Chapter 8: Boons from the Lord
A stunned Shon stood silently, his eyes wide in disbelief. Somehow, he wasn't in his toddler form anymore. He looked exactly like he had in his past life—a young man of twenty, the same face, the same frame. As if time had turned back just for him.
And in front of him, a radiant figure stood with a soft smile on his lips.
"Mahadev..." Shon whispered, barely able to form the word.
The divine one nodded gently.
He is in the void in his soul form in the presence of the divine.
For a few moments, Shon couldn't move, couldn't breathe. Then, as his senses returned, he immediately dropped to his knees and folded his hands.
"Pranam, Bholenath," he said with deep reverence.
"Kalyan ho, putra," the Lord blessed him.
Tears welled in Shon's eyes.
"Now I can die in peace, having seen you with my own eyes... even though I am not worthy of such a blessing," Shon said softly.
Mahadev smiled with warmth that could melt a mountain.
"You are deserving, my son. I am pleased with your devotion. You chanted those sacred mantras with unwavering dedication, despite being bound within the fragile body of a newborn. That is no small thing."
Shon looked down, humbled.
"As a token of my happiness," Mahadev continued, "I grant you two boons of your choice. Anything, except immortality. You may even ask me to stay by your side, protect you, serve you, if that is your wish."
Shon quickly shook his head. "No, Bhagwan. I could never ask something like that of you. It should be the other way around. I should serve and protect you, even if you need neither. It would be the greatest honor of my existence."
Mahadev's eyes twinkled.
"But I am confused," Shon admitted. "How can I be granted such boons after only chanting mantras for less than three years? Even though I am a child, I bore karma of an adult who has lived of 20 years."
Mahadev looked at him with a knowing smile.
"Your soul passed through the sacred waters of Ganga, crossing from the border of Aryavrat into Hastinapur. Ganga purifies all that she touches. Even a soul stained by lifetimes of karma can be made new. Now imagine a newborn who retains his past life's memory—chanting mantras with the innocence of a child and the resolve of a man."
He continued, "No sage, no rishi, could match the purity of your intent in these formative years. This is why your devotion shines brighter. It is rare, but it is real."
Shon listened intently, absorbing every word.
"You have earned the right to ask for your boons," Mahadev concluded. "Ask what your heart desires."
Shon grew quiet, his brows furrowed.
After a long pause, he finally said, "Before I ask for anything, there's something I need to know. I know you already understand what I'm about to ask, but I want to say it out loud. How did I die, Bhagwan? And how did I reincarnate here, in the Mahabharat era?"
Mahadev nodded, unsurprised.
"Your death was caused by a minor god's careless release of energy while passing through your world. His power disturbed the balance, and you died instantly. That same disturbance opened a rift—one that pulled your soul through time and space until it landed here, inside the womb of Devaki, who had just conceived."
Shon blinked, speechless.
"So... was it destiny?"
"Some may call it an accident," Mahadev said. "But I believe even accidents are the will of the universe."
Shon took a deep breath.
"Then is it possible for me to return to my original time? To Kaliyug?"
Mahadev grew serious.
"There are two paths," he said. "The first: become immortal, live until Kaliyug arrives once more. But you already know, immortality is not granted. It would defy the law of nature."
"The second: attain such mastery over your yogic energy that your cells constantly regenerate faster than they decay. You would never age. Never die. But this requires immense power—a level few in existence have reached. Hanuman is one such being."
Shon stood silently, absorbing the impossible scale of what was being said.
After a moment, he lifted his head.
"Then for my first boon," he said, "I want you to become my Guru. I want you to teach me everything you know. Every form of knowledge you can share. I wish to be your disciple, not just for a day, or a decade, but for life."
Mahadev's expression lit up.
"So be it," he said. "I will take you as my lifetime disciple. But to become my shishya, you must pass a test. Prove you are worthy."
"Yes, Bholenath," Shon replied without hesitation.
"And because this is a requirement for discipleship," Mahadev added, "this shall not count as one of your two boons. You still have two wishes left."
Shon was caught off guard. "Still two?"
Mahadev chuckled. "Yes."
Then, with a playful tilt of his head, Mahadev asked, "I'm curious, putra. With all the fantastical stories and novels from your time—systems, magical items, instant power-ups—why did you not ask for one of those?"
Shon smiled.
"Who could be more overpowered than you, Bhole?"
For a moment, Mahadev laughed, the sound deep and calming.
"Very well. What is your first boon then?"
Shon took a deep breath.
"I want my body and soul to be able to grow strong without any limit. I wish to become capable of holding unlimited yogic energy. My body and spirit must never break, no matter how much power flows through me. I want this so that, one day, I might return to my family in Kaliyug. To see my Maa, Papa, and Didi again."
Mahadev looked at him with deep affection.
"Your love for your family is pure, Shon. Tathaastu."
Shon felt warmth ripple through his being.
Mahadev asked, "And your second boon?"
"I wish for limitless talent," Shon said. "The ability to learn anything, master any skill—but only through effort and hard work. Because I believe one should never receive anything for free. When people do, they often take it for granted… and that arrogance leads to their downfall."
Mahadev smiled, clearly pleased.
"Good, good... You are absolutely right, putra," he said with appreciation. "Anything gained without effort loses its value. It breeds pride, and pride brings destruction."
Then, Mahadev raised his mighty trishul high into the air. The damru tied to it gave a soft, rhythmic tremble, echoing through the silence like a cosmic heartbeat.
"Tathaastu," he declared.
A gentle wind flowed around them, as if the universe itself had acknowledged the moment.
Then, Mahadev stepped closer.
"When you believe you are ready, come to Kailash Parvat. Your test awaits there. You must climb it on foot. No shortcuts. No divine help. You will climb it with your own strength. This is your test."
Shon nodded. "I understand, Gurudev."
Mahadev smiled again.
"Prepare yourself, my disciple. The journey will be long, the mountain steep, and the reward beyond imagining."
And with that, he slowly vanished into the light, the space around him folding like waves on a still lake.
Shon felt himself being drawn backward.
In the next instant, he was back in his crib, sitting cross-legged like always.
Everything was silent again. The room unchanged.
But he was not.
He could feel it. The power humming in his veins. The clarity of purpose.
He was no longer just a soul in the wrong era. He was now a future disciple of Mahadev. Yes he has to pass a test to be one but he has full beleif in himself , he will give it all.
And this was just the beginning.
He resumed his chanting, the Gayatri Mantra echoing in his mind with new strength.
When night fully embraced the sky, he closed his eyes and recited the Hanuman Chalisa.
Sleep claimed him soon after.
But now... it was the sleep of someone who had a mountain to climb.
And a destiny to fulfill.
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