Time passed in a blur and soon Karn was getting ready for his test day ... Nothing was usual that day. Kailash was decorated as a new bride to accomodate all the arriving guests and judges. The ganas with Kailash swamini were at the threshold of Kailash welcoming the guests & Mahadev was in Karn's cave with Nandi preparing him for his test. The last time Kailash was so magnificently decorated was the Marriage ceremony of Vignaharta.

Everyone was excited. Ever-so-calm serene Kailash was bursting with laughter and gossips.

Mahadev:Putr Karn !! Today is a very important day of our life. Today u will be tested for ur knowledge, intelligence, strength, agility , endurance and many more such skills and that to be from the best in each field. It won't be like all those mock debates and fights. It will be far more complicated.

Today is not only urs but mine and Shakti's test as a teachers. If u pass we will pass. I'm not pressurizing u putr but am saying u to give ur best.

No matter what just be urself in this test and everything will be fine. Okay?

Karn: Yes Gurudev!! I get it. Don't worry neither will I fail nor would let u and Mata .

Nandi:Karn overconfidence isn't good. What would you do if there's something u don't know?

Karn: But I am not overconfident. I'm confident , confident on Wtevr I have studied and learnt. And coming to things I don't know... There's no one in the universe who knows everything other than ...(looking at Mahadev) Shivshakti. If I don't know something I will politely accept it and move forward to next challenge not dwell on what I don't know . What I know will help me succeed and what I don't know...can be learnt later , after the test.

Devi Shakti: Hmm!! Good . It's good not to burn ur eyes thinking about what you don't know and dwelling in the probabilities of future. Nervousness agitates ur nerves , creates self doubt and tricks you into committing mistakes. Confidence on the other hand , soothes and calms ur mind thus , eliminating any major chance of mistake.

Now come all of u ..his tests aren't going to come here ..come let's go..

Karn: Mata can I join you in sometime? Plzzz...

Devi Shakti: Okay!! But don't be late we will be starting ur tests in an hour or so.

& Putr no matter what the result is , always believe in urself...Never let anything or anyone in this world deter u ... always try to be the best version of urself ...Hmm?

Karn: Yes mata !! I will.

Mahadev: Come fast my cheetah .. Don't make us wait for a long time ..k?

Karn just nods with a smile and the divine couple along with Nandi makes an exit from his room/cave.

I'm so excited and slightly nervous. Although I shouldn't be but still... It's natural. I mean if Mahadev and Mata are saying the tests would be difficult then they would be really difficult and different as well. This is the biggest test of my life. All my hardwork , sleepless night, perseverance, years of my mother's upbringing and my Guru's teachings , everything is dependent on this. No , I'm not scared of test because I have faith in me and my Guru's teachings but still I feel slightly anxious...

The only thing that can heal a man's worry is his mother's lap and father's guidance...

I move towards my trunk, take out Radha maa and Adhirath baba's belongings .

(A sigh of longing escapes from him)

With them in hand I move towards my study place and sit there. I reminisce all my time spent with them. Radha maa who used to go berserk for not finding me for mere min hasn't seen me for 18 years...Mahadev knows how she must be surviving & Baba how must he be? It must have taken great strength for him to let me go and still stay there to handle maa. My vision has turned blurry and two drops of these treacherous tears slip and fall on Radha maa's dupatta and Adhirath baba's angravastra...I respectfully and lovingly touch each of it to my forehead thus , seeking their blessings. I close my eyes and silently seek blessings of all my mother's , Devi Amba, Rishi Hotravahan and Bhagwan Parshuram everyone who has been nothing but supportive, understanding and caring.

Out of nowhere , I feel being engulfed by positive aura ...aura that doesn't belong to any divine being...but manage to bloom a smile on my face. Somehow I know they all have blessed me...how? I can't say...The multiverse works in its own mysterious ways...

I sit there remembering all the things my loved ones have done for me and how much have they sacrificed for the place I am in ...I have to be successful in this for them and for me....

I have seeked the good wishes of nearly everyone I know but still I feel as if I have missed someone....who ? Who? Who?....HER!!!! Dammit!!! How can I forget her?? I have to talk to her...

But haven't we decided not to meet till the completion of learning phase?

Hmm?? Well !! My learning phase is already over.It's my test day therefore...I can meet her for exchanging good wishes..umm lemme try...

I close my eyes and try to focus on my happy place... But alas!!! Nothing happens. Lemme try again...No ...umm..once more...

Damn!! I have been trying for the past 6 times and still can't get there?? Why? This hasn't happened ever. I feel myself getting frustrated which isn't good....

Deep breathing Karn..deep breathing. Calm down..relax and concentrate...(Sighs deeply) It's ok...One last try..very last....

I close my eyes and......

Phew!! Finally!!

My eyes move on their own accord and the place seems pretty much the same...well it's exactly like the last time I saw it..just like 10 years ago. A smile blooms on my face reminiscing all the memories I have here....The fights with her, cute banters , her teasing and her views on diverse topics.... every memory is as fresh as daisy...

I'm very excited to meet her but not sure that I would be too happy not to be seen by her....He is a lucky man to get her undivided attention...Hey I am not jealous!! For heaven sake I'm a Shad-ripu Jayi. Hmph!!

But there's another theory I have here and if it's true then I'm gonna be the happiest person in the multiverse....& the theory is.....he and me are the same person.I saw his eyes , sun symbol on forehead , his smile and build and pretty much everything is exactly like me ...so putting 2 and 2 together ...we both are the same person.

My senses feel the presence of another person...and the person is taking very measured steps like a... warrior. Just as I was about to be attacked ..I ducked and took a hold of the person's arm and twisted it behind....

Ahh!!

Dammit did he just kick my knee...I felt the slipping away.. I took hold of my sword and was about to attack when

Woah!! Easy there tiger!! Or might I say.... wounded tiger? Haha hahaha!!

Is it ...Is it ...Her? She was is my grasp??

(Shocked face)

What ? Cat got ur tongue? How does it feel to be kicked in knee oh dear lion?? Hahaha

U can see me ?? Touch me? How? When? What?Why?

As much as I know I kicked ur knee but seems it affected ur brain...

Oh no!!! What the hell did I just do? How can I do such a thing? That too before ur test ..Sheyy!! What will you do now in the test?

Okay?? What has she done , that's connected to my test? Do not forget Karn -she is too impulsive for her own good...

Well whatever it is ..she would never harm me in any way and I just know it...Wait the important part is ..She can see me...I mean, I and him are same . That means my theory was correct...yes!! Yes!! Yess!!!

Here I'm worried to hell and u are smiling?? I shouldn't have kicked u in knee...How dumb of me to forget that's where ur brain is ?? Sheyy?? Do you think a Turmeric camphor paste would get it back on place? I mean it would heal ur knee so might just heal ur brain...(with a absolutely concerned face and serious look)

Aww she is so concerned about me☺️..Wait!!! Did she just say my brain is in my knee???(confused face)

And there...she bursts out laughing...

U are so easy to trick...How are u gonna pass the test of Illusions?

I'm very good at managing and breaking illusions (haughtily) .....it's only u who gets me(in a whispering voice)

k..k.. jokes and pranks aside ... Nervous? (Seriously)

Karn : A bit...

Female voice: Y? As much as I know u are confident about your knowledge and prowess then?

Karn: I'm ...but what if I'm not upto mark...?

Female voice: & what's the mark?pleasing others? U know no matter how much you do u can't please everyone in ur life. There would be people who get disappointed with u even if u r successful and also there are people who will cheer for u in ur failure....so people , peer , family should be the last thing on ur mind currently. People will judge u for every single thing u do..so there's no point in trying to be enough for everyone...

& Coming to ur tests and exams... They aren't for the world to judge u but for u to assess urself. It's for u to know what new u have learnt , what new u have discovered , what new u have experienced, what new u have felt, what new capabilities u have found , interests u have discovered ... Tests, exams and results are all about u ..Ur development and self assessment and not for comparison .

Only u know how much u have worked hard for ur results , how much u have sacrificed , how much u have pushed urself to edge to be where u are... It's all about u. Ur knowledge, intelligence , mental strength , prowess and progress.

Only comparison for u is ur older version . At the end , ur goal should be to become the best version of urself...

To be nervous about these things is natural... Everyone faces it & it's completely alright ...but never ever have self doubt ....Self doubt is the water that will sink the boat of ur mind. Be positive and think good...Our ancient text says "the way we think affects our life...if we think good -good happens and if we think bad then bad. So at the end everything depends on us and our belief."

And what bad can happen , at most u will fail right? (Karn gives her a 'are u serious' look) I'm just stating a possibility...& failure isn't the end of the world or ur life . It's hurts to see ur hardwork , time and effort go in vain and that's why people repulse it. They don't want to see everything done by them get wasted and hence fear it and I completely get it...But with every failure u learn something new If u lose a debate or argument u get to know the different points and mindsets that could be covered , if u lose a game then you would strive to learn the tatic by which u are defeating... so basically failure is also ur teacher and one of the mightiest one. So it's okay too if u don't succeed in the first try...Try again and again till u don't perfect it....

Woow!! Has she too received teachings from MahaShakti ( Mahadev & Devi Shakti) because she talks mostly like them.... finding a positive side to everything.Hmm!!

Karn: Hmm!! U are right I guess..

Female voice: U have learnt everything with a open and happy mind , understanding the topic and not mugging up right? (Karn nods) Then there's nothing to be nervous about .. Things that are learnt with understanding and happy mind stay imprinted in our mind for yearsssss....Gotcha?

Well it's late... U needa leave Mr. or u would get late for the test..

Karn: Thank you!!

Female voice: Oyee hoye!! someone is trying to be a gentleman... Not bad.

Karn: Excuse me ...I'm already a gentleman(haughtily) ....& a refined one might I add(flirty voice and with a wink)

Female voice: Okay okay !!!

All the best...

I feel her butter like soft hands on my cheeks bending my forehead towards her and soon feel the touch of her soft lips on my forehead...A smile forms in my lips and I feel very much calmer than before...

Female voice: Remember never give up these 7 things in test of life....

Ekagrata - Focus on ur goal

Vishwas - Trust on urself and Mahashakti

Budhi - Intelligence

Vivek - Code of conduct and mannerisms ( basically a calm mind)

Vinamrata - Politeness (of speech)

Gyan - knowledge

Veerta - Bravery...

These would surely lead u to success....

Now...shoooo!! Shoo!!

Karn: U know that I am not an animal?

Female voice: Yup ..u are not an animal but the jungle itself...Now goo!!

I smile looking at her a last time...and soon everything fades....I open my eyes and find myself in my chamber with wet clothes???

Nandi: Karn!!!! Have u ever thought of tracing ur lineage because I might have an idea that u belong to....

Wait my lineage? Is he talking about my.... bir..th pa...ren..ts..?

Nandi: U belong to Kumbhakaran's lineage. Which warrior sleeps like a log ? A warrior should be alert all the while and u here was sleeping worse than a log . I poured 2 bucket of water on u and u didn't get up .. hmph!! Thank Mahadev u got up now otherwise I would have emptied this ice cold water on u..Now hurry up , change ur clothes and come for test in 15 min.

Okay okay old man coming !!

I would have replied to u only if I had time ..hmph!! This old man will see u in test..All d best bachu!!

We would see old man...Now leave unless u want to see me change ...

Idiot!!!

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Knowing that most of us are currently undergoing exam pressure and study related issues , I have tried to soothe some of ur nerves in this chapter. Nothing stated here is written anywhere but these are my personal feelings about exams and tests and how one should prepare for it.

Hope it motivates u all and u like it.

No proof reading done.

Written with Lots of love 💞.