Chapter 418 - 386: Swiming Back To Goddess Ganga’s Realm...

(A/N):

Drop a meme here that you find funny. Or reflects your mood.

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After spending a little more time with the dolphins, Devara finally decided that he had delayed his visit long enough.

He gave the creatures one last reassuring look before stepping away from the riverbank, where his royal guards remained gathered near his horse, watching their king with a mixture of curiosity and resignation.

They had grown accustomed to Devara doing things that most rulers would never consider, but the sight of their king casually conversing with sharp-toothed river dolphins before deciding to dive into the Ganga was still something they would have to get used to.

"Maharaja, shall we arrange a boat for you?"

One of the guards called out, apparently unwilling to abandon the last opportunity to suggest a more conventional means of entering the river.

Devara glanced back at him with an amused smile.

"A boat? And what exactly would I do with it? Sit there waiting for the river to carry me to my destination?"

Before the guard could respond, Devara stepped into the water, allowing the cool current to wash over his feet before moving further into the river.

He took a deep breath, looked towards the distant horizon for a brief moment, and then plunged beneath the surface with a smooth dive.

The guards hurried towards the edge of the harbour, watching the spot where he had disappeared.

For several moments, the water remained undisturbed except for a few ripples spreading across the surface.

One of the younger guards leaned forward, as though he expected Devara to emerge almost immediately, but the older soldiers remained composed.

Their king was no ordinary man, and none of them doubted his ability to look after himself in the waters of the Ganga.

Far beneath the surface, Devara swam with effortless grace.

The world above gradually faded into a distant shimmer as he descended through the clear waters, his movements carrying him deeper into the sacred river.

Sunlight filtered down in long, wavering shafts, illuminating schools of small fish that scattered as he passed.

Aquatic plants swayed gently with the current, their leaves moving like ribbons beneath the water, while the occasional flash of silver marked the movement of fish darting between submerged rocks.

For Devara, the experience was wonderfully refreshing.

The noise of the harbour, the constant reports from the palace, the questions surrounding Vrishasena, and the expectations of the kings seeking an alliance all seemed to drift away with every passing moment.

There were no ministers waiting for his decisions here, no military commanders asking for instructions, and no royal messengers carrying fresh reports about the possibility of war.

There was only the cool embrace of the Ganga and the familiar peace he had always associated with his mother’s presence.

He continued swimming, following a current that seemed to guide him towards a particular section of the river.

Having visited his mother’s domain before, he knew that the passage would not reveal itself to an ordinary swimmer.

The entrance existed within the sacred waters, concealed from those who lacked the knowledge or divine connection required to find it.

And then he saw it.

A small whirlpool had formed ahead of him, turning gently within the surrounding current.

At first glance, it appeared no different from the natural eddies that occasionally developed around submerged rocks, but Devara immediately recognised the faint divine radiance hidden within its centre.

The water seemed to bend towards it in a manner that defied the ordinary laws of the river, and a subtle current tugged at him as he approached.

A familiar smile spread across his face.

"There you are," he thought, swimming closer.

Without hesitation, Devara entered the whirlpool.

The moment he crossed its centre, the current enveloped him. Rather than pulling him downwards or dragging him through the water, the swirling force seemed to fold the surrounding space around him.

The river vanished from his senses for an instant, replaced by a strange sensation of movement that was neither falling nor swimming.

It felt as though he had passed through an invisible veil separating two worlds, leaving the familiar waters of Bhulok behind as the divine power of the Ganga carried him towards his destination.

Then, just as suddenly as it had begun, the movement ceased.

Devara emerged into his mother’s domain.

The realm remained exactly as he remembered it, a place of extraordinary beauty where the sacred waters flowed with a radiance of their own.

Vast stretches of crystal-clear water extended beneath a luminous sky, while waterfalls descended from elevated terraces of pale stone, their cascading streams creating delicate curtains of silver.

Lotus blossoms floated upon tranquil pools, and delicate flowers grew along the banks, their colours reflected upon the water’s surface.

The air carried a cool, refreshing fragrance, and the gentle sound of flowing water filled the surroundings with a peaceful melody.

There was no oppressive silence here, nor the chaotic noise of the mortal world.

Everything seemed to exist in perfect harmony, as though the entire domain breathed in rhythm with the goddess who ruled it.

Devara paused for a moment, taking in the familiar surroundings.

Despite the many extraordinary places he had visited throughout his life, his mother’s domain always held a special place in his heart.

It was not simply another divine realm to explore or a destination reached through supernatural means.

It was a place where he could set aside the burdens of kingship and return, even briefly, to being a son visiting his mother.

And judging by the figure waiting for him near the water’s edge, his arrival had hardly come as a surprise.

Goddess Ganga stood beside one of the tranquil pools, her divine presence illuminating the surrounding waters with a gentle radiance.

Her garments flowed gracefully around her, their delicate folds moving with the faint breeze that passed through the realm.

The serene expression upon her face carried the warmth and affection that Devara had known since childhood, and her eyes brightened the moment she saw him emerge from the passage.

She smiled at him as though she had been expecting his arrival all along.

"Look at that,"

Ganga said, her voice carrying a gentle note of amusement.

"My son finally remembers that he has a mother who would be delighted to see him, despite having spent the last several days buried beneath reports, royal duties, and whatever other responsibilities he has managed to collect for himself."

Devara stopped a few steps away, his eyebrows rising as he regarded her with mock indignation.

"Mother, I have only just arrived. Must you begin scolding me before I have even had the opportunity to greet you properly?"

Ganga’s smile widened.

"And when, precisely, would be the appropriate time? After you have spent an hour explaining how busy you have been? Or perhaps after you have found a way to turn a simple visit into a discussion about the affairs of your kingdom?"

Devara stared at her for a moment before breaking into a grin.

"You have clearly been speaking to someone about me."

"Do I need anyone to tell me about my own son?"

she asked, tilting her head.

"I am your mother, Devara. I have known you long enough to recognise when you are carrying something on your mind, even before you open your mouth to speak about it."

That answer left him with little room to argue. Rather than attempting another defence, Devara simply stepped forward, closing the remaining distance between them before wrapping his arms around her in a warm embrace.

Ganga’s expression softened immediately.

She returned the embrace, drawing her son close as one hand settled against the back of his head and the other rested upon his shoulder.

For a moment, neither of them said anything.

The goddess who watched over the sacred river held her son with the same affection she had shown him countless times before, while Devara allowed himself to enjoy the simple comfort of being in her arms.

The weight of his responsibilities seemed to ease a little.

He had come to discuss a matter that could potentially lead to a war involving several kingdoms, but standing there with his mother, he found that the immediate urgency of those concerns no longer pressed so heavily upon him.

The problems would still be waiting when he returned to Trivenivrata, and the decisions would still need to be made, but for now, he could afford to let them rest.

Ganga gently stroked his hair, her smile returning as she held him.

"There,"

she murmured affectionately.

"Was that so difficult? You could have come to see me earlier, you know."

Devara gave a quiet laugh against her shoulder before finally drawing back enough to look at her face.

"I missed you too, Mother."

For a brief moment, Ganga studied him with the fond attention of a mother who could recognise both the man her son had become and the child he would always remain in her eyes.

Then she reached up and touched his cheek, her expression warm but perceptive.

"Now, tell me," she said,

"what has brought you here today? You did not swim all the way into my domain merely because you wanted to give your mother a hug, did you?"

Devara’s smile became slightly sheepish.

"Would it be so terrible if I had?"

"Not at all," Ganga replied.

"In fact, I would be very pleased if you did. But knowing you, I suspect there is something else on your mind."

Devara sighed, though the corners of his mouth remained lifted.

"Must you always be right?"

Ganga laughed softly and slipped her arm through his, guiding him towards the beautiful pavilion overlooking the water.

"Come along, my son. Sit with me and tell me everything. Whatever the problem is, you need not stand at the entrance looking as though you are preparing to announce the beginning of another war."

Devara allowed her to lead him through the familiar surroundings, grateful for the warmth of her welcome.

As they approached the pavilion, he glanced at the peaceful waters surrounding them and finally felt ready to speak about the troubles gathering beyond his kingdom’s borders.

For now, at least, he was home with his mother.

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(Author note:)

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