Parvati's Cheerful Declaration
The morning sun cast a golden hue over the divine garden as the usual antics between the Yojinis began winding down. Shiva sat under a tree with Nandi, both exuding their characteristic calmness, while Devika busied herself observing butterflies.
Suddenly, Parvati's joyful clap broke the serenity. Her radiant smile beamed as she announced, "It's Care Day! Everyone, line up!"
At her words, an almost imperceptible change swept over Shiva and Nandi's faces. Their serene expressions turned to subtle horror, followed by feeble attempts to suppress their dismay.
"Care Day?" Devika asked, tilting her head.
Before anyone could explain, Shiva and Nandi began shuffling away, trying to act inconspicuous.
The Great Escape Attempt
"I just remembered, I have urgent meditation duties," Shiva mumbled, stepping backward.
"And I have to inspect the celestial stables," Nandi added, already halfway out of the garden.
Parvati, unbothered by their transparent excuses, turned with a smile so sweet it bordered on mischievous. In a blink, her delicate hands shot out and grabbed both men by their wrists. Despite her gentle grip, Shiva and Nandi couldn't break free, their strength rendered useless against Parvati's divine finesse.
For ten minutes, they attempted everything—Nandi pretended to faint, Shiva tried to summon his trident to "mediate a divine crisis," and both even attempted synchronized escape moves that looked like an awkward dance routine. All failed.
"Stop squirming," Parvati said in a motherly tone, as if addressing two shy schoolboys. "It's just a little self-care! You both work too hard."
Devika, standing nearby, watched the spectacle unfold with utter confusion. "Why are they so scared of Care Day?" she asked Mandini, who was trying (and failing) to suppress her giggles.
Mandini whispered, "Care Day means hairbands and face packs. Trust me, you don't want to miss this."
The Hairband Parade
Parvati began humming a cheerful nursery rhyme as she unveiled an assortment of colorful hairbands. They ranged from pink with sparkles to ones adorned with bunny ears.
"Let's start with you, Shiva," Parvati said sweetly, holding up a neon green band with tiny stars on it.
Shiva sighed in defeat. "Can't I just wear a crown of snakes instead?"
"Nope!" Parvati chirped, slipping the band onto his head. The sight of the Lord of Destruction sitting stoically with a glittery hairband was so absurd that Mandini couldn't help herself. A tiny giggle escaped her lips.
Shiva turned his calm gaze toward her. "Careful, Mandini," he said in a low voice, his glittering hairband gleaming under the sunlight.
Next, it was Nandi's turn. Parvati picked a pink band with cat ears for him. "It suits your gentle side," she said, fixing it perfectly on his head.
Nandi looked at his reflection in the nearby fountain and sighed. "I look like a celestial mascot," he muttered, while Mandini erupted into laughter and fell onto the grass.
"Mandini, do you want a bunny-ear band?" Parvati teased, holding one up.
Mandini quickly composed herself. "No, no! I'm fine!" she said, waving her hands in mock fear.
The Ayurvedic Chaos
Once everyone was properly accessorized, Parvati pulled out bowls of freshly prepared Ayurvedic pastes. "These are made from the finest herbs of the Himalayas," she explained. "They'll refresh your skin and calm your energy."
Devika stepped forward eagerly, but Shiva and Nandi exchanged a glance that clearly said, Let's run again.
Before they could act on their silent plan, Parvati caught them in her gaze. "Don't even think about it," she said with a knowing smile.
Shiva sighed deeply as Parvati began applying a golden paste to his face. "This is unnecessary," he mumbled.
"Stop whining," Parvati replied, patting his cheek. "You'll thank me when your skin feels like silk."
Nandi, meanwhile, looked like a deer caught in headlights as Parvati approached him with a similar paste. "Can't I just, uh, guard the gates or something?" he asked, his voice unusually timid.
"Nope!" Parvati said cheerfully, slathering the paste on his face.
Mandini, observing from the side, tried to stifle her laughter but failed spectacularly. "I can't—" she wheezed, doubling over.
Shiva turned his glitter-adorned head toward her. "Keep laughing, Mandini. Your turn is next."
Mandini immediately stopped, sitting straight as a statue.
Devika's Confusion
Devika, watching all of this, couldn't hold back her curiosity any longer. She tugged on Parvati's sari. "Maa, why are they so scared of Care Day? They're supposed to be the strongest people here!"
Parvati chuckled, gently stroking Devika's head. "Even the strongest warriors need tender care, my dear. But these two…" She gestured to Shiva and Nandi, who were sitting stiffly like scolded children. "…are just shy about it."
Shiva muttered under his breath, "I'm not shy. I'm simply… disciplined."
Nandi added, "And I'm, uh, allergic to herbal pastes."
Parvati rolled her eyes affectionately. "Yes, yes. You're both very disciplined and totally allergic. Now sit still."
The Grand Reveal
After everyone had their Ayurvedic treatments and hairbands in place, Parvati clapped her hands. "Done! Now let's take a group photo!"
Shiva and Nandi exchanged panicked glances. "What's a photo?" Shiva whispered to Nandi.
"It's that thing where she captures our dignity and stores it forever," Nandi whispered back.
Parvati, overhearing, laughed. "Oh, come on! It's just for fun."
Devika, now thoroughly enjoying the chaos, stood in the center, beaming with her own bunny-ear hairband. The Yojinis gathered around her, each wearing their own unique accessory.
"Say 'Care Day!'" Parvati called, holding up a magical frame that captured the moment in sparkling light.
"Care Day," everyone mumbled halfheartedly, except Mandini, who shouted it with gleeful enthusiasm.
The Aftermath
As the day wound down, Shiva and Nandi finally managed to wash off the herbal pastes, their stoic expressions returning.
"I survived," Shiva said, adjusting his usual tiger-skin robe.
"Barely," Nandi replied, tossing his cat-ear band into the bushes.
Parvati, watching them, smiled knowingly. "You both look much better now. See? Care Day isn't so bad."
Devika, sitting nearby, giggled. "I think it's fun. Can we do it again next week?"
Shiva and Nandi's horrified expressions returned, prompting another round of laughter from everyone else.
Thus ended another chaotic yet heartwarming day in the divine realm, proving once again that even the gods need a little self-care—and a lot of laughter.