The Two Kingdoms (Completed)

Haider Ali Khan

The sun shone out from behind the mountains of Bundelkhand, and soldiers on both the sides of the battle field said their prayers, for no one knew what the day might bring for them.

"Tahir the king wishes to see you in his tent." The Mughal chieftain nodded and turned to face his battalion.

"We shall add yet another story to the history of Hindustan, a story of our victory against the Rajputs, a story of our valor and brave men and we will not stop and rest till we make ourselves immortal in those pages even if that means writing it down with our own blood." He roared and his soldiers banged the hilt of their swords against the their shield in agreement.
"Rest well my friends for as soon as the sun is over head we shall hunt down every man who stands in our path." The Mughal chieftain said and walked towards the heart of the camp.
Foliage crunched under his feet, they were just a few miles away from the kingdom of Bundelkhand. Victory was theirs he was sure of that, the Rajputs could not bare the final blow they had in store for them.

Tahir pushed aside the cloth covering the opening of the tent and walked inside. The commanders of various flanks of the army stood around the long table which was well lit by candles.
He walked and stood on the far end of the table.

"You are late again my friend." His voice could make the bravest of a heart skip a beat, his perfectly sculptured face looked angelic in the candle light, His green eyes met Tahir's and had Tahir not known Haider Ali Khan his king and his best friend, he would be ready digging his grave with his own bare hands.

"Sorry Your Highness, I was just caught up dreaming about the beauty of Rajputana women I've heard so much about and of their warm bed and tender flesh." He smirked and his King laughed. The sound of his laughter could make people forget of how dangerous this man could be.

"Of course Tahir it's just one more day, I hope you can keep it in your pants till then ?" He turned to face the rest of the council who looked lost as they had never seen their king laugh or talk like that.

"Now gentlemen we know that we have won this battle and in a matter of hours we shall be walking down the gates of Bundelkhand and soon we shall return back to Agra back to our families, may Allah be with all of us and the odds in our favor."

•••
The battle field had turned into a blood bath, bodies lay everywhere, more of the rajputs than that of the Mughals. Their strategy to round the Rajputs had worked.

Now the Rajput king - Maharaja Vikram Singh stood in the center of the Chakravyu, he knew he couldn't walk out alive but he would fight, he would fight till his last breath, till the last beat of his heart.
The Rajput chieftains had ordered a fall back as they were instructed to, if the king perished and they knew they had lost their beloved king.

The Rajput soldiers inside the chakravyu tried to fight their way out but they knew it was in vain, for only Lord Krishna could save them today.

Maharaja Vikram Singh knew something was not right, he had taken far too many more breaths than he should have since they had stepped into the chakravyu ,he knew he should have been dead by now, his body should have been lying among the heap of his brave men who fought for the safety of their kingdom.

Fighting the Mughals he did not notice the circle had broken and the Mughal chieftain had stepped inside.
"Cease everyone, and make sure no body is harmed."
Soon the handful soldiers who were left fighting were in shackles and so was their king.

•••
Haider had returned back to their camp as soon as the Rajputs had retreated. He had won the war but now was the time to take the revenge he had been planning, for 20 years now, ever since he was 15 and had taken the throne.

Tahir walked into his tent and looked at Haider with a satisfied look.
"What now Haider, do we behead the bastard in the middle of his own kingdom, or hang his body on the gate." Tahir said filling his cup with the fine wine from Afghan.

"We let him go." Haider said in a cool voice and chugged down his wine from his silver goblet.

"What ?" Tahir roared. "Are you out of your mind Haider, we traveled a month, day and night, shed blood of our brothers and made several women widows and kids orphan to let this bastard go ?" Tahir said smashing his cup on the floor.

"Tahir, my friend , do you not trust your king ? Your friend. What I have in mind for Vikram Singh is worse than death."

"What a-."

"We are going to take back the Rajputana Princess back as our trophy."

"You know that won't ever happen, he would kill himself and go to hell but won't let your shadow fall on his daughter." Tahir looked at his king in utter confusion.

"A father won't. A king will." Haider laughed. "Tahir make sure the king is present in the feast tonight." Tahir nodded and left the tent.

•••
The feast was laid, every soldier and commander was high on wine, weed and victory. The music played and the men rejoiced.

Haider along with all his commanders and Tahir sat in the huge tent in the centre of the camp enjoying the fine meal in peace after months.
Female who they had picked from a brothel in Jaunpur danced in their scanty clothes. The tent echoed with laughter and music.

"I feel alive after so many days, finally after almost a month I'll bed a woman,maybe two." Tahir said and laughed.

" I wonder what your fiancé back at home has to say about that ?" Haider laughed.

"I'm just warming up for my wedding night my friend wouldn't want her to complain now, would you ?"

"Don't forget your to be wife is my baby sister and I don't want to hear what happens on her wedding night Tahir." Haider scrunched his nose in displeasure.

"Okay I'm so-."

Tahir was cut when the announcement was made.

"Maharaja Vikram Singh- king of Bundelkhand has come."
And all the music and the laughter in the tent ceased as everyone looked at the Rajput king in confusion.

"Maharaja Vikram Singh. Welcome." Haider smirked and offered the king a seat opposite to his on the table.

"What are you playing at Haider Ali Khan ? Why don't you just do it, kill me isn't that what is it going to be end of it."

"And that's where you are mistaken Maharaja, I'm here to establish an alliance with the mighty Rajputs and not make yet another enemy, not that it would matter to me." Haider let out a humorless laugh.

"Alliance with the you. I rather die."

"How naive of you to think that it was up to you to live or die Vikram Singh. Every breath you take is just due to my generosity. I decide who lives and who dies here."
"Now listen to me and listen carefully Maharaja."

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Well that was the first chapter. I hope you like it, next chapter is going to be all about the Rajputana princess.
Please please please vote and comment to let me know.