Sa'eed - The Warrior

Liqa - The meeting

How should I convince Shehzada Sher Shah to believe in me? I didn't even know his personality and his way of thinking. He always kept to himself except for his infamous tantrums. Chachu hadn't told me much about him. We mostly discussed the Shehenshah. How were we to know I would be dealing with his son and not the Shehenshah himself? I am not a nervous person by nature but the thought of meeting a "to be king" in complete solitude did not completely wash down with me. I was just doing this for the sake Abbuji, for saving my kingdom. I need to be strong and keep my thought process clear.

A plan of sorts starts taking shape in my head. I unconsciously rub the ring on my finger, the only evident proof which I could use tonight. I ask Allah for his help and hope this meeting comes to a successful end. My aim tonight would be to win the Shehzada's trust and make proper arrangements for his safety and establish a fool proof method of contacting him. The candles placed in the room all burn out except for 3 which do nothing to light up the vast room except give a faint glow.

I hear sounds outside. The royal family was slowly returning back to their chambers after the last rites. It must be really hard for them, especially the Queens. Shehenshah had 3 wives. Shehzada Sher Shah was the son of his eldest and prettiest wife Malika Mariam. The second wife Malika Humera, was the daughter of a neighboring king, married more for alliance than for love. Third was a very young lady, Malika Firdous who also had a son Shehzada Firoz Shah aged about 4 years.

I hear the guards do salam, which means the Shehzada is here. I hear him enter and peep from behind the tapestry. He makes no attempt to re-light the room. He sits on the couch, neck bent and head held in his hands. The gesture stirs pity in me. He is clearly grief stricken. His features are inscrutable in the darkness.

I lightly step out from behind the tapestry. Sensing the movement he is up in seconds and attacks me with his dagger drawn. I was clearly not expecting this but I am quick. Who knew the aggrieved lad had weapons about him and was alert even in the dark? What I lack in strength, I make up with swiftness and agility. In the struggle that follows I disarm him and place both our weapons on the table.

"I come in peace Shehzada" I say. With my hands raised to show surrender.

"You are a female" he blurts out.

The darkness, my male tunic and masked face had hidden my femininity well. And my warrior skills had him fooled, it was my voice that gave it away.

"Yes, I am." I say.

By now the commotion we have caused has attracted attention of the guards and they enter. I immediately hide behind the tapestry.

"How dare you enter without permission?", roars the Shehzada.

They quiver under his anger.

"We are sorry, we thought you were in danger Shehzada".

"Since you can see me standing here well enough to shout at you. You can be rest assured I am fine".

The guards immediately turn around to leave.

"Wait", he commands. "Light up the room before you leave".

"You can come out now", he tells me, after the guards have left.

I step out and his gaze sizes me up in the clear light. People usually underestimate me. They take my short and delicate frame as a weakness. It is actually my strength. I can see tiredness, grief and stress etched on his face.

"Let's start with who you are and what are you doing here"

"You can call me Sa'eed, and I am here to assist you"

"Oh really? You might be here to kill me as well"

"Believe me Shehzada if I was here to kill you, you would have been dead by now"

I can see my words leave their mark.

"You are a female and a small one at that, how can you be capable enough to assist me?"

"A girl capable enough to disarm a prince is also capable enough to assist a prince"

He looks at me keenly for a few seconds and slowly a small smile lights up his features.

"You have a quick wit. A girl so well trained is good enough to be a spy"

"She was trained to serve her king" I say.

"And what is the proof for that?"

I remove the ring from my finger and place it his hands. His jaw drops open and I realise I have won!