Chapter 3~ The Quest is On
Shakti Singh and Chundawatji got off their horse. After a few seconds of observation, they realized that it wasn't an earthquake. It was as if someone very strong was stomping the ground hard. As Shakti Singh was about to proceed in the direction of the thuds, Chundawatji stopped him.
Chundawatji: Wait Shakti. We started today in the morning and its almost night by now. Bijolia is still 25 miles away. If both of us stopped here, we won't be able to find the two unknown people within 4 days. I am waiting back here, you proceed to Bijolia.
Shakti: But how can I leave you alone here? I promised Dadabhai...
Chundawatji: Leave at once Shakti. I will be fine. It's my order!!
Shakti: Hukum! Take care of yourself. We will meet on the borders of Udaipur exactly four days from now. Good luck!
And off rode Shakti into the approaching darkness of the nightfall.
Chundawatji heaved a sigh and moved towards the loud thumping.
As he approached the gates of the capital city,Bundi, an announcement could be heard in the background:
Suno Suno Suno!!
Bundi Naresh, the glorious king and our respectable master,Rao Surtan Singh has ordered everyone to assemble in the town square as always. Leave all your work and reach on time!
Suno Suno Suno!!!
Sobs and cries could be heard all over the place after the announcement.
The thomping had temporarily ceased for now.
Chundawatji quickly removed all his jewels and wrapped a blanket around him and moved to the town square.
Chundawatji (asking a merchant on the way): Listen young man! For what are we assembling here?
Man: Are you knew here? Don't you know. Rao Surtan Singh orders his people to pay tax everyday at night. Half of our entire day's hard work is to be payed as tax to that monster everyday,which he squanders either on women or on wine. Better pay your share or else you will be beheaded like others.
Chundawatji (in mind): Hey eklingji! What a pity on these poor people. Surtan Singh ! Eklingji will make sure you pay for every penny that you have collected from the innocents till now.
Meanwhile in the town square,
Gajjar Singh(Surtan's Commander): Welcome dear people,welcome! Submit your tax and have the liberty to stay alive till tomorrow.
Chundawatji was standing in the queue to pay tax and was observing his surroundings when he heard commotion at a corner of the marketplace.
A Man: Lo! The commotion started again,as always.
A man was openly fighting with the guards unafraid of anything.
Guard: Pay the money or you will have to pay the tax with your life.
Man: Whom are you scaring you dimwit fool? Don't you know that I never pay my tax? I don't believe in your orders or shall I say your coward King.
Gajjar Singh: Pay the tax today as the respectable King is visiting the crowd today. I will see to it that you are not spared.
Man: Oh is it? Then lets have some fun today with him.
And he let out an evil laugh.
Surtan Singh: Welcome to hell dear people! I hope that you are not facing any difficulty in paying the nominal tax collected by me.(Smirks loudly). Are we serving our wonderful praja with sincerity , Gajjar?
GS: Hukum!
In the queue:
Guard: Pay the tax you old fellow!
Old man: Please let me go today. My son is ill and besides I haven't earned anything today.
The Guard pushed the old man and thrashed him on the ground.
SS: Sainik! Is this the way you treat elderly people?
Guard: Hukum...
SS went ahead and politely asked the Man to pay:
Please pay the tax father.
Old Man: I can't pay it Hukum.
SS: Sorry but even I cannot help you.
He cruelly cut off the head of the innocent old man with such ease as if he was completely accustomed to it.
Surtan Singh!!The young Man roared in anger.
I won't leave you today! Jai Mewar!
He charged upon SS with such force that he shook in disbelief.
The people too echoed with the same cries and it was like a small war that was progressing and in the city.
Enough was enough. The people had took it upon themselves today to teach their wild King a lesson. They had to show him that a King is because of the people, not people due to their King
SS: Sainiko! Protect me till your last breath. I am your King, your master,your...
His words got cut short as the loud thuds surfaced the air again.
SS: Oh God! Why are troubles falling on my poor self like this,specially heavy ones.
A tall,muscular,heavyweighted man emerged from the imprisonment cell situated right in the centre of the city,near the marketplace where the people were currently waging a war. The public had turned wild attacking the worthless guards that Surtan had. Men were fighting with swords which they had started collecting and organizing long back and that came in handy today. Women and children just picked up anything that they came across- stones,vessels even chilli powder.
It wasn't that they were prepared for something like this. It was on impulse that they chose to fight today as all limits of patience were crossed .
Meanwhile, the muscular man easily made his way to Surtan after finishing off some puny soldiers who dared to stand in his way.
Man: Drugged me Surtan huh? And tied me to chains like wild elephants. Didn't you fear me ? Let me tell you now what fear is.
The word "elephant" had Chundawatji's mind thinking and he smiled to know that his quest had ended pretty soon.
The man held Surtan by the collar and raised him up, off his feet and dropped him like a toy. Then,he announced the people to be calm:
Man: The people of Bundi! You have suffered enough under this Maldev's puppet.I do not have the right to punish him as he is your culprit. Punish him for all that he has done.
He was thrown in the crowd like amere thing and people went hard on him today.
Chundawatji, who was silent until now,spoke up:
May I know who you are?
Man: It seems you are new here. I am Jaimal Rathore, the King of Merta. This is Maan Singh Rathore, my beloved son (pointing to the same fearless young Rajput)
Chundawatji: Pleasure meeting you! I wanted to talk to you in private.
He explained to Jaimal and Maan Singh the Prophecy, Tulsidasji's command to assist their Maharana and the need for his support.
JR: I am feeling indeed blessed to have this opportunity of helping our Maharana and most importantly our motherland. What more can I ask for? My life has been blessed. Now even death cannot disappoint me.
MS: Daata, even I am coming with you to Udaipur.
JS: No my son. You have to be here and protect the people of Merta. I will crown you the next ruler and leave for Udaipur at once.
With the rising dawn,the people of Merta saw the end of cruelty and the beginning of a new era.
MS was a capable and wise person. It was he who had organised the swords and randomly trained people to fight for themselves, right under Surtan's nose.
Surtan,meanwhile,was left whining on the ground. He was beaten black and blue by the people. The old man who he had killed had been cremated by Jaimal himself.
Hope you all like it,
With love,
Mahishee.
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