master or Lord Karthikeya. I won't accept anything else, at least for now." Lord Karthikeya said.
"And for me, you can continue to use Devi Jyoti as a name." Devi Jyoti said, and there was a smugness in their tone.
Hearing so many absurd requests at the same time, Rudra couldn't help but sweat a lot.
So, he took a few steps back and sat on the stone near the riverbank.
and with a tired sigh... He says,
"Yes..."