Shiv - Shakti, The First Love Story - Dakshayani

The Ultimatum

Shiva and Sati were spending their time contently. An eternal spring had set on the icy mountains which once used to be rough. The mountains that once used to cry seeing the pain of it's owner for separating from his lover now rejoices in their reunion.

Sati, though had taken time, had well adapted to the environment of Kailash, not to mention that Shiva had given his best to make her feel at home. But destiny had other plans for them and Shiva had got the hint of it.

One day, Shiva and Sati were sitting with each other and the Shiv ganas were trying to tend to their needs. Nandi performed his daily worship towards them when the sound of veena echoed throughout the mountains.

"Narayan Narayan"

With Vishnu's chant on his lips, Narada appeared along with Brahma. Shiva stood up and they greeted each other. Sati went and touched Brahma's feet.

"Welcome Grandfather" Sati greeted.

"Stay blessed my child."

"Brahma" Shiva said, "you both are here. There must be a reason."

"Narayan Narayan. Yes my lord. We are here today with an invitation. Father Brahma has arranged for an yagna in the Naimisha forest. We would be honored if you grace us with your presence, Maha Rudra."

Shiva nodded, "I accept. I will be present but beware! You know things can go awry".

Brahma smiled, "I know and I will look after it."

Saying so, both of them vanished. Sati approached Shiva.

"What were you talking about? What could go wrong?"

"Sati... Your father would be there too."

A few days later, the day of the yagna arrived. Shiva had departed for his destination along with Nandi. Sati was in Kailash. She was restless. She couldn't sit not knowing what was happening in the forest. She was worried since the day she heard that her father and her husband would face each other. Finding no other solution, she finally gave into her urge. She sat on Shiva's empty seat. She closed her eyes and activated her third eye, like Shiva had shown. Soon, she could witness the happenings in the Naimisha forest.

The sacrificial fire was burning and surrounding it was sitting all the Gods and invited guests. Special seats were made for the trinity. Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva were sitting in their respective seats. Soon a large entrouge entered which was headed by King Daksha. As he entered, all the Gods and guests got up from their seats to greet him, except the tridev. Brahma was his father and Vishnu was his Ishta Deva so he didn't mind and greeted them but then he side eyed to see Shiva and he got infuriated. Shiva was sitting in his place with a tiny smile. As their gazes met, Shiva nodded in acknowledgement which angered Daksha even more. He fumed and shouted.

"Look at you, Shiva? You have no decency at all? Your father in law entered and you cannot even stand in his respect."

"Daksha" Vishnu intervened, "He is in the same position as us. He is not obliged to stand up. It's you who should greet him."

"Never! He is my son in law even if I don't accept. You should come here and touch my feet. Then I might forgive you for taking away my daughter" Daksha growled.

Shiva still stayed quite.

"You don't deserve to sit at the same seat with my father and Narayan. You need to know your place. So today I, Prajapati Daksha, curse you that you will not be revoked during any yagna. I denounce you from today" Daksha said angrily.

The entire surrounding became quite. Everyone was shocked to hear Daksha's words. But Nandi, being Shiva's greatest devotee could not stand his insult.

"Daksha! How dare you speak like this to Mahadev. You are not even a grain of sand in front of him. If I have devotedly served my lord then I curse you that the mouth with which you insulted my Shiva, that head will turn into a goat" Nandi growled.

Daksha's eyes burned in fury, "How dare you curse me you fool!"

"Nandi" Shiva said softly "We are not needed here anymore. Why argue? Let's go back. Sati is waiting for us."

Shiva went away with a reluctant Nandi. Then Brahma spoke.

"I am ashamed of you today, Daksha. What have you done? Don't you have any common sense?"

Daksha stayed silent, still fuming with anger.

Sati opened her eyes, furiously.

"Sati"

The voice got her attention. She turned to see that Shiva and Nandi had returned. Nandi was clearly upset but Shiva wasn't fazed. Sati went to him and looked at him, frowning.

"Why did you stay silent?" Sati asked sternly.

"Sati calm down. Let's go inside" Shiva said calmly.

"Answer me, Shiva. Why?" She questioned again. Shiva sighed. He knew he won't be able to ignore Sati.

"Sati, I know you have seen everything. Your father was angry and if I would have retaliated then nothing good might have come out of it. Isn't it better that it didn't escalate much? Anyways It doesn't matter if anybody insults me or not. It does not affect me."

"It might not affect you but it affects me. It affects your devotees. Why did you stop Nandi? Have you looked at him? Your insult has dejected him greatly. "

"Mata it's alright. If prabhu has done something, it must be for a reason. Now allow me to go back to my duties. If you need anything, please call out for me" Nandi said softly and went away. Now Shiva went closer to Sati and held her shoulders.

"Sati, look at me" Shiva said but she still kept her gaze averted. Shiva held her chin and made her look at him.

"Tell me what is bothering you, my darling" Shiva asked, slightly stroking her hair. Now the tears that she had held onto for so long bursted like a waterfall.

"Don't you know, Mahadev?" Sati said, her voice breaking "My father's enmity towards you keeps both of you an arm distance from me. I love you and I've chosen you as my husband but Daksha is my father. He has given birth to me. Every word he speaks against you pierces me like spear in the heart. I cannot accept the fact that my own father has such vicious hatred for my life partner. I get suffocated trying to balance both of you but I'm so tired of trying now. My father won't stop and neither will you react. And I thought I was the stubborn one. Sometimes I feel like all these problems will be solved if I, myself, am taken out of the equation. "

"Sati!" Shiva stopped her, placing his hand on her mouth and shook his head. Sati took his hand and held it tightly.

"I'm sorry. I know I have spoken too much but I couldn't keep it in. This has made me disturbed for so long that it bursted out" Sati said finally calming down. Shiva smiled at her.

"You have nothing to apologise for Sati. I can understand what you must be feeling but Sati, everything is in the hands of destiny and nothing can change that. Not even me. So let it be for our future but meanwhile..."

Sati looked at him, waiting for him to finish. Shiva couldn't help his words even though he knew nothing can come out of it because he knew what was about to befall them but he didn't try to control. This one last time.

"Promise me Sati that you will never leave me. That you will always stay beside your Shankar because without you Sati, I'm nothing."

Sati smiled and took Shiva's extended hand.

"I would try to keep the promise" She said with teary eyes. Somewhere inside, Sati too knew that their time of bliss was up.