Akdha FF- A tale of ice and fire Chap 10: Part I 03/22/2020 - Page 15

Once again an amazing update.

Awesome chapter n jalal could not see jodha n waiting for nxt update n thnxx for pm me

Originally posted by: PBDcrazy

Hi, I just finished reading all the chapters... N I must say the plot is far too interesting to ignore... I haven't seen such beautiful write up since ages on this forum... There are very few writers here who's story n the writing technique is above the world n i would pen u as one among them... The war scenes n the inner turmoil of jalal is so beautifully expressed... I am spell bound...

My one request to you would be to continue the story unlike few writers i have known on this forum have abondoned their FF's... Plz do not resort to that n dishearten your fans ... Take your time n complete the job you have taken up.... Your old fans n new ones will bless you... 🙏 N plz update soonish 😉

Thanks! Such lovely accolades..more than honored..believe me, it's the depth of imagination that you awesome readers delve into, connect to, that makes a piece of writing beautiful..I mean my hats off to all you guys who relish the story and await for it to unfold..bt yeah, it's a real pleasure n treasure to have a feedback like that..thank you so much, for you liked the story...I'll complete it, may be I'm Midway..

N for all my other friends awaiting the updates..I think I'm gonna take another couple of weeks..bt believe me our darling leads will meet eachother, again, in one of the oddest scenarios..

Until then, all my love..all you guys laugh, sing and dance..

Originally posted by: sm1308

Thanks! Such lovely accolades..more than honored..believe me, it's the depth of imagination that you awesome readers delve into, connect to, that makes a piece of writing beautiful..I mean my hats off to all you guys who relish the story and await for it to unfold..bt yeah, it's a real pleasure n treasure to have a feedback like that..thank you so much, for you liked the story...I'll complete it, may be I'm Midway..

N for all my other friends awaiting the updates..I think I'm gonna take another couple of weeks..bt believe me our darling leads will meet eachother, again, in one of the oddest scenarios..

Until then, all my love..all you guys laugh, sing and dance..

You deserve all the accolades darling.... I have been in this forum since very very long time... Have had the blessing of reading the best ff's, SS n more in the past & now when JA show is no more aired.... We still get few writers like you & lashy to grace us with your imaginations & wit to pen a story that has such strong substance which makes readers like us stick like a glue n pester u to give more... It's like a damned addiction.... Keep up the good work 👍 awaiting for the next nailbiting chapter with equal zeal n zest.... 😊

can't wait for the next chappy ........😃

Chapter 8: Part IV

(Few hours back at the gate of Amer fort)

Jodha was pacing restless, afront her small troop of rajput soldiers. Raja Bharmal had all his attention focussed on the movement of recently arrived fleet of Moguls. The king could very well see,that the Mogul fleet was all ready in its military organization as if waiting for the command of their lead, and the lead, “Jalalúd’din Mohd” himself was looking right back at the rajput soldiers stationed outside the gates of Amer. Bharmal knew “the devil” was trying to read their intentions out, the very same thing Bharmal was trying to guess through. The fact, that Rajput soldiers half held in his captivity and half outside the gates of Amer, were too few in numbers for that strong, war equipped fleet of Moguls, so technically Jalalúd’din assessing the situation made no sense for Bharmal. The Mogul king could go on with the attack, then why they weren’t making a move. Bharmal zeroed in his gaze to the Mogul king. He indeed seemed the horrid brute, stationed on his massive stallion. The height of the stallion, and that insanely tall physique of his made him quite distinct amongst his entire fleet, clad in perhaps the heaviest armour and weaponry, he didn’t need even an ounce of introduction, even a blind could tell how an intimadating commander he was. His curled tresses adorned his forehead as if a natural crown, his kohled dark eyes gave no emotion, and that thick jawed, high cheek boned face was a true portrayal of a boy transformed into a man, day in day out, in the battlefield itself. He, “the devil”as he was sung in the folklores of Rajputana was an epitome of sheer power, and Bharmal could not resist but feel a sense of pride, that his martyrdom would be the “death of glory” and that mighty Jalalu’ud’din, for the first time ever, would come to know the might of Rajputs and the honor of their clan.

Immersed in his thoughts, Bharmal was taken aback by a sudden whizz of an arrow that passed by him, same arrow that struck afar, right at the hoof of Jalalúd’din’s horse.

He knew, it had been darted from rajput side, he also knew from whose bow, anger rolled over his head, and he turned back to confront his anxious young commander, for the unnecessary display of intimidation.

By this time, Jodha had rolled in another arrow for the fresh attack, when Bharmal roared in anger.

Bharmal: JODHA!!!

Jodha (retaliated in anger): He is testing our patience father. He dare take one more step towards our land, and I swear the next arrow will take his HEAD OFF.

Bharmal (with disdain): Stop acting like a hot-headed child. There was no reason for you, to do what you just did. They haven’t triggered an attack yet and unless they do, we will not instigate any from our side...You have been given the responsibility of the troop, the lives of your men depend on your commands, on your actions..It is not only you, who is at war. NO ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN UNLESS I COMMAND SO, DO YOU UNDERSTAND? DO NOT MAKE ME REGRET THE HONOR AND RESPONSIBILITY THAT HAS BEEN BESTOWED ON YOU. LAST WARNING, IT IS FOR YOU COMMANDER..

Jodha came down her horse and knelt before Bharmal, acknowledging his command. But the rage of his father, only fueled her burning heart more, she looked passed Bharmal, while still on knee, and gazed with all the hatred she had for her enemy, who was still standing afar, staring back at her.

The Mogul king had moved back, but Jodha couldn’t move her gaze, couldn’t stop the tears from brimming her eyes. The nagging sense of helplessness, fury and revenge against that one man, that brute “devil” who threatened her home, her people, lives of her brothers, honor of her clan, glory of her land, shook her hard. She had never been to any war before, that too a war like this where embrace of death was eminent. The thought of loss heaved upon her young heart. His father was wrong, it WAS her war, and if she were to die, then she would take the devil with him.

Suddenly the idea of war dulled in her mind, all she could think of, was if she was going to lose all that was dear to her, the “devil”would be left bereft of everything as well, his life too.

The dusky sky had gone dark, as if agreeing to the final decision that the adamant princess had made in her heart. It was going to be one dark night and Jodha was up to make sure that it becomes the last night for the “devil” too.

Khangar Singh: Sister! Are you okay?

Jodha: I’m fine brother. I’m sorry, I retaliated. Immature, wasn’t it?

Khangar Singh (laid his hands on her head): I can understand little one. How much effort it takes to stay calm in a situation like this. But the victory and defeat in a battle depends upon how strictly we follow the vision of our lead.

Jodha: Victory? Do you even think, we’ve a chance of victory here?

Khangar Singh (stayed silent, but after a long pause): I know not, because for a Rajput, death comes before defeat. But in that too, my action shall stay in command of my lead.

Jodha stayed silent and nodded in agreement.

Khangar Singh: Rest sister and prepare yourself for what is to come.

Khangar Singh left, but Jodha knew if death and defeat are so coming than she would not sit by, and wait for their arrival. Its time that they should meet her first. In some time, the darkness took over, and without a word, Jodha left the fort gates on her Badal, riding at the slowest pace she could, to avoid any sound that badal’s hooves could make. The distance to Mogul post was not too long and she was annoyingly slow to make sure that neither of her friends and foe could figure her movements out.

The rajput men @ the gates had moved closer to the gates, and sat on ground, waiting for the new day to come in. The unbearable dilemma of the situation and the question of what fate was to bring them the next day, kept them wide awake. Their restless, old, yet alert king had left his position and came back to where his men sat on ground. Khangar Singh, stood up and offered him a place to sit down.

Bharmal was restless, and the scoff with his young compassionate daughter had heavied his heart. Throwing a glance around, he asked:

Bharmal: Khangar? Where is Jodha?

Khangar: I just saw her right beside that cliff, sometime back. She is upset, my king. It is her first military assignment. You can understand the rush of blood, that gets driven in such circumstances. But, she’ll come around, all she needs is some time to clear her head and we should lend her that privacy.

Bharmal nodded in agreement. Khangar sat down beside him. Both, unaware of the fact that the girl was gone.

The first hour of the night had passed. Jodha had reached the outskirts of Mogul post.

The journey from the fort of Amer, being downhill usually took quarter to half an hour, but Jodha kept her pace exceedingly slow. It took almost an hour for Jodha to reach the outskirts of the forest. She could see the posts from where she stood hidden, fire lamps had been lit, the armymen had dispersed from their usual position, and leisurely sat around the fire that was lit in the centre, periphered by 8-10 military boarding tents. Few of the Mogul soldiers were still at their guards up, keeping a keen watch from atop the high cliffs and rocks, to witness suspicious movements, if any.

Further journey had to be on foot, that Jodha was quite sure of. It would be hard to hid Badal, so she tied his reign amongst thick trees at the outer end of the forest only. It would be much easier to navigate amongst the thick cover of bushes and tress, if she was on foot and unaccompanied.

Absolved into the darkness of night, she moved unnoticed and it was not long before she could see the tightly wound security areas of Mogul posts, where Rajput soldiers were held, where most probably Bhagwant Das and Sujamal would also be. With lean and camouflaged attire, she slipped passed the security. Vikram Singh was held along with other Rajput soldiers and he was the first one to spot the lean intruder, who was trying to make his way into the captive rajput regiment. Vikram Singh shadowed the intruder with his huge built, and Jodha hid past him, away from the eyes of Mogul guards.

Vikram Singh (whispering): Who is it?

Jodha: Its me..

Noticing the voice, Vikram Singh’s heart stopped breathing.

Vikram Singh (whispering): Bai saa, what the hell are you doing here? Is there any rajput fleet hidden nearby? Has the king ordered ambush?

Jodha: NO..its just me, Vikram Singh. There is no time. Where are my brothers?

Vikram Singh: The two of them were badly injured. They have been taken to provide medical aid.

Jodha: Listen! I’m freeing you off the shackles. Free all our brothers here. I shall go and seek the princes.

Vikram Singh: What then?

Jodha (frustated): I do not know. May be clear the Mogul fences off and make our way back to Amer. We’ll be of more use, fighting against our enemy tomorrow, then staying held captive, here. I’m off to get my brothers freed. I’m sure they will lead us all back.

Vikram Singh (in an alarming tone): Bai saa, the security is too tight. Do you even know,who has come to Sharif’ud’din’s aid? It could be your life here at stake? I can not let you do this. This is madness. Let me go, instead.

Jodha: I know, it is the “devil” himself who has come to that scumbag, Sharifu’ud’din’s help. And the chances of you being caught are way too high Vikram Singh. I know what I’m doing. You free our men here, but wait for the princes to make any move. That’s an order.

Hearing the name of Mogul king, bewildered Vikram Singh, gave an annoying shake of NO to Jodha, but the adamant princess glared him back, and reluctantly Vikram Singh bowed his head. Jodha left, cutting the thick ropes off Vikram Singh’s hand and feet, leaving a dagger to him to finish off the job of freeing others.

Before she came across the devil, before she made any move to kill, getting her brothers and her warriors freed was the task of highest priority and she was hell bent on getting it accomplished. Leaving the task of freeing rest of captive rajput fleet to Vikram Singh, Jodha managed to slip past the prying and cautious gaze of Mogul soldiers, and soon found herself amidst the medical camps. The area had least security, given that all the soldiers being tended to were Mogul soldiers. Perhaps these were the one that had gotten injured in the battle between Bhagwant das and Sharif’ud’din.

She glanced past, majority of the injured soldiers were being tended upon under open sky and there were couple of tents. Finding her brothers nowhere in sight, she creept under the bushes to peek into both the tents. And in one of them, sat Bhagwant das and Sujamal , being tended by a very old practioner, who was almost done bandaging their wounds.

Practioner (Hakim): A medical practioner has no side princes, friend or foe, our job is to help heal. Thankyou for agreeing to this. If you want to fight for your country again, you would want to heal up real quick? Won’t you my boys?

The old man was quite warm and amiable, Jodha noticed. But Bhagwant Das and Sujamal seemed unaffected. They must have put up resilience to treatment and may be that is why the old man was trying to convince and thank them later, for cooperating.

Practioner: Here you go, prince Bhagwant Das. Broken wrist, shattered three ribs. I’ve bandaged them, please do not hurl too pressure. Prince Sujamal, fractured right collar bone and left shoulder badly deshelved off the socket. Both of yours, cuts, wounds and gashes have been aspeticised. Here, drink the potion, it will help soothe the pain. I shall see you once again in the morning. May God heal your injury and infuse comfort.

He raised his hand in a blessing gesture and moved away to tend to others.

Quiet! Sujamal and Bhagwant Das made no attempts to drink that herbal concoction, instead rose up to leave the chamber. Bhagwant Das gave a slight nod to the practioner and followed Sujamal, who was already on his way out. Six guards encircled the two brothers, to accompany them back to the place where the two were held captive, before. Jodha followed them still off sight, hiding herself, and masking the sounds of her movements in the gusts of the wind, and rustling sounds of the leaves.

Couple of hours must have passed and Jalal was still by his window, looking outside, when a guard entered and asked for the permission to let Bashir and Mirza in. Jalal nodded, but then told the guard that he would see them outside himself. Jalal made his way out of the tent, in the fresh air of the dark night to see his two commanders.

Mirza: My king! As per your command, both the princes have been tended to. The royal practioner says that they have suffered painful fractures and deep cuts, yet the condition is stable and they look surprisingly okay. I’m sure they would be in better shape by tomorrow morning.

Jalal (nodded, but gazed questioningly): And what could be your concern Mirza?

Mirza: My king! Bashir and I think, that it would not be safe to keep the two princes together with rest of their men. Just to avoid any unwanted commotion, they should be kept afar.

Before Jalal could give his affirmation, a faint squeak of a sound drew his attention.

Jalal: What’s that sound?

Bashir (surprised): What sound, my lord?

Jalal without giving any reply hastily retrieved back to his tent to fetch his sword, and in no time rushed past Bashir and Mirza towards the direction from where the faint squeal had come. Surprised Mirza and Bashir followed him, with no further queries.

Jodha could see Bhagwant das and Sujamal walking, the six guards, three at the back and three at the front, held their position, escorting the princes. She took the aim of three men at the back via three arrows off her bow. The arrows pierced their skull, and without making a sound three of them fell with a noticeable thud. The three at the front turned around to figure out what happened, just then Bhagwant das and Sujamal caught hold of the neck of two guards in their elbow grip, suffocating them to death, whereas Jodha’s whip caught hold of the last guards neck. It was this last guards “mild squeal” that Jalal had heard, before Sujamal silenced him too.

All six men dead, Jodha ran towards her brother, from her hiding and before the two princes could make out who their ally was she embraced them both in a tight hug.

Jodha: My God! You two are safe. I was worried to death.

It was after they heard her speaking, they realized it was their little sister. Bewildered Sujamal and Bhagwant das released Jodha, to bring a little distance while still hoding her firm, and scrunched their brows to draw their attention on her face to make sure that what they heard was actually true.

Sujamal (horrified): JODHA?

Bhagwant Das (raging): What in the name of God, are you doing here girl?Oh, God!!!

Sujamal (agitated) : Is there anyone else with you here? Has anyone else come?

Jodha (stammered in a meek voice): no…

Bhagwant Das: WHAT???

Sujamal (dreading the worse): Does father know?

Jodha (as if guilty): no..

Both the brothers fell silent. Their little sister had entered the enemy territory, without even realizing the horrid predicament she had befallen upon herself…Holy CRAP…But before the two brothers could come to their senses. Three figures emerged from the dark. Mirza and Bashir plunged, with their swords, towards Bhagwant Das and Sujamal, seeing the dead guards around them.

In no time Sujamal and Bhagwant retrieved the twin spears from the back of Jodha, pushed her behind them, and moved ahead to meet the mogul swords.

Baffled Jodha stood as if her foot had jammed. She had never been in any real combat this upclose. Suddenly she felt pair of eyes on her, and there, stood the man, she had so unreservedly thought to kill, there stood the “Mogul king- the devil” himself. With almost no light around, it was going to be the game of instincts. It would be wrong to say that the blood didn’t drain off Jodha’s face, when she realized that with just a distance of few meters, the Mogul king indeed had the physique of a devil. He seemed too towering, insanely broad and muscled. In the dark of night only thing visible was his brute physical demeanor, his curls that waved with every gust of wind, and his sword, perhaps of the finest steel that shone even in the darkness, held in his vice grip.

On the other hand, where Bashir and Mirza jumped on the two princes, to stop them from any escapade, jalal stood surprised. The lean figure, the two princes pushed behind them in a protective gesture, was staring back at him. If Jalal was not wrong, which he almost never was on a battle, this was the same teen commander, Jalal had seen few hours back. Did he come all the way up here, without any aid, to free his princes, and men? There seemed to be no military aid around, so he must have done this all by himself? Jalal was astonished whether to hail this young lads courage or think him to be an ultimate fool to even try this?

While immersed in his thoughts, Jalal didn’t even notice when the young commander lashed his whip towards Jalal in an attempt to catch hold his neck, but Jalal in an instant reflex caught hold of his whip and pulled him hard. The young teen lost his balance, and fell forward, coming within the reach of Jalal’s sword. And their swords clashed. The whip had fallen off young lad’s hand, and he instead took his other sword. He plunged forward with both his swords towards Jalal, and Jalal deflected the attack with a single whack of his sword.

This was not supposed to be happening. Jalal didn’t intend for this fight to even happen on the first place. But before he could check Bashir, Mirza, before he could stop the teen, things seemed to go out of hand. He wanted to stop the lad before the combat turned ugly, but the young commander wouldn’t give him a chance. Jalal defended blows after blows, giving the lad push everytime, he closed in, but the young teen wouldn't stop.

Just then, a commotion broke out, an alarming trumpet was blown by the Mogul guards, and jalal could sense that a brawl had broken out between the captive Rajput soldiers and his men. Agitated by the unwanted situation, lad’s stubbornness, and the scuffle between soldiers, temper furrowed his brow. Jalal’s thought echoed in his head “This is all his doing, this suicidal teen fool”. Jalal stuck his sword in ground, enough was enough. The teen had to be overpowered (if not killed).

Jodha was breathless by now. The Mogul king was too skillful, all her attempts were being tended like a child’s play by him. She knew he was only defending, which made her even more furious. He wasn’t taking her seriously and the moment the mogul king struck his sword in the ground and made a move towards her unarmed and bare handed, Jodha felt even more intimidated and insulted. Jodha’s thought echoed in her heart “Now is the time you go to hell, you self obsessed, overly confident fool”. There was no way she was going to let this opportunity go in vain. She was here afterall to kill the devil, armed or unarmed, it didn’t matter. She gathered all her strength, tightened the grip on her twin swords, and plunged towards the Mogul king. She made a quick left sweep, that was skillfully dodged by the king, following an attempt to bring down her right sword onto him, when in a flash the mogul king held her right wrist, brought her down forcing his left hand underneath the back of her neck, and a strong blow of his knee threw her back.

Bhagwant das and Sujamal gave a huge growl, seeing their sister tumbling like a log of dead wood, but given their bandaged and broken wrists and shoulders, Mirza and Bashir had already overpowered them. Sujamal wriggled and with all the might gave a strong blow to Mirza to get off his grip, but before he could rush to back Jodha up, Mirza rolled him in his grip again.

It took a couple of minutes for Jodha to stabilize her ringing head, the knock was so hard, that she had tumbled on her back. She could sense the Mogul King standing nearby, perhaps waiting for her to submit. A warm gush of blood seeped off her nose, and the adamant princess, stumbling, rose on her feet again. The swords had fallen off her hands, and the only thing she was left with was a dagger. She took it off her waist band.

Suddenly a sharp painful cry of Sujamal echoed the air, “ STAY DOWN”

But Jodha, as if deaf, stepped towards the Mogul king, and again plunged the dagger towards his chest with all the strength she was left with.

Jalal shook his head in disappointment, a fiery rage burnt in his eyes at the audacity of the young teen. He wrung the lad’s right wrist that held the dagger in a painful grip via his left hand and caught the teen’s slender neck in a deathly vice grab pushing the teen up against a tree, couple of feets above the ground.

Jodha’s breath choked and she could feel her life getting drained underneath that “devil’s grip”.

Just then, Sujamal and Bhagwant das cried in unison, “JODHAAA…..!!!!! NOOOOOO…!!!”

And if the senses could get bombed, Jalal felt the explosion within. “JODHA”. He couldn’t be mistaken, he heard the name outloud and clear, his fingers trembled and went limp, as if it was his life that got drained off. In a flash of moment he loosened his grip, both at her neck and her wrist and backed off as if stung by a serpent. Jodha slipped off his grip and fell on the ground, motionless. It was Jalal now, who felt choked, as if there was no air to breathe..Wailing, haunting sound of the two brothers,“JODHA…JODHA” filled the deadly silence of the night..The two princes seemed to have gone limp in the grips of Mirza and Bashir..

Bewildered Jalal dropped on his knee, sighing heavily, with no words coming out of his mouth, he tried to check if she was breathing. But he was so shaken, his mind couldn’t assess her state anymore. With trembling hands he pressed her chest to see if her heart was beating, it didn’t seem to..”NO..NO…NOOO…” Jalal pressed palms of both this hand, right above her chest, and with every reverberating NO, gave it a rhythmatic press..”ONCE…TWICE…THRICE” and there, she took a sharp intake of breath. Jalal gasped, “Oh God!, Oh God!”

Jodha felt a rush of air in her lungs as something heavy pushed her body forcing the air to go in. Her head throbbed with pain, and amidst her blurry vision she could see a huge dark figure howering over her. Panic rose, instincts ran wild, she could still feel the hilt of her dagger in her grip, and as if in a reflex, she pushed the hovering figure with all her might and pressed the knife deep into his chest. Scrunching her body far away from the howering brute, she tried to slip off from underneath him but no strength left to do so, her body failed miserably.

Jalal winced at the sudden tearing of his flesh, “Arrgh!!!” but felt no pain, perhaps the relief of her breathing served as a pain reliever for him. Overwhelmed yet with the pounding heart, he saw her taking deep breaths, writhing hard to get out of his reach, he forwarded his arm trying to calm her absolutely dazed state.

Jalal (whispered in an almost inaudible tone): “Its Okay! Its alright…Oh God, thank God you’re breathing”.

Jodha froze. It cant be, she could never forget that voice. His voice, it was his voice. How is this possible? Is her mind delusional?Is she hallucinating? A fresh attack of panic, a seething fright left her heart in the form of a sob. Her body convulsed, and her distraught mind went blank, she felt as if falling in an infinite void, and before her head could strike the ground, a gentle hand slid past her neck, supporting the back of her head. She again heard, the same faint voice calling after her name “Jodha…Jodha????” She couldn’t be mistaken, it was him, the same voice that electrified her heart, when she had first met him. The same voice that soaked her dreams for the number of times she couldn’t keep the count. The same voice that felt like the call of her destiny. A soothing calm rushed past her heart, agitation subsided, and the blanket of unconsciousness took over her....

Originally posted by: PBDcrazy

You deserve all the accolades darling.... I have been in this forum since very very long time... Have had the blessing of reading the best ff's, SS n more in the past & now when JA show is no more aired.... We still get few writers like you & lashy to grace us with your imaginations & wit to pen a story that has such strong substance which makes readers like us stick like a glue n pester u to give more... It's like a damned addiction.... Keep up the good work 👍 awaiting for the next nailbiting chapter with equal zeal n zest.... 😊

Hey, thankyou so much..okay! so these were so many good words that frankly speaking how so much I thank, wouldnt be enough..but thankyou, thankyou, thankyouuu....I updated the next chapter, and this by far is the longest update. I could have split it in two chaps, but just because I promised that our couple would meet in our next scene I had to keep it all in one chap :) I'm just blessed to have such appreciating readers. All I can say, is thankyou so much for all the love you're giving to this story. It means a lot..

Originally posted by: kriya_12

can't wait for the next chappy ........😃

Enjoy :)

Ohh the beauty of this chapter, m just speechless... Never thought that jodha n jalal will have a second duel with jo getting blacked out...I hope our hard hero will soon be married to the ameri mirchi that will spice up his harem n his life 😉....

Originally posted by: PBDcrazy

Ohh the beauty of this chapter, m just speechless... Never thought that jodha n jalal will have a second duel with jo getting blacked out...I hope our hard hero will soon be married to the ameri mirchi that will spice up his harem n his life 😉....

Thanks! I dunno, was I too harsh on our princess? I felt I should have kept the combat a bit notch low..she had to take two brute blows, I felt I was too hard.. I know she is unreservedly iconic with weapons, but one to one combat is not her thing and she fails to see that..I wanted to highlight that despite insanely passionate, the girl is quite impulsive, rebellious, with weaker foresight..I just want our princess to be tid bid flawed as our king, bit in different areas..