Hey Guys!!!!

The Thirty First chapter.

I don't own Mahabharat.

There is a surprise for you 😉

Happy Reading!!

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-- Flashback –

A, ten- year- old, pair of kids stood in front of the old man. The old man has white hair and long white beard, in his hand is a battle axe and looked absolute menacing. His sharp eyes were centered on the two kids, as the two kids folded their hands and bowed their head towards him.

"Maintain the decorum when I am not here, no way am I accepting any ruckus around here, when I am back, ok?" The old man asks the kids.

"As you wish, Gurudeva." The pair of kids, said together.

"Remember to water the trees and feed the animals." The now identified Gurudeva, of the two kids says. "Also, do today's Abhishek and Puja for Shiva. Let's see if you both can win him over."

"Of course, we will, Gurudeva." The two kids smile at their Gurudeva.

"Bhakti is what wins him over, kids." He added after a moment.
"Chiranjeevi Bhava." The Gurudeva blesses his two students.

"We won't dis- appoint you, Gurudeva." The kids bowed their head once again, before the Gurudeva walked away and the two kids head for their work.

Both of the kids walked to the banks of river ganga, where they washed their hands and feet. On the way back they visited the forest.

Back in the temple, together they decorated the Shivling, using Kanera, Datura, Madar flowers. The boy had also brought a Lotus, Durva grass, various other white flowers he found. Last but not the least, they didn't forget to bring Bel Patra.
Once done with the decoration they offered the Shivling some fruits they found in the forest.

At last, they sat there in front of the Shivling, their back straight, legs folded in Sukhasena or as you may know cross- legged. Their palms resting on their knees, in Gyan mudra that is the tip of their thumb was touching their index finger. Their eyes were closed as the chanted the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra.

Om Houm Juun saa | Om Bhur Bhuvah Suva |

Om Trayambakam Yajaamahe
Sugandhim Pushtivardanam |
Oorvarukamiva Bandhanaan
Mrityor- Mokshiyamaamrutaat |

Om Suva Bhuvah Om | Saa Juun Houm Om ||

They chanted for half a Praha (1 & 1/2 hours) straight, only stopping to take breaths. Their determination didn't let them stop before this, to impress Shiva.

Once done, they headed out to feed the animals. They loved the animals, all around Guru deva's residing place. Rabbits, pigeons, squirrels, cats, etc.
Both the kids fed the gathered animals whatever they wanted all the while petting them and hugging them close. Caressing them with love and care.

For them, their Guru deva's order was law. They followed it, with no qualms but that doesn't mean they didn't question about its importance. If they felt it was wrong, they would ask their Gurudeva about it. And he would answer happily.

Done with the feeding thing, they picked the buckets and head down the mountain where Ganga flowed to collect the water for watering the plants. The first task assigned to them was this only, to water the plants, bring the water from below the mountain and water the plants.

This also included the exercise of going up and down the mountain, along with water filled buckets. Now, after nearly two years they were easily able to this. It had become a child's play for them. They well- nigh enjoyed it.
And thus, the two skipped on the way as they carried the bucket of water laughing and joking, they really looked like ten- year- old at that time.

As they were watering the plants, a rabbit suddenly jumped on the girl and surprised she tried to calm her but it seemed there was something that had shaken the rabbit to the core. Something that the girl could deal with.

The girl put it down and followed it when she started to head to a direction. The rabbit stood, a few feet away of her burrow, yapping angrily in its direction. The girl got closer to inspect, and her blood chilled at the site.

A King Cobra was encircling the rabbits' mate. And looked ready to strike on it any second. The rabbit stuck there was trying to escape but the snake kept slowly tightening itself around the small creature.

"Nag- Raj!" the girl said slowly as she was in two feet distance of the 12 feet cobra. The largest she had seen up till now.

The cobra's head snapped to her as if it heard her. After staring at her for a minute or two, the cobra tilted its' head as if to say 'go on'.

"Nag- Raj, please don't kill that rabbit. He is innocent and has kids on way. How would the kids grow if they don't have their parents?"

The girl could have sworn that if the cobra's had eyebrows, it would have raised it. And give her the look 'do- I- look- like- I- care?' the look said.

"Please, Nag Raj. You can drink my blood." The girl made a split decision, barring her hand to the deadly snake, maybe the deadliest of all.

She knew that the snake needed food and small mammals like these were its diet but she couldn't let the rabbit be killed. She also knew that this proposition could kill her. But she had two things in mind, one the herbs for relief were nearby and second was that, she was sure Karn, the boy, would find her when she needed him the most. She trusted him with all her might.

Slowly the snake released the rabbit from its grip, the girl held her ground as she sat crossed legged there in front of the snake, her right hand stretched in front of her, so as to show her offer was still there, for the snake.
In her mind, she was recalling he boy, Karn, again and again. They say recalling someone makes the person to hick- up and look for the person thinking of him. She just hopped for once the trick would work.

The snake was in front of her, observing her with interest, as if assessing her for threat. The girl tried to look as harmless as she could. Not that she was in front of a 12 feet snake and her insides were practically scream at her to defend herself, and not let herself be at the deposition of the snake.

The snake half wrapped itself around her and was hissing viciously.
Suddenly, out of nowhere the snake strikes her. Hard.

Extruding pain enters her arm as the poison from the snake trickles in to her body, by the two punctured whole in her arm, straight in the veins.

"NO!" A loud shriek was the last thing that she heard, before darkness claimed her. Rendering her unconscious.

-- Flashback –

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How was the flashback?

Ananya is selfless.

How do you think Ananya survived that?

Do Vote and comment.

Thanks for reading!

(1230 words.)

--Sxxxxx