Mahabharat: Shiva's Last Variable

(A/N):

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Seeing Narada step forward and announce that he might have a way to settle the situation without turning Surya Lok into a battlefield, both Ganesha and Kartikeya exchanged a quick glance.

Neither of them said anything.

They didn’t need to.

They remembered exactly what happened the last time Narada had arrived with a supposedly harmless idea involving a divine fruit.

Ganesha slowly walked to Narada’s side with a pleasant smile on his face.

Kartikeya followed from the other side, wearing the same suspiciously friendly expression.

They then stood beside the Maharishi as though they were simply there to offer their support.

Narada glanced to his left.

Ganesha smiled at him.

He glanced to his right.

Kartikeya smiled back.

Narada’s smile became slightly uncomfortable.

"Why do I suddenly feel surrounded?"

Neither brother answered.

Instead, Ganesha gently placed a hand on Narada’s shoulder and gave him a friendly pat.

Kartikeya did the same on his other shoulder.

Pat. Pat.

Narada’s eyes narrowed slightly.

He knew exactly what those pats meant.

’We remember what happened last time.’

Narada swallowed and gave an awkward chuckle.

"Brothers... there is absolutely no reason for both of you to look at me like that."

Ganesha continued smiling.

"We trust you completely, Maharishi."

Kartikeya nodded his head showing full trust on sage Naradha.

"Absolutely."

Narada stared at them.

Their words sounded polite.

Their eyes said something entirely different.

’Try anything clever this time, and you will answer to both of us.’

Narada gave another nervous laugh.

"I see."

He knew he deserved the suspicion.

The last time he had become involved in a matter concerning the two brothers, his seemingly innocent involvement had resulted in one of the greatest uproars their family had experienced.

The divine fruit had become the centre of a dispute between Ganesha and Kartikeya, and the matter had escalated so badly that Kartikeya had eventually left Kailash altogether.

He had gone to the Palani hills and established his own divine dimension there, choosing to remain apart from Kailash rather than continue the dispute.

Narada still remembered the aftermath.

And judging by the way both brothers were standing beside him now, they remembered it even more clearly.

Ganesha gave Narada another gentle pat.

"Please continue, Maharishi."

Kartikeya nodded.

"We are very interested in hearing your solution."

Narada looked between them.

"Why do I feel as though I am being threatened while you are both smiling?"

Ganesha’s smile widened.

"Your imagination is very active."

Kartikeya added calmly,

"Perhaps you should concentrate on the problem in front of us."

Narada let out a quiet sigh.

"Very well."

He adjusted his veena and looked back toward Kandarpaasura, who was still standing in the darkness with his transformed body towering over the assembly.

Narada’s expression became serious again.

"I assure you both, I have no intention of repeating the incident with the fruit."

Ganesha and Kartikeya exchanged another glance.

Narada immediately added,

"At least, not intentionally."

Both brothers stared at him.

Narada cleared his throat.

"I was joking."

Ganesha slowly removed his hand from Narada’s shoulder.

Kartikeya did the same.

"Good,"

Narada sighed in relief.

"Now, let us solve this without starting another family history that people will be discussing for thousands of years."

Ganesha smiled.

"That would be appreciated."

Narada turned toward Kandarpaasura once more.

The playful expression disappeared from his face.

There was now a genuine problem to solve.

Because if Kandarpaasura could not be defeated without risking Surya Lok, then perhaps the only way forward was to find a solution that would force the Asura to surrender his advantage himself.

Narada looked from Devara to Kandarpaasura, studying the two men who now stood on opposite sides of the ceremonial hall.

The situation had become far too dangerous to settle through a simple confrontation, especially with Kandarpaasura’s darkness still covering Surya Lok and the consequences of killing him remaining uncertain.

He finally tapped his fingers lightly against his veena.

"Then perhaps there is another way."

Everyone turned toward him.

Narada continued, his voice calm.

"Instead of fighting here, let the two of you settle this through a series of tests. Your abilities, strength, knowledge and other skills can be tested through different challenges."

"The tests can be prepared and overseen by the Trimurtis themselves, ensuring that neither side can claim that the result was manipulated."

Kandarpaasura’s expression immediately became interested.

Narada looked between them.

"The winner will earn the right to marry Yami."

Before anyone could respond, Devara shook his head.

"No."

The firmness in his voice made the entire assembly pause.

Narada looked at him.

Devara stepped forward.

"Yami is not a prize."

His gaze moved toward the gathered gods and then toward Kandarpaasura.

"She is not some object that can be won, purchased or handed over to whoever performs better in a competition. She is a person, and her choice has already been made."

Yami looked at Devara, her expression softening.

Devara continued with a firm tone.

"If Kandarpaasura wants to settle this through a contest, then I have no objection to proving ourselves against one another. But Yami should not be placed on the winning side of some wager."

Kandarpaasura’s expression changed.

For the first time since he had entered Surya Lok, he looked genuinely offended for a reason he hadn’t expected.

He looked toward Devara.

"You refuse to make her the prize?"

Devara nodded seriously.

"Yes."

Kandarpaasura stared at him.

He had expected Devara to fight him for Yami.

He had expected arrogance.

He had expected the man to demand that he be recognized as the rightful choice.

Instead, Devara had rejected the very idea of treating Yami as something that could be claimed through victory.

Strangely, that angered Kandarpaasura more than an insult would have.

"You think I am treating her as an object?"

Devara didn’t answer immediately.

"You threatened her kingdom to force her into choosing you."

Kandarpaasura’s face darkened.

But before he could respond, Devara continued.

"If you want a contest, then let it be between you and me."

He looked directly into Kandarpaasura’s eyes.

"Whoever loses will bear a curse."

The assembly became silent.

Narada raised an eyebrow.

"What kind of curse?"

Devara’s voice remained steady.

"If the winner and loser ever meet face to face again after the contest, the loser will die instantly. His head will burst into a hundred pieces."

A murmur spread through the assembly.

Kandarpaasura stared at Devara.

Then, unexpectedly, he laughed.

Not because he found the proposal amusing.

Because he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

"You would rather risk your own life than make Yami the prize?"

Devara nodded.

"Yes."

Kandarpaasura’s expression became complicated.

He had come expecting to force Yami into his hands through fear.

Yet Devara was standing before him and effectively saying that he would rather place his own life on the line than allow Yami to become something that two men could simply claim.

"You are strange, human."

Devara’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"And you’re still avoiding the question."

Kandarpaasura’s smile returned.

He looked toward Yami.

Then back at Devara.

"I accept."

Yami’s eyes widened slightly.

Narada rubbed his chin, already realizing that the situation had taken an entirely different turn from what he had originally proposed.

Kandarpaasura continued.

"But understand something, Devara."

His voice became serious.

"I am not accepting this because I care about your principles."

He pointed toward himself.

"I am accepting because I want to defeat you."

Devara gave a faint smile.

"Then we finally agree on something."

Kandarpaasura’s wings shifted behind him.

The darkness around his body pulsed.

"Very well."

He looked toward Narada.

"Let the tests begin."

Narada glanced toward the Trimurtis.

Then toward Yami.

Then finally at the two men standing before him.

He sighed.

"I was hoping this would be simpler."

Ganesha, still standing nearby, quietly muttered,

"You should have known better."

Narada looked at him.

"Please don’t remind me."

Kartikeya gave a small chuckle.

And despite the tension surrounding the hall, the absurdity of the situation earned a few reluctant smiles from the gathered gods.

But the agreement had been made.

The Swayamvara had transformed into something neither Devara nor Kandarpaasura had expected.

The two would now compete against one another.

But to determine who would stand victorious when their paths inevitably crossed again.

Kandarpaasura turned his attention toward Yami, his expression once again becoming filled with confidence.

The darkness surrounding him continued to swirl quietly, responding to his presence as though it were alive.

"Yami."

Yami looked toward him, her expression guarded.

Kandarpaasura gave her a faint smile.

"Don’t misunderstand what has just happened. Devara may have placed himself between you and me, and he may have refused to make you the prize of our contest, but there is still one thing neither of us can change."

His gaze shifted toward Devara.

"If I defeat him, he will no longer be standing between us."

Yami’s expression hardened.

Kandarpaasura continued, completely convinced of his own reasoning.

"And if he dies, you will have no husband."

He looked back at her.

"Which means nothing will prevent me from asking for your hand again."

Yami’s eyes narrowed.

"You still haven’t understood what I told you."

Kandarpaasura frowned.

"My decision will not change because Devara dies. Nor will killing him make me choose you."

Kandarpaasura’s smile disappeared for a moment.

But instead of arguing with her, he turned away.

"We will see."

He then looked toward Narada.

"Enough of this."

His enormous wings folded slightly behind him.

"You proposed the contest. Tell me what exactly I will be participating in."

Narada stroked his beard thoughtfully.

"The tests cannot be designed around brute strength alone. If they were, this would simply become another battle."

Kandarpaasura crossed his arms.

"I have no problem with that."

"I know,"

Narada replied with a smile on his face.

"Which is precisely why we won’t give either of you a test that can be solved by simply destroying everything in front of you."

A few of the gods smiled.

Kandarpaasura gave him an unimpressed look.

Narada continued.

"There will be several challenges. Each one will test a different quality. Strength, endurance, skill, intelligence, control over one’s power and perhaps even the ability to protect rather than destroy."

Devara listened quietly.

Kandarpaasura looked toward the Trimurtis.

"And who decides the winner?"

Narada smiled.

"The Trimurtis will oversee the trials. Their judgment will be final."

Kandarpaasura nodded slowly.

"Fine."

He looked back toward Devara.

"I hope you are prepared."

Devara simply adjusted the garland around his neck.

"I’ve been prepared since you entered this realm."

Kandarpaasura laughed.

"Good."

He turned back toward Narada.

"Then stop talking and tell us when the first trial begins."

Narada sighed.

"Patience, Kandarpaasura."

He glanced toward the Trimurtis.

"We first need to decide what kind of trials are worthy of the two participants."

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(Author note:)

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