In Mathura, the morning sun cast its golden rays upon the palace of Krishna. Standing on the ornate balcony, the lord basked in its warmth, his form a perfect blend of divine radiance and earthly allure. His heart, however, was far from the city. It was the sixth day since a dear fragment of his divine essence, had descended to earth. He knew the ritual of Chhatti would be underway.

A pang of longing swept through him. He yearned to be there, to hold the one who was eternally his child. The idea of seeing his daughter, even if only a fleeting glimpse, was a temptation he couldn't resist.

"Kaunse roop mei jaayu ?" Krishna pondered his options. Would Narasimha, the half-man, half-lion avatar be appropriate ? Or perhaps Varah, the boar incarnation ? No one would mind Parshuram as well.

But Krishna shook his head at these options. Indeed these were formidable forms, but hardly suited for a visit to a women's gathering. He needed something subtle, but something whom no one will stop or question.

A mischievous glint sparkled in Krishna's eyes as the most appropriate form came to his mind.
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Aarvi sat on a golden stool, her regal bearing momentarily eclipsed by the maternal worry etched on her face. The grandeur of the royal chambers was in stark contrast to the tiny, wailing bundle in her arms. The Chhatti ceremony, a sacred ritual for the well-being of the newborn, was underway. Yet, instead of the customary hymns and prayers, the room was filled with the infant's incessant cries.

The idol of Mata Gauri seemed to gaze down with a silent compassion, as if understanding the young mother's plight.

A bevy of palace maids, their hands adorned with intricate henna, hovered around the queen, their faces mirroring her concern. They offered the child toys of silver and gold, sang lullabies in soothing tones, but nothing seemed to quell the storm brewing within the tiny being.

Hemlata, the chief handmaiden of Aarvi, guessed, "Kadachit bhook lagi hai, Rajkumari ko ?"

"Dugdh toh pilaya tha abhi." Aarvi replied, her voice tinged with exhaustion. The baby's cries showed no signs of subsiding, and the queen was beginning to feel helpless.

An old and experienced maid, watched the Aarvi's distress, and assured, "Aksar maine dekha hai ki apni chhatti mei balak bahut rote hai."

Aarvi cradled her daughter closer, her heart aching as she watched her child suffer. She began to hum a soft lullaby, her voice filled with a soothing melody. Her gentle rocking motion and the rhythmic humming seemed to have a calming effect on the baby for a brief moment. But the next moment, the baby's cries once again reached a crescendo.

Perhaps it's the constant influx of visitors, Aarvi thought. The palace has been teeming with people since her birth. Maybe the little one was overwhelmed by all the noise and activity.

"Shaant putri...." Aarvi cooed.

Her cries pierced through the thick palace walls, reaching the ears of the guards stationed outside.

One guard with a wry smile said, "Apni chhatti mei balak Mata ko apni chhatti yaad dila dete hai."

"Yeh satya kaha aapne." The other guards chuckled, agreeing along.

The relentless wail of the infant was suddenly punctuated by a delicate tinkling sound. It was as if celestial music had descended upon the palace grounds. The guards exchanged startled glances. Their eyes were drawn to a figure emerging from the palace's shadows.

A woman, of a beauty that defied description, was slowly making her way towards them. Her dark skin glowed with an ethereal radiance, her big lotus-like eyes held the depths of an endless ocean. Adorned in simple yet divine attire, she moved with a grace that seemed to defy gravity. Her every step was accompanied by the tinkling of delicate anklets, a sound that was as enchanting as the woman herself.

The guards stood rooted to the spot, their mouths agape. They had seen countless women in their lives, but none compared to this ethereal being. The woman came and stood before the guards, her smile a mesmerizing masterpiece. It was as if the sun had descended to earth and bestowed its warmth upon their faces.

"Kya mai andar jaa sakti hu ?" She asked, her voice, like the gentle rustling of leaves in a summer breeze.

The guards, still under the spell of her beauty, nodded without a thought. The queen's order, to not let any visitor inside the pujasthal, was forgotten in that moment. They opened the doors, allowing the ethereal woman to enter.

She gave them a smile again, and a strange tranquility washed over the men. Their senses dulled, their bodies heavy, they succumbed to an inexplicable drowsiness. Some closed their eyes and sighed in bliss, while others fainted on the spot.

The moment the ethereal woman stepped into the puja room, a hush fell over the gathered women. All eyes were drawn to her, their gazes fixed on the newcomer. The rhythmic chanting of the maidens came to an abrupt halt as their eyes were drawn to this celestial visitor. Their hands, once engaged in intricate mudras, froze in mid-air. This lady in front of them was a vision of divine beauty, her presence illuminating the room with a celestial glow.

Aarvi, still cradling her wailing infant, felt a surge of inexplicable peace wash over her as she beheld the newcomer. Her order to let no visitor in was forgotten in the face of this extraordinary apparition. Her mouth hung open in astonishment, her eyes wide with disbelief. She had seen many beautiful women in her lifetime, but none compared to this ethereal being

The ethereal woman moved with a grace that was both mesmerizing and comforting. She knelt before Queen Aarvi, her eyes filled with a gentle understanding.

With a serene smile, she extended her hand, "Mai shaant karadu ?"

Aarvi, still in a state of bewilderment, handed over her baby without a thought. It was as if an invisible force compelled her to surrender her child to this divine being. The moment the infant nestled into the woman's arms, the relentless storm of cries subsided.

The baby's wide, innocent eyes locked onto the woman's gaze. Little did she know, she had a connection with this woman that was as old as time. A bond forged in the celestial realms, a connection that transcended lifetimes.

The woman's gaze deepened as she peered into the baby's eyes, one of which was, a fiery red, mirrored the celestial auspiciousness of Narayan, while the other, a tawny gold, held the cosmic brilliance of Mahadev.

Aarvi watched in astonishment as her daughter, who had been inconsolable moments ago, found solace in the stranger's embrace. Her tiny body relaxed in the woman's arms, her eyes fixed on the enchanting face. The incessant crying, which had been a source of distress, had vanished without a trace, replaced by an aura of peace

A chorus of questions erupted from the gathered women.

"Itne saralta se kaise shaant karadiya aapne ?"

"Kaun hai aap, Devi ?"

"Kya aap swayam Jagdamba Parvati hai ?"

"Ya fir Shri ka koi swaroop ?"

"Kya naam hai aapka ?"

"Kripiya apna naam batayiye Devi."

Their voices, filled with awe and curiosity, filled the room. The ethereal woman, her gaze still fixed on the content infant, turned her attention to the women.

A serene smile graced her lips, as she simply replied, "Mohini."

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A/N

*Ticks the names of Kurmadev and Mohini*

Are you seeing a pattern here ? 🌝
Cause I have made one ✨