Nandini reminds me of this, not of a warrior, never, but of Shakuni from Mahabharata. Shakuni lured Yudhishtir to gamble, he let him win a few times, then he changed the dice to take everything from him and shame his wife. Nandini reminds of him.
Nandini asks Kunal to leave but she made sure both times that he loves her not Mauli, she made sure that even if he returns to Mauli, he won't love her but pine for Nandini, not saying that she can control him, Shakuni couldn't control Yudhishtir either, it was Yudhishtir's weakness and Nandini is Kunal's weakness and Kunal is Mauli's weakness.
Losing battle to win a war... She is losing this battle where Kunal will go back to Mauli and win the war in the end when Kunal will be with her and maybe bring his child with him.