Hey guys...SO I will be posting fights one by one as I find it easy and also allows me to work on the chapters in more depth...Also Thank You for the wonderful words of encouragement you guys leave me after the chapters it feels really good to read them and also they act as boosters for me... so keep those comments coming people...Here we go with the next fight Zaher VS Kunwar Balwant
Chapter 27
Everyone was stunned with Surtan Singh's confession about Ajabde - all the people present were there when the princess was punished for harming her own brother and the princess of Marwar. Rao Mamrakh had to controlled by both Uday Singh and Rawatji as he wanted to go and behead Surtan but then Hansa Bai his wife spoke up and said, it is not proper to interfere at this moment Rao ji, I know that not only you but the others also want to punish that monster for causing us pain and suffering but I also know that this fight carries a far more significant reason for those four young men including our son so I beseech you not to interfere and let things happen the way they are supposed to because at the end of this fight the truth will be out in front of everyone.
Hearing Hansa Bai all the men calmed down but DB and Uma Devi got tensed that Surtan had caused a freaking melodrama and if whatever Hansa had said was true then they were in far more trouble than they had ever imagined.
The next fight taking place was between Kunwar Balwant and Zaher, Balwant's inclusion as one of the fighters had raised a lot of red flags amongst the council members- they did not want to demean Rao Mamrakh but Balwant was an odd choice after all he had been mute and no one knew anything about his training as well. Rao Mamrakh recalled his conversation it Kunwar Pratap who said, Rao Mamrakh ji your son is my strongest fighter on the team, his reasons for fighting are noble and his cause is just and when a man fights for a just and noble cause then he is fighting for the truth and truth never loses.
Rao Mamrakh believed the young prince's words but inside there was a storm raging inside him and a thought rang clearly in everyone's mind including his, "The storm had arrived and it would destroy everything that they had believed in."
The fight is announced after a short break - During the break Balwant had gone and taken blessing from his parents and hugged his mother.
The fighters greet each other but before the fight could begin Zaher spoke up which totally stunned everyone,
I stand here today to fight from Rao Maldev's side but before it begins I intend to fight as my true self and not an identity that I had taken on as a young man,
Everyone including Pratap, Shakti, Patta, and Rao Maldev stare at Zaher. On been granted his wish by Rana Uday Singh, Zaher bows down before Hansa Bai and continues,
Today I come here not to fight for the wrong reasons but to repent for my actions that have caused you pain and suffering. You resemble my mother a lot and I cannot in my conscience fight without asking for forgiveness from you.
Hansa is stunned and she looks at him while Zaher continues, your daughter was innocent she did save a man that day and that is why the Princess of Marwar ended up getting hurt, she saved me from falling off a cliff her brother was present there and I remember her telling him,
Ajabde: Bhai we never ever leave someone in trouble no matter what the person is - we always help out that is our dharma. Remember that one who needs help will and should always be assisted
You raised your daughter well with all the values of the Rajputana and today as I fight in my true name and identity I beg you to forgive me and allow me to beg for forgiveness from your daughter once the fight had ended so that when I meet my creator I can look him into the eyes and accept my fate.
Hansa: My daughter is alive... Ajabde is alive. Thank you for confessing to your crimes, only a true Rajput confesses to his sons before entering the arena and by doing that you have held up the Rajputana blood flowing in your veins.
Zaher looks at Balwant and says don't let your pain hide you Kunwar sa , I fight a brother who looks for vengeance but remember only revenge should never be your goal.
Zaher confessing to his crime was unexpected by Balwant- he wanted to hate him so that he could fight and make him beg but now as he stared at the man, he spoke in a clear loud voice that shook the entire council and had Ajabde crying
I fight you to avenge my Jija by confessing to half of your sins you might have gained approval from the council but not me. I will not rest until I have your head at my sister's feet. My sister had to suffer way much than anyone can imagine and today she will get her justice that had been denied to her all these years, why do you thing Patta Bhai has that Surtan Singh tied up? We promised our sister that we will bring her the heads of the people who hurt her and we both will do that together followed by Kunwar Shakti and Kunwar Pratap as well. And fight like a Rajput today and not a coward
The fight began with both circling each other Zaher got an opportunity and he began the attack - it was like attack and dodge , dodge and attack none of the opponents were able to cause any serious damage to the opponent but no one knew that Balwant had been training in secrecy and now he would use that to the best of his capabilities and he did just that with another half circle around Zaher Balwant feigned an attack on his right which Zaher defended but in Balwant changed his positions cutting his left shoulder , watching his blood flow out was a high for Balwant but not for Saka who screamed for his brother.
Pratap and Patta were seriously engrossed in the game when Shakti spoke up Ajabde is watching her brother fight and he knows that, Patta said yes we both told her that we wanted her to watch us fight and she said she would - our victory is for her and we will not fail.
In the few minutes they had moved their vision away from the arena, Zaher was able to get a cut across Balwant's leg forcing him to lose his balance but it did not deter Balwant he stood up again and tried balancing himself as per his training and went on to attack Zaher and got him on the chest, back and arms but during a shuffle with both their swords at loggerheads one push and the swords fell on the ground
Hand to hand combat for Balwant and Zaher was different than Patta and Surtan, Zaher was an honourable man even though he sided with the wrong, his age, strength and size were huge obstacles for Balwant but he did not care. All he saw was her sister's face begging, pleading trying to prove her innocence but no one listened. Her cries were ringing in his head and he lost it, punches rained on Zaher and he just could not defend himself, falling on the ground with Balwant on top of him landing punches on every visible skin he could find, a brother let go of his anger.
Zaher was done he had no way to protect himself and he did not want to so he raised his hand in defeat but Balwant did not stop hitting him, he pulled him up by the collar and said, tell me who paid you to hurt my sister? I want the name of that bas***d who is the real culprit behind my sister's sufferings...Tell me
Zaher garnered his strength and looked at the council and said, Rao ...Rao Maldev paid us a large sum of gold and a member of the Royal family of Mewar was also involved and with that he breathed his last.
Balwant was drenched in his enemy's blood from head to toe even Patta had not cleaned himself. Both the brothers dragged their respective opponents to the temple near the arena...
All the people stared at the young girl standing on top of the stairs of the temple, dressed in her royal attire in which she was punished Ajabde stood with a grace only she could carry. Maldev, Saka ,DB and Uma Devi were scared at the sight of the girl they thought was dead, Hansa had tears running down her face as well the other ladies, Rao Mamrakh was staring at his daughter who he could not save but today his son performed the task he could not. Her two brothers were bringing her tormentors to her as they promised and behind her stood Pratap's friends, Chakri was carrying the trident as requested by Balwant.
Balwant went to his sister and bowed down before her, it's time for you to come back Jija, they have confessed for framing you for a crime you did not commit. Today your brothers bring you the men responsible for hurting you and the remaining ones will come to you tomorrow he said glaring at Saka and Maldev. He went and took the trident from Chakri and brought his sister down where the two men lay on the ground, Zaher looked at Ajabde and said, I...uhh...I ask you for forgiveness for causing you suffering and pain, I wish I could take it all back but I can't so punish me and free me of my guilt Rajkumari sa
Ajabde stared at the man in front of her and spoke, you not only hurt me but my family as well just for the sake of a few gold coins you destroyed my life. For 5 years I have suffered because of you and your greed, my brother is drenched in your blood and you ask me to forgive you.
Her pain was all that she could feel and see but Pratap (who had come along with Shakti) intervened and said, a person's true strength lies in forgiveness, Ajabde you are the strongest girl I have ever met don't let your pain win in this war. Forgive him and free yourself of all the pain you have buried inside of you. Please forgive him
Ajabde couldn't control her tears and as they fell down on her face she said to Zaher, I forgive you and hearing those words he breathed his last as Balwant pushed the trident through his chest and with his blood he did his Jija's Tilak
Surtan Singh on the other hand was flustered that girl was Janaki and not Ajabde, she was Janaki the girl he wanted, he desired but then one strong pull from Patta brought him back to reality and like a coward he started begging but one glare from Ajabde silenced him and she looked at Patta and said, you know what to do and with that Patta took the trident and beheaded the coward Surtan Singh and his head fell right at Ajabde's feet.
It appeared that Mother Nature herself had come to cleanse the siblings, thunder rolled in bringing with it lighting and showers of rain fell down on the earth as all present witnessed the most magnificent scene ever, rain drops cleaned the blood on the bodies of the siblings as well the fallen. Zaher looked peaceful and in a respectful manner his body was returned to Saka for a proper funeral whereas Surtan Singh's head was put up on a spike at the entrance.
Ajabde stood still in the rain, the water drops cleansed the blood on her forehead and did lessen her pain but all she could do was stare at the men - one was mourning for his brother and the other looked like he had seen a ghost. Two of her tormentors were dead and four remained two were going to battle out the next day whereas two were women who will lose so much more than these men. Saka stood up and came towards her, all four of her warriors took a protective stance with her brothers nearest to her and all he said was Thank You and went away.
Ajabde walked away with her brothers towards her new future.