Part III......(continued)
Somehow, the unconsciousness of Sharif’ud’din could be broken, after attempts that seemed eons to the commander of Sharif’s army. The dazed Sharif’ud’din sat down with his entire persona still ringing from the thrashings, he received from Sujamal.
Sharif’ud’din (breathing heavily): Where?where that scoundrel Sujamal go?
Commander: He has been held captive my lord, badly injured, unconsciouness.
Sharif’ud’din (grabbing his commander’s collar in utter rage): I want him alive. I want him to see Amer shredding to ruins with his own eyes. He shouldn’t die, until I say so. Keep him alive….ALIVE… He should beg for death, instead of breath…I do not need to find a way within..I shall BURN THE FORT DOWN…
Commander shivered in fear, but gathered all his might to acknowledge the change of events.
Commander: Vikram Singh fled in that commotion, probably back to Amer. He would have alerted the Rajputs about our attack, my lord. It isn’t a sudden attack anymore. And…The Shehan’ Shah’e’ hind is on his way to Nagaur from Malwa. Adham Khan has been captivated as a rebel, and now, my lord, I hear, he is coming for you…
Sharif’ud’din (grabbing commander’s throat): You fool!! Before that king of yours dares to even lay a finger on me, I shall rip open his heart. And..You! Each and everyone of you shall witness it. Now, prepare for attack. I want Amer trampled upon before the break of dawn. ASSEMBLE AND PREPARE FOR THE MARCH (he yelled).
Back at the fort of Amer, the guards at watch saw a galloping horse approaching the gates of the fort. It was Vikram Singh. He yelled at the top of his voice “Open the gates”.
Recognizing the voice, Bhagwant Das immediately signalled the guards from atop the fort to open the gates. They complied. Vikram Singh while still galloping receded from the horse and ran towards Bhagwant Das, who was running down the cliff to receive Vikram Singh, as to ask him, why was he alone? Where was Sujamal? Couldn’t Vikam Singh find him? Or found, Sujamal denied return?
Vikram Singh (out of breath): My prince!
Bhagwant Das (worried): You’re bleeding profusely. What happened? Where is brother? Did you find him Vikram Singh?
Vikram Singh: My prince, we’re under attack. The Mogul forces from Nagaur, under the command of Sharif’ud’din have infilterated the border of Amer. Prince Sujamal and we were ambushed in the jungles, all the men of the search party got killed. He, he made me leave…I had to leave him all alone amongst the enemies to alert our men back here..He is in grave danger. They will kill him, they will kill our prince…
Not being able to stand anymore, Vikram Singh limped, and fell on his knees. Profuse bleeding had weakened his gait.
Bhagwant Das fumed in anger, his heart sank thinking about the situation Sujamal might be in. He looked above and found Raja Bharmal standing at the balcony. Just behind him, not afar, stood Jodha. Bhagwant Das could easily figure out the fire of rage flickering in her otherwise calm eyes. Bharmal sought his son’s attention..
Raja Bharmal: Prepare for attack..March right away Bhagwant Das with the mightiest of our men. Kill them all, before they harm my son. Fear not son, your brother is a gallant rajput, it ain’t in their potential to deprive him of life, that easy.
Bhagwant Das restored his sinking heart yelled with the thunderest of all war cries, and the soldiers joined him in unison..The chants of “Jai Bhavani” soared in Amer so loud that it sent chills to the heart of Sharif’s men, who by that time, had crossed the forests and had come in the plains that surrounded the hill (atop which lay the fort of Amer), with their canons ready to bomb fire into the walls of fort.
Sharif’ud’din signalled for the marching army of his to come at halt.
Sharif’ud’din: It is the dark hour of this night that would provide us the cover, the enemy wouldn’t be able to see us, and the advantage they have on being at the hill top would be useless. Open all the cannons, rain fire, I want this fort down by morning. No rajput should be spared alive to see tomorrow’s risen sun..BURN THE FORT DOWN..FIRE…!!!
But before the canons could be smoked to fire, the envelope of darkness was pierced by the lighting that emerged from the gates of fort. The gates were opened for the march of army, Rajput men came out of the fort riding the back of their horses. Like a whirlwind, the entire path from the gates of fort to the plains below lit up with what seemed like the torches, which (perhaps) the Rajput men were carrying.
Sharif’ud’din couldn’t believe his eyes, he could never imagine that they would be such a fool to come down of their safe haven (fort), open in the fields, at this dark of night, leaving the fort unguarded. How easy it would be for him, to annex the fort (with no one left to resist) if only he could defeat these bunch of men, coming his way. Their valor will always be the death of them. Fools…
Sharif’ud’din (smirked and yelled at the top of his voice): They themselves are coming to the trap. Stop the canons, prepare for combat. (He yelled at the top of his voice to his men) PREPARE! They are coming to us, 1/3rd in number to our strength, leave no one..kill them all..
The men thumped their swears on ground and swayed their swords in agreement.
Some of Sharif’s men amused looked at each other in dismay “They are carrying the torches”, other scoffed “Good for us, it would be easy to see them in this dark, though I wonder how they would fight”The other cracked up “with the torches, what else”..
With the distance closing in, Sharif’ud’din’s voice again rose, and the command was given.
Sharif’ud’din: CHARGE…
Bhagwant Das (roared): “JAI BHAVANI”
By the time the armies came in absolute vicinity, Sharif’ud’din and his men’s eyes popped out in utter horror, the rajputs weren’t carrying the torches, they had lit up their swords with an everlasting blazing fire, that never seemed to dim.
The armies clashed, and every blow the burning rajput swords made in the heart of the enemy was the blow of ultimate death..Threat ran deep in Sharif’ud’din army, and the chaos disorganised their military labyrinth. The only issue was number-the Rajput army still looked handful compared to the huge enemy number, but given their combat skill they were heavying down on Sharif’s men who were more like mercenaries than skilled soldiers. Sharif’s heart sank in panic. This couldn’t be happening. His men were getting pushed back, some of them were even running back to find covers in the forest. The blows of the Rajput swords were so fatal, all that got struck had met their ends, right there and then. The numbers of his men were dwindling at a rapid pace. Before he could gather the sense of incurring loses, Bhagwant Singh’s horse made his way right in front of Sharif’ud’din.
(Sometime back at Nagaur)
The Mogul king was standing at the gates of the fort of Nagaur. His army right after him, awaiting his orders. Death was standing afront and the guards (Sharif’s men) at the fort of Nagaur trembled with fear thinking what a dreadful end their fate was about to meet. They couldn’t even muster up the courage to open the gates to allow the devil (Jalal) in.
Jalal was fuming in anger, the fire beaming in his lungs was scarring his vision and senses at the same time. The thought that vulnerable Bakshi was within the fort, in almighty knew what condition, trapped..NO..more like held captive by that serpent- Sharif’ud’din and his puny filthy men made Jalal gasp, as if struggling for air.
Just then, Chugtai Khan, who had stayed back at Abdul’s suggestion, joined in.
Chugtai Khan: My king!..Sharif’ud’din and his men left for Amer last night. The fight between Rajputs and Moguls started in the night itself. I heard Sharif’ud’din has captivated the crown prince, Sujamal. Amidst the political unrest, the rajput men and Sharif’ud’din are engaged in a fierce battle on the plains of Rajputana. The Amer fort is under the protection of the king Bharmal, while his son Bhagwant Das is leading his battalion in the battle…Besides,,my king! Your beloved sister, the Mogul princess is in labour,the baby is due any time. The hakims say, she is critical,unconscious and too weak..The hakims from Agra are on their way, would be here any time. Few of Sharif’s mercenary men are guarding the fort. I didn’t make a move to barge in, to avoid any threat to our princess Banoo..
Jalal couldn’t say a word. He knew Rajputs could pull off a fight long enough for him to reach them, but for now, Bakshi didn’t have much time. He had to get to her, the idea of any threat to bakshi or her unborn child was heavying on his breath. He had to act and act fast.
He signalled his men to split, and in no time his entire army encircled the entire Nagaur fort. Given the numbers by Chugtai Khan, jalal was sure that Sharif’s men guarding the fort had to be fewer. All he needed was to draw out all of them, and the only way possible was to threaten them from all sides. This way instead of focussing on the front gate they will have to spread out guarding all the corners, they will have to make use of every single man in the fort. This way threat could also be drifted away from Bakshi..
Assessing the situation at the top of Nagaur fort, Jalal was quite convinced that his trick had worked, Sharif’s men were struggling to cover all the corners, they were in much less strength to cover even all the four corners of the fort. Finally one of Sharif’s men yelled from atop the fort.
Man: My king! We’ve no intention to resist. If you promise to spare our lives, we’ll open the gates my lord. We were just following Master Sharif’ud’din’s orders. Please have mercy Shehan’shah..please..
Jalal didn’t say a word, neither did he have any time to spare lives nor take one, all he could think of, was the vulnerable Bakshi who was in need of help at earliest. Barels of explosives were put afront the gates of fort, and sparked. With a loud bang!!the gates came crashing down, and Jalal sped up his sultan to enter the fort. All of Sharif’s men surrendered, and Abdul signaled his men to just hold Sharif’s men captive, not to engage in blood shed, there were much important things to act upon.
Jalal reached Sharif’s harem and was met with gloomy whimpers of women all around. His heart sank. He rushed past straight to find the unconscious bakshi lying on her bed, surrounded by all the women, who seemed not just helpless but hopeless too..He reached out, lifted the back of Bakshi’s head in an attempt to have a closer look.
Jalal: Bakshi!..open up your eyes, see its me, your brother..SISTER..Can you hear me? Everything is gonna be fine Bakshi, I’m here now, you hear me??
Getting no response.. Jalal looked up with his fiery red eyes. Couple of women, dressed like how the hakims would, came afront.
Woman: My king! Her highness is too weak and perhaps in trauma too to stay conscious, we can not proceed with the delivery in this state of hers, and the worst is, the more we delay, the greater the threat would be to her, and the child’s life. We do not have the expertise to deal with the situation.
Jalal yelled for Abdul, who came running up making way for the Hakims who had arrived from Agra (Coutsey Abdul and Chugtai Khan).
Abdul: My king, the royal hakims from Agra have arrived.
Jalal breathed a sigh of relief and all the women of harem made way for the royal hakims.
The royal hakim checked Bakshi’s pulse.
Royal Hakim: My king! We can revive her, but you need to leave, now. I assure you everything will be fine. God be with us..
Reluctant Jalal left Bakshi’s side and stepped out of the room. Abdul followed.
Jalal (seething in utter fury): I can not believe we married her off to this spineless snake. I wish I could kill that scoundrel with my bare hands for what state he has brought my little sister in.
Abdul pressed jalal's soldier reassuring that all will be fine..
Jalal: I can’t leave her in this state Abdul, but I need to stop Sharif’ud’din before he annexes the Amer fort. He has a much larger army and Sujamal in captivity too, that’s a bad news for Rajputs.
Abdul: Do not worry my friend..I have called for Mariam makani too, she will be here by tomorrow next to Bakshi’s side. I too didn’t wish her to be alone at this tough time. Once Bakshi regains consciousness we shall find a way to deal with Sharif’ud’din.
A wave of relief washed over Jalal, he had never been more happy of his mother’s arrival than he was now. If not him, Bakshi needed her, and atleast she was going to be there for one of her child, even if she couldn’t ever be there for him.
Abdul: You don’t worry about Bakshi, my friend, I and Mariam Makani will make sure, she and the baby are fine. And as far the battle is concerned I’m quite confident the Rajputs are gonna give him the fight of his life. You have time Jalal, nothing is lost..
Almost a hour had passed, when the restlessness of Jalal was broken by the royal hakim.
Royal hakim: My king, the princess has regained consciousness, we’re prepping her for the delivery of the child, but she is struggling and appears to be too restless. She is consistently urging to see you. Talk to her, she might get calm.
Without wasting any time Jalal rushed in. Bakshi though conscious, still didn’t appear to be in right state of mind.
Jalal: Bakshi!! my darlin sister. It’s okay, everything is gonna be fine. Relax child..
Bakshi: Brother, he is out there to ruin Amer, he is after the princess..For some reason he knows that he could harm you if succeeded. I,,I don’t know what? Please save, save….Promise me, you wont let any harm come Amer’s or its princesses’s way..You leave now, before its too late..please, please…
Sobbing Bakshi lost her senses again. The hakim signalled Jalal to calm down.
Flabbergasted Jalal left. How could ever Sharif know, that harm brought upon Amer could hurt jalal? And why was he after the princess of Amer? Why was he targeting her and how that could be related to him? Why was Bakshi so unnerved about the safety of the princess?Did Sharif’ud’din got any clue about his and Jodha’s meet? But why was he after the princess?
Nothing made any sense, the confusion was clogging Jalal’s mind, and his heart was pacing at a threatening rate.
Jalal (restless): Abdul, I shall leave for Amer. You stay here with Bakshi, make sure Mariam Makani reaches on time. Keep me posted about Bakshi’s well being. She was unconsolable about the fact that Sharif’ud’din was after the princess of Amer and that he knew any harm to Amer could hurt me..
Abdul (hesitated but asked): What is it Jalal? I never asked because I have no right to intervene in your privacy, but what is this infatuation with Amer? Why Sharif’ud’din’s attack on Amer has struck you so bad? That scoundrel has been invading nearby territories, but that never bothered you to this extent ever? What is so special with Amer?
Jalal (hesitantly): I…..I met a girl few days back at the borders of Amer and Nagaur. “A Rajput girl”.. (silence)…
(Jalal’s heart recalled): The moment the moon lit her face in the darkest hour of that night, if Abdul could trust him, his heart, that he never knew, he had, stopped. Her fiery yet compassionate kohled eyes stared right past his soul, and him- the emperor of the Mogul clan, “Shehan’shah e hind” felt like an ordinary teen completely besotted and smitten by the beauty, purity, valour and kindness she carried in her persona..
Now, that he know what it felt to be next to her, all Jalal was left with was this infinite void, that could only be brimmed by “Jodha Bai” of Amer..He wanted to scream and let Abdul hear his thoughts but he remained silent..
Abdul (knowing that Jalal isn’t being honestly open): A Rajput??Did you tell her, who were you?
Jalal (sighed): I couldn’t …..couldn’t muster up the courage to tell her who I was, for the hatred she harboured against the Moguls given the atrocities of Sharif’ud’din..All I want is for her is to be safe, and for that the city has to stay safe…(worried) But what I can’t figure out, how Sharif’ud’din could ever know that any harm to Amer could affect me, and if so, why is he after the princess of Amer? Do you know, who the princess of Amer is?
Abdul: Well! The princess of Amer is Rajkunwari Harka Bai, the beauty none can match in Rajputana atleast, that’s what I’ve heard. Her wit, beauty and valour has earned her the title of “The Rose of Rajputana”..Princes from lands afar wish to woe her. I can very well see why he is after Amer, its a powerful state, annexing which will add to his strength and going after the princess is what you would expect from an immoral and a lecherous being like him. But if somehow he has any idea about why Amer is special to you, this attack could be disastrous.
Jalal (held Abdul’s hand): I need to stop Sharif’ud’din before the city gets ruined, but how can I leave Bakshi in this state?
Abdul: You go after Sharif’ud’din. Bakshi is sister to me too Jalal and I swear I’ll let no harm come to her, Mariam Makani would be here soon to our sister’s comfort.
Abdul nodded reassuringly and Jalal eased…
Jalal: Chugtai Khan! You’ll stay here at Nagaur with Abdul. Keep 1/3rd of my men under your charge. The security of this fort, and the safety of Bakshi Banoo and Mariam Makani should be unbreachable.
Mirza, Bashir! Prepare our men for charge, ensure we be at the battlefield before the break of dawn..
The sun was still to rise, Jalal was dressing up in his iron girder clad attire to march for the battlefield of Amer. All set to leave, he raised his palm and with closed eyes read a silent prayer that Rajputs would be enough in strength to resist Sharif’ud’din by the time he and his battalion reached the battlefield..
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