Shiv - Shakti, The First Love Story - Dakshayani

My Love, Till We Meet Again

After establishing the last Shaktipeeth, Shiva proceeded towards the cremetorium grounds. He sat near one of the burning pyres and applied ash all over his body. He sat down, trying to calm his mind but thoughts of his Sati were still troubling him. Shiva had tried to go back into meditation but he couldn't calm his mind. Whenever he tried to close his eyes, Sati's face came to his mind. Their beautiful memories were now haunting him.

The first time they had met, the time when Sati had come to meet him in the same cremation ground. Her conducting the Nanda Vrat, the obstacles she overcame to get together with him. Their Wedding. The moment Sati had called him to her Swayamvar and they got married. The beautiful moments they shared together. He had been ever gentle with her, always looking after her and her needs. Sati was just as much dedicated to him. He loved her like anything. She had become his world. And then he remembered the fateful moment when Sati had left for her father's place. And then he lost her. Forever. Shiva picked up a handful of ashes as tears rolled down his face and fell on the ashes. Suddenly he felt something and dropped the ashes. He addressed his visitor without even looking up.

"Are you here to enjoy seeing me in pain?"

The visitor in question was none other than Goddess Mahamaya herself. She had seen him traveling to establish her Shaktipeeths and when he had finally settled, she had come to meet him. She felt his betrayed and heavy voice and it stung her.

"I can understand how you are feeling. I'm going through just as much pain as you are, Shambhu. Burning in my own flames was extremely painful but it's even more difficult to see you in this state" Mahamaya said, her voice breaking. Now Shiva looked up and had a clear vision of her. Her face was glowing amongst the burning pyres at night. To him, she looked glorious as ever. It was the first time he genuinely saw her and heard her voice after Sati's death. This wasn't Sati. This was Shakti herself but to him they all were same.

"Why? Why did you have to leave me? Was this so necessary?" He asked, dejected.

"This is our destiny, Mahadev and we cannot change it" Shakti answered, "Our story has been written at the beginning of the universe. We get together for the creation of this world but also for this very creation, we have to separate. It's not in our hands."

Shiva let out a scoff.

"Fate is so cruel, isn't it? It doesn't spare the ones who made it."

"That is true, Mahadev. We are the ones who made the rules so we have to follow them ourselves."

She took a deep breath and then smiled sadly.

"What a turn of events it is that even you have kept so much distance between us."

That is when Shiva realized how far they were standing from each other. He then spread his arms, inviting her towards him. Shakti responded to him and ran into his embrace. Shiva held on to her tightly, as if she'd go away once again if he lets go. After a while, they separated and Mahamaya cradled his face. She wiped his tears and held his hands.

"I may be going now but I'm always with you. By establishing the Shaktipeeths, you have paved my path to take birth again. I promise you my dear, I will soon come back to you. Maybe with a new name, with a new form but I will unite with you again. This is my word to you and I won't break it this time" Shakti said. Shiva nodded.

"I will be waiting for you, my darling. I'll wait for you till the end of the universe."

Shakti smiled.

"It's my time to go now" She said and took away her hand. Shiva watched in agony as he saw his Shakti moving away from him once again. And then she disappeared.
He took a step back and steadied himself. Then he decided to go into meditation. He needed to calm his mind.

Thinking so, he travelled to the Himalayas with Nandi and went inside an icy cave where nobody could find him. Nandi situated himself outside the cave as his protector. Shiva closed his eyes and went into deep meditation. He would only open his eyes again when she comes back. Before so, he whispered.

"My love, till we meet again!"

          ............ The End .........

Author's note : There's an epilogue at the end. Do check it out!