The journey through the celestial administrative complex was a spectacle in itself, but it was nothing compared to the sight that greeted Angat as he and Narad Muni arrived at their destination.
The Task Administration Office loomed before them, a breathtaking structure of pearlescent white marble. Fluorescent patterns of flowers and plants were inlaid into the walls, pulsing with a soft, otherworldly light, creating a vibe that was both garden-sanctuary and futuristic hub.
Pushing through the grand, shimmering doors, they stepped into a vast hall that stole the breath from Angat's lungs. It was a cross-section of all creation. The air hummed with a low murmur of countless languages.
"Great sages," Angat whispered, his eyes wide.
His guide chuckled. "Greater, lesser, and everything in between. All of existence requires paperwork, my boy."
Angat's gaze darted from one desk to another. At one, a being who looked remarkably like Narad..impeccable in a sharp, modern suit..scrolled through a holographic tablet. At the next, a hulking figure clad in freshly cured tiger skins, a stone-tipped spear leaning against his chair, grunted at a touchscreen interface.
Further down, visitors who seemed to have stepped straight out of a time-travel film, their form shimmering with bio-luminescent patterns and clothing that appeared to be woven from light itself, waited patiently in line.
The sheer, glorious chaos of it all...prehistoric, contemporary, and futuristic, all mingling in one bureaucratic space..bubbled up a torrent of questions in Angat's mind. He turned to Narad, his mouth already opening.
But the sage, as ever, was a step ahead. He placed a calming hand on Angat's shoulder, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Patience, Vatsa," he said softly. "I can see the whirlwind in your thoughts. But even cosmic inquiries must wait for mission reports. Let me get this sorted first, and then I will answer everything."
Nodding, Angat followed Narad to a desk marked "Task Submission." The clerk behind it looked humanoid, but his fingers moved over the console like blurs of light.
"Hello, my friend! I am here to submit my report for Task 734-B," Narad announced cheerfully.
The clerk didn't look up, his eyes scanning data. "Ah, Mr. Narad. You are late. Protocol dictates a deduction in your performance stars." He tapped the screen. "The review stands at 3.7 out of 5."
Narad's perpetual smile tightened almost imperceptibly. A faint flush touched his cheeks. "I see. In that case, I would like to formally request a transfer of this task review to Lord Brahma. I believe I still hold that privilege?"
The clerk finally glanced up, a flicker of respect in his otherwise neutral expression. "Of course, sir. The privilege is yours."
His fingers danced across the console, inputting a series of commands with silent efficiency. A moment later, he gave a curt nod. "It is done, Mr. Narad. The request has been transferred to the central system. Your personal holo-assistant will be notified of the outcome. Have a good day."
A satisfied smile returned to Narat's face. He turned to Angat, the earlier tension gone. "There! Bureaucracy soothed for another day."
He slung an arm around the young man's shoulders, steering him away from the desk. "Now, come, Vatsa. I can hear your stomach arguing with the cosmos, and your curiosity is practically shouting. Let's find the cafeteria. I promise you, the ambrosia-burgers are to die for, and I will happily untangle the mysteries of this place for you."
As they were entering the cafeteria they came across a drama unfolding between Kamadev and his divine consort Rati.(God and goddess of love and passion, kamdev is considered son of lord Brahma)
"Hmph! If it weren't for you browsing for new bows and arrows for hours ,we wouldn't have to miss mother-in-law's divine concert!" Rati declared, her divine form practically shimmering with irritation.
Narad Muni's eyes lit up by seeing the gossip unfold before his eyes. "Ahh, what happened sister-in-law?" Narad Muni asked, his voice dripping with feigned concern.
"Ahh, brother-in-law, see to your brother! Because of his obsession with new bows and arrows we missed the divine concert! I don't know if we are able to witness it live in another century !!...?"
Kamadev awkwardly replied, "Hi Narad brother... well I said sorry for like the 1000th time but your sister-in-law is still upset...
....psst heyy, help me.. signalling narad with his eyes" he whispered
"Worry not sister-in-law," Narad said smoothly. "I recorded mother's performance from the front row in 144k definition. I will send it to you later. I know it's not as impressive as live but it's close."
"Hmmph! I'm still angry at you husband! You have to soothe my anger otherwise you are sleeping on the couch for a decade !!!"
"Ahhh Rati! You can't do that! I'm the god of love and passion! How can I live without you!"
"Hmmph! I can and I will ...!!!"
Saying this, both Maa Rati and Kamadev went outside the cafeteria, their divine argument continuing to echo through the halls.
Narad watched them leave, then turned to Angat with a serene smile. "Narayan Narayan.. ahh what love..? Hihi." His eyes twinkled with cosmic amusement. "You see, Vatsa? This is what we call love in all its divine glory."
He began to recite softly, his voice taking on the rhythm of ancient wisdom:
"नारद मुनि मन हरषाये, प्रेम की यही रीत।
झूठे मन से निभे ना, कबीरा की प्रीत॥
रहिमन प्रेम सरिता बही, उलझे गाँठ परी।
टूटे तो फिर न मिले, यही मीरा हरी॥"
He explained gently: "My's heart swells seeing this play of love... Kabir reminds us empty apologies won't mend hearts... Rahim says love's river flows despite tangled knots... and Meera warns that what breaks may never join again."
Narad's eyes sparkled as he watched Angat absorb these truths. "You see, Vatsa? Even gods have domestic disputes. Love is the same everywhere - whether in heaven or on earth."
He guided Angat toward the food counter. "Now, about that ambrosia-burger - I recommend the one with extra celestial onions!"
"Onions?" Angat interrupted, his programmer's mind latching onto the practical detail. "But... you don't eat onions and garlic, right? And meat? I've heard that from my elders my whole life. How is this possible here?"
Narad's face lit up with the joy of a teacher presented with a perfect question. "Ahh! You see, this is both a complex and simple question." He leaned against the counter as he explained. "In the early days, in the Rigveda, the Devas were offered a wide range of items in yajñas ...grains, ghee, soma, and yes, sometimes even meat, all ritually purified through Agni , the sacred fire. But it wasn't about the physical substance. The gods don't have physical stomachs, Vatsa. They consume the essence, the prāṇa, the devotion behind the offering."
He gestured around the celestial cafeteria. "As time flowed, thoughts evolved. Ahimsa and the sattvic way became central for many ...like our dear Vishnu and his avatars, who prefer pure, simple offerings. But Shiva? Well, in some traditions, he's the ascetic eating forest fruits, in others... let's just say he appreciates different flavours of energies. And the fierce forms of the Goddess, like Kali Ma? They might accept offerings that symbolize the raw, untamed nature of reality itself."
Narad pointed to the menu, which shimmered with options from every era and tradition. "Ultimately, it comes down to what the Bhagavad Gita teaches us:
'पत्रं पुष्पं फलं तोयं यो मे भक्त्या प्रयच्छति'
'Whoever offers me with devotion a leaf, a flower, a fruit, or water, that I accept.'
It's not about the food, Angat. It's about the bhāva, the feeling, the love, the emotions- behind it. Here, the 'ambrosia-burger' is just a form, a concept infused with the essence of devotion and sustenance. Your soul experiences the taste of the devotion it's prepared with, not the garlic."
He winked. "So, shall we? One 'Sattvic Special with Extra Celestial Onions'? I promise, your essence will thank you. And don't worry," he added, "I'll explain everything about this marvelous chaos while we eat ."