The sun was yet to come out from behind the horizon but the darkness of the night started to fade away slowly. 

From the serene water at the bottom of the falls emerged a figure. A girl who has got many names since she started her days in Dwapara Yuga. Kali Udvuta, Kaushik Duhita Kaushiki, Vishwamitra Siswaa Maitreyi, Nanda's Nilmani Nandini, Shyam's Chira Sakhi Saada-Sahacharini Shyama and as Everyone knows her Tiasha...

As she came out of the water her wet long dark brown stuck on her back. The first rays of the sun fell on her beautiful face illuminating it just like the moon. The divinity of her face can only be compared to that of dewy Parijat flowers of an autumn morning. Her fishlike big eyes were closed as she prayed to Suryanarayana. 

A few moments later she opened her eyes and a smile appeared on her face watching the crimson sun coming out from behind the tall trees of the forest. Looking at the sun always reminds her of a certain someone...

She sighed and shook her head. It's almost unhealthy how much she thinks of him. His Ashtaratni body is a work of art, how the strong muscles of his arms and back move when he tugs on the string of his bow, how his shoulder-length wavy raven black hair frames his face. His face, the proud Surya Tilak on his broad forehead, the divine golden kundals only adding to the sun-like radiance on his face. The small but hearty smile at the corner of his thin rosy pink lips, how his eyebrows furrow when he is focused, how the corner of his eyes crinkles when he laughs. And his eyes, those fiery amber eyes reflecting all the courage, strength and determination he holds in his heart. Those deep ocean-like eyes, if you look at those you would want to keep looking at them for the rest of your life. 

Tiasha shivered, from the cold morning breeze that passed her naked form or from the thoughts of his eyes, she didn't know. It's almost like she has willingly let him steal her precious heart and he kept it back with him. 

She took one last dip in the water to shake off all those things which felt like eating her favourite chocolate. She needs to be focused on her lesson. 

She came out of the water and wore an off-white Sharee. Tiasha filled a copper pot with water from the fountain and went to complete her puja. She poured the water on the shiv-linga and placed a garland of Neelkantha flowers around it. She put a garland of red hibiscus flowers on the idol of Devi Krishnakali, which she made herself. 

After finishing her puja she reached the clearing where she saw Guru Vishwamitra waiting for her. Tiasha touched his feet and Rishi Vishwamitra blessed her.

-"Kiritimati Bhava, Putri." 

Tiasha stood up and Vishwamitra started, "Today I am going to teach you, the use one of the most powerful weapons in the entire universe. Can you take a guess which weapon I am talking about?"

-"Gurudev, as per I know, Bramhashira is the most powerful Astra in the entire universe. It's four times more destructive than the Bramhastra. It is said that it brings an end to even the gods. But I don't think you are talking about Bramhashira, Gurudev."

-"Yes, you are correct, I am not talking about Bramhashira. Although, you will have the knowledge of Bramhashira but not yet. I am talking about a weapon everyone has within them. The basis of creation, from the smallest of things to the mightiest achievements is done with this single weapon. It can destroy, it can create, it can do anything. You need to know how to manifest it."

Tiasha looked curiously at her Gurudev. Rishi Vishwamitra smiled at the spark of curiosity in his Siswaa's eyes. This student of his is just like a ball of wet clay Shree Krishna has given him to make an idol form. She already has a strong personality. He just has to bring out the outstanding features on the straw structure. 

He continued, "You already wield one of the most powerful weapons, the kali Kharga. You can call it whenever you wish. So you already have an innate knowledge of Iccha-Astra."

-"On your first day, you asked me how a set of stairs appeared out of nowhere which led us from the top of the cliff to the Ashrama. That was just a small use of Iccha-Astra. Before anyone is taught the Bramhashira or Bramhastra, they are taught the Iccha-Astra. And your lesson on Iccha-Astra starts from today."

-"The power of the Iccha-Astra lies within your deepest desires and intentions. To wield it effectively, you must first understand the nature of your desires and the energy they carry. To wield the Iccha-Astra, one must first understand the essence of desire. Desire is not merely a whimsical fancy, but a force that shapes our reality. Desire is the seed from which manifestation blooms, when Bramha-Dev desired to create the universe, This entire universe came into existence. When the humans desired to develop, they established the civilization. It is the power of Iccha that keeps a species alive on this earth."

Tiasha nodded attentively, eager to absorb every word of the sage's wisdom.

"Close your eyes, my child..." Rishi Vishwamitra instructed, "...and visualize your deepest desire. See it clearly in your mind's eye, feel its presence within your being. Visualize what you wish to manifest. Feel it in every fibre of your being, as if it already exists."

Tiasha envisioned her desires taking shape, each detail clear and vibrant in her imagination, A Parijat tree, white flowers with blazing orange hearts scattered on the ground below it. She felt a surge of energy coursing through her veins, a sense of empowerment unlike anything she had ever experienced.

"Now, open your eyes," instructed Vishwamitra, his voice gentle yet commanding. "With the power of the Iccha-Astra, you can bring forth that which you seek. But remember, Putri, with great power, comes great responsibility. Use this gift wisely, for it has the potential to shape destinies."

Tiasha nodded solemnly, her heart brimming with gratitude and determination. She opened her eyes, watching the energy of her desires into the fabric of reality. And with a whispered incantation, she unleashed the power of the Iccha-Astra, watching in awe as her wishes materialized before her eyes. A Parijat tree stood among the rocks as white flowers showered on Rishi Vishwamitra. 

Vishwamitra had a pleased smile on his face and he cupped his hands and a few flowers fell on his palm.

-"Well done, Maitreyi, well done." He praised. A few hours passed and Tiasha continued to practice under Vishwamitra's supervision.

At around mid-day, Rishi Vishwamitra told Tiasha, "I am not surprised, that you picked up everything so quickly but I have to say, after Shree Ramchandra and Shree Lakshman you are the only one who has mastered it within a few hours. Well done Putri."

-"I would not be able to do anything if it was not for you Gurudev. I have little to no credit in this." Tiasha said touching Vishwamitra's feet.

An amused smile played on Rishi Vishwamitra's lips, "Now, although I am perfectly capable of using Iccha-Astra but I cannot use it to manifest the delicious food that my Priya Siswaa Maitreyi cooks. It's your duty to fulfil your Gurudev's wish, isn't it? And to be honest, I am very hungry after such an intense lesson."

A broad smile appeared on Tiasha's face. She said enthusiastically, "Of course it is Gurudev. I will cook as fast as I can." 

Vishwamitra shook his head in amusement as Tiasha hurried inside the small hut to cook a meal for him. 

Vishwamitra started seeing Tiasha as his own daughter. Every time he sees her face, it reminds him of a little girl he had seen once in Kanwa Muni's ashrama. He sighed, how he desired to have heard her calling him Pitashree in her sweet voice. 

His daughter Shakuntala, King Dushyanta's chief consort, was the mother of Bharata. Bharata, Rajchakravarti Bharata, from whom this land is known as Bharat-Bhumi or Bharat-varsh.

And the future of this Bharat-varsa is in the hands of that joyful, curious yet calm girl, his Priya Siswaa, His manas Kanya, Maitreyi Tiasha. 

--

Tiasha sat beside Vishwamitra, Fanning him with a hand fan made out of palm leaves. Vishwamitra ate with a content smile on his face.

-"For many years, I have spent my time eating the fruits from the forest. And now for the past three months, you have been cooking all these various dishes for me. You are ruining my habit, Maitreyi, I don't know if I can go back to eating fruits again after you leave." Vishwamitra said with a fake sad expression.

Tiasha giggled and said, "Gurudev you always tell me to be in the present and not worry about the future, now you are forgetting your own teachings."

With a mischievous smile, she pushed a bowl of Paayasam towards him and continued, "I made this especially for you Gurudev."

Vishwamitra let out a hearty laugh and picked the bowl up in his hand. He scooped some of the Paayasam in front of Tiasha to feed her some.

Right at that moment Chanda and Prachanda appeared there with a scared look on their faces. Chanda and Prachanda are the two Yakshas who protect Rishi Vishwamitra's Ashrama and cover it with an illusion so that it's not visible to the outside world. 

Tiasha asked seeing their scared faces, "What happened, Chanda, Prachanda? Why do you look so pale?"

-"Pranam Rishivar, Pranam Devi, Maharshi Durvasa is coming this way." 

Right on cue the great stairs appeared and Maharshi Durvasa climbed down from the top of the cliff. Chanda and Prachanda shivered. Tiasha eyes them to leave and they disappeared. 

Rishi Vishwamitra stood up and went to the bottom of the steps to welcome the sage who is known for his mercurial temper and is revered by the Devas. 

Tiasha trailed behind her Gurudev and waited for Maharshi Durvasa to reach the bottom of the stairs. 

The tall, dusky sage with white bread and long white hair tied up at the top of his head came and stood in front of Rishi Vishwamitra. They greeted each other and Durvasa stared curiously at Tiasha.

Vishwamitra smiled and introduced Tiasha to the great sage.

-"This is my Siswaa, Maitreyi Tiasha, Maharshi." 

Tiasha smiled and sat on her knees to touch Durvasa's feet, "Pranam Rishivar."

Durvasa had a pleased smile on his face and blessed Tiasha, "I didn't know, Brahma rishi Vishwamitra had a new disciple."

-"I came to seek knowledge from Gurudev only three months ago Rishivar." Tiasha answered politely. 

-"I have travelled a long way, I am starving. Can I have some food?" 

For a microsecond, worry flashed Tiasha's face but she covered it with a smile bigger than before. She said, "Of course, Maharshi, You take some rest for a while I will bring your meal."

Tiasha rushed inside the small kitchen in the hut. Vishwamitra brought Durvasa and requested him to rest for a while as he went inside the kitchen. Even the worry displayed on Tiasha's face for a microsecond, Vishwamitra's eyes didn't miss it.

-"Putri, we have enough food for our guests and for you right?" Vishwamitra questioned.

-"Yes, Gurudev, we have enough food for Maharshi and myself, I cook a little bit more today than I usually do. We have plenty of food left."

Vishwamitra nodded and went to Durvasa. A few moments later Tiasha came and served Durvasa. 

-"Ahh, the food is delicious." Durvasa started devouring and Tiasha kept putting more on his plate. 

-"Ahh! I haven't had such a filling meal in a while." Durvasa said with a hearty smile as Tiasha handed him a cloth to dye his hands. 

Vishwamitra smiled, "My Siswaa is Swayam Mata Annapurna." He turned to Tiasha and said, "Now, go Putri, you eat something, Maharshi and I can take care of our rest." 

Tiasha shook her head and said, "No no Gurudev, I will prepare everything, don't worry about it."

Vishwamitra frowned, "There is no food left for you is it?"

Tiasha tried to cover it with a smile as she couldn't lie to her Gurudev. 

Durvasa realised that Tiasha had fed him Her portion of the food as well. 

He put a hand on her head and said, "Maa, you have fed your portion to this old son of yours as I kept asking for more, didn't you?" 

Tiasha folded her hands and said, "Rishivar, I had the chance to feed you and Gurudev, that itself made me full. No food in this world can give me the fulfilment that I felt after feeding you." 

Rishi Durvasa is known for his anger but one thing about him is always overlooked. He is someone who be pleased very easily as well. And when he is pleased he is ready to give you any boon than you want. 

Durvasa said with a smile, "I am very pleased with you, Maa. Ask, ask for a boon." 

Tiasha protested, "No no, Maharshi I don't want a boon. I didn't do it to get a boon from you."

-"I know you didn't do it for a boon. But I want to give you something and I don't have anything else other than a boon to give you. I insist, ask for a boon, Maa."

Tiasha looked at Vishwamitra and he nodded assertively. 

She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. When she opened her eyes they seemed sharp and full of determination. 

-"Hey Maharshi Durvasa, I want to succeed in everything that I put my hands into." 

-"Tathastu."

Tiasha went to touch Rishi Durvasa's feet. The moment her fingers touched his feet he felt an electric shock in his system. He took a step back and looked in front of him.

At that moment his eyes filled with water and he folded his hands near his chest. Right in front of him, in Tiasha's place stood the Mother of the Universe.

Devi Kali.

-XX-

Hey guys, What do you think of the chapter let me know in the comment section.

I wish you all a very happy but belated Vasant Panchami or Saraswathi Puja or Valentines' Day. It's spring and love is in the air. Spread lots of love to everyone. Lots of love to you all my dearies.

And Thank you so much for reading my story and for all your love that you give me.

At last, Take care, Adiós my lovely readers ❤️.