Sid tiptoed out of his grandparents’ room, trying to avoid making the slightest noise.

“Hey, what are you sneaking around for?” Ananya called out loudly.

“Shhhhh!” Sid hissed, putting a finger to his lips. “Tatha and Tathi are taking a nap. You know how rare it is for them to rest. If they hear us, they’ll wake up.”

Just then, a knock came at the door.

“Someone’s at the door!” Ananya whispered back. “I’ll get it before they ring the bell and wake them up.” She bolted for the door and opened it a crack.

It was Tatha’s old friend, Mahadeva. Ananya whispered apologetically, “Tatha is asleep right now. Maybe you could come back in an hour or so?”

Mahadeva nodded and turned to leave, but before he could step away, a familiar voice called out.

“Don’t leave, Mahadeva! I’m awake. Please, come in!” Tatha appeared, looking groggy but cheerful. He welcomed his friend with a big smile and fetched a glass of water for him.

The two chatted for a while, sharing laughs and catching up. When Mahadeva left, Tatha turned to Ananya and Sid with a warm smile.

“It’s kind of you kids to let me rest,” he said, “but remember, it’s not good to turn anyone away from the door. This reminds me of Jaya and Vijaya, the celestial gatekeepers of Vaikuntha, and the lesson they learned the hard way. Let’s talk about it over coffee, shall we?”

Curious, the kids followed Tatha to the kitchen. While he sipped his coffee and handed them warm milk, he began his tale.

“Jaya and Vijaya were the loyal gatekeepers of Lord Vishnu’s abode, Vaikuntha. One day, the four Manasaputras of Brahma—Sanatkumara, Sanatana, Sanandana, and Sanaka—came to visit. Being devoted followers, they were eager to meet Lord Vishnu.

But Jaya and Vijaya stopped them at the gate, saying, “The Lord is resting. You cannot meet Him without His permission.’

The sages were furious. “How dare you stop us from seeing the Lord,” they exclaimed. In their anger, they cursed the gatekeepers: ‘May you both be born as demons on earth!’

The two were terrified and rushed to Lord Vishnu for help. The Lord, in His infinite wisdom, said, “A curse once spoken cannot be undone. But I can offer you a choice: be born as my devotees for seven lifetimes or as my enemies for three. Choose wisely.”

Jaya and Vijaya thought about it and chose the latter, preferring a shorter separation from their beloved Lord.

And so, they were born as Hiranyakashipu and Hiranyaksha in Satya Yuga, Ravana and Kumbhakarna in Treta Yuga, and Sisupala and Dantavakra in Dwapara Yuga. In each lifetime, the Lord took a different incarnation to defeat them and ultimately bring them back to Vaikuntha.”

Sid, wide-eyed, asked, “But Tatha, how did Lord Vishnu defeat them each time?”

Tatha chuckled. “Ah, that’s a story for another day! Now off you go to play.”

As the kids ran off, they couldn’t help but think about the importance of kindness and never turning someone away. Tatha, sipping the last of his coffee, smiled, knowing the lesson had sunk in.