"Jai you'll take the back gate and charge once you get the signal." Malhar said as the inner council perched over the map. "The Nizam's have not been defeated in the past 27 years but this is our chance. Javed, their chief of army is not behind those walls to guide them."

"Victory will be ours." Jai said and the rest joined as they chanted their motto of 'Jai Bhavani'

"See you at sundown." Malhar said to his friend.

"See you at sundown. Be safe Malhar." Jai said as the two split with their own section of the army.

They had to wait, with the blare of aazan as everyone behind those walls prayed would they launch their attack.

As the sound of the call for prayer reached their ears from beyond the gates they all tightened their grip over the hilt of their swords. Malhar's face illuminated by the flickering torchlight, stood atop a hill overlooking the sprawling kingdom of the Nizam of Hyderabad. His army, vast and formidable, stretched out before him like a sea of determination.

Below, the Nizam's stronghold loomed, its towering walls a testament to centuries of power and influence. But Malhar was undeterred, his eyes ablaze with the fire of conquest. With a nod to his commanders, he signaled the advance.

The ground trembled beneath the thunderous march of his troops as they surged forward, battering ram in hand, ready to breach the fortress's defenses.

"Jai Bhavani." Tanaji Holkar his commander shouted.

"Jai Bhavani." The chorus of their chant had given them all a sense, a purpose and it worked like adrenaline.

"Take cover." Came a voice.

Arrows darkened the sky like a deadly rain, but Malhar's warriors pressed on undaunted, their battle cries echoing off the stone walls.

Malhar's own archers had taken down the few who were patrolling on the fortress walls. They could now hear the warning drum beat.

With a deafening roar, the Maratha battering ram slammed into the massive gates of the Nizam's fortress, splintering wood and iron alike.

"We need to hurry." Tanaji Holkar said and Malhar nodded. The element of surprise hadn't lasted long.

With the gate breached, Malhar led the charge, his sword gleaming in the torchlight as he surged forward into the heart of the fortress. Behind him, his soldiers followed, their footsteps reverberating off the stone walls as they flooded through the opening, a relentless tide of conquest.

Malhar could see the doors and windows being shut and locked as they passed through the lower city resided by the common men towards the higher palace grounds.

Slashing through the few soldiers who stood on patrol between the gates dividing the royals and the commoners.

He could see Jai and his platoon too had successfully breeches the Nizami gates and entered, fighting by his side as now more of the Hyderabadi soldiers were on the front lines.

Within the fortress, the Nizam's defenders fought fiercely, their desperation matched only by the determination of their adversaries.

Blades clashed and screams pierced the air as the two forces clashed in a savage melee, each side unwilling to yield an inch of ground.

"Malhar move towards the west wing." Jai said as he slashed through a man dressed in the Nizam's uniform. "The living quarters of the Nizam, you'll find him there."

Malhar nodded and took a small flank with him making his way over the bodies that lay dead and bloodied.

***

The sound of beating drums had harshly woken up Jahnvi from her sleep, were the drums beating to welcome someone at this godly hour ?

Jahnvi rubbed her eyes as she got down from the bed,  making  her way into the bathroom where she splashed some water on her face.

She  decided to quickly take a bath and be ready for the day now that going back to sleep wasn't an option anymore.

It had been four days since she was dragged into the King's room and what could have been the worst night of her life had left her with a sense of calmness, she knew, she was safe at least from the kings clutches.

As she lay in the tub of water she heard the doors of her bedroom open and quickly shut.

"Farah ? Hum yaha ghusl khane mai hai." She called out. (I'm in the bathroom)

She could hear hurried steps walking towards the bathroom and the door opened.

"Get out quickly." Farah said panting.

"What happened ? Your face is ashen." Jahnvi asked, her eyebrows furrowed looking at her maid.

"We are under attack Baji, you need to hurry." Farah said pulling clothes out of Jahnvi's trunk.

"What ?" Jahnvi asked confused. Her life was supposed to get better from here on, although a captive of the Nizam she believed now that she was safe under his roof.

"Please hurry." She said pulling a smaller box and shoving Jahnvi's jewellery in it.

Jahnvi got out from the water and Farah shoved a cloth to wipe herself up and then gave her a simple Anarkali to wear. Just as Jahnvi slipped into her clothes Farah secured a cloth bag full of Jahnvi's jewellery around her waist and handed her the small box with the rest.

"Let's go." She said holding Jahnvi's hand and pulling her along. "If someone tries to stop you give them jewellery out of the box, the jewellery around your waist should be enough to take you back home."

"Farah I don't -."

"You need to run Jahnvi Baji, they'll take you captive if you don't."

"Who has attacked the Nizam ?"

"The Maratha's. We are a lost cause, they have breeches the palace walls."

Farah dragged Jahnvi through passages concealed behind main walls she didn't know existed.

"Come with me." Jahnvi said as Farah pulled her.

"I can't I'm afraid, I can't leave my brother and my mother behind, they depend on me for a living." She said with sorrow.

They made their way through narrow dark lanes, underground tunnels, climbing and descending down winding paths in complete darkness.
After walking for around thirty minutes light hit Jahnvi's eyes as she saw an exit.

"We have come out of the palace, right outside the kingdom wall, stop the merchant caravans and run away Baji." Farah said as her eyes pooled with tears.

"Farah come with me-."

"I'm needed here. But I'll see you again, someday." She said as a tear fell down her cheek. "Fi amanillah." (Be with safety of Allah)

"Take these with you." Jahnvi said handing over the box of jewellery to her.

"Pray that I get to keep the clothes on my body today. This is of no use to me." She said giving the box back to Jahnvi.

"May all the gods protect you my dear." Jahnvi said and walked out under the unclaimed sky.

She could hear Farah move the stones around blocking the entrance again from plain site and she did not dare to look behind, she had to keep moving ahead, she was on her own from here on.

AN: Short chapter I know.
Thank you so much for the love and support. I really love you guys !
xoxo