Upon the swing in the garden area of the palace, Arjun made Vaishnavi lay down, with her head on his lap. Krishna, who was keeping his hand on a tree, and another on his hip, facing the other side, started telling Arjun all about the future girl.

"Parth! Once there was a mother, who really wanted a child, who could help the Avatar of Vishnu on this earth. Like how Hanuman helped Ram in Treta yug. So she started praying to Lord Shiva, from one Maha Shivaratri to the next one. She was in a penance for one year. Soon enough, on the night of Mahashivratri, the lord himself was pleased with the great mother's prayers and came in front of her, told her to ask for a boon."

"Hey Mahadev! I just want a boon, where my Kanha gets support, a help, and someone whom he could trust with his eyes closed". Mahadev said, "But Devi! He is Narayan himself! He doesn't need anyone's help!". She smiled and replied, "Even Lord Rama needed a help, in your form! As lord Hanuman!".

Mahadev smiled at her and said, "I'm impressed, Devi! I assure you, that you will get a child, who will be there with Krishna! Even if the child doesn't help him directly, the child will definitely help his devotees and those who are really close and special to him! Tathastu!", with that, Mahadev disappeared from the place.

Arjun was listening to whatever Krishna was saying intently. "But Madhav! What does Vaishnavi has to do with this?". Krishna smiled at him and said, "She definitely has, Parth! I'm coming to that part only!". Arjun nodded and asked him to continue, caressing her forehead.

Krishna continued, "Now this is not something that happened because that mother asked the Lord. Its because the Lord made circumstances, so that the mother could ask him. It was his Leela, which made her ask for a boon like that. Like how Hanuman was with Ram, Lord Shiva wanted to be with me in this Avatar. So he decided to take birth through this mother. He was very much pleased with everyone as it was Maha Shivaratri. Being a Bhola Shankar he is, he decided to accept all the wishes of his devotees. This news has reached all the Devathas, and they decided to take part in this occasion. The unfortunate thing is that, this also has reached the ears of the Asuras. Goddess Parvati was also excited about this, and asked him a wish as well".

"Swami! I wish for something as well! I too want to take part in this as I want to help my brother! So, my wish is that you alone won't be born in the mortal world! I will also join you! As Ardhnarishwar, we will help him!", Mata Parvati asked him. He smiled at her and said, "Tatasthu!". She became overjoyed listening to that, as she will be helping her brother out.

Krishna continued, "But, soon enough, the Asuras came to Kailash before the Devathas could, as they created a ruckus in the Indra loka, which angered Indra a lot. As they entered Kailash, The Asura king, Kali, came forward and seeked blessings from the Lord himself".

"Kali! What wish do you have that I can fulfill?", Shiva asked smilingly. The demon king smiled devilishly and said, "Mahadev! Oh Bhola Shankar! I've heard the whole conversation of you and my Mata being born in the earth! I wish for only one thing, my Lord. As the new Kali age is coming up, i would need immense support, as it will be my Yuga! Please correct me if I'm wrong!". Shiva smiled and said, "You are absolutely correct, Kali!".

Kali smiled sheepishly and asked further, "So, my Lord, my wish is that, Can I marry your Avatar that you are going to take on earth, no matter the gender?". Shiva was about to approve, but a loud voice of a furious Parvati interrupted him, "No!". Kali looked behind and got scared at the ferocious mother goddess and gulped hard. She came forward and told her husband, "Swami! You have already approved of my wish of us both being born as Ardhnarishwar, am I right?". Shiva nodded his head at her, to which she continued, "Then, the Avatar is basically half of me! So, without my permission, you cannot give promises of marriage, Swami! And about my permission, I'm rejecting this Asura to marry me!".

She made it crystal clear, and Shiva looked at Kali, "Kali! You can ask for anything else other than this!". Kali saw it coming from miles away, so he had a backup plan. He asked, "My lord, then please, fulfill this wish of mine. I wish for your Avatar to be born in my Yuga! Kali Yuga!", he said and smiled. Parvati was shocked hearing that, and Shiva said, "Tathastu!". The demon king laughed heartily and was leaving the place, just the the Devathas entered as well. He gave them a sinister look and went away.

The king of Devathas, Indra, came forward and said, "Swami! Why did you let that happen? He asked for that boon because he will have easy access to the Avatar in the Dark age of his!", to which Shiva smiled and said, "Devendra! Everything happens for a reason! Don't worry!". Mata Parvati interrupted, "But how, Swami? You promised him that we will be born in Kaliyug! Whereas, you also promised that mother that we will be born to her! Swami, I suggest an idea! That Kali is trying to obtain us, Ardhnarishwar! So we will do one thing! We will be born as two people! Divide that power into two! As twins! Only when those two are together, they can win anything. Otherwise, they wouldn't!", to which Shiva just smiled.

Maha Vishnu entered the scene and told Mahadev, "Bholenath! My Avatar in earth had already completed half of its purpose! The great mother just asked for your manifestation out of love for me! As she couldn't be with me, she wanted something of hers to be with me! So, I'd suggest something! The daughter of Agnidev will be born in mortal world. She will play a very crucial role in establishing Dharma, and she will be my Sakhi! And Lord Dharma, Vayu, Indra and Ashwini Kumaras will also be born. So, Let your Avatars be with them, as a pillar of faith, strength and support! Who never leaves them!", to which, along with Shiva and Parvati, every Devathas agreed.

Arjun asked him, "How Madhav? In Kaliyug? What happened then?". Krishna smiled at his friend's curiosity and said, "Parth, Mahadev's promises won't be fake. He immediately went to the mother and told the entire thing to her!".

"Mahadev! If it means for me to take another birth, I will take happily! But one thing! You have to bring my children back here!", to which Shiva agreed. "Even if it's not me, Mata, in any form, any avatar, any ansh, I'll get them back here!", Shiva said and blessed her.

Krishna continued, "Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, as a boy and girl, were born to a woman, who held the same name as the mother and was born in the same lineage! She took another life, just to give birth to these babies! So, as soon as she gave birth, She attained moksha! But her true form is still in this Yug, Parth!". Arjun asked comprehending everything, "You mean, the girl child is?", and looked at her. Now, it all made sense to him as in why she was different from any other women there, she did not belong there after all.

Krishna smiled sadly and nodded, before saying, "But, as the demon king said, it was his Yug! His era! He was obviously stronger than these two, whose power was separated from one another! Kali doesn't appear directly in Kaliyug, Parth! He lives in every human being, who possesses lust, greed and selfishness. Just like that, he was in a certain Gangster, and tried to obtain her! Kali didn't want anyone else to obtain that power, if he didn't. He knew that if both of them die, he might eradicate the power easily!".

Arjun was shocked to hear that, "Madhav? Did- Did he kill my Vaishnavi and her-", his words died in his mouth. Krishna wiped his tear which was rolling down his left eye, and continued, "Kali, in human form, killed them both, who were great warriors of their era, near the very Shiva idol! They were powerless when they were attacked! Both were consumed with the thoughts of dying, and that worked as a strength for Kali!". Arjun's hold on her tightened, pulled her close to his chest and kissed her forehead, who was sleeping peacefully. With teary eyes, he asked Krishna to continue.

Krishna continued, "But, something unexpected happened! Both the powers got submerged and became one, summoning the full manifestation of Ardhnarishwar! My Ishwari came back to life as Virat, her brother realised what he was once he died. As he was an extreme power, and died before her, he immediately went to swarag lok".

Virat payed his respects to all Devathas, "Devendra! As you are the king of Devas, I'm asking you!Please help my sister! I want her to wake up! And fight! And realise her true self!". Indra shook his head and said, "I can't I do this, O Mortal! As long as you guys are half powers, you are mortals! Your powers are divided!". Virat looked at him confidently and said, "Then, today I'm telling you all! I sacrifice my powers, I don't want them! Give all my powers to my sister! Let her go to Kanha alone, she doesn't need me!", and kneeled down, crying silently.

Lord Shiva and Parvati soon appeared there and said, "We are proud of you, Virat! As you said, we are submerging into one, becoming a whole! And will be in your sister's body! And thus, she will be called Ishwari!", and blessed him for his sacrifice. Lord Indra was impressed with him, and said, "I give you my word! I will wake her up now! Make her alive! And I always will be by her side, no matter what! In any form!".

Krishna said, "As soon as he said that, he made it rain there, where both brother and sister died, waking her up. But Kali, he was surprised! He didn't think this will happen! In Kaliyug, more than physical strength, mental strength is important, Parth. So to break that, he-", Krishna chocked, but composed himself and said, "He ruined her motherhood. He took away her reproductive organ, even when they were fine! In the form of a weapon called gun!".

Arjun was shocked to the core, would be an understatement. He widened his eyes, tears continuosly falling from them, he asked unable to bear the truth, "M- Madhav! Doe- Does that mean, She- She can't be-", Arjun closed his eyes, not even wanting to say it out of his mouth, but controlled himself and asked, "Can't be a M- Mother?". Krishna nodded and started to cry, unable to hold himself back. Arjun started crying loudly, while holding her close to his heart. He felt like dying, as his love was going through all this and he could not do anything, and would not be able to do as well. Her loss felt like his own loss.

Krishna wiping his tears said, "All this happened to her, for me! Only for her to get to me! And that's why Parth! She is the most important in my life! She is my Shiva! My Parvati! My Ishwari!", and caressed her head. He continued, "When she got awakened, and gained all her powers back, she wanted to leave this mortal world by setting herself in fire, Parth! She did not want to live as she believed her brother died because of her!".

Arjun looked at him shocked, and asked, "Then how?". Krishna looked at him intently and smiled, "You, Parth! She continued to live because of you! For you! As your father promised her, he was always with her, in your form! So much so that he didn't even let her die, for you!".

This made Arjun feel more guilty because of his betrayal to her. Krishna kept his hand on his shoulder and nodded at him, as if saying it's okay. "Don't feel bad, Parth! Whatever happens, happens for a reason!". Arjun nodded, As he became a little ease by Krishna's words. Arjun asked him, "Mahadev promised that he will bring her here! Did he bring her by himself, Madhav?". Krishna smiled knowingly, and said, "Who knows Parth? He might have brought her by himself, or his Avatar, or most importantly, through his Ansh!".

Arjun asked for one more thing, which was bugging him since Nakul asked it last night. "Madhav! Leaving you, Why is it that no one is able to touch her, except for me?". Krishna smiled at him and said, "Well, is there any reason needed, Parth? It's your love, your love for her and her love for you! Purer than fire!". Arjun smiled at that, tears rolling down his eyes, as he realised how precious he is to her. He realised that he is more than any entity, any power and any god to her. He swore to himself that he would never leave her side, ever. But he immediately became worried as Kali was trying to get a hold on her.

Arjun asked him, "Madhav! May I know who is that great mother? As you said she is still living here, I want to go touch her feet, get her blessings!". With tears in his eyes, Krishna said, "Mother! Even I didn't see her since I left Vrindavan, Parth! Her love for me made her do all these things! It was My Yashoda Maiyya!", and closed his eyes, while Arjun looked at him shocked and patted Krishna's back.

He looked at Krishna and asked, "Madhav! But Kali? Why did he come to this era, to get her? He is basically powerless here!". Krishna chuckled at him and said, "Because Parth, he is afraid that his own manifestation, who is living in this era, wont be able to attain her! So, he is trying to get her by any hook or crook by himself!".

Arjun asked him confused, "Kali's Ansh? Here?". Krishna turned around and said, "Yes, Parth! He is among us! One of us! One of you guys!", which made Arjun hold her hand tightly, and he decided to not give up on her, while wondering who it might be. Suddenly, a chord hit in his mind, realising that there is only one person, who matches all qualities with Kali. Arjun looked at Krishna with a realised expression, while Krishna nodded at him, confirming his assumption.

Meanwhile, in Hastinapur, during the sleeping hours, a guy was standing at his chamber's balcony and was adoring the moon with heart eyes. Dushasan and Karn came into his room, and saw him smiling to himself. Karn asked him, "Mitr Duryodhan! Why are you smiling at the moon?", making Duryodhan look towards them, with a piece of fabric in his hand, which looked like the future girl's, when she tore it accidentally in the morning of Swayamvar.

"Mitr Karn! I don't know! It's just that, the moon is looking beautiful today!".

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Hey pookies! How are y'all doing? Huff! Storytime is over! We will jump back to the story next chapter!

Anyways, what do you guys think about this chapter? Her backstory! The truth? Please vote and comment!🥹🤧

PS: Virat for your reference guys 😭