Rudra enjoyed the lunch with his new family, filled with divines.
For lunch, he had Indian home-made dishes again, from all the famous to the lesser-known dishes.
He enjoyed every moment, talking with siblings, Mahadev, Mata Parvati, Mata Ganga, Devi Aranyani...
He couldn't even tell when the time for lunch was over and the time to go to his next lesson was near.
After eating lunch, Rudra spent some free time that was still available with his family...
"So, kid, are you enjoying the new knowledge and lessons that you have taken till now?" Mahadev said to Rudra.
Rudra, who was conversing with Mata Parvati, looked at God Shiva,
But he couldn't give the reply as fast as he would have liked. He went out of his thoughts for a moment, as even now he wasn't getting used to talking with his idol.
But he still shook himself out of it and said to Mahadev,
"Yes, Mahadev. I'm enjoying it very much; it is an amazing feeling. I can't tell how much knowledge I am getting, and that too from the divines. I didn't know the normal and basic knowledge could have that much depth in it." He said, with a dazzling smile and twinkle in his eyes.
"It is good." Mahadev gave a nod and said,
"But still, you should get comfortable with me too, and start calling me father too, you know."
Rudra, hearing Mahadev, stopped his thoughts that were running and came out of his imagination, where he was still hearing the lessons from Siblings.
"Umm... yes, Father, sorry... I'll try to speak more comfortably from now."
"Yes, Rudra. Get comfortable." Mata Parvati came near him and put their hand on his head, roughed his hairs and gave him a motherly hug.
The talks went for a few moments and then,
"Mother, it is a time for the 4th lesson, so I'll be taking him with me now." Devi Narmada, after waiting for the conversation to be over, said to Mata Parvati.
Mata Parvati looked away from Rudra for a moment and looked back at Narmada, and gave a reluctant nod.
Then they smiled at Rudra and said, "Go on, Rudra, it's your learning time. Go on with your sister."
Rudra looked back at Mata Parvati and gave them a nod, stood up and said with a bow to Mahadev, Mata Parvati, Mata Ganga, Devi Aranyani and others and looked at Devi Narmada. Who stood up too and after giving a bow to Mahadev, Mata Parvati, Mata Ganga, Devi Aranyani and a nod to siblings. Especially Devi Manasa, who was eager to get time with Rudra and give him a lesson too.
Then she started walking out of the abode, and with her, Rudra started following too.
After some time of following Devi Narmada, who silently led Rudra.
Devi Narmada took Rudra towards the other side of the Kailash, from where Ganga was. As they were walking,
"Rudra, are you eager to know where we are going?" They looked back at Rudra and spoke so.
Rudra, who was following Devi Narmada while looking at the surroundings, looked back at Devi Narmada and gave a nod.
Devi Narmada closed their eyes and repeated two or three nods said,
"Well, you have gone to the shore of Mata Ganga, now I'm taking you to the place where I am, or my river form is at."
Rudra sped up his pace and came near Devi Narmada,
As he got more eager to reach that place, he couldn't begin to imagine the beauty of the place where the Narmada flows.
After walking for some time, Rudra found himself looking at the vast river that flowed uninterrupted and unimpeded, and it felt as if, rather than on the soil of the Kailash, the river was floating above ground and flowing freely.
He saw that one side of the river was hidden behind the clouds, the side where the river water flows.
It was looking like that as if the river was going to another realm or something.
The atmosphere at the place, even though it was quite far from the river, was cool and calm as still water,
But with each step towards the river, the atmosphere and vibe kept on changing, sometimes it was as if it was beginning, calm and soothing,
like a current strong enough to carry one from one shore to another without asking.
Then again—
It softened… almost playful… like ripples that touch and retreat, as if testing his presence.
And with the next…
It felt ancient… steady… as though this flow had existed long before him, and would remain long after.
Each step was different.
With the next step, he could feel the depth of the ocean; with one, he could feel the pull the waves would feel due to the moon.
With other he could feel the air and wind of soothing breath,
With the next step, he could feel as if everything was in reach, as if the force of the river could take him from one corner of the universe to another.
After some time, Rudra reached the shore of the river and was even more mesmerised and lost in his feelings because he was feeling as if he could be anything, could do anything and could be anywhere at any time he gave a thought.
He would need only one thought, and he could do it, could jump from one point to another, could travel in space.
"Yes, this place can take you anywhere you desire, and you can travel. So, what you are feeling is true. You can go anywhere, you can be free, you can be as calm as a river, or as aggressive as an angry river." Devi Narmada calmly answers Rudra's query that was going on in his mind.
"This is the place I have chosen for your lesson and the place where I will give you the part of Mantra that was for me to teach you."
After speaking, Devi Narmada raised her hand… and with a slight motion of her finger, guided by her thought alone, she called the river to her will.
The waters responded.
Flowing over the sacred soil of Kailash, the river began to rise… lifting itself into the air. Only one end remained unseen, veiled behind the clouds in the direction of its course.
The rest… ascended.
It curved and bent as though it had found rhythm… not merely flowing, but dancing. Graceful arcs turned into spirals, and the spirals deepened into a vast, living swirl.
And at its centre—
stood Rudra and Devi Narmada.
Still… while everything around them moved.
Rudra did not move.
His gaze wandered… slowly, almost unwilling to settle… tracing the arcs of water that circled him in silent motion. The swirls rose and fell like breath… like something alive, aware… and for a moment, he forgot to separate himself from it.
He was not watching anymore.
He was within it.
A quiet trance held him… not heavy, not binding… just enough to loosen the edges of thought. The world beyond that circle seemed to fade… leaving only the soundless dance of water and the presence beside him.
Then—
From the very centre where he stood, something stirred.
A lotus began to rise.
Not rushed, not forced… it unfolded the way dawn does… petal by petal… calm, certain, inevitable. It lifted Devi Narmada with it, as though it had always been waiting beneath her.
She took her seat upon its petals… effortless… as if the bloom itself knew its purpose.
Below… at the base where the broad leaf spread outward, Rudra remained standing.
Now, still in a different way.
The trance did not break… it deepened.
His eyes, once wandering, found their place… resting upon her form. Not in haste, not in question… but in quiet recognition.
There was no need to understand.
Only to witness.
Devi Narmada spoke, her voice as fluid as the waters that moved around them—
"For you to truly understand the mantra I am to give you… the part of the whole that you have received from your siblings…"
Her words did not rush. They flowed… measured, deliberate… as though each syllable carried weight beyond sound.
"The knowledge you have gathered so far… each fragment, each teaching… is not separate. It is one whole, seen through different forms."
She paused—not to stop, but to let the meaning settle… like silt finding its place beneath clear water.
"As Anvi has already told you… this part that comes to you now represents the element of water."
For a brief moment, her gaze drifted—not away from him, but through him… as if seeing something deeper than what stood before her.
"The element that yields… yet shapes. That flows… yet endures. That appears gentle… yet holds the strength to carve through time itself."
Her hand rose slowly, and with the slightest movement, she gestured toward the vast, living expanse that surrounded them.
The swirling waters seemed to respond… not by changing… but by becoming more present.
"Look around you, Rudra…"
Her voice softened, but its depth only grew.
"This is not merely a place."
A pause…
"This is a state."
Her eyes returned to him, steady and knowing.
"A realm where movement and stillness exist together… where form is never fixed, yet nothing is ever lost."
The waters curved and spiraled, as if echoing her words… as if they had always been saying the same thing, long before language.
"Thus… this place."
She extended her hand slightly… not commanding, not claiming… simply acknowledging.
"Surrounded by water… held within it… guided by me."
There was no pride in her tone. Only truth.
"The most fitting ground for what you must now learn."
A brief stillness followed… not empty, but full… like the quiet just before understanding takes shape.
Then, with the faintest hint of a knowing smile, she asked—
"Do you feel it, Rudra…?"
Not a question seeking an answer.
But one that already knew it had reached him.