A Most Awaited Meeting- An SS- Completed- 2/4/18 - Page 3

AS THE YEARS GO BY

A year later...

Parvati sat among the flowers, playing with the little flowers that had fallen all around her. For some reason, wherever she was, Nature bloomed and danced. Her presence made Nature rejoice.

The King and Queen of the mountains sat in the shade of the tree, watching their daughter with a kind of pride that only parents could. Their daughter was one year old, and Nature already loved her. Little did they know that their daughter is Prakriti Herself.

"Shiva! Shiva!"

The King and Queen of Himalayas turned to stare at their daughter, who was now energetically saying the name "Shiva!"

"Our daughter uttered her first words, Lord, said Queen Menavati, tears in her eyes.

"And it is the name of swayam Bhagwan Shiva Shankar", said the king of mountains, hands folded. "She will be a great devotee of the Lord. I can sense it"

"She will Lord, said Queen Menavati, though a sense of worry crept into her. Where will this lead to though? The Queen was extremely protective over her youngest daughter.

"Shiva, Shiva!"

The joyous voice of her daughter made the Queen forget everything and look at her now dancing daughter.

5 years later...

Parvati danced in the meadow, the same spot where she uttered her first words. Her entire being moved gracefully, her hands synchronising with her feet, her mudras perfectly aligned, her smile enchanting. Her dusky complexion added to her beauty, and she shone like a golden statue. She finished dancing that particular sequence, and looked up at the sky, smiling.

"That was brilliant"

A melodious voice floated through the air, wrapping around Parvati. She felt that the voice she heard was divine, and that at that point, there was nothing equal to the sisterly love she felt for the voice of the person, who she hadn't seen yet. She whirled around, and met with beautiful brown eyes, which shone with all emotions known and unknown to man. Those eyes shone with a wisdom that none can know, yet had a tinge of naughtiness and a large part of serenity and knowing Eternity. She took in the man standing in front of her.

He was tall, and had skin like that of the dark blue clouds, His hair was curly, His teeth white, His lips ruby red and perfectly shaped. He had a perfect nose, and well-shaped ears, from which diamond earrings hung. He had a sacred mark on His chest, and He wore a necklace whose jewel shone like all the three worlds put together. His feet were like that of a Lotus.

Her face glew with sisterly love that she didn't realise; the bond between Him and Her was something that was so ancient that none could take. Narayana's Narayani was she, after all.

"Thank you. But who are you?", asked Parvati. "You can't be from the mountains"

"But I can", said He. "I can be from the mountains, and I can be from the forest, I come from the sea, and I belong to a Kingdom. I left my wives to come and see the daughter of the mountains. They will be waiting for me, ever patiently"

"I am the daughter of the mountains", Parvati, in a bold move.

"That you are, young princess", said the man, eyes twinkling.

"But what would you need to search for me for, Bhai?", asked Parvati, the words slipping out of her mouth. She gasped, and gaped at Him.

"You are my sister, aren't you?", said the man, eyes twinkling.

"I am?", asked Parvati, confused.

"You called me Bhai. That makes me your brother and makes you my sister", said the man, eyes laughing.

"That is true", said Parvati. "You have a way with words"

"Why do you say that?", asked He, amused.

"You seem to know what to say when. It is as if you know how to soothe people with your words, and also how to win them", said the young princess.

"That maybe true. But you know something?", said He. "I always lose to my wives"

"What?"

Parvati couldn't believe that this man who knew exactly what to say when lost to His wives.

"It's true", said He, tenderness in His eyes.

"But how is that possible?", asked Parvati, eyes shining curiously.

"It is, when one is bound by the love you shower on them", said He, smiling.

"Does that mean Lord Shiva will be the same if I shower love on Him?", asked Parvati, with wide eyes.

"Why not?", asked He, mischievous twinkle back, thinking, Sister, it is not as easy as that, yet it is as easy as that. Your willpower will get you a long way'

"Really?"

Parvati laughed, and in her joy, she started dancing again, imagining herself as the beloved of Lord Shiva. She didn't notice the man smile and disappear, she didn't notice anything. All she could think of was dancing with Lord Shiva. The very thought of that gave her so much joy.

4 years later...

A ten year old Parvati rushed to the Shiva Mandir she had made, as and when she woke up. The sound of her tinkling anklets enhanced the melody of Nature, making it sound like singing.

Rushing to the Linga, she showered the Linga with flowers, her love for Lord Shiva shining through her actions.

"You know something?"

The familiar voice in Parvati's dreams said.

She whirled around to meet the same mischiveous brown eyes that she thought of every time she felt low and needed brotherly comfort.

"Bhai?"

"It is me, sister", said He. "You have grown up"

"You saw me four years ago, Bhaiya. Of course I have", said Parvati, with a pout.

"What happened, little sister?", He asked, grinning at her pout.

"You didn't come to see me", she said, petulantly.

"I was busy little sister. Forgive me?"

His wide eyes melted Parvati, and she rushed to hug Him.

6 years later...

"Bhaiii!"

Parvati blushed, as her brother relentlessly teased her about her love for Lord Shiva. The Linga of Lord Shiva was decorated with flowers, and a bel patra, which as Parvati's brother Vishnu told her, Mahadev loved the best from His devotees. She found it funny that her Bhai shared the same name as the Lord of the Universe, as Para Brahman Himself. Sometimes though, she felt like He was the same Lord who was called Narayana, the One who Is.

"Sister, lost in thoughts of your Mahadeva again?", asked a mischievous Vishnu, grinning.

"No Bhaiya. I was thinking about you", said Parvati.

"What about me?", asked the Lord.

"I feel like you are the Lord Himself, the Lord Narayana, the refuge of His devotees", said Parvati.

"And if I am?", asked He.

"Then I will consider it my greatest fortune that He chose me to be His little sister, His little natkhat", said Parvati, tears in her eyes.

"He is fortunate to have you as a sister, little natkhat", said the Lord, brotherly love on His features, causing Parvati's eyes to well up more.

"Parvati!"

"Your sakhis are coming, little natkhat. I have to go. I will be back", said the Lord, vanishing in thin air.

Parvati blinked at the space where He had stood. Her brother is Lord Narayana Himself? He loved her the way she loved Him. He was truly amazing!

"Parvati!"

Her two closest sakhis, Jaya and Vijaya came running.

"What is going on you two?", asked Parvati, smiling at them.

"He is here!", they said, in a chorus.

"Who?" asked Parvati, anticipation filling her.

"Your Mahadev!"

"What?", asked Parvati, as a blush filled her beautiful face, and the butterflies in her stomach grew.

"He is here, to do penance!", said Jaya.

"Maharaja is going to see Him", added Vijaya.

"I have to go as well", said Parvati, laughing in happiness. "I have to go and see Him"

She closed Her eyes, seeing Him within them already.