Svarga was restless.
Even without storms or noise, something felt wrong. The golden sky was dimmer than before. The gardens still bloomed, but their colors looked tired. Devas moved through the halls with quiet urgency, speaking in low voices.
Ganesh stood on a high terrace, looking out over the realm.
"The heavens are weakening," he said. "I can feel it clearly here."
Aneet stood beside him. "Like a lamp running out of oil."
Ganesh nodded. "Yes. And when the heavens weaken, the worlds below will soon feel it too."
Footsteps approached. The messenger Vibhash bowed.
"Indra calls you both," he said. "Lord Vishnu has arrived in Svarga."
Ganesh straightened. "Then the time has come."
They followed Vibhash through the shining corridors to the inner hall.
At the center of the great chamber stood Vishnu, calm and radiant, holding the conch and discus. Around him were Indra and several devas, their faces tense.
When Ganesh and Aneet entered, Vishnu turned toward them.
"Welcome, walkers," he said gently. "You have come at an important moment."
Ganesh bowed slightly. "You called for us, Lord Vishnu."
"Yes," Vishnu replied. "Because what is about to unfold will not belong to devas alone. It will touch every realm."
Indra stepped forward. "Our strength fades each day," he said openly. "Our weapons grow heavy. Our rituals bring little renewal. If this continues, Svarga will not stand."
Aneet asked, "Do you know why this is happening?"
Vishnu shook his head. "Not fully. But I know where renewal lies."
He looked at all of them and said clearly, "In the Kshira Sagara — the Ocean of Milk. Within it rests amrita, the nectar that can restore what is being lost."
A murmur passed through the hall.
Ganesh spoke, "The ocean does not give easily."
"No," Vishnu agreed. "To bring forth the amrita, the ocean must be churned."
Indra's eyes widened. "Churn the cosmic ocean? That will shake the universe itself."
"Yes," Vishnu said. "Which is why devas cannot do it alone."
Silence followed.
Aneet said quietly, "You mean the asuras."
Indra clenched his fists. "They are our enemies."
Vishnu replied calmly, "They are also part of this creation. Without their strength, the churning will fail."
Ganesh nodded. "If only one side pulls, the rope will break."
Indra looked troubled but did not argue.
Vishnu then turned to Ganesh and Aneet. "I ask you to walk this path with us. Not to rule it, but to stand between sides, so that this does not become only destruction."
Ganesh met his gaze. "We will walk."
Then Vishnu said, "But before this begins, one more must be called."
The air in the hall grew heavy and still.
A deep calm spread, stronger than any light.
From that stillness, Shiva appeared.
He stood tall, ash-covered, wearing tiger skin, matted hair tied high, the crescent moon shining softly. Around his neck rested the serpent, unmoving and calm.
Beside him stood Sati, radiant and gentle, her eyes filled with warmth and strength.
All the devas bowed.
Ganesh stepped forward at once and bowed deeply.
"Gurudev," he said with respect.
Shiva's eyes opened fully as he looked at Ganesh. A faint smile touched his lips.
"Rise, Ganesh," Shiva said. "You walk well."
Ganesh stood. "Your presence steadies my fire, Lord."
Shiva replied, "And your fire reminds me why stillness matters."
Sati stepped closer, her gaze kind. "So you are the one Shiva speaks of," she said. "The disciple who walks instead of staying."
Ganesh bowed again. "I am honored, Devi."
Aneet bowed too. "Your presence brings peace."
Sati smiled. "And yours brings clarity. Walk close to each other. The road ahead will test both."
Vishnu explained everything to Shiva — the weakening of devas, the need for amrita, the plan to churn the Ocean of Milk.
Shiva listened in silence.
When Vishnu finished, Shiva said, "From such depths, poison will rise before nectar."
Indra frowned. "Poison?"
"Yes," Shiva said. "A poison that can threaten all realms."
Ganesh felt a chill. He looked at his guru. "Then who will bear it?"
Shiva answered without hesitation, "I will."
Sati turned to him at once. "Shiva—"
He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "This is my path, Sati."
Her voice trembled. "Even for you, such poison—"
He met her eyes calmly. "If destruction comes before renewal, then someone must stand between it and the world."
Ganesh stepped forward. "Gurudev… do not carry it alone."
Shiva looked at him with quiet pride. "You will stand nearby, as you always do. But this burden is mine."
Aneet said softly, "We will help in any way we can."
Shiva nodded. "You will. By keeping the churning from becoming only war."
Vishnu then said, "Mandara will be the churning rod. Vasuki the rope. Kurma will bear the mountain when it sinks. And devas and asuras will be called to pull together."
Indra straightened. "I will prepare Svarga."
Shiva turned to Ganesh and Aneet. "You two will walk between both sides. Speak to them. Calm them when pride rises."
Ganesh bowed. "As you command, Gurudev."
Shiva corrected gently, "Not as I command. As dharma demands."
Ganesh nodded. "Yes."
Sati looked at Aneet. "Stay close to Shiva when the poison rises," she said. "Even the strongest need someone who reminds them why they endure."
Aneet bowed. "I will, Devi."
Later, Ganesh and Aneet stood again on the terrace.
"The churning will change everything," Ganesh said. "Devas and asuras will never look at each other the same again."
Aneet nodded. "And neither will we."
Ganesh looked toward the distant glow where Shiva now stood with Sati.
"My guru carries a heavy road," he said quietly. "And I walk beside him, but cannot take it from him."
Aneet said, "That is sometimes the hardest lesson — to stay, not to replace."
Ganesh exhaled slowly. "Yes."
Far away, Shiva and Sati stood together, gazing toward the unseen cosmic ocean.
Sati held Shiva's hand. "Promise me you will return," she said.
Shiva looked at her gently. "I will return," he said. "But this will leave its mark."
She nodded, holding his hand tighter.
The heavens of Svarga grew quieter still.
The call had been given.
And the churning of fate had begun.