After dinner was finished, the food and utensils vanished from the table. Now everything was clear and empty, except two bowls of Kheer, one in the hand of Lord Ganesha and one in Mushak's.
Even though the dinner was over, the joyful atmosphere lingered, so the family still talked for a few more minutes.
"Rudra, are you excited?" Devi Ashok Sundari asked Rudra.
To this, Rudra replied confusedly,
"Excited? About what Devi Anvi?"
"You know, your training is beginning tomorrow." Devi Narmada joined and answered on behalf of Devi Ashok Sundari.
'It's beginning from tomorrow? Huh...' Rudra thought for a moment and answered.
"I'm excited, I can't wait to start learning from you all and learn to be something more." He answered with a smile.
"Yes, so be ready early morning, okay, I'll be the first one to train you. So, you should prepare yourself, it won't be an easy trai..." Karthikeya said with a confident and authoritative tone.
"What are you talking about, Kartik? Didn't we decide that it would be me who would teach him first?" Devi Jyoti frowned and interrupted Karthikeya.
"That..." Karthikeya frowned hard. It was before he realised that Rudra was to be his brother, but now he wants to mould him into a perfect warrior. What better way than to train him and point him towards that direction?
"Well, I don't want to burst your bubble, but now even I want to train him first, so we need to decide anew." Devi Manasa joined the conversation.
Heh... Chuckles, Lord Ganesha stopped eating from his Kheer and looked at the ongoing discussions and siblings' quarrel with interest.
He turned and locked eyes with Narmada, and both gave a satisfied smile and focused on the quarrel.
The quarrel continued for a few minutes,
Lord Karthikeya, Devi Manasa, and Devi Jyoti went on and on about how they should be the first ones to teach him, but not even one of them wanted to step back. So, the discussion went on for a time.
Seeing this, Rudra was feeling awkward, so he looked at the other siblings, Devi Aranyani and Goddess Ganga, but found that everyone was enjoying it as entertainment just like before.
So he looked at two beings who could come forward and solve that problem.
Mahadev and Mata Parvati.
Mata Parvati smiled at Rudra and intervened before the quarrel escalated beyond measure,
"Cough... Cough... Would you stop already? What are you showing your new brother? Can't you guys come into middle ground?
You three, you guys want to train him first, right? But stop fighting. Do it like this, divide his days into a schedule and teach him together."
"Yes, do it like this;
From early morning/ beginning of Brahm muhurat to the beginning of 1st Prahar (from 4:00 AM to 6:00 AM), Ganesha will see that He meditates and gets complete benefits of the time.
Then from the first part of the 1st Prahar to the end part of the 1st Prahar (Purvahn) Karthikeya will teach him, (6:00 AM to 9:00 AM) a time when the body has completed its rest," Mahadev said.
"Yes, father!" Both brothers gave a firm nod and a reply.
"From the beginning of 2nd Prahar to the end of 2nd Prahar (Madhyahn), (9:00 AM to 12:00 PM) Jyoti will teach him, a time when the Sun and fire concentration is highest, and it is interchangeable with Anvi and Aranyani, so figure it out."
"Okay, father!" Devi Jyoti and Ashok Sundari replied calmly and with an enthusiastic smile, respectively.
"Uh huh..." Mata Parvati smiled and looked at Mahadev
Who smiled wryly and said,
"Yes... Yes, from that point to the first two parts of the 3rd Prahar (Aparahn), (12:00 PM to 2:00 PM) You all have to come and eat with us.
And Karthikeya, before you get the feeling that the whole time allotted to you is for training, keep in mind the first meal of the day is also your responsibility. You have to see to it that he eats his share of food, his breakfast. The latter part of the 1st Prahar is for a meal. (Between 8:00 AM and 8:30 AM or more, depending on the situation.)
So where was I, yes next,
From the last part of the 3rd Prahar (Aparahn) to complete the 4th Prahar (Sayahn) (2:00 PM to 6:00 PM), Narmada will teach him."
"Yes, Father," Karthikeya and
"Ji Father." Devi Narmada answered Mahadev.
"Then,
From the first part of the 1st night prahar (Pradosh) (6:00 PM to 8:00 PM), it's eating time, which again you guys have to come for a family dinner.
From the third part of the 1st night prahar Pradosh to complete 2nd night prahar (Nishith) (8:00 PM to 10:00 PM), Manasa will teach him."
"Alright, Father." Devi Manasa gave a respectful nod.
"After that Child, you should rest for a time and after a bath, go to sleep, okay?" Mata Parvati smiled and said to Rudra, stroking his head.
To which Rudra replies bashfully,
"Yes, Mata."
"So, everything is sorted out, right?" Mahadev asked everyone.
"Yes, Father!" Everyone replied together and gave a small bow.
Goddess Ganga came forward and, with a smile says to the kids,
"Now, I'll recommend a walk, and after that a bath, and you should prepare to sleep."
"Yes, Maa Ganga", Ashok Sundari replies and quickly comes to Rudra and holds his hands to take him on walk.
"I'm also coming", Devi Aranyani came forward and started following them,
"Me too." Devi Narmada joins the group and moves outside.
Devi Jyoti looked at them and, with a swish, vanished and went back into the third eye of Mahadev. Where they feel the most comfortable.
Lord Ganesha stood up and held the hands of Devi Ridhi and Sidhi with Mushak in toe, who still has few Modaks in his mouth, and with a quick bow to the parents vanishes to their divine realm.
And Karthikeya stood up and asked Devi Valli and Devsena,
"Are you guys staying pr visiting your hometowns again for a night?"
To which,
Devi Devsena came forward and said,
"Swamy, I'm visiting my father's residence for some time, it's been a while since I stayed there."
Devi Valli came forward and said,
"And Swamy, I'm visiting South one more time." She bowed to Mahadev, Mata Parvati and Devi Ganga and asked for permission.
"Yes, it's alright, you guys can go back, I'll stay with father and mother, it's been a while for me too, that I have come home," Karthikeya replied calmly and with an extended hand summons, their Vahan Mayur, whom they asked,
"Mayur, go and take Valli to her hometown area, and stay with her."
"Yes, my lord. I'll send them and stay with them. I won't give you any reason to regret choosing me." Mayur replies with the grace of a commander vahan.
Mayur bends down, and Devi Valli sits on it, and with a flap, Mayur picks up the pace and streaks over the skies.
After seeing her off,
Karthikeya summoned his Vel and drove the base of the Vel into the ancient stone of Kailash.
With that action of theirs,
The air thrummed as a cosmic vortex instantly materialised around the shaft, swirling with electric blues and shimmering indigo.
The sky itself seemed to rotate. Then, the silence was shattered not by wind, but by the overwhelming, synchronous blast of thousands of celestial trumpets, vibrating not just in the ear, but in the soul.
The trumpeting reached a peak that blurred vision, and as it abruptly ceased, the sound hung heavy in the profound silence that followed.
From the very heart of the still-swirling vortex, a step was taken...
First, a foot emerged, pressing onto the sacred ground with the weight of an established kingdom. It was clad in a sandal forged of hardened celestial gold, laced with beautiful thongs that pulsed with internal heat.
The skin was radiant, fair, but flushed with an undeniable, fierce glow of authority. On the ankle rests an anklet of diamonds, not decorative, but a containment of thunderous energy.
Then the form emerged slowly, with an innate nobility that commanded immediate obeisance.
A robe of pure, iridescent white silk flowed out, catching invisible winds, embroidered with threads that mimicked the lightning itself.
As the torso materialised, the sheer presence of the king, who was overflowing with pride, but pride of a father and broad shoulders draped in jewellery and
The face appeared, eyes like storm clouds, flashing with a power that could scorch or soothe with a single glance.
The center of his chest bore the crest of Swarga, the image of his mount, the elephant Airavata.
In their hands rested a crown. It was a masterpiece of gold and jewels, but its defining feature was the central gemstone, Vajra-Mani.
For it wasn't the time and place to wear on the head, but still not to discard, as it represents their authority and their power.
They stepped forward, and with one look at their daughter, a smile bloomed on their face,
But
First, they went to stand before,
Mahadev and Parvati gave a deep bow, not to someone of lower stature, but of devotee who not only believes in them but also knows and understands the weight they hold.
Massive than the crown they held in their hands, which in itself is heavy with the burden of the Earth, its radiance and hope of mortals.
"Get up, Devraj Indra. You don't have to bow." Mahadev said to Devraj,
"As you are here as Father of my daughter-in-law and not as King or my subject. So, stand up and go meet with your daughter, who is waiting to hug you." Mata Parvati completed her husband's words with a smile.
"Ji, Mahadev and Mata," Devraj replies to Gods and turns towards their daughter,
Who couldn't wait anymore and jumps in their arms.
"Ha Ha Ha... How is your daughter? Did Senapati Karthikeya treat you well?" Devraj asked with a face full of smile and laughter of a father who has met with their kid daughter after so much time.
"Obviously, father. They are the best, you know. Thank you for choosing them as my husband." Devi Devsena smiled and looked at Karthikeya with a blush.
"Yes, yes of course he'll be, for he is the great commander and perfect and confident man who could fight the world for his beliefs." Devraj Indra said with a warm tone.
"Thank you for your high praise, Devraj. Let me tell you, for what reason I have called upon you and opened the gate to Heaven.
As you can see, Devsena is feeling homesick and wants to stay for some time with you and in heaven. So, I asked for your presence, so you could take her with you." Karthikeya said to Devraj and explained their reasoning for summoning them.
"Obviously, even I am feeling the need to spend some time with my daughter, so you have my thanks for letting me take her." Devraj gave a fatherly smile and gave a nod.
Then they turned towards Mahadev and Mata Parvati, and spoke
"I'll be leaving Mahadev and Mata, I won't be a bother and will come visit again later." He bows.
"It's alright, Indra, you can come anytime. And take care of our daughter, okay, now she is as ours as much as she is yours." Mahdev said with a smile of their own.
Devraj bows again and, with their daughter hand in hand, stepped back into the Vortex.
And with that again came the trumpets' sound, and the vortex vanished.
After they vanished,
Mahadev and Mata Parvati focused on one more presence who was still standing in the hall.
"So, what about you, Manasa? Where are you going?" Mata Parvati smiled and asked her.
With a cheerful smile and tone, Devi Manasa replies,
"Maa, I'm going to the pond to stabilise my third eye and develop it more."
Saying that, she bowed a little and, after giving Karthikeya a nod, she went for the pond near the abode to meditate under the moonlight.
Now in the hall,
Karthikeya, Mahadev, Mata Parvati, Goddess Ganga and Nandi were left.
Who talked some more and shared their stories, and Karthikeya, who were long way home, also sat by their parents and enjoyed an alone moment with them.