JA FF : Warriors in Love (Chap 6 Part 2 on Pg 33) - Page 2

"Sukanya, we're going with guards, and even I can fight these people if I have to. Now stop making us late, it was your idea that we go pray at Ma Parvati's mandir before Karva Chauth. You're just that impatient to have a husband."

"Good joke, you know you'll get married first, because you're older."

"By only a year, does it matter?"

"Your birthday is on the way, so by 2 years, grandma."

Laughter was heard near the gate of the Amer castle as the two sisters walked toward the palanquin that would transport them towards the Mandir.

"Hira, we should head back to the castle the sun is going to set."

Hira laughed and replied in a teasing tone. "Moti, I don't fear the dark so what if the sun is about to set? Let's stay a little longer & enjoy the lovely view."

Hira touched the wings of the nearest bird on the grass, her gorgeous face reflecting on the lake's clear water.

But her face wasn't the only thing she saw...

Leaning against a wall at the Mandir's entrance was a man who looked as though he was in pain. She stepped back from the lake, and a little bit closer to him to try and understand what was going on.

Tiny crimson droplets looking like strangers to the green grass shocked as they pooled at his feet, having streamed from his shoulder all the way down.

"Hey Ishwar, this man is bleeding!"

She was agitated, wondering how she could get close to him without anybody noticing, but she completely stopped caring if they'd see, when the man fell unconscious.

She ran over to him and begun checking his wound.

"Hira, what're you doing here, who is this?!" Both Moti Bai and Sukanya asked the same thing simultaneously and very loudly.

"Sukanya, I don't need to know him, I just know I must help him,"

The bleeding had yet to stop and she knew that if care didn't come fast enough, this man's state would worsen. "Call the guards, Moti, they should carry him over to the palanquin before I can do anything." Although she looked worried about what her friend had in mind, Moti alerted the guards of her order.

And even they didn't obey right away. "Rajkumari Sahiba...can we really take this man with us?"

One death glare from Hira silenced the guard who lifted the strange man onto the palanquin. After asking Moti to get some water from the lake to clean up the wound and some leaves that'd work as bandages, Hira got into the palanquin herself.

"Gana...Please allow me to save him."

"Hira, what will we tell our parents?" Sukanya asked her sister worriedly.

"Nothing. If they find out, want to investigate. So until he's completely recovered they will know nothing. I'll tell everything when he's okay."

She had replied without looking up from her work, carefully bandaging the wound with a piece ripped off her red dupatta.

"Hira, this is crazy! Where will he stay anyway?!"

The Rajkumari fell quiet for a few minutes, thinking of an answer.

"No one gets into the servants' rooms except the servants themselves, right Moti Bai?"

"Yes, but..."

"So he'll stay in your room, and you'll stay with me."

"Hira, this can't stay a secret."

"Unless you two, or the guards speak up yes it can. And none of you will say a thing."

The stubborn Rajkumari's tone said she wouldn't take no for an answer.

Before Moti or Sukanya could talk again , her attention was fully back to the injured man.

And he didn't seem to be getting better although she was doing her best. The makeshift bandage made of Dupatta fabric and curative leaves had opened up and there was sweat on the man's forehead, sign of a fever . Although he had been immobile up until now, at the moment, his body was shaking.

Hira panicked and almost cried while trying to fix the makeshift on the wound to prevent any more bleeding.

"Gana...please, please don't let him die." She would never forgive herself.

Sukanya and Moti's attempts to soothe her failed completely, it was as though she couldn't hear them at all.

One thing she did hear though, made her eyes widen in disbelief.

Laughter. The man she thought would die in her hands was laughing. There was in his voice a rasp from thirst and fever.

His eyes were open, and although his face was scaringly pale, he seemed awake and aware of his surroundings, the darker brown of his irises meeting hers, his words startling her.

"Die? If wounds killed no soldier would be alive, especially not me."

Heavy silence was installed into the palanquin. The three girls, particularly Hira Kunwari were very surprised , and didn't think to talk about it in front of this man.

He, too, said nothing; his eyes were carefully scanning over the woman that dabbed at his sweaty forehead, caring for him like a physician would. She could tell he was thirsty and wished she had water left to quench his thirst.

Soon enough, the group reached the Amer palace.

To avoid suspicions, one of the guards accompanying the Rajkumaris had to give the man his uniform on the way , ordered to do so by Hira, who promised the guards reward if they cooperated.

At the sight of the fountain decorating the palace's entrance, the man realized how thirsty he was.

"I need water, Rajkumari Sahiba." He simply informed before crouching down to drink.

She watched him curiously. He was injured, probably feverish as well, and yet he acted as though nothing was going on; and even the way he walked showed nothing about his state.

Once again, the water was a witness of glances, though this time, she wasn't the only one looking, he was too..

"What's your name, soldier?" She asked.

He hadn't expected any of this to happen, he had been attacked before even managing to get a disguise, but one of his main goals coming to Amer had been to meet her, and here she was. He owed her for her care and even for the disguise he was wearing. And so, he decided not to lie. Except about his identity as a Shahenshah, of course.

"My name is Muhammad, Rajkumari Sahiba."

That was not a Rajvanshi name, thought Hira

So this meant she had brought with her an injured soldier, who was not a Rajvanshi.

If her parents came to know, she'd be in the biggest of troubles.

But Hira had a feeling, that although he wasn't a Rajvanshi, this man wasn't a bad one...