CHAPTER: 1...
The night had slowly spread her beautiful black scarf adorned with the diamond of stars around the whole sky. The bright moon, 5 days before of the full-moon night, was roaming around the sky like a beautiful and lonely young lady, searching for love. The overwhelming love of moon was being sprinkled in the earth in the form of seraphic moonlight; the water of the river, reflecting the moonlight, is looking like a natural flow of melted silver inside the beautiful forest surrounded by the rocks and soils of the Mountain from far distance... The proud flag of Kanchhwara Rajputs at the top of the fort terrace, at the highest range of the nearby peak of the mountain was proudly announcing the greatness of the wealth and heritage of their ancestors. The gorgeous fort floating in the sea of light and joy was beaming in darkness from far. Yes, it is the fort of Amer. If the whole Rajputana is a beautiful lady and Mewar is her heart; Amer can easily achieve the status of being her maangtika', a precious gemstone in the heart of the dessert.
Suddenly a sharp neigh pieced the peaceful air of the silent night... A horse was running towards the lake to quench its thirst. The horse was certainly not alone; it had a rider on its back too, and from the smart posture of that man on the running horse it was clear that his skill of horse-mounting is not of a day's practice, he has spent such a quality time of his whole life on the horse's back that the speed of horse's leg has been equated with his own speed. He was coming on the horse, piercing the air of the dark sky, from the ray of moon, like a prince of fairy-tales, like the warrior heroes from the pages of History...
The horse stopped in front of the lake; Master stopped it with a gentle measured strain in the knot. He jumped from its back after it released its velocity and started quenching its thrust. He caressed the hairs of the horse with all his affection, hugged its neck. "Jee bhar ke pani pi lo Tufaan! Tufaan se bhi tej bhage ho aaj tum!"[Drink water as much as you like Tufaan! Today you have run more than the speed of wind.] He whispered in its ears.
Leaving the horse to take rest, he started some free-hand exercises to stretch his body after the long horse-riding. The masculine sculpture of his strong body became visible under the sweated outfit, a cheap kamij of cheap threads he had clad on, proving that he is not any mere passerby, but a gallant youth warrior. He cannot be categorized as a tall and uniquely handsome person; rather his short bold physic is very common among the common men, but still, from distinct manner of standing, from the style of his walking it was quite clear that he is not common. He is different- far different...
The grand bell of announcing time rang from the far fort; the man looked at the fort. He is young, just has stepped in the adulthood. Maybe his age has not crossed even 20 by now. The innocence of boyhood has not yet wiped out fully from the sharp features of his face by the strikes of experiences and maturity, no matter how much he has tried to hide that by keeping a mustache. But in this innocence there is something different- that will compel the people in front of him to respect him... he is distinctly different. He gazed at the beautiful and affluent fort, smiling slightly. His bright eyes shone in the moonlight. So he is very close to his destination! "Hum aa gaye Amer! Aapki khubsurati ko aapne aankho se mahesoos karne ke liye hum aa gaye!" [Here I come Amer. I have come to feel your beauty with my eyes!] He murmured...
He slowly moved to the lake, beside which his horse was grazing happily after having a lot of water, ran his hand in his mane with lots of affection and then bent down to his knees to wash his face and drink water to wipe out his tire from face. He opened the turban from his head and splashed water in the face and forehead, and a soothing feeling was overpowering his tired body, just then!
The young man felt a sharp cold metallic touch in his throat! A sword!! His eyes trembled in excitement. His hand instantly went to the sword of his waist. How could his instinct have missed the presence of any person behind him!
"Amer ki athitheyata ki koi tulana nhi!"[Nothing can be compared with Amer's welcoming of guests.] He smirked. "Paani piti hue atithi ke upar talwar utha rahe hay!"[You are waving sword towards a drinking guest?]
"Kon ho tum? Guptchar?"[Who are you? A spy?] A silvery sweet young voice came from his backside, with the sword being almost cut his throat. The youth understood that he is in tough position; but still he smiled. Perhaps danger is an entertainment to him!
"Ek shrant pathik hay hum!"[I am a tired passer-by!] He said. "Tumhare or tumhare mitti ki atithi."[A guest of you and your soil.] While saying this he tried to turn his neck a bit, to see the gallant young boy behind him, who is so skillful that he didn't even suspected his presence before the touch of sword! But the sword-man did not give him that scope. "Hilna maat!"[Don't move!] He ordered in his extremely sweet and modulated voice.
The youth smiled and fixed his eyes in the clear water of the lake to see the audacious boy behind him. A little man the warrior is. The moonlight has fall on his head, and he is looking like bless of the moon, directly coming down from the reign of sky. He is in a white dress, even his face was covered with the cloth of white turban, only eyes are visible, as they are beaming in the moonlight. How much will be this warrior in age? From his short and small figure and the voice he does not seem to be more than 14, though his eyes were too matured to be a small boy. Who is he? Cannot be a guard of the fort or the border, then?
"Kon ho tum?"[Who are you?] The warrior raised his voice a bit. "Mughal?"
"Mughal!" He smiled. "Hum ek insaan hay...Kya yeh paryaapt nehi?"[I am a human. Is not this enough?]
Perhaps this answer was not expected, so the soldier-boy became a little unmindful and the gallant youth spontaneously took the opportunity of the moment. In a unique technique he suddenly clenched the hand of the attacker and managed to make him lie down in the ground effortlessly, placing his shining sword at his throat.
"Or ek parichay hay mera... Hum ek yoddha hay."[I have another one identity. That is, I am a warrior.] He stated calmly, while trying to uncover his face. The boy instantly gave a strong jerk to protest, and stood up immediately by a skillful stunt without any support of hands. "Yodhha ho to uska praman do. Yuddh karo!" [Then prove that. Fight!]He welcomed...
Both the swords shone along with the eyes of the warriors. Then a blood-freezing sword fight started under the vast sky, the beautiful moon being witness of it... The youth is a god-gifted fighter; it was looking like he is floating in the air with the heavy sword. His each and every attack was as sudden as thunder, as his opponent can never guess from where he will attack. His technique and grip over the sword was amazing, so was his perfect structure of being a strong fighter; but the boy, in spite of being less powerful than his opponent, he was not in a form to lose. He was answering each and every strike very skillfully! If the young fighter was a thunder, he was a spark who can be converted into a devastating fire anytime... The young man was amused with the skills of the warrior kid. He has not met such a warrior for a long time who has the ability to compete him equally.
After a long trial of fighting, the youth was able to grip his opponent. At last he managed to grapple his body, which was surprisingly too tender, and smiled viciously placing the sword on his throat from close now. Strangely, a sign of uncomfortable feeling suddenly reflected in the fearless eyes of that warrior. "Chor do hume!!!"[Leave me!] He hissed with all his protests from his side.
"Itni jaldi nehi!"[Not so fast!] The youth took his sword and went to remove the turban of his head which was covering his face too, as it is a sign of defeat, ignoring the strong protests from his opponent. He flew the turban swiftly and uncovered his head and... He got the greatest shock of his life!
"Ek aurat!!!"[A woman!!] His hold got loosed automatically as he had instantaneously moved a step backward in shock! In the sudden blow, he even forgot the situation and his own mother-tongue came out!'
"Haa hum ek naari hay!"[Yes, I am a woman!] The warrior in front of him was now again with a sword in her hand. Her hairs had been freed from the tie, and like the dark cloud of rains they had spread around her spotlessly beautiful face. There was fire in her eyes... the fire of angry grief for disclosing her identity in front of a stranger! She again rotated the sword in front of his eyes, saying "Yoddhhao ka koi prakar nehi hota, naari-purush ved nehi hoti! Agar veer ho, to humari lalkaar swikaaro!"[The warriors do not have any variance, any difference of man and woman! If you are valiant, then accept my challenge.]
The youth was unable to control his shameless eyes to gaze on her beautiful face wet in sweat. The mesmerizing feelings that he had built for the wonderfully skilled opponent, gradually was changing into a strange attraction, or may be an obsession for the amazing lady. The young man has seen lots of woman in his life till now, but has never seen anyone like her- a perfect combination of beauty, courage and flair...
"Kya hua veer? Uthao aapna talwar or baar karo!"[What happened warrior? Take your sword and attack!] The fiery voice of the gallant young girl pierced the peace of air. The mesmerized expression of the youth's eyes suddenly converted into a flirty yet gentle smirk. In a blink of eyes, he pulled her hands and drew her very close; despite of all her aversion she could not do much to prevent him from doing that... maybe as his hold was too firm to loose, or his deep brown gleaming eyes had something...something exceptional, like a magnet... perhaps. He even clasped her by her waist, taking his lips closer to her, too close to feel her each and every breath, whispering. "Raat ki ghane andhere me ek nistabdh jungle me ek ekele purush ko yudhh ke liye lalkar rahi ho?Veerangana, aab kya karogi?" [You are challenging a man for war in a silent jungle of lonely dark night? O valiant woman, what will you do now?]
His vicious smirk was instantly dimmed by another sound of vicious laugh. The girl imprisoned in his arm laughed out loudly, without any fear, any worry... With an amusing voice she spoke out. "Ek veer ko aapni sahayoddhha me purush or naari ki ved nehi dikhti. Unhe srif pratidwandhi dikhta hay! Aapne purushakar se naari ki naaritwa ko harane wala purush yodhha nehi, shrigal hote hay! Or..." [A valiant warrior does not see the difference of man and woman in his opponent. He only sees the competitor! Who tries to defeat the womanhood of a woman by his manliness is not a warrior, is a jackal!] She took her lips to his ear, whispering... "Ek shrigal se aapni rakshan kaise karna parta hay, yeh veerangana o bhali bhati jaanti hay!"[And this valiant woman knows how to protect herself from a jackal!] Her eyes were sparkling in confidence and haughtiness. Without a blink of his mesmerized eyes, the valiant youth freed the valiant woman; passed a content and gentle smile full of respect, and signed to her sword.
The fight started again in the romantic ambiance beside the lake, under the vast sky full of stars... The swords were colliding with each other, producing the sparkle of fire. His eyes were full of mesmerizing passion; her eyes were reflecting fire... But with each of the movements and steps with the sword, they were creating an enchanting musical aura. The rhythm of the collision of the sword was piercing the silent air like the sound of musical instrument, like a joyous song after war. It seemed from their swift movement of fight that Rudra, the God of destruction is dancing the dance of annihilation along with his Rudrani... They were complementing each other, as if they were destined for each other...
After a long contest; the young woman was tired at last. Her legs were trembling, hands were weak; she was gasping in tire and exhaust. Though her hold of sword had not been affected a bit, but still she was losing in front of the unlimited energy level of the more practiced and more powerful young warrior. Suddenly, being unable to control a dodging she missed her balance and fell down.
With a strange smile with the mixture of respect, satisfaction and fascination in eyes, the youth again raised his sword. She was going to defense, but much to her surprise, the warrior did not attack her; he dropped his sword from his hand, and smirked. "Hum haar maante hay!"[I accept my defeat.]
She was astonished. She was shocked. She was spellbound to see his gesture. But with the pride of warrior she asked. "Kyu? Jite hue yudhh har kar kya siddhh karna chahte ho?" [Why? What are you trying to prove by losing a won battle?]
"Jitne ke liye humesha dusre ko harana avasyak nehi hota hay veerangana...haarke bhi kabhi kabhi yudhh jita ja sakta hay!"[It is not necessary to lose the opponent to win, o valiant woman... One can defeat by being defeated too!] The variant warrior exclaimed. He stretched his hand to help the opponent girl to stand up from the ground. "Hum nehi chahte hay ki navratri ki subh absar par kisike khun bahe. Hume yodhha hone ka praman dena tha, humne o de diya!"[I don't want that blood flows in the sacred nights of Navratri. I had to prove my identity of being a warrior, and I have proved that! ]
"Khsatriya ke chadmabesh me tum kon ho veer?" [Who are you in the disguise of khsatriya, o valiant warrior?] The girl exclaimed, with a great admiration in her voice.
"Khsatriya ke chadmabesh?"[Disguise of Khsatriya?] He laughed out. "Fir to tum bhi chadmabesh me hi ho! Naari ki chadmabesh!" [Then you are too in disguise...In the disguise of woman!]
The young lady was starring to him with enchanted eyes. Disguise of a woman! He is able to see the warrior inside her overlooking her disguise' of womanhood! Who is this charming man with strength in arms, respect in heart and dreams in eyes?
"Tum bideshi ho, yudhh kala me nipun, parantu guptchar nehi! To kon ho tum?" [You are a foreigner, skillful in war, but not a spy! Then who are you? ]
"Hum yoddhha hay. Kya iske praman nehi mila tumhe?"[A warrior. Have not you got the proof yet?] He smiled sadly. "Ek yodhha kabhi guptchar nehi ho sakta hay veerangana!"[A warrior can never be a spy!]
"Gyat hay hume. Parantu tum itni raat ko kya karne aye ho yeaha?" [I know. But what are you doing here in this night? ] She asked again.
"Amer me aapni vagya ki khoj karne gharse nikle hay virangana... Amer ko dekhne aye hay!"[I have come to search my fortune in Amer, o gallant woman; I have come to see Amer!] He said. "Parantu Amer me aapna pair rakhne ki pahele hi sayad usse mil liye hay hum!"[But perhaps I have met her before keeping feet in her soil.] He uttered.
"Srif mujhe dekhke pure Amer ki bichar karoge veer?"[You are going to judge the whole Amer by seeing me warrior?] She smiled. "Parichay patra hay tumhare paas kille me ghusne ke liye? Kisise koi likhit anumodan laye ho taaki tumhe kille me prabesh ki anumati mile?" [Do you have any ID proof to enter into the fort? Do you have any authenticated sighed document to get the permission of entering the fort?]
The youth gave a confused look. She smiled again. "Dikhao aapna parichay patra." [Show me your documents.]
"Yeh taalao ki dhar Amer ki chauki nehi ki hume tumhe koi pramaan dena pare! Yeaha to prakriti ki raaj chalti hay, humse puchtanchh karne wali tum kon hoti ho? Tumhare paas hay aapna koi parichaypatra? "[This bank of lake is not a police station of Amer so that I have to show any proof! We are under the reign of nature, who are you to inquire me here? Do you have any ID proof? ]
The young lady understood that the words of this man are even mightier than his sword, and she will not able to defeat him in logic. So she laughed. "Parantu tumhara naam to puch sakti hhu na main? Nam kya hay, konsi desh se aye ho, kon si veer vansh me janm hua hay tumhara..."[But can't I ask your name? What is your name, from where you are, what your heredity...is]
"Hum ek insaan hay. Isse bara parichay kya hoga humara?Tumne hi kaha na abhi ki yodhhayon me koi ved nehi hota? To?" [I am a human. What identity will be greater than this? You told before a moment that there is no difference among the warriors. Then?] He smiled. "Or kya farq parta hay mere naam se? Ek raat ki parichay hay hum dono ka! Ajnabi hi rahene do hume!"[And what will make difference by my name? We have only an acquaintance of one night! Let me be a stranger! ] His voice had drowned in a strange emotion.
"Nehi puchoge ki hum kon hay?"[Will you not ask me who am I?] The girl asked with an impressed voice.
"Kya farq parta hay!" He sighed. "Tumhare naam jo bhi ho, tumhare talwar ki dhar se bara to nehi ho sakta na? Tumhe hum kabhi nehi vulenge veerangana, or tumhare parichay hogi tumhari bijli jaisi talwar... Aapne naam batakar us parichay ko phika mat karo." [What will make difference! Whatever your name maybe, cannot be greater than your sword. I will never forget you valiant woman, and your entity will be the sharpness of your sword... Don't fed the brightness of this entity by telling your name!]
The young lady gave a content smile to the young warrior, and then tied her hairs again before wearing the turban. Who will suspect her as a beautiful woman in the doorstep of adulthood after she fully dresses in the warrior's outfit!
While mounting on her white horse, she looked at the warrior again, murmuring "Hum bhi tumhe kabhi bhul nehi payenge veer yodhha!" [I will also not be able to forget you, o gallant warrior!]
The horse again vanished in the darkness, as if she again mingled in the moonlight from where she had come from. The youth kept starring at her path. Are all the girls of this dessert land same like her? Or she is the unique one! Like a wild dream of a sleepless tired night of war-field, a rhythm of a deep passionate poem, a mesmerizing tune of an old, forgotten song the glimpse of the fiery eyes of the valiant yet beautiful woman kept on roaming inside the lanes of his large passionate heart...
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