Miraadhya

We enter the cave and the stench immediately reaches my nostrils even though I had it covered, but the stench was pungent to prevent the poison from mixing in the air. I glance around the dark alley lighting it with the fire torch.

"Carefully collect the stones, make sure it doesn't break" I instruct them and they nod, there were thousands of emeralds around me, the shine and sparkle could blind any greedy man but it was also a huge facade.

Each piece- each piece of ruby had poison in it, the moment it would break the gas would immediately kill the perpetrators. It was build to take defence against any kind of invasion.

I walk towards the wooden box which had the poison in its liquid form, it was much diluted - than the stone which had the poison in its solid form and upon coming in contact with air would turn gas.

"I take the glass barrels with me and inspect them closely- it was dark in colour and I gently put them back in the box, my ragged breaths could be heard in this empty cave, this almost took my life and this is what could safe us now.

"Let's go!" I instruct the men, they were the most trusted personal of Uncle and hence were allowed entry to this place, no one knew about this place, because knowledge of such could attract more attacks, people will go hell bound to take this resource from us, like how Rajaji father had done years ago.

The moment I entered the barracks where we had set up our camp, I saw the horror taking in front of my eyes.

"Now! " I shout at the men who immediately sprinted towards the enemy who were attacking my women.

With trembling legs I run towards them, two of them heavily injured by the arrow.

"Take them!" I instruct and glance at her, she is the head chef, just in her thirties with a son, she was looking at me with a smiling face and I hold her tightly.

"It's okay! You will be okay" I try to assure her as two men lifts her.

She then grabs my hand. "Please Take care of my son if something happens to him" she whispers in jagged voice and I nod. "Nothing will happen to you Nimi, you will be fine."

I say- but I couldn't help but glance at the huge ounce of blood she had lost, the hope in my eyes fading away slowly as they finally take her to the infirmary.

An inaudible cry leaves my mouth and I glance towards the vicious men in fury, who were trying to molest some other women, I aimed the arrow at them and with one clear shot I succeeded in killing two of them.

I then quickly proceed to cover my knife with the liquid poison , making sure the content doesn't touch my hands, with a simple cut also it will be lethal.

I hold the light weighted gold knife, the same which I had once used to attack Rajaji, it held immense memories for me—both good and bad. With that I charge at them.

Any incoming men, I was swift to mark a cut on them, within seconds there entire body trembled and they lied down- lifeless. With each cut I took down a man and before even realising I had laid down 50 men. My breath became shallow with the number of killings I had done today- each one deserved but could have been avoided, the guilt that this all is happening because of me was plaguing my mind.

"Miraadhya Watch out!" I hear Sukanya voice and I quickly glance at the incoming men with a sword, I fumble back, loosing my balance and before I could attack him he does first, a deep cut right at my arm.

"Ahhhhhh" I scream at the excruciating pain while he again tries to attack , his eyes held pure evil but with a sudden impact he falls down —Sukanya holding a bow in her trembling hands aimed for his neck. She looks at me in fear and I nod in gratitude.

I see uncle Abhijeet men approaching and I finally sigh in relief, it is done, we are safe now.

I look at my right, around 100 men lay dead after inhaling the poison, a shiver runs through my spine, witnessing death in such large number for the very first time and I fear it will haunt me for years.

"Take Charge!" Uncle Abhijeet says, he himself covered in blood and I hoped it was not his.

"Are you okay?" He asks Sukanya with urgency and she nods , her eyes had fright seeing the blood on his clothes.

"It's not mine." he says and we both visibly sigh.

"Miraadhya, go to the infirmary now, we will take charge from here! " he says and I hold my bleeding arm, I look at the other women who now had taken a back seat, my respect for their valour and strength deeply increasing.

"Sukanya you too." he says with command and we both eventually nod.

"Any news on Rajaji?" I ask hurriedly, he quicky shakes his head and heads off to the fighting ground.

"Let's go, we did what we can." Sukanya says.

"Let's get others as well." I say.

We quickly inspect our women's injury, thankfully there were not serious but they would need a fare share of rest.

"I am so proud of you all" I say with teary eyes as I hold Priya's hand, she is the head of cleaning, her calloused hands holds mine with firm tightness and we both smile through our tears.

Within an hour we got the news of our victory, Gauda succeeded and defeated Bahadur Shah's men, the shout of victory could be heard from meters but my heart grew more impatient with time. There was still no news from Jessore and Uncle Abhijeet was getting ready to go there for Rajaji's aid.

"I am coming with you," I demand as I enter his office where he had now changed to fresh set of clothes and armour.

"No" he dismisses me without even looking while he continued to tighten the fasts on his body.

"Yes I am coming. " I counter and he gives me an annoyed look.

"You are just like your mother- stubborn" he says. "You need rest, Rudraansh will definitely kill me if I take you there" he adds.

"I will not let him kill you."

"So that means he will definitely try to kill me." he says while rolling his eyes, leaving me with nothing to say. I cannot disagree to that.

"Please just let me, I will die out of waiting- I need to see him." I plead this time, the pain causing the tears to come down from my eyes.

He finally sighs and nods slightly.
"You need to disguise yourself "
He says glancing at me and I nod.

We were few miles away from Jessore and I had dressed up like a soldier - or at least tried to.

"Anyone would know you are a woman." Abhijeet says as he rides beside me.

"No one will notice and even if they do I can take care of myself. " I say and move forward with my horse leaving him behind.

"Infuriating just like Rudraansh." he says shaking his head and I just scoff.

We all get alerted when we hear loud noises of commotion, and swords and I waste no time kicking the horse to take up the seed.

"Miraadhya No! Slow Down!" He screams but I am not in the state to listen to him, my heart pounds heavily as it yearns to see him fine- to be okay.

I hear the following steps and glance at my uncle approaching with roaring speed as we enter the site, it shocks me to my core seeing the situation in front of my eyes, so many people laid either injured or hurt, the streets were devastated, the once bustling streets now were screaming with agony and pain.

War can never bring anything good with it, it's the common people that suffers the most.

With our men, we attack, to gain back the momentum, I rode through the valley to reach the fort- the place which I had unknowingly considered as my home.

The huge fire surrounding it was hard to watch, I am beyond terrified now, to see such havoc in front of my eyes.

Among the hundreds of men fighting I finally spot him- smeared in blood and grith, I see him taking up a slender men with his one hand, a look of pure evil on Rajaji's face- he takes his life with one swift move, gut wrenching pain leaves the man's mouth as he drops lifeless.

My entire body shivers with both relief to see him and fear to see him like this- within moments like he somehow knew my presence, he turns to look at me on top of the horse, I slowly drop down, my legs wobbling and I clutch my knife- with what intention I have no idea.

He storms at me- literally stomps at me and I feel as if death was approaching me, I have never been afraid of him but today at this moment- I am. I see his dark eyes which turns a shade darker as he stands a feet away from me, breathing hard with staggered breaths.

I forgot that I am wearing a soldier's dress, my head wrapped around with a cloth. But he recognises me.

"Ekhane ki korcho"

"Yeha kya kar rahi ho?"

"What are you doing here?" He speaks slowly, the emphasis on each word causing a shiver run through my entire body.

"I....I came with Uncle.....to...to see you" I fumble.

"You shouldn't have." he says with a growl and I take a step back.

I see behind him, as men continued to fight, with the addition of Abhijeet and his men we seemed to have an upper head.

"Eyes here." he grumbles and I shot my head up at him- his voice held so authority that I couldn't even move- like he has controlled me somehow.

"Are you hurt?" He asks glancing at my wrapped hand.

"It's nothing " I whisper. The blooded red had covered his entire clothes, half portion of his face had dry blood smeared on it while the other half had cuts.

He rakes his eyes around him, seeing the condition, a deep scowl cover his forehead.

"I have to deal with something. You will be taken to safe place" he says.

"I am not going anywhere!" I try to retaliate but with his one single look I back away

"I was not asking Miraadhya- if I want to win this fight I need to make sure you are safe" he says and calls for two men behind me.

"Take her to the back door alley,guard her- if she tries to leave I will have both of your head" He grunts and I look at him in shock.

"You cannot say that!" I yelp.

"Rudraansh!!" Uncle Abhijeet calls him who himself looked frantic with the ongoing battle.

Rajaji turns, eyeing the men behind me who immediately steps beside me.

"Why the hell would you bring her here???" He screams at Abhijeet while running towards him.

I don't hear what he says next but I am beyond angry now, I just wanted to see if he is okay, how could he talk to me like this? Am I stupid to even think of him?

I was taken to a back alley, in a secluded room, which had no windows.

"We will be outside please stay inside." one of the man speaks in pleading tone knowing very well his life is on stake if I don't agree with him, I have no heart to put him in danger so I agree even though I hate secluded spaces- especially rooms which has no windows or sunlight.

The closing of door jolts me in fear as I silently take in my surroundings, the room was dark , only a portion of the floor was visible because of the fire torch hung on the wall, I took a seat at the corner , my back leaning against the wall as I continue to control my fear and anger.

The sound of swords clanking subsides a lot with each passing moment but my rage and fear doesn't.

How the hell did he even speak to me? I shouldn't have come! Huh? Who his he to tell me what to do?

He didn't even smile at me or shown a bit affection. Does he even love me? Is this his care? Should I even marry him? Is....Does he like someone else??

Oh god! My brain is not stopping thinking of scenarios and the shortage of breath doesn't help at all.

I don't like such spaces....it it reminds me of the day that vile of a man- that Prince Vijay ...and that god forbidden room.

I don't realise when my breaths become frantic as an ache develops in my chest.
"Op...open tha door" I try to speak but it comes out as a whispher

Your body is not just for admiration. We need to do something about it.

I hear that man's voice- the vision of that day's appears on my mind and I curl myself in fear.

He is dead. He is dead. Rajaji killed him. He is dead.

These are the only words I chant before passing out.

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