It had been a few days since the feast of Kuber took place that humbled his pride. A glorious morning dawned in Chaitanya Lok, shimmering with the effervescence of a rejuvenating sun. Sunbeams cascaded with a radiant glow that breathed life into everything it touched. 

Amarsri while in the kitchen, that was bathed in the golden hues of the dawn, exuded an aura that embraced the warmth and tranquility of the morning. The gentle breeze danced through the open windows, carrying the fragrant melodies of blooming flowers in its wake.

She moved around the kitchen gracefully, her hands carrying a gold bowl in which she was putting various types of dryfruits. She meticulously selected each dry fruit, plump raisins lay adjacent to almond and walnuts, creating a mosaic of shapes and sizes that whispered a promise of indulgence.

Amarsri stared at the bowl for a moment, it seemed to be gleaming with a lustrous radiance, reflecting the divine abundance it contained within. She wondered if she had missed out anything.

"Mishri !" She remembered.

But just as she turned around, she was taken aback by a sudden presence behind her. There stood Srinav, holding the mishri in his outstretched hand. A soft smile played on his lips, his eyes fixed lovingly on his wife.

"Aap kab aaye ?" Amarsri asked, her innocent eyes reflecting the ethereal glow of a star-studded sky.

"Abhi." Srinav said, gazing at her with eyes like the fiery embers of a gentle hearth.

"Toh mishri kaha se aayi ?" She asked.

Instead of giving her a reply, he just shrugged his shoulders and gave her a smile.

"Mayaputra." Amarsri chuckled before taking the mishri from his hand and putting it in the middle of the golden bowl, the milky white crystals shimmered and blended harmoniously with the dryfruits.

She examined the bowl for a moment, and then showed it to him excitedly but he seemed to be lost in capturing every ounce of her innocence. His softened eyes, of an orangish hue shimmered like a breathtaking eclipse. They were filled with an intensity that held the power to melt the hearts of all who beheld it.

"Chale ?" She asked bringing him out of his stance, "Woh pratiksha kar rahi hongi." Amarsri said.

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The three-peaked Trikuta mountain was piercing the heavens. Cloaked in a veil of snow, it's jagged edges glistened with an otherworldly brilliance. In the morning sun, the three peaks seemed like iron, silver and gold.

On the ground of the mountain, Suvarchas and Jaladri landed. Amarsri and Srinav mounted off the vahan and walked a little distance before reaching a cave. In the cold climate, the heat of austerities could be felt coming out of it. Faint chants of 'Om Namo Narayanaye' could also be heard.

"Devi Vaishnavi !" Amarsri called out, an excited smile graced her lips.

The chants stopped. A few moments went by, before the goddess, the Adikumari, herself came out of the cave, carrying brilliance of a endless suns in her face.

"Devi Amarsri ? Bhrata Srinav ? Swagat hai." Vaishnodevi said.

"Pranam Devi." Amarsri greeted before handing the golden bowl of dryfruits and mishri to the goddess, who smiled even more seeing it.

"Aap dono ke aane se, harsh aur anand ki prapti huyi hai." Vaishnodevi said.

"Yaha aana toh humare liye saubhagya ki baat hai." Srinav said.

"Ab padhariye." Vaishnodevi said gesturing them to come with her.

She led the way, and they both followed her inside the cave. The atmosphere was quite warm compared to outside, due to the austerities of Devi Vaishnavi.

Inside, she gave them seats and welcomed her brother and sister-in-law in proper accordances.

"Yeh lijiye Devi." She said giving a red chunari with gold borders to Amarsri, as a sign for marital fortune.

"Dhanyawad." Amarsri said taking it and bowing to the red garment.

Suddenly a desperate voice fell on their ears saying, "Mata raksha kare !" Hearing the pleading tone, Amarsri and Srinav frowned.

"Behen, yeh kiska svar tha ?" Srinav asked.

"Mere bhakt Sridhar ka." Vaishnodevi said.

To show her divine mercy, Devi Vaishnavi, through a dream, had told her ardent devotee, a poor Brahman, to feed his village by organising a 'Bhandara'. Sridhar had invited all, but had no means to feed everyone.

"Ab mujhe uski sahayata karne jana hoga." Vaishnavi said.

"Devi, kya sahayata karne ka saubhagya mil sakta hai ?" Amarsri asked.

"Awashya." Vaishnodevi smiled.

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A/N

Now it's time for Bhakt Sridhar and Bhairavnath katha ✨✨✨