The dinner continued for a long time...
Rudra was astonished, as he couldn't tell whether the food was unlimited or if Mata Parvati had prepared that much, considering the circumstances.
Lord Ganesha's appetite was as large as he had heard in the stories. They are as if it were the last cuisine and the tastiest, they have eaten yet.
But Rudra could understand them; he, too, was fascinated. Don't talk about the visuals of the amount and varieties he was seeing for the first time at the same time.
Some of the food items were something he hadn't even seen in his life, let alone heard their name.
And don't get him started on explaining the smell and scent of the food; it was something he couldn't even name.
He had heard of 56 bhogs, which were the go-to bhog options for offerings in the temple and such, since the incident of Govardhan and the Flood was famous.
But he hadn't seen it in real life, and he always thought that with so many different varieties of food,
There should be that many visuals as well as scents
So wouldn't it be normal for them to clash?
But now, when he was in the front row, witnessing such cuisine, he got to know that no matter what he thinks of, there is always something he can't even imagine, let alone name, such a feeling.
"Child, don't just stare, get on with your meal too, there's a lot I have prepared, so don't worry and eat to your heart's content." Mata Parvati smiled and encouraged Rudra to eat his share too.
And Rudra, with a shy nod, went and started eating from the side of the table that have cusine from the North, as he was at least familiar with those.
He first went for the Amritsari Kulcha, lachha paratha, Paneer stuffed paratha, he could have gone for samosa or something snacks, but he thought of eating proper food first.
He hadn't noticed first, but he was quite hungry.
Maybe it was because he had grown a lot, like height, muscles, power, strength and also because he hadn't eaten anything after the afternoon.
Well, except for some snacks on the bus, but still, he was hungry.
He went for the bite, and as the bite reached his mouth, he was assaulted with a scent so refreshing and tantalising that he felt his hunger rise by a margin.
He took the first bite, and he was again shocked, but this time because of the taste and feel of the food in his mouth.
Slowly, his pace increased as if the taste, smell, and feel made him crave the food way more, and his tongue couldn't help but call for more.
He didn't know when he went for the second kulcha, but it was already finished,
Then he went for the paneer paratha and same he ate with fervour and speed of a beast hungry for a long time.
As Rudra was immersed in eating, he didn't know that he was being watched by everyone except Lambodar and Mushak, who were also busy with their own food.
"Wow, isn't he just another but smaller version of Vinayak, mother?" Ashok Sundari chuckled and whispered to Mata Parvati.
Who in later smiled and whispered back,
"It sure brings back memories of the time, when Lambodar ate for the first time and couldn't help himself and came out of a guardian boy he was behaving like in the beginning. Ha ha ha ha" Mata Parvati chuckled.
"Hmph, as if.... Chomp, nom nom... gulp... Don't compare me to him, mother; see, his appetite is not even close to mine by far. Forget about me, he can't even compare with Mushak." Ganesha said back as if hurt by the comparison.
"Yes, yes... Even I, Mushak, am better water and can eat more than the new small lord." Mushak whispered to himself, but everyone heard it loud and clear.
"No, one is comparing you; they are just saying that you have gotten yourself one more person who may love to be with you and you with him. Don't you think so, brother?" Devi Narmada said with a smile.
"Well, who wouldn't love mother's cooking. Well, surely there couldn't be any, if there is, he will surely suffer from my hand." Ganesha said with a satisfied smile and fierce glint in their eyes.
"But he sure is only focusing on the dishes he must have eaten before, too, doesn't he know about tasting different food once in a while? Why stay focused on one thing when you could have many? He surely is a strange person." Devi Jyoti said with a wonder and well-thought-out look.
"Even I, who love Modaks, am eating them with a variety of dishes and leaving anything behind." Lord Ganesha said with a clear frown visible on their face.
"Rudra, what are you eating that for? There is still so much to try; this is your third time picking the same thing." Devi Aranyani called out to Rudra.
"Huh! What?" Rudra looked up and cleaned his face with his arm and saw that everyone was focused on him.
"She said, try some more dishes too, why are you focusing on only some of them, there are a lot to try and taste too." Devi Manasa asked him with raised eyebrows.
"Oh... um, it's just I am familiar with these dishes, so I went for them, um... sorry?" Rudra rubbed the back of his forehead with an awkward smile.
"No, need to say sorry, child just now try some other dishes too," Mahadev said with a fatherly smile on their face.
"Hmm... what they said, but if you want to eat only those i won't feel angry, so you could do what your heart says." Mata Parvati said, who was looking at him with a motherly smile, with their chin on their hands and elbow on the table.
"Here, Rudra, try these, Curd Rice." Devi Devsena, "This Adai and Dosa too, these are also familiar to you somewhat. Try to taste them too." and Devi Valli offered and stood up to serve him one of their favourite dishes.
"These Sandesh, Rosogolla, Cholar Dal and Aloo Posto, these are also tasty, try them too." Devi Manasa served him some of her favourite dishes.
"Thepla, Kanda Gadda (Yam/Root Veggies)." Devi Aranyani, "these too this, Dal Baati Churma, these are also tasty" Ashok Sundary served him some more dishes.
"Coconut and Mint Chutney, Dhokla and Khandvi, Ukadiche Modak, Masale Bhaat, these are my favourite dishes. If you want to eat like me, you should at least try these too." Ganesha offered him and pointed toward some dishes, and then, they pointed at Mushak.
"Mushak, go and give him these to taste," and they continued to eat their own food.
Mushak gave a hurtful look, but still went and served Rudra the dishes that were pointed out by Lord Ganesha.
"Here, eat these too, new young lord", and went back to eat his food quickly, as if his food would run away.
"Here, these Rabri Jalebi, Banarasi Lassi, and Kachori Sabzi are also tasty, you know, try them too." Goddess Ganga offered a few dishes too.
Rudra's plate continued to get filled, more and more. Now it looked more decorated than prepared for eating, at least for one person.
Seeing so many items, of different types, from different corners, Rudra didn't know what to do. He wasn't even sure if he could eat those. But he gulped and started with Rice served by Devsena and Valli, and from that, with his taste buds did the rest of the work and his hands continued to eat without stopping.
While Rudra busied himself in eating, others, being satisfied that now, when Rudra ate his share, he would go for more different kinds of dishes than the same one he was first going for, were satisfied and, with a smile, continued their own eating.
Everyone continued eating with small talk and small laughs along the way. Rudra also felt like he was at home, and he was happy; he didn't miss his family at all. Maybe because they were here after all, he could feel his mother in Mata Parvati, father in Mahadev, siblings in divine siblings, Friend in Devi Aranyani. So, he was happy and joined in on talks and laughter.
seeing him happy, Mahadev, Mata Parvati and everyone were happy too.
After eating till he was satisfied, Rudra went to eat sweet dishes. First, he ate Rasgulla, Modaks and other laddus one by one, and finally he went for Gajar ka Halva, and finished with a special kheer.
As Rudra ate the sweet dishes, everyone except Ganesh and Mushak, who were already eating sweets before, started to eat sweet dishes too. As it was time to wrap it up.
Then they all drank different beverages together. Ganesha tried it all, if it was milk, Lassi, Juice, drinks of every kind, same with Mushak.
But everyone else went for their one drink, which they thought of drinking the most.
Rudra went for lassi recommended by Goddess Ganga, Karthikeya and their wives, drank Paanakam, Milk and Coconut water.
Riddhi and Siddhi, Devi Manasa went for milk. Where Devi Riddhi and Siddhi went for Kesar Doodh, Devi Mansa preferred normal milk with Mishti/Mishri. Devi Narmada and Goddess Ganga for just water, but honey-glazed, Madhu, Devi Aranyani and Ashok Sundari for fruit juices.
After that, everyone partook in drinking, Panchamrit and completed their dinner with satisfaction and love.
[Ingredients: Made by mixing five items: Milk (purity), Curd (yoghurt/progeny), Honey (health), Sugar (bliss), and Ghee (strength). It is often garnished with Tulsi leaves.]