The air crackled with anticipation as Balashree, radiant and beguiling, frolicked amidst the dense forest. Her eyes sparkled with mischief, twinkling like the brightest stars in the night sky.

She led her pursuers on a relentless chase, the sound of their heavy breaths was mingling with her ringing laughter. Like leaves caught in a whirlwind, they were hopelessly caught in her game, desperately trying to catch up to the smallest glimpse of her fleeting form.

With each step, the students of Bhairavnath grew more fatigued, their strength waning as they stumbled over rocks and tangled in vines. Yet, the little Balashree showed no signs of tiring.

Balashree stopped in her tracks and turned around to gaze at them. They were a distance, and till they reached her, they all fell down at her feet, panting heavily.

"Kab tak bhaagoge mere piche ?" She asked looking at them.

"Jab tak tujhe baandh nahi dete." One of them said raising his head.

"Woh asambhav hai." Balashree said folding her arms.

"Guru ki aagya na maanna humare liye asambhav hai...." Another one of them said.

"Kintu jab Guru ki buddhi bhramit ho gayi ho tab ? Aise Guru ka tiraskaar karna chahiye. Shaashtra toh aise Guru ko dandit karne ki bhi anumati dete hai." Balashree said.

"Kuch bhi mat bol kanya ! Tujhe shaashtra ke baare mei pata hi kya hai ?!" One of them said.

At that Balashree chuckled, only if they knew that she was Ved-vadini, who had taken birth in this very same Kashmirpur, as Vidyashree, the unparalleled scholar and tapasvini.

"Dekho, tumhare Guru ka annt nikat hai. Kintu tumhare paas pura jeevan pada hai. Bhairavnath ko chhodo, mai tumhe ek uchit Guru pradaan kar sakti hu." Balashree said.

She extended her hand at the student at the forefront, who was still lying on the ground breathing heavily, so he could stand up but instead of holding onto her hand, he grabbed the tongs that were tied on his waist, and in a cruel act of defiance, he struck her dainty forearm.

The impact sent shockwaves of agony through her tender flesh, immediately igniting a cascade of pain that spread beneath her skin. She felt a sharp stinging sensation as blood vessels beneath the surface were ruptured. The affected area began to darken, transforming from a rosy flush to ominous shades of purple and blue.

"Guru ki aagya karna humara dharm hai !" He said and then stood up, turning his head towards his fellow mates, "Bahut vishram ho gaya ! Bandhi banalo ise ! Guru ki aagya ka palan ho !" He told.

"Guru ki aagya ka palan ho !" They all said with determination as they too stood up.

Balashree stared at the bruise that was formed, right in the middle of her forearm. If she wanted she could've punished them here only for this transgression, but she had another plan in her mind.

"Dekhte hai kitna aagyakari ho tum sab." She said.

Without wasting another moment she ran down the hills, the students of Bhairavnath followed behind. The chase began once again. The young men were bewildered as to how swiftly she ran across the forest as if she knows this place like the back of her hand. Little did they know that she did, it was Kashmirpur after all.

Earlier she was running randomly wherever she wanted, but now the path on which she was running was calculated.

After running some distance, she saw a flag, belonging to a temple. She hurried towards it and within few moments, she rushed inside. The students of Bhairavnath followed her in, a terrible mistake out of ignorance.

"Ab nahi bhaag sakti !" They said laughing.

But what confused them was that she looked unafraid and also unyielding even at this moment. A mischievous smile was playing on her lips as looked at them all, while walking backwards.

Reaching the garbhagriha she sat down and held the legs of the idol. The students of Bhairavnath looked at her bewildered as to what she was about to do.

Closing her eyes she said, "रक्ष मां श्रीनव।". (Protect me, Srinav)

Her words resonated in the entire place, suddenly winds howled in a loud manner, the students of Bhairavnath could barely stand straight, many of them fell down.

With a resounding flash, the idol transformed into the actual god, emanating an overwhelming aura of power and strength. The students of Bhairavnath stared at Srinav, whose otherworldly presence demanded immediate respect.

He knelt in front of Balashree, taking her small arm into his hand, witnessing the bruise over her delicate skin, a surge of righteous anger coursed through his veins. His tranquil demeanor was now replaced by a tempest of rage. The sight stoked a fiery anger within him, a wrath practically tangible within the air.

He snapped his head at the students of Bhairavnath. His eyes, once serene now glowed red, they glinted with a ferocity that struck fear into their hearts, as they took a step back.

The atmosphere within the temple shifted, as an intense energy radiated from his towering figure.

Such injustice inflicted upon his cherished wife could not be tolerated. With a mere flick of his hand, the surroundings tremored, as if the very elements themselves responded to his wrath.

"Jisko mere iccha bina Surya ki kiran bhi sparsh nahi kar sakti, usko ahaat kar badi bhul kardi tum sabne. Iska dand awashya milega." He said.

The students of Bhairavnath panicked, they wanted to escape. But before they could run outside, the doors shut close right on their faces. They tried pulling it, they tried pushing it, they tried to break the door by their brute force but it didn't even budge.

Trembling, they gazed back at Srinav, who extended his hand to the side. Suddenly the musical fire tongs that were kept in the corner of the temple, which were used for singing his hymns, came flying into his hands. And they were conjured with crimson flames.

Then, he took long strides towards the young men, and struck them with great force. Each blow of his resonated like a thunderous chorus of drums. Those men cried out in pain and begged for forgiveness.

"Kshama kare !"

"Hume gyaat nahi tha ki yeh Balika kaun hai !"

"Woh jo koi bhi ho, tumne ek Balika par prahaar kiya hai neech !" Srinav said as he struck the one that had hurt Balashree, one more time.

"Kshama kare dev !"

"Praan daan de !"

They cried out in misery. Their bodies had gotten covered with long bruises, skin around it had been burnt by the scorching fire of the tongs. They had fallen on the ground, clutching their aching bodies.

Now before Srinav could hit them for another time, he felt a tug on his Angvastra.

"Jaane dijiye." Balashree said.

"Kintu devi-" "Aapko dand dena tha, aur mujhe inke aagyakari shishya hone ka paakhand. Dono mantavya purn huya. Ab jaane de." She told him.

A sigh escaped his lips, "Uchit hai." He said.

The fiery tongs disappeared from his hands, and materialized once again in the corner of the temple, appearing to be untouched. The doors then flung open, and the very next moment the students of Bhairavnath rushed outside the temple.

In their haste, they accidentally pushed a lady down on the temple steps but due to their panic they didn't turn back and just ran away from there.

The lady cried in agony as she held her pregnant belly. She panicked seeing the red stains on her lower garment.

"Hey Ishwar ! Mere santaan ki raksha karo !" Tears of pain flowed down her face.

Hearing her desparate pleas, Balashree couldn't help but step outside. She gazed at the lady, who didn't look human. Seeing her feature and aura, it was clear that she was an Asuri.

The fact that she being who she is, was coming to the temple, in this condition for the sake of her unborn child, touched the heart of the child goddess.

Balashree climbed down the stairs and then knelt down beside the whimpering Asuri.

"Kya naam hai tumhara ?" Balashree asked.

"J-Jabala..." The Asuri replied, "Balika, kripiya kisi ko bula laao..." She urged.

"Yaha toh iss samaye koi nahi hai, kintu chinta na karo." Balashree said.

The divine girl placed one hand over the belly of Jabala and other on her head. A slight glow emanated from her hands and suddenly the Asuri lady felt no pain whatsoever.

She looked at Balashree bewildered as the latter stood up and began to leave.

"Thehero ! Tum koi sadharan kanya nahi."  Jabala said.

"Sadharan toh keval deh hota hai, aatma toh sabki divya hai." Balashree said giving her a smile and then ran away.

Jabala stared at her leaving, a grateful sigh escaped her lips.

"Tum jo koi bhi ho, tumhara dhanyawad." She muttered.

"Woh 'Jo koi' nahi thi." A voice said from behind.

Jabala turned around and saw Guru Gorakhnath, coming towards her. He had a small smile gracing his lips.

"Woh tumhare aradhya ki patni thi. Harihareshwari." He said.

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A/N

Yaar Bhairavnath ke shishyo.... Ek divyatma accha khasa help kar rahi thi lekin tumne thukra diya..... Aish the smell of Dwapar pervades the air~

Waise yaad rakhna OC Jabala ko 🌝