Episode 4:

This evening, Anamika nervously confronted her family who were ready for the puja.

"What will they say, when they don't see the alangaram?" Anamika thought. "I have promised that I would organise everything this time. They'll be very disappointed."

"Anamika." Her mother-in-law, Leeladevi, called. "What happened beti? We're all waiting to see the alangaram you did."

"Yea bhabhi!"

"Maa, you'll be surprised. Anamika is amazing." Her husband adds.

"Uff...I don't why she's still nervous. And the mahurat is passing." Leeladevi decided to bring their moorti. Then when she saw, the beautiful alangaram of Devi Vijaya Lakshmi, she became surprise, as well as spelbound. However, the fact is that Vijaya Lakshmi was draped in the same sari that Lakshmi had draped across her body when she met Anamika.

"Wah wah!" Anamika's family exclaimed.

"How did this happen?" She thought. "But the sari was ruined?" Soon Anamika remembered when Lakshmi had saved her. "That girl who helped me...no way...that girl was non other than Mata Herself." Anamika smiled. "Jai Mata di!"

"Beautiful alangaram, beti." Leeladevi remarked. "Mata's sari even have a divine glow."

"Yea, because Mata Herself had worn it." Anamika had tears in her eyes.

"Definitely."

"Let's start the puja, everyone."

--

Next morning, Lakshmi, Saraswati, Ganesh and Kartikey got up, had breakfast and went on to listen to what Gauri and Shankar have to tell them. However this discussion started with Shankar's metaphoric vernacular, and then Gauri's sweet explanation.

"Dears. A caterpillar lives its life eating leaves and changing his location, not knowing his true self. Then soon he enters the cocoon and stays for several days, until he becomes a butterfly." Shankar explained. "Same way, you four are enjoying the bliss of life, not knowing your true self or potential. Yet in due course, you'll all be on the road to realisation, but it takes time."

"Yesterday you have gotten a taste of your purpose." Gauri adds.

"That's what we don't understand, maa, pitaji." Kartikey stated.

"Who are these people? And why do they look so monstrous?" Ganesh asks.

"They keep calling me Durga and Shree." Lakshmi said,

"Everything is a learning experience. It will help mould you into your true self." Shankar said.

"Maa, who are we?" Saraswati asked. "Who are we really?"

"You're DharmaRakshaks. The protectors of dharm." Gauri sternly declared. "Once again, corruption and negative energies had taken over, and it's our duties to save everyone from it."

"Viraj, Charan, and the rest are Asuras in the form of people. Yet they're only henchmen." Shankar said. "You must face Asuras more powerful than them."

"Wait! Asuras?! Like the ones from the Puranas??" Kartikey asked.

"Yes."

"But only the divine can defeat them. Not us." Saraswati said.

"That's why we're telling you that you have a special purpose, but haven't discovered it yet." Gauri replied. "Also good will always triumph, dear."

"Your maa is right." Shankar said. "And I'm here to guide you through realisation and wisdom."

"And I'm here to teach you how to fight these Asuras and use your energy appropriately." Gauri adds.

"Thanks a lot maa" Ganesh remarked.

"Maa, but who's this Asurraj they keep mentioning?" Lakshmi asked.

"He's Mahishasur, where his allies are out to destroy you and humanity. However we will never let them win."

"Why are they after us? And why do they want to take over the world?"

"Because they're are thirsty for power and dominance, while we're trying to save humanity." Gauri concluded. "Dears just remember not to back out on duty."

"We promise." The four replied. "We will protect dharm from these Danavs!"

"Great. Will you excuse me? I'm going to open my mithai dhukkan." Gauri smiled.

"Maa. Can I get some laddoos?" Ganesh licked his lips. "I'm in the mood for laddoos."

"You're always in the mood for laddoos, Ganesh." Kartikey chuckled.

"Stop teasing your brother." Gauri laughed. "Of course Ganesh!"

"Who else would I tease, maa." Kartikey chuckled again, then he pinched Ganesh's face.

"And if they don't tease each other, how would I tease Lakshmi." Saraswati joined in the laughter.

"You were planning too, Saru." Lakshmi giggled.

"Yea."

"Then no Veena."

"Nooo, Bubli. You promised me. And you're my lucky charm when buying something." Saraswati joked.

"Accha." Lakshmi acted surprised. "I don't negotiate prices, Saru."

Yea I know. But I always get some sort of luck."

"Heehee. Saru, deep down, I really want to buy the veena for you. And next month is your Janmdin."

"Oh yes. and it's falling on Saraswati Jayanti again." Saraswati said.

"Aww. As always."

"I want something simple." Saraswati added. "You know I don't like extravagant things so much."

"Yea." Lakshmi remarked. "So when you get your Veena, you're going to play it for Maa and Pitaji. And then your pyaari Lakshmi so that she can sleep sweetly at night."

"I thought you do sleep sweetly."

"Yea on thoughts of Shree Hari of course!! But then, sometimes my thoughts of him keeps me up, for at least 24 mins."

"Aww."

"Wait but speaking of Janmdin, you forgot all about mine this month!" Kartikey stated.

"We would never." Saraswati cheered.

"We're planning to give you hugs and pinches as well!" Lakshmi chuckled.

"Dears." Shankar smiled. "I forgot to tell you something."

"Oh, tell us Pitaji." Ganesh and the rest became neutral.

"You also have special powers, that you will obtain in the future." Shankar stated. "These powers will help you defeat the Asuras."

"Powers?"

"Are we even capable of harnessing powers?"

"Yes, but when you get them, they will be out of control for a while." Shankar said. "Just look out for a special Kavach on your wrist."

"What would that signify?" Ganesh asks.

"A new beginning!"

"Pitaji, can you tell us more about this Kavach." Lakshmi requested..

"Your Kavach is non other than your personal symbol, that will show up as a birthmark." Shankar explained. "Within some time, it will get darker, and even glow for a few seconds. But while it is light, you must try your best to control your powers, because it's imbalanced."

"Dears, I know this sounds hard, but you will get the hang of it."

"What if we do something wrong pitaji?"

"Oho, nothing like that will happen. Because I'm here to guide you."

"Ok pitaji."

"Anyways have fun for now! You have your friends hobbies and interests, right? Enjoy those." Shankar smiled.

"Avashya."

"Lakshmi and I are going on a drive actually." Saraswati happily said.

"Good to hear. And what are you going to do, putro?"

"We can go along with them!" Kartikey suggests.

"Yes, now us siblings must stick together more than ever." Ganesh adds.

"Definitely!" Saraswati agreed. "let's leave after you get your laddoos, Ganesh."

"Let me her them!" Mahotkat insisted. "I can collect them from mata. And she must have opened her dhukkan how."

"It's ok Mahotkat. Maa will bring them when she's done." Ganesh stated.

"Nah, bappa. She must be busy." Mahotkat said. "I'll bring the laddoos so that she can focus on her work." He exited.

"Heeehee." Ganesh chuckled.

"He's so friendly." Lakshmi remarked.

"Yea." Saraswati said.

"This morning I had seen him doing puja." Kartikey added. "He seems to be a great Ganesh bhakt."

"Yes he is." Shankar stated. "Also he's our Ganesh's aid."

"How?" Ganesh asks.

"Putr, it's like how Lakshman ji is always loyal to his brother Ram. it's the same with you and Mahotkat." Shankar replied. "However he's apart of your persona."

"Kartikey, Saraswati and Lakshmi. You will soon meet your aid." Shankar added.

"Ohh." Lakshmi remarked. "Do you also have an ally and aid, pitaji?"

"Yes. My cow, Nandi." Shankar said. "We share everything actually."

"You mean our pet, Nandi?" Kartikey asks. "But we only see you taking care of him

"Indeed." Shankar chuckled. "Anyways, I have said enough. It's not time to tell you the rest of information."

--

On the other side, Gauri was lovingly stacking laddoos on a plate, until Mahotkat entered.

"Pranam mata." Mahotkat greeted, with clasped hands.

"Arre Pranam. Here's the laddoos for your Ganesh." Gauri smiled.

"Thank you mata."

"And make sure to have one too."

"If is according to my Ganpati's will, I'll definitely eat it as prasad." Mahotkat smiled.

"That's great." Gauri remarked. "But Mooshak, stay with Ganesh."

"Sure, I'm his symbol and he's my identity." Mahotkat added. "But Mata, should I help him get back his memory of who he is?"

"Of course, Vats. You're the close to him."

"But about the others?"

"I'll help them, until they get their vahans." Gauri replied.

"Ok. Aagya de, mata." He says, then left when Gauri gave him a nod.

Thereafter, when he exited, Gauri looked at her storeroom door with a mystical smile. However the room's contents were only known by Gauri Shankar, as they were the ones who can unlock it.

"Gauri." Shankar confronted her.

"Swami?" Gauri soon after turned to him. "Yes tell me, Swami."

"I think we should put some things into place, to remind them about their essence."

"Yes Swami, that's what I was thinking of." Gauri said.

"Rememeber, tonight we must perform lasya tandav to generate auspiciousness again." Shankar stated. "Yesterday the Asuras haven't only terrorized people, they have also spread Asurik energies."

"Alright. Swami, there's a forest a few kilometers away from her. It will be an ideal place." Gauri stated.

"Yes true."