Chapter 3: Meeting the Divine Parents
Umesh stood frozen. His mind struggled to process what he had just heard.
"Did she just say… she's my mother?"
Not the mother of the universe… but my mother?
His thoughts spiraled into confusion. How was that possible? He was just an abandoned child, left to fate, raised in an orphanage that never truly felt like home. No one had wanted him—not his real parents, not society.
"How could I be the son of a goddess?"
His lips trembled as he whispered, "No… I'm just an orphan. Nobody wanted me…"
As soon as those words left his mouth, a deep ache filled his chest. He had buried this pain long ago, masking it with indifference. Yet, here, in front of the divine, his deepest wounds were exposed.
His mind flashed with memories—of cruel taunts from others, of cases where people mocked him for his origins, of moments where his enemies tried to shake his resolve by reminding him he was alone.
Suddenly, without another word, the woman—the goddess—moved forward and pulled him into an embrace.
Warmth.
A warmth unlike anything he had ever known enveloped him. It was soft, yet powerful, filling the cracks in his soul with an overwhelming sense of peace.
Umesh's breath hitched. His body trembled as his arms slowly wrapped around her in return.
Tears welled in his eyes. Then, like a dam breaking, they spilled freely. He sobbed—raw and unrestrained. For the first time in his life, he allowed himself to cry without shame.
He didn't have to be strong. He didn't have to hold back.
Because here, in this divine embrace, he was home.
"Well, am I being ignored?"
A voice, deep and commanding, yet laced with a teasing tone, rang through the void.
Umesh flinched slightly but turned his tear-streaked face toward the source of the voice.
A man stood before him.
If Adi Parashakti radiated warmth and motherly love, then this man was the embodiment of power and authority. His presence was overwhelming, like the weight of the entire cosmos pressed into a single form. Yet, beneath that divine majesty, there was something familiar… something comforting.
It reminded Umesh of his grandfather, Vijay Raj Singh, the only father figure he had ever known.
The man looked at him with sharp yet kind eyes. His presence was unruly and free, yet there was a strictness to it—like a father who disciplined with love.
"I am your father, Putra," the man declared. "Will I not get a hug?"
Umesh's eyes widened.
"Father? He is my father?"
Before he could process his emotions, he felt Adi Parashakti's hold tighten around him protectively.
"You have the face to come in front of my son?" she pouted, her expression turning slightly angry.
The man—Adi Parashiva—sighed, rubbing his forehead as if he had expected this reaction. "He is also my son, Shakti. I love him just as much as you do, but he was meant to be born in the mortal world. You know this."
Parashakti's anger softened, though a hint of frustration remained. She sighed, before finally stepping aside and gently pushing Umesh toward him.
"Putra, this is your father, Adi Shiva."
Umesh took a deep breath, still overwhelmed, but his instincts took over. He immediately bowed deeply.
"Pranam, Pitashri. Pranam, Maa."
A look of immense pride flashed across Shiva's face. Parashakti smiled tenderly.
After a moment of silence, Umesh finally found the courage to ask, "Maa… Paa… how is this possible? How can I be your son?"
Shiva crossed his arms and smirked. "That's a long story."
Parashakti nodded. "When Shiva was deep in meditation, a realization came to him—that this multiverse needed a supreme being who understood the struggles of mortals. Not just a god who existed above them, but one who had lived as one of them, suffered with them, and risen from within them."
Umesh listened in awe.
"That is when we made our decision," Shiva continued. "We would have a mortal-born son… through the same process of birth as any other being."
Umesh's mind reeled. "Then… my life in the mortal world…"
"Yes," Parashakti confirmed as if hearing his thoughts. "You were born in a mortal body, as Umesh Kumar. Though your divine essence was sealed, your experiences shaped you into the person you are now."
Shiva smiled. "And you have done well, Putra."
A deep sense of fulfillment swelled in Umesh's heart. The gods—the creators of existence—were proud of him.
"Now," Shiva continued, "it is time to grant you the one wish you had at the moment of your death."
Umesh's eyes widened.
"My wish?"
The memory resurfaced. His dying thoughts… his one regret…
He had wished to reincarnate and change the course of history.
"Is that really possible, Father?" Umesh asked, his voice trembling with excitement and disbelief.
Shiva chuckled. "Putra, nothing that can be imagined is impossible."
Umesh clenched his fists. The idea that he could return… that he could truly make a difference—it was exhilarating.
Shakti smiled. "And for that, we have given you two divine boons."
Shiva raised his hand. "The first is a gift shaped by your mortal experiences."
A glowing golden light formed in the air.
"Since you lived in a world where you loved reading novels, your divine power has taken the form of a system—one that perfectly aligns with your mission."
Umesh's heart pounded.
"Your power shall be called Dharma & Karma Returns System."
"A… system?" Umesh whispered. He was stunned.
"Yes," Shiva confirmed. "It will reward you based on your Karma and Dharma, ensuring that your path is always justly rewarded."
Before Umesh could process this fully, Parashakti stepped forward.
"And I grant you the Supreme Instrument Creation ability."
Umesh tilted his head. "Supreme Instrument Creation? What does that do, Maa?"
Parashakti smiled. "It allows you to create any divine weapon or tool at will, without requiring any materials. No forge, no blacksmith—just your will alone."
Umesh's mind spun.
A system that rewarded Karma & Dharma…
And the ability to create divine instruments freely…
These were insane powers.
But before he could think further, Shiva spoke.
"Now, it is time for your reincarnation."
Umesh felt a lump in his throat. He was excited, but at the same time… he didn't want to leave them.
Parashakti, as if sensing his hesitation, placed a gentle hand on his head. "Putra, we are always with you. We are Shankar and Parvati. Whenever you think of us, we will be there."
Umesh smiled through his unshed tears. "Thank you, Maa… Paa…"
Shiva then waved his Trishul.
A portal—dark and endless, like a swirling black hole—opened before him.
"Go," Shiva commanded, his voice deep and unwavering.
Umesh swallowed hard. The portal looked terrifying, but he trusted them. With a deep breath, he stepped forward—toward his new destiny.
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Chapter Ends