Madurai Meenakshi (OS) The Challenge- on Pg 28 - Page 15

However, anti social elements make their appearance even the best ruled kingdoms.

On one dark night, two people were walking about on a lonely road. One was tall and broad. His matted hair reached till his waist, a long flowing beard covered the greater part of his face and in his hand he carried a long staff with a skull. His companion was shorter, stockier and carried a pot of bhang under his arm. He was quaking in fear, the bhang spilling on their clothes.

The first man peered in darkness and spotted a ruined shelter. "This way" he said leading his companion. Unfortunately for them, that shelter also happened to be the hideout of a gang of highway robbers- who were- at that time being rounded up by the royal guards.

Seeing these two approaching the shelter, the guards conveniently assumed they too were part of the gang and proceeded to tie them up as well.

"Prabhu"...Nandi whispered to his Lord as they were being forced to march behind the horse mounted soldiers, "Prabhu...what will happen now?"

"Enjoy the fun, Nandi, and walk straight"

Nandi gulped uncomfortably.

Soon they reached the capital where they were promptly thrown into prison. It was hot and humid, dark and dinghy, inside the dungeon. Nandi scanned the walls, desperate to find a way out. Shiva however, crossed his legs and closed his eyes, unperturbed.

Nandi couldn't control himself. "Oh yes, lord. What a perfect place for Dhyan. Hot, uncomfortable,...perfect...A nice place you have chosen"

Shiva opened his eyes and spoke slowly " You know, Nandi, in order to make me appear before her, Parvati stood under the blazing sun and surrounded herself with fire on four sides. She stood under freezing waterfall, ignoring all the discomfort and chanting only my name."

Shiva continued "Now, if I want to meet her, can't I endure a little hardship for one night?"

Nandi did not speak another word.

Shiva closed his eyes and slipped into meditation

"Maharagni...Maharaasi...", the Chief of Royal Guards bowed before the queen. "The gang that we captured last night...Most of them have confessed and have been dealt with appropriately , but...

"But, what?"

"One of them refuses to confess. He says he is not guilty of any wrong doing. What do we do with him?"

"Bring him to me. I shall interrogate him personally" the queen answered authoritatively.

The Chief bowed low and going back to the prison, ushered the two prisoners into her royal presence.

Nandi looked at her feet reverentially. Shiva could not stop staring at her.

The same radiance on her face...the slight flush of pink on her cheeks...the red lips...

"Uma...Gowri..." he murmured, unable to rivet his eyes.

"That's right" came the queen's sharp voice "Call Uma, Gowri, all the goddesses for help. Better still call Maha Kali. Because..." said cracking her whip "...you cannot escape me now"

Shiva shook himself and smiled on hearing the queen's words. I never wanted to escape you.

"Name?" interrogated the queen

"Shankaran"

"Your native place?"

"Rameshwaram...even Chidambaram..."

"Occupation?"

"What ?"

"Occupation...What do you do for a living?"

"Um...what do I do for a living? Nothing in particular..."

'Unemployed' jotted the queen

"Married ?"

"Of course..." replied Shiva looking at the queen straight in the eye.

"Children?"

"Two sons"

"And where are they now?"

"They are grown up and gone their own ways"

"So , what exactly were you doing on the night of your capture?"

"I had come in search of my wife"

"In search of your wife?...So, she has left you ?..."

"Yes, sixteen years ago" replied Shiva with a tinge of sorrow "And gone to her parents' house..."

"Any idea why?" Her voice was dangerously harsh now

"Let me tell you", the queen replied, coming closer .

Shiva felt the familiar whiff of jasmine and inhaled deeply.

"But first tell me, did your wife ever keep you hungry?"

"Never..." replied Shiva enthusiastically. "She was an amazing cook...She would satisfy everyone's hunger" Closing his eyes, Shiva murmured blissfully "She was Annapoorna herself"

"Exactly" said the queen cracking her whip sharply, making both the prisoners jump.

"And did you bother to find out how she managed to keep your kitchen fires burning, without your help? Did you bother to find out how she procured the food that you ate?

Shiva shook his head.

"What were you doing? Were you in Samadhi?"asked the queen sarcastically

Shiva was rendered speechless.

"But anyway, since you have come in search of your wife, I think you have realized your mistake. And we will help you. Where is her parents' place?"

"I was told she was here, in Madurai' replied Shiva innocently/

"Then it will be very easy to locate her. Till we reunite you with your wife, you can stay as our guest."

Next part continues here

WOnderful! Excellent! Shiva and Nandi interrogated by Thataatakai! It was really good! Especially, her questions and his answers - BTW, why didn't he specify his residence as Kailash?

nice update varaali, so she knows about adishakti and her different roop or forms but she doesn't know that she is adishakti herself.

Nice update varaali👏

Love the update. Lool mahadev being asked any questions by thataatakai was so funny. Loved how mahadev was so happy to see her and tells her that he is looking for his wife.

He misses her. Look forward to next update 👏

Surya, Minakshi and Rajshri,

Thanks for your comments. Glad you enjoyed it.

Smiley and Arijit,

Please don't get confused with the current DKDM track. In this story, Thataatakai is not aware of her divine origins because Shiva himself made her forget her true nature when she incarnated on Earth.

Lord Shiva felt that if she knew who she was, then she would be constantly immersed in his thoughts and would not be able to achieve the purpose of her incarnation - which was- to prove the inherent strength of women.

If she knew that she was Parvati / Adi Shakti, then how will she be able to convince the ordinary people that women, too can rise to great heights.

But even though she was unaware of her divine origins, at no point was she ever helpless or weak.