One afternoon, Shiva and Parvati in their home on Mount Kailash were trying to get some rare quiet time together. But Ganesh and Kartikkeya, their two little sons, wouldn’t leave them in peace. Despite the fact that their parents were gods, and they themselves worshipped all over the world, Ganesh and Kartikkeya could be as noisy and troublesome as any other pair of little boys.

Sometimes Ganesh would come crying, ‘Ma, Kartikkeya hit me! Tell him to stop!’ Kartikkeya would protest and appeal to his father, ‘I didn’t hit him! It was only a tap! Why is he such a cry-baby?’ Kartikkeya was tall and strong, unlike Ganesh, and easily beat him in all games of physical strength.

Or else Kartikkeya would come running in a rage. ‘Ganesh is a cheat! How come he always wins every game?’ he would cry, stamping his feet in fury. Ganesh would smirk and say, ‘I didn’t cheat! You’re angry because you lost!’ This was usually true since Ganesh could easily outsmart his brother in any game that required wit or intelligence. But Kartikkeya hated losing, especially to his easy-going brother with an elephant’s head, and Ganesh’s smug air of accomplishment would drive him to even greater fury.

Parvati tried talking to Ganesh, pointing out that as the more intelligent one, he should be the one to give in. Shiva tried to appeal to Kartikkeya’s sense of chivalry, that as the stronger one, he should not hit his weaker brother.

The boys would listen and nod their heads, but within minutes would be at it again. Parvati punished them. Shiva scolded them. But nothing had any effect. Shiva and Parvati were at their wits’ end. It seemed their quiet afternoon together was not to be.

Suddenly Shiva had an idea. Calling both the boys to him he said, ‘Let’s have a race. Both of you run right around the Universe once. Let’s see who can run faster.’ That will give us peace and quiet for a while at least, thought Shiva to himself. Parvati smiled. She thought it was a clever way to keep the children occupied.

Kartikkeya jumped at the idea of a race. ‘Yes,let’s have a race,’ he agreed enthusiastically. He loved physical action of any sort. Besides, he was sure he could outrun his slow, lumbering brother.

The boys lined up, and at Parvati’s signal the race began. Kartikkeya ran like the wind, looking to neither left nor right. He blazed around the Universe like a comet, leaving a trail of fire behind, so swift was he. He was sure he had left Ganesh far far behind. Kartikkeya smiled with satisfaction. He did enjoy winning.

Almost before the hour was over, Kartikkeya had circled the Universe and was back home on Mount Kailash. He was sure he had won the race for there was no sign of Ganesh even in the far distance.

Kartikkeya entered his house tired and breathless, but smiling triumphantly. ‘I’ve won,’ he cried to his parents. ‘I’m sure Ganesh the slowcoach wouldn’t even have reached the halfway mark yet!’

‘Did someone call my name?’ asked a voice, and in ambled Ganesh from the kitchen where he had just polished off a plate of laddoos. ‘So you’re back at last, brother,’ he said, smiling at Kartikkeya. ‘You took a long time!’

Kartikkeya was speechless with amazement. How COULD Ganesh have beaten him?

‘You cheated again!’ said Kartikkeya accusingly to Ganesh. But Ganesh only smiled, and went off in search of some more goodies to munch.

Kartikkeya turned to his parents. ‘How could he have WON?’ he asked.

‘By using his head, my valiant warrior!’ said Shiva to his son, smiling. ‘Ganesh walked round his mother: for him, he says, the Universe resides in his mother.’

Parvati laughed. She was feeling very pleased with her son’s devotion to her. Kartikkeya could not argue with Ganesh’s solution. He hung his head and conceded defeat. Secretly though he wished he had thought of circling his mother – trust clever old Ganesh to find the smartest, easiest way out!

But Shiva and Parvati smiled happily at each other – with Kartikkeya busy racing round the Universe and Ganesh eating laddoos in the kitchen, they had at last managed to find their quiet time together.