Hanuman and Kalanemi - The Demon Who Tried to Delay Destiny

Dadi: "Guddu, imagine your brother is very sick, and the only medicine is on a mountain thousands of miles away. You have only until dawn to bring it back."

Guddu: "That's impossible! No one can go that fast!"

Dadi: "No one... except Hanuman. And that's exactly what happened when Lakshmana was struck down by Indrajit's divine weapon."

Guddu: "Lakshmana was dying?"

Dadi: "The physician Sushena said there was only one cure - the Sanjeevani herb, growing on the Dronagiri mountain in the Himalayas. But it had to arrive before dawn, or Lakshmana would die."

Guddu: "Did Hanuman go?"

Dadi: "He said "I will go" and launched into the sky before anyone could even respond. He flew faster than any bird, faster than the wind itself."

Guddu: "But did he make it in time?"

Dadi: "Ravana was watching. He couldn't stop Hanuman directly - the monkey had already proven unstoppable. So he sent a sorcerer demon named Kalanemi to delay him."

Guddu: "How?"

Dadi: "Kalanemi flew ahead and disguised himself as a peaceful sage in a beautiful ashram. When Hanuman descended to ask directions, the "sage" welcomed him warmly. "Son, you look exhausted. Rest here. Drink from this sacred pool. Then continue your journey.""

Guddu: "It was a trap!"

Dadi: "Hanuman was suspicious - the hospitality was too perfect, the timing too convenient. But he was also tired. The pool looked inviting. "Just a quick drink," he thought."

Guddu: "No, Hanuman!"

Dadi: "The moment he entered the pool, a crocodile seized his leg - another demon in disguise! But Hanuman killed it with one blow. As the creature died, it revealed everything: the sage was Kalanemi, the pool was enchanted to make him sleep, and it was all Ravana's plan to delay him until dawn."

Guddu: "Did Hanuman get angry?"

Dadi: "He emerged from the pool, walked up to the fake sage, and said, "Noble sage, what troubles you?" Kalanemi tried to maintain his disguise. Hanuman replied, "Your death troubles me" - and killed him with a single strike."

Guddu: "Hanuman doesn't mess around."

Dadi: "*chuckles* No delays. He flew even faster, reaching the Dronagiri mountain as the first light touched the eastern sky. But then - another problem!"

Guddu: "What now?"

Dadi: "The Sanjeevani herb looked like many other herbs. There was no time to search, no time to identify the right one. Dawn was breaking."

Guddu: "What did he do?"

Dadi: "*spreads hands* He uprooted the entire mountain - the whole thing! - and carried it through the sky. Let the physicians figure out which herb was which!"

Guddu: "*laughs* The whole mountain!"

Dadi: "He arrived before dawn. The herb was found. Lakshmana was saved. When someone later asked if taking the entire mountain was excessive, Hanuman said, "Was Lakshmana's life worth less than a mountain? I took what was needed.""

Guddu: "And he returned the mountain later, right?"

Dadi: "He flew it right back to its place. Nothing permanently lost - only borrowed for necessity."

Guddu: "Dadi, what's the lesson about Kalanemi?"

Dadi: "*thoughtfully* Enemies attack where you are weak - not your strength, but your tiredness, your hurry. Kalanemi offered rest to someone who desperately needed it. That's why Hanuman was suspicious."

Guddu: "So when we're on an important mission, we shouldn't stop for comfort?"

Dadi: "Rest when the work is done, not before. Kalanemi represents all the distractions that try to delay us from what matters - the voice that says "just relax, there's time." Sometimes there isn't time."

Guddu: "I'll remember that during exams!"

Dadi: "*smiles* Good! When something urgent needs doing, don't let anything delay you - not tiredness, not temptation, not even kindly looking strangers. Finish first, rest later."

Guddu: "Like Hanuman - mountain and all!"

Dadi: "Mountain and all. Now sleep, my determined little one."

Guddu: "Goodnight, Dadi!"