WHEN THE STARS ALIGNED / A Mahabharat AU

23. Gods can have Schizophrenia?

Prakriti and Kunti decided to visit the nearby durga temple as they reached a village. The brothers did their usual work. Sahadev had accompanied the females to the temple but sat outside to let them finish their prayers. Kunti sat solemnly in-front of the idol, tears flowing down her cheeks. Prakriti didn't interrupt her, afterall, who else to pour your heart out to if not the mother of all?

She helped the priest decorate the temple by lighting the diyas. Picking up a large plate of lit diyas she slowly walked out of the temple. It was slowly getting dark. She nudged a dozing Sahadev with her knees, "move, sleepy-head." She smiled.

Sahadev mumbled an incoherent insult before moving his legs away, glancing at his mother and then the yadav princess.

"Should I come with you? the backside of the temple is right at the face of the forest." He said in concern.

"I'll be fine. Choti maa is unaware of her surroundings. If she finds both of us gone, she'll panic." Prakriti turned to look at Sahadev as she decended down the stairs and reached the soft soil of the ground. "Don't worry brother." She joked, teasing the youngest pandava who almost acted like her older brother despite being the same age as her. Sahadeva gave her a look of utmost boredom although she knew he felt a little bit embarassed. With that,Madhavi walked past the temple entrance , placing a diya every now and then, decorating the sides of the temple, making it look like stars have decended around the temple, lighting it up.

Her anklets, the only set of jewellery apart from her bracelet, tinkled as she moved to the back of the temple. The darkness of the sky was prominent by now, moonlight barely reaching through the crowd of trees. The only source of light layed in her hands as she tried to navigate through the darkness, placing the oil lamps every now and then.

"JagatSuta."

Prakriti yelped as she picked up the last lamp in her hand, the hot oil spilling on her hand as she hissed. The voice scared her to death, almost.

"Oh, I'm sorry." The man said sheepishly, a very blinding glow came out of him. Prakriti squinted her eyes, feeling it burn slightly as she tried to look at him.

"I didn't intend to- how do I apologise-"

"The first thing you can do is dim your permanent light bulb-" Prakriti gumbled.

The man frowned in confusion, unaware of what her phrase meant before realising his glow was too much for her mortal self.

"Oh! My apologies." He said, as his divine aura dimmed. Prakriti finally looked at him, hand still waving in the air to cool the burning sensation.
Prakriti stopped momentarily, eyes widening as she saw the floating man, still glowing slightly, clothes ancient even for Dwapar yug. It was quite reasonable to think that he was a god.

"JagatSuta, it is good to see you after so long, well and happy." The man smiled.

"Who?" Prakriti frowned. "I think you've got the wrong person, Dev." She joined her hands, lowering her head to bid him farewell.

"No I-" The man frowned, "Do you not remember anything? I used to teach you about elements of your being-"

Prakriti didn't know gods could have Schizophrenia or....maybe dementia?

The god stopped as if somebody interrupted him before he paled, if that was possible at all.

"Sorry. It is my mistake, putri. I am Agni dev." He greeted her.

Prakriti's eyes widened again, she greeted him respectfully.
"How can I help you Agni dev?"

"You're aware of the future, are you not?" His feet touched the ground as he towered over her immensely. Slowly he shrunk to only slightly tower over her.
Prakriti nodded.