“Ananya, wake up! It’s past nine o’clock,” Tathi said, giving her a gentle shake.

Tatha chuckled. “Our Ananya is just like Kumbhakarna. She must have been blessed with Nidravatvam—the gift of endless sleep—just like him.”

Sid, Ananya’s brother, looked puzzled. “What’s that supposed to mean? And why does everyone call someone who loves to sleep a ‘Kumbhakarna’?”

“Ah,” Tatha began, “that’s quite the story.”

“Wait!” Ananya, now wide awake, hurried out of bed, freshened up, and joined Sid and Tatha in the living room, eager to hear the tale.

“Once upon a time,” Tatha started, “Kumbhakarna, the giant brother of Ravana, was known for his strength, intelligence, and enormous appetite. The Gods were worried that his power might one day threaten them. He was so mighty that even the thought of him frightened them.”

The children leaned in, their eyes wide with wonder.

“Ravana and Kumbhakarna wanted to perform a great yagna to please Lord Brahma and ask for boons that make them powerful. But Indra, the king of the Gods, was very concerned. He knew they would ask for Lord Indra’s throne which would mean complete destruction of Devas and full control over Devlok.

“So Lord Indra sought help from Goddess Saraswati, who wisely advised, “Do not worry. Kumbhakarna often speaks without thinking; he may even ask for the wrong boon!’”

The children chuckled as Tatha continued. “And sure enough, when Brahma finally appeared, pleased with their penance, Ravana requested immortality from Gods, rakshasas, and wild beasts. Brahma granted his wish.”

“Then it was Kumbhakarna’s turn. He intended to ask for Indraasan (Indra’s throne) and Nirdevatvam (destruction of the Gods), but in his impatience, he mistakenly asked for Nidraasan (a bed for sleeping) and Nidravatvam (a life of endless sleep) instead. Brahma granted his wish and disappeared before Kumbhakarna could correct himself!”

Ananya and Sid burst out laughing.

“And so, thanks to this little slip of the tongue, Kumbhakarna would sleep for six months at a time and wake up with such an insatiable hunger that he’d devour everything in sight—even humans! When Ravana needed him to fight in battle, waking him became a nearly impossible task. Musicians played loud trumpets, beasts roared in his ear, and a thousand elephants trumpeted over him before he finally awoke!”

Sid grinned, nudging Ananya. “Sounds like how we wake you up every morning.”

“Be quiet, Sid!” she replied, playfully shoving him.

Tatha chuckled. “The lesson here is to always think before you speak, or you might just end up with something you never wanted.”

“Like Sid!” Ananya laughed, sprinting away before he could respond.