Chapter 9: Mischief and Storms
A few months had passed since Shon met Mahadev and received his divine blessings. He was now more than three years old. With age came more energy, and with more energy came more… shenanigans.
Shon had turned into a full-fledged whirlwind of mischief. If there was one thing he had mastered apart from chanting mantras and exercising, it was stealing kheer. He could sniff it from a mile away and sneak into any house to steal it — including Vrushali's home. His adorable face made him popular not just among his neighbors but also among the entire neighborhood. People would scold him one moment and shower him with kisses the next, all thanks to his disarming smile and irresistible cuteness.
Despite his playful nature, Shon remained disciplined when it came to his spiritual and physical routines. He chanted the Gayatri Mantra and Panchakshari Mantra every day without fail. His workout regime had grown intense. He now did 100 push-ups, 100 pull-ups, 100 sit-ups, and an 8-minute plank — all of it done three times a day. He had also added a new element to his training: cardio. He ran around until he was completely exhausted.
Much to Radha Maa's frustration, his cardio usually involved running inside the house, knocking over pots, slipping on mats, bumping into furniture, and creating complete chaos. It was like a daily storm had visited their home — one that Radha Maa had to clean up afterward.
Whenever she'd had enough, she'd catch him, twist his ears, and scold him.
"Shon! How many times do I have to tell you not to run in the house?"
But Shon had a secret weapon. His Brahmastra. He would turn to her with wide, teary eyes, fold his hands, and say in a soft voice, "Sorry, Maa…"
And just like that, Radha Maa's anger would melt like butter on a hot pan.
"Ugh! This boy..." she would mutter, unable to continue her scolding.
Then, as soon as he escaped her wrath, Shon would flash a cheeky grin and return to his antics as if nothing had ever happened. Radha Maa would be left speechless, while Adhirath and Karna chuckled from the corner, shaking their heads.
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Meanwhile, within the royals of Hastinapur, new events were unfolding.
In the forest where pandu reside with his wifes and child
A few months after Yudhishthir was born, King Pandu asked Kunti to request a son from Vayu Dev — one who would be noble, powerful, and capable of supporting his elder brother in ruling the kingdom.
Obeying his wish, Kunti chanted her divine mantra and invoked Vayu Dev.
She asks for a child with the qualities stated by pandu.
"Tathaastu," said Vayu Dev, before vanishing.
Soon, Kunti was pregnant once more — with her second son, though technically her third. No one knew about her eldest child, Karna.
After a year, she gave birth to a robust, radiant baby boy. They named him Bheem.
On the very same day, Queen Gandhari of Hastinapur also gave birth — her first child, born just a few hours after Bheem. But the arrival of this child was marked by a strange and eerie phenomenon. A violent storm swept across Hastinapur. Wolves howled in the distance, and the skies darkened.
When the newborn cried for the first time, it didn't sound like a normal cry. It sounded like the howl of a wolf. Everyone who heard it felt a strange chill.
The wise Mahamantri Vidur declared it a bad omen.
"This is not normal," he warned. "I've read of such signs in ancient texts. This child might bring destruction to Hastinapur."
Whispers spread quickly through the palace. Many agreed with Vidur. Some even suggested the unthinkable — that the child should be killed for the good of the kingdom.
But Queen Gandhari, a fierce devotee of Lord Shiva and a new mother filled with love and rage, rose like a lioness.
"Touch my child, and you'll have to walk over my dead body!" she thundered, shielding her son with her arms.
No one dared take a step forward. No one wanted to face the wrath of a mother — especially not a Shiv Bhakt like Gandhari.
The council quietly stepped back, and the issue was left unresolved. But the damage was done. The rumor of the child being a bad omen had already begun to spread like wildfire across Hastinapur. No one knew who started it, but the whispers grew louder with each passing day.
Gandhari lovingly named her son Suyodhan, which meant "one who fights a good war." But the people began calling him Duryodhan — a name that could either mean "difficult to fight against" or "one who brings trouble."
But the real reason behind all this phenomenon was much simpler — Vayu Dev, overjoyed at the birth of his son, had stirred up a powerful wind in celebration. In doing so, he accidentally disturbed a few packs of wolves resting near Hastinapur. Startled, they began howling into the night, creating a mysterious and eerie scene that everyone misunderstood as a bad omen.
No one is born evil — and neither was Duryodhan. He was just a newborn child, a gift from the divine. But when the world around you sees you as darkness, it's only a matter of time before you become what they fear. And lurking in the shadows was Shakuni, Gandhari's brother, who saw in this situation an opportunity — a chance to influence the child and plant the seeds of destruction within the Kuru dynasty.
A few months later, Dhritarashtra's second son was born — this time from his dasi, Sugadha. He was named Yuyutsu. One by one, Gandhari's other children also began to arrive into the world.
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Bheeshma's POV
Two more grandsons.
One from the gods. One from a divine blessing.
Bheem, born of Vayu Dev's grace. Suyodhan, born through Gandhari's long penance and Mahadev's boon. Both born on the same day, though Bheem is older by a few hours.
Suyodhan's birth was… unusual. The storm. The howling wolves. The tension in the air. I don't know what caused it. Vidur sees it as a bad omen. But I… I do not believe a child can be born evil.
Yet, someone spread rumors about the boy. The people already call him Duryodhan. That word — it stings. It marks him before he has had the chance to define himself. Still… that name also has a second meaning. A mighty warrior. One who is nearly impossible to defeat in battle.
I can only hope… he lives up to that meaning.
I fear for Hastinapur's future. The winds are changing. The wheels of fate are turning. But I pray to Mahadev that our kingdom finds peace, not war.
---
In a quiet chamber of the royal palace, a woman with a blindfold sat cradling her newborn son. Her touch was gentle, her voice soothing.
"I know you're not a bad omen, my child," Gandhari whispered. "You are a blessing from Mahadev himself. How can such a child be evil?"
"I agree, my sister," said a voice from the doorway.
It was Shakuni, her brother.
"He will be a great warrior. A mighty ruler. He will become king of Hastinapur," Shakuni said, stepping forward with a confident smile.
Gandhari's face lit up. "Ji, Bhratashree."
She handed the baby to Shakuni, who gently lifted him in his arms.
"He looks strong already," he said, bouncing the baby lightly. "A true prince."
Just then, Dhritarashtra entered the chamber.
"Pranipat, Maharaj," Shakuni greeted.
"Pranipat, Shakuni. How are you?"
"I'm well, Maharaj. I came to see my nephew."
"Then give him to me. Let me hold my son," Dhritarashtra said, his voice filled with joy.
Shakuni obliged, passing the child into his father's arms. Dhritarashtra gently rocked his son, his blind eyes wet with emotion. Gandhari smiled, holding her husband's arm as they both looked toward a hopeful, if uncertain, future.
In that moment, the room glowed with warmth. A new life had begun. And with it, a new chapter in the tale of Hastinapur.
Little did they know… this was only the beginning.
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