Shatasringa

Arjun's POV

I tried to hide my smile as Bhrata Bheem thumped my back, tousling my tresses, "Arjun, I know enough of your pretense. Now stop pretending that you are scribbling on the parchment." He coolly shrugged, while I knitted my eyebrows at him while our glance fell upon Nakul who had already slept, cocooned in his lap.

Sahadev crawled up towards him to poke his brother's cheek but Bhrata Bheem smacked him lightly and shushed him, making him pout and lay his head on his lap too. These two, they are always behind seeking love, I mentally giggled. I shifted close to them, snaking up my fingers and gently ruffling Nakul's curls.

"Ah, someone slept it seems." Jyesth snapped his book shut, placing it where it belonged, "Today's dose was enough for them." He sniggered, gazing at the two of us who were the only ones awake.

"Sadly, I missed everything. Why did you save them, Phalgun?" Bhrata Bheem sighed and complained, while I shrugged lightly with a lopsided smile.

"Are you going to be that smooth with your children too?"

"What-" I snapped at Bhrata Bheem, who impishly rolled his golden orbs and glanced sideways with a smirk, "I ain't going to wed that soon." Warmth descended my cheeks as I tried to defend, crossing my arms across my bosom.

"Jyesth will be marrying first. Am I right or am I right?" I firmed, eyeing our eldest who paused in his tracks of settling the parchments and books, "I appreciate your thoughts Phalgun regarding your eldest, but no thank you." He bit his lips back and slightly glared at me, making the rest two of us titter and slap each other's palms.

"But we have MahaShivraatri within a month. Women pray for valorous and long lived husbands and Jyesth can pray for a spouse as divine as a Goddess, isn't it?" Bhrata Bheem elbowed me, while I covered my lips with my palm from bursting out laughing.

"Go to sleep you both mischievous duos." Jyesth's soft voice of rebuke was heard from our behind, making our titters turn into slow laughter. Definitely he was shy, I mean that's the only thing that could make him shy amidst all the teases we attempt to pull up upon him. The idea of marriage.

Though it was Bhrata Bheem who always popped up the topic of weddings, he got a slight reminder of it after having a platter of affordable delicacies at the marriage of a Brahmin youth's family who resides a few miles away from our humble home. And that's what piqued the interest of marriage in our dear Bhrata Vrikodar.

But the best part of it is we get to see our somber Jyesth have a crimson hue adorning his jaws. Such was our bonding, we laughed, teased, taunted and even wrestled heartily. But no matter what, we five were always together. No matter what.

I am nothing without them.

*************

3 years later

"Haste! The Yatra will begin shortly!"

"Assemble, assemble! Swift!"

The gibberish repetition of those few phrases of delight rang in the entire mountain of Shatasringa, as we rushed out towards the doorstep, gleaming brightly. Evening had already made way to nightfall, with the moon hanging in the cloudless sky in full glamour, studded with the stars. The entire community was engrossed in the preparation of MahaShivraatri, the occasion we used to rhapsodically anticipate for each year.

The air appeared intoxicated with the perfervid fragrances of flowers, blowing of conches, and the soothing reverberation of musical instruments.

But beyond that, the atmosphere was mingled with something else; devotion.

Pitashree had already carved out a bow out of wood, hanging two pots filled with holy water, for the Yatra. Maata Kunti and Madri were fasting since the morning, which would only break after we offer our prayers to the Lord of Kailash at midnight. We too decided to fast this year, though Nakul and Sahadev were offered morsels for they were still a bit young for it.

Gladly, I was allowed to fast this year because why not? I will be turning fourteen within a few days.

"Haste, children!" Pitashree beamed at us, waving to join him as we all excitedly scurried towards him. As usual, Bhrata Bheem had decided to lend his shoulder for the twins to see since they were short, two years ago he had to raise the three of us for view. But by God's grace I had grown tall enough to witness everything amidst the crowd.

Saints, priests and sages from all around had gathered and were immersed in their devotion for Lord Shiv, as they assembled for the Yatra. I looked on exuberantly with wide eyes beside Jyesth, as two individuals stood in the middle of the vacant clearance, which we had to create deliberately.

One was decked up in tiger skin, drenched in indigo color and matted locks with an artificial crescent structure studded in his locks. Conches began to blow, along with the sounds of instruments filled the air as a few people upraised the one garbed in the costume of Mahadev.

"Hail Mahadev! Hail the Lord of Uma!" We rejoiced, cupping our mouths as we anticipated the arrival of the one decked up as Goddess Parvati. Within moments, another individual who gently strode towards the circle, appearing from the crowds. We all burst into hails at their entrance.

"Witness the divine wedding of the destroyer of evil and the nurturer of nature!"

Maata Kunti always claims, 'Arjun, how is that you always yearn to listen repeatedly to the stories of Mahadev again and again?' Now what am I supposed to do? What am I supposed to do when his name creates and unknown whirlpool of emotions in my self?

His name, His name does something. Mahadev, yes, the all powerful, the Almighty, the destroyer of foes. They say he is Bholenath as well as Rudra, ocean of mercy yet of ruthlessness. If he unleashes his Trident, destruction is unequivocal; if he bestows his compassion, life is certain.

I know, I know all of them, heard of all of his miracles. Heard all his anecdotes. 

Heard about the harsh penance one needs to perform so as to please him. I know, harsh penance is required to have a glimpse of Him but-

It feels like, I, I have an eternal connection with Him. Even before I took birth on earth. The-there is something beyond, beyond what I am unable to witness, some mystery, some unending thread of correspondence.

There is something, certainly something, which exists but I am not aware of.

There is, there is something, and I am certain about it.

I was snapped out of my thoughts when the conches blew harder, while the two individuals exchanged flower garlands with each other, making the crowd hail and cheer louder than ever. But I kept glancing on at them, half dazed and feeling slightly numb as I allowed the crowd to meddle with me as they moved.

"Arjun..."

"Hmm?" I felt my body jerking a bit at the unknown deep voice which appeared to address me out of nowhere. 

**********

A/N

Chapter to mysterious hogya end me 👀

Signing off for today~

Kiritija Nushkie