"This heavy dress just makes everything hard, jiji!" The little girl walked with Dhriti and Revati towards the temple.

"Just one day dear! And you're lucky you don't have to fast like us for the VaraLakshmi Vrat." Revati chuckled at her.

"Fasting.... Leaving aside all those royal delicacies." Dhriti pointed at the arrangements made in the Lakshmi-Narayan temple.

"Oh Revati Bhabhi! Good the two of you finally showed up.
You and Dau have to sit for the pooja, now quick before Rohini mata shouts at us." Subhadra pulled her.

"Me? It was decided that Kanha and Dhriti are sitting for the pooja na?" Revati pouted.

"No no, that didn't happen. Sorry." Kanha chuckled standing beside Dhriti.

"I'll se you later Krishn!" Revati playfully warned before sitting near the agni kund beside Dau.

"Jiji, my dupatta!" The little one exclaimed.

"Uhoh.... Wait, I'll put it around you properly!" Dhriti smiled, folding her long dupatta.

"Jiji, why this VaraLakshmi Vrat? I've been asking this to mother since so many years yet I never got any solid answers." The little one frowned.

"Solid answers." Dhriti laughed.

"Yes. Now I want you to explain me each and every significance of the holy pooja otherwise I'm going." She looked at her.

"I was not ready for this." Dhriti looked at Kanha.

"Mother of the entire Universe, explain explain. All the best Priye." Kanha looked back as a smirk appeared on his face.

"Okay your majesty, come here,  I'll explain you the whole importance and story behind this big celebration." Dhriti talked in the little one's tone.

"So on this day, everyone especially all the women worship Mata Lakshmi with all the devotion for the well being of her family and loved ones.
Then offer her various things like sweets and fruits, which actually made me hungry.
Also, she is offered those pretty lotuses which she absolutely loves." Dhriti started explaining.

"Wait, lotuses are your favourite flowers as well na. How?" She asked as Dhriti cleared her throat.

"Um..... Coincidence. Yeah absolutely!" Dhriti covered up.

"Anyways, now look at those beautiful jewelries and Sari she's decked with." Dhriti smiled.

"Yes jiji, I loved the colour soo much. Similar to the one you're wearing." The other one commented.

"Ofcourse ofcourse.
Now let's repeat after him." Dhriti patted her as the Raj Purohit diverted their attention for chanting some hymss.

"Shankha- Chakra- Gada haste, Shri VaraLakshmi Namostute." He started as the others repeated.

"That means, hey VaraLakshmi holding the Conch, chakra and mace, I bow to you." Dhriti started simplifying it for the little one.

"Sarva paap hare Devi, MahaLakshmi Namostute." The crowd chanted.

"Yes, even I want to hear." Sunbadra whispered to Dhriti as she nodded.

"I bow to you, Devi MahaLakshmi, the remover of all evils and misfortune." Dhriti smiled.

"Sarva lokaika poojithe, Vishnupriya Namostute." Kanha repeated, smiling at her.

"I offer my prayers to her, Vishnu's Priya to whom all the world prays." Dhriti looked at the two girls.

"Supreethaa bhava sarvada." The Raj Purohit finished the final hymns as everyone closed their eyes.

"Be kind and good to me, Mahadevi!" Subhadra completed, with closed eyes as Dhriti raised her right arm, opening her palm to finally bless everyone, unconditionally offering their prayers.

"Jiji, did your Mata Kunti tell this to you?" The little one asked opening her eyes.

"Tell me what dear?" Dhriti looked at her.

"The meaning of this shlokas and the significance of this occasion." She replied.

"When we all were in Acharya's Ashram, we were made to read Vishnupuran and the Vedas.
Everything is written in them. That's why I know it." Dhriti explained slowly getting up.

"So like my Mata, even your Mata didn't tell you any stories?" She innocently looked up making Dhriti chuckle.

"You know what? When I was younger, like you, everyone used to tell me stories about Gods and Wars and the warfare.
So when I used to come to Mata Kunti, I always asked her to tell me fairytales and everything except wars and that's the reason Mata never told me these things." Dhriti pinched her cheeks before walking towards the deity.

"Here take this prasad putri." The Raj Purohit offered the girl some prasad.

"Only this much? But I want more." She looked at his agitated figure.

"No! Take it and go. I have to serve this to the remaining people." He denied.

"But please? That's my favourite prasad." She pleaded as he nodded a no.

"Purohitji, instead of denying her soo many times, you would've given her some more." Dhriti stopped him.

"But Yadav kumari, there isn't more of it left now. So kindly ask her to take it and leave. Everyone is waiting." He sharply stated.

"There's not much of it left?" Dhriti raised her brow.

"No. Look there, only two more thalis, that's it." He pointed behind him.

"Alright then, don't take it from those thalis. Save it for others. She'll have it from these." Dhriti grinned before lifting the thali full of sweets offered to Lakshmi's idol as she placed some of it in the little one's hands.

"Happy? Now go, enjoy." She smiled carassing her.

"Rajkumari! What kind of unethical behavior is this!" The Raj Purohit shouted making Dhriti turn towards him.

"What's unethical in offering someone the prasad?
In fact it's unethical to rudely deny little kids what they're asking for.
Children are the innocent flowers in the hands of goddess and you ought to treat them in this manner?" Dhriti replied.

"Its against the rituals to consume the oblations offered to Mata Lakshmi before the moon rises. Now we all have to face her anger, just because of you." He argued further as Kanha walked towards them.

"Don't worry about it, I won't get even a bit angry on my devotees eating before me. A mother never eats without making sure that all her children aren't hungry anymore. Infact, I won't consume anything before all of them." Dhriti calmly spoke.

"Here, even you have some of it. That seems better." She smiled, placing the prasad on his hands and walking away as Kanha smiled at her gesture.

"Have it, have it Purohitji.
Mahadevi aapka bhi bhala karengi!" Kanha patted him before himself eating some of it.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

"Kanha! Give it back." Dhriti whispered rapidly walking through the hallways as  she realized Kanha stole all her laddoos.

"Ah ah, don't run Priya!" Kanha laughed.

"Ugh! Stop taking the advantage of my condition Kanha, give them back." Dhriti shouted.

"Shh.... You'll wake everyone up!" Kanha laughed.

"Then who told you to create this banter when everyone is asleep?" Dhriti exclaimed finally grabbing a hold on his arm.

"I couldn't see my Chanchala sitting idle in our chambers. So....." He gave a grin.

"Nobody is more dramatic than you. Not even our Brihannala." She giggled, snatching away the remaining laddoos from him.

"Is this your cravings or the effect of fasting for the whole day?" He teased, walking towards the seashore.

"Maybe both.
Yeah and it seems so easy for you to tease me. Try keeping a fast for me. Then you might understand." She playfully pinched him.

"Ouch! That hurts." Kanha rubbed his arm.

"What? This?" Dhriti smirked, repeating her actions.

"You won't stop, would you?" Kanha held her as she nodded a no.

"You know what? After thinking about it for soo many months and tracing each and every detail..... I realized why you were talking about Indu." Kanha changed the topic as a small smile curved Dhriti's delicate lips.

"Really! You found out? Then tell me, what did you realize." Dhriti carefully sat down.

"I realized that you miss her a lot and the absence of a little girl in our as well as Indraprasth's Royal family made you say that." Kanha looked at her for confirmation as she gave out an uncontrollable laugh.

"I somewhat knew it. I knew it that my Maya is not that weak." She stated, gathering her breath.

"Very ironic how the Lord of tricks is being tricked into something." Kanha nodded.

"Exactly the way how ironically I wasn't allowed to eat those sweets in the morning since they were offered to Devi Lakshmi." Dhriti laughed.

"Oh wait! I have something." Dhriti smiled.

"You missed it didn't you?" Kanha smirked grabbing his bansuri as Dhriti layed her head on his shoulder.

"The tune of this is the answer to every question.
Your flute is the symbol of freedom. You've preached love, through his flute. You've created this world with sound of this flute." She quietly praised whilst listening to that blissful tune.

"The tune of this transcendental flute imparts the cosmic energy.
The one who mesmerizingly listen to his divine music is liberated forever.
Even-even mother nature comes alive just to catch the sound of this nectar filled tune flowing out of the flute.
Everyone stands around in tranquility, just listening and getting lost in this cosmical call of love and devotion.
And me?
I'm just one woman, standing between the ones gathering around you, gradually surrendering myself at your feet.
Just in your service. As your Shakti." She poured her heart.

"No Priye....." Kanha stopped playing his godly instrument as he fondly looked at her.

"You're not just another one, admiring me from the crowd. Its not Lakshmi who is incomplete without me, but it's Narayan who is incomplete without his Chanchala.
This Lakshmipati is no one without this Vishnupriya.

If Kanha is Sangeet, then his swar is Priya.
If Kanha is the divine body then its godly soul is Priya.
If Kanha is Sthir, then Chanchal is his Priya.
And if this Kanha is Narayan, then Lakshmi is his Priya." He smiled, wiping her moist eyes.

"Everything directly or indirectly is interconnected to you and your life Priye. You might consider yourself as a commoner, realizing this world with everyone else but remember, you will forever hold the grace and divinity to stand out of the crowd." He continued praising her.

"Now play the, flute will you? Your chanchala is here to immerse herself in this flood of mystical notes. So come on." She sniffled away.

"Oh is it? I thought you came here to spen some time with me." Kanha joked.

"That depends.
I originally came here to take back all my stolen laddoos and later, to listen to this praiseworthy skills of Trilokinath." She giggled, closing her eyes.

"Let no one look at this beautiful pair, defining love, with an evil eye, Swami." Gauri smiled, looking at Mahadev.

"There is no such thing like Happily Ever After, Parvati. Everyone has to face those ups and downs. Some are easy to conquer. And some, might take all of one's strength." Mahadev revealed.

_________________________________________

My dear people, I think I'm in a desperate need of a break.
Lately, I am not able to concentrate even on the slightest things.
I couldn't study properly, nor I can think of a beautiful plot for our story.
I guess my mind is pinging for a break, and no doubt he deserves it.

Don't worry y'all, I promise I'll be back in a week with a new chapter, which I hope you all would surely love.
Please don't be angry or sad.
I hope y'all understand that I need to vent out all my negative feelings and replace it with joy and positivity.
Afterall, paw-sitive vibes only.
Bad joke, I know.

Anyways,

Hope you like it,
If you do, don't forget to vote and comment.
Thanks.
xx.