Baal Vaishnavi and Balashree joyfully skipped amidst the sun-dappled trees, their laughter that was echoing through the woodland, was mingled with the huff of Bhairavnath and his students who were chasing them.

The nimble feet of the goddesses barely made a sound as they darted through the forest, leaving the group of pursuers befuddled and breathless in their wake. They confidently led them on a wild chase, adorned with an indomitable spirit that matched their celestial essence.

Bhairavnath and his students were left bewildered, as to how fast and how swift these little girls were. After a while they both disappeared from their eyes.

Balashree and baal Vaishnavi chuckled for they had reached so far that it will take Bhairavnath and his students more than a few moments to reach them.

Suddenly their eyes fell over a monkey, sitting on a rock, looking at them both with curious eyes. A wave of joy washed over them both seeing him.

"Pranam Hanuman." They said joining their hands.

A bright light emerged from the monkey, who then materialized in form of Hanuman. His golden complexion shone brighter than the sun behind him, his earrings swayed along with the winds, his mukut reflected the sunlight. A serene smile adorned his lips.

"Pranaam." He greeted joining his hands, between which his mace was kept.

And since he came in his real form, Baal Vaishnavi and Balashree too came in their actual forms.

"Yeh mai kya dekh raha hu ? Jagatmata Vaishnodevi aur Hariharsuta Amarsri, dushto se bhaag rahe hai ?" Hanuman asked.

"Hum bhaag nahi rahe Hanuman, hum toh unn dushto ko thaka rahe hai." Vaishnodevi said with a smile.

"Aapne hume darshan ka saubhagya kaise diya ?" Amarsri asked.

"Prabhu Shri Ram ne apne lok sidharne se poorv mujhse kaha tha ki mai Vaishnodevi ke sewa mei jaayu. Dhundhte dhundhte, aaj mai inn tak pahuch hi gaya." Hanuman said and then looked at Vaishnodevi with eyes lowered with respect, "Kahiye Mata, kya sewa karu ?" He asked.

Vaishnodevi smiled before saying, "Bhaagte bhaagte hume pyaas lag gayi hai. Hanuman, kripiya aap jal ka prabandh karde." She said.

"Awashya. Mai aap dono ke liye jal nahi apetu Ganga ka prabandh kardeta hu." Hanuman said.

He closed his eyes and chanted, "Jai shree Ram !". A bow and an arrow appeared in his hands, which he gave to Vaishnodevi.

She took it and aimed it a spot. Pulling the string till her ears, she shot the arrow which pierced the ground in such a way that a stream of pure water came out of it and became a water fall.

Hanuman went up to it, summoning a sacramental pot, he filled it up with water. He then went up to Vaishnodevi and poured the water in her cupped hands from which she drank to satisfy her thirst. In the same manner, he quenched the thirst of Amarsri as well.

Suddenly the sound of running footsteps fell on their ears.

"Devi aap Trikuta ki oor prasthaan kare. Mai Bhairavnath ko wahi bhejti hu." Amarsri said.

"Aur uske shishya ?" Vaishnodevi asked.

"Unhe mai sambhal lungi." Amarsri said with an assuring smile.

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The palanhaar of the universe, Bhagwaan Vishnu, was lying on his anant-shaiya. His eyes were closed, a soft smile was gracing his lips, his mind was fixed on Mahadev as always.

Mata Lakshmi was sitting in front of him, gazing at his mystical smile while she pressed his feet with unmatched love and devotion.

Suddenly some desperate voices fell on her ears.

"Narayan hume darshan kyu nahi de rahe ?"

"Kya humari tapasya paryapt nahi ?"

She recognised that these voices belonged to her sisters, the five beautiful maidens that came out of Samudra manthan and were assigned to Patal lok.

A sympathetic expression made its way to her radiant face, for she knew since how long they all were doing austerities to be in the company of Narayan. She knew that after seeing him once, a person becomes detached from the world and wishes for nothing else but to be near him.

"Nath ?" She gently held the hand of her husband.

Bhagwaan Vishnu opened his eyes slowly, his small smile broadened seeing the resplendent face of his beloved wife. But he saw a tinge of sadness in her eyes.

"Kya sata raha hai aapko devi ?" He asked sitting up.

"Meri behene sahastra varsho se aapki tapasya kar rahi hai. Kya aapko unhe darshan nahi dena chahiye ?" She asked.

At that his face became serious, "Devi, kya aap jaanti hai ki unki iccha kya hai ?" He asked.

"Prabhu, mai jaanti hu ki woh sab aapko pati ke roop mei prem karte hai. Lekin mujhe vishwas hai ki aapke darshan kar unhe sansarik kaamnao se mukti mil jaayegi. Unki tapasya ka karan jis bhi roop se ho, kintu moolroop se toh woh aapka sanidhya hi chaahte hai na ? Hum unhe Vaikunth mei bhi sthaan de sakte hai." Mata Lakshmi said.

"Aur mujhe laga aradhya Mahadev bhole hai." Narayan said.

"Nath..." She shook her head and then said, "Unhe darshan de dijiye na."

"Darshan dedu toh unhe unke tapasya ka fal bhi dena padega." He said.

"Woh meri behene hai prabhu. Mere ahit mei kuch nahi maangegi." She said.

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A/N

Mata Lakshmi.... Woh log jo vardan maangegi.... Pura sansaar hil jayega 😭

Btw, jis spot pe Hanuman ji ne Mata Vaishnodevi ke liye Ganga prakat ki thi, uss sthaan ko 'Baan Ganga' kehte hai. Yeh ek prasidh tirth hai, shraddhalu yaha snaan karke, Mata ke darshan ke liye aage badhte hai.