Vikram Singh didn't know what the Mughal king had been playing at, it had been two sunrises since his defeat, the two sunrises he knew he shouldn't have witnessed yet here he was breathing and he hated every breath he took as a captive of the Mughals.
A lot of things were still a mystery to Raja Vikram Singh the only thing he knew was the price to his life was going to be something very expensive.
As the dawn broke the next day, the answers to all the questions of the King of Bundelkhand, The Mughal Council and every other witness to this mystery were going to be answered.
The princesses palanquin had entered the Mughal camp, she sat inside playing with the hem of her Dupatta, nervous, not knowing what fate had in for her.
Meanwhile Haider was in his the make shift fighting pit refining his swordsman ship. The word about Haider's sword had traveled the lengths and breaths Hindustan, never had his sword seen mercy until two days ago.
His golden skin shined as the layer of sweat was hit by the morning sun, his brown hair moved with the wind and his eyes - the mesmerising greens were fixed on his opponent.
Between the clinking of the swords and dancing gracefully the news Haider had been waiting for arrived.
"Salam Badesha, Rajkumari has arrived."
As soon as the words reached his ear he stopped. The adrenaline pumping in his body did not make his heart race like this news had. This was it, all those years of patience and suffering it was going to be worth it today.
"Make her wait, don't let her de board her palanquin, I'll be there in some time."
The king put back the sword in its case and loosely draped a kaftan over his naked torso.
" Let's receive the princess now, shall we ?" Tahir said and Haider nodded leading the small platoon towards the middle of the camp.
Meanwhile Meera had been waiting in the tiny box for quite some time now. She knocked on the wooden wall and her hand maiden Kanika pushed the curtain aside to listen to her.
"How long will this take. My legs are numb I can't feel them anymore." She whines like a child.
"They have asked you not to get out of the dohli Meera." (Palanquin)
"How do they look ?" She asked
"What do you mean ? They are humans and that's how they look like. Stop asking silly questions Meera." Kanika hushed her and drew the curtains.
Exhaustion was kicking in and her legs were now numb due to lack of circulation. Two nights of traveling with just cold bread to eat had left her starved and exhausted.
It had been a good hour since she had been stationed at the enemy camp and there was no message from her father or his captivator yet.
Meera began to drift between consciousness and sleep. Keeping her eyes open now seemed like a task she was failing at. Her body aches and her she knew she couldn't stay conscious for long.
A trumpet blew and a name was announced and Meera drifted to black nothingness.
———————
"Attention! Badesha-e-Hindustan, Haider Zahoor Ali Khan, is arriving." The solider announces and bowed down to pay his respect.
Haider entered the outer most part of the camp where the princess had said to have arrive.
He dismounted my horse and walked towards the small caravan stationed in the middle.
The Rajputana flag still fluttered with pride and the ten soldiers stood tall with their head held high, unscathed about standing inside the lions den.
"Ghani Khamma sa." A young man in a white warriors Angrakha greeted me with his hand folded in respect.
"I'm Abhishek Singh Rajput the grain minister of Bundelkhand , I've accompanied our Princess here to meet her father and this is Kanika, daughter of Dushyant Rajpurohit our finance minister, Rajkumari Meera's best friend as well and her companion." He said introducing a pretty lady around 23 years of age, her dusky skin complimented the green lehenga she wore.
"Ghani Khamma." She greeted folding her hands and bowing her head in respect, to which Haider replied with a nod of his head.
A lot of things were going on in his mind. Why was the princess accompanied by just fifteen people out of which five were women who couldn't fight, instead of sending the crowned prince along with the princess or the prime minister a mere minister of grains was sent to drop her off, why was she here so early ? How was she here ? No Rajput in their right mind would send their daughter without a fight then how did she arrive here in a matter of two days.
Haider was lost in his thoughts when he felt a hand on his shoulder and heard someone clearing their throat.
"Ahem! Sultan, don't dream about conquering stars now, let's get done with this." Tahir patted his shoulder.
"Welcome Abhishek, Kanika. I'm Haider Ali Khan, this is my camp and you my guests." Haider greeted them.
"Thank you Sultan Khan." Abhishek said giving a curt nod.
"Where is your princess I don't see her in the crowd." Haider asked
"She is in there your majesty." Kanika replied pointing towards the palanquin. "I'll inform her of your presence."
Kanika walked towards where the palanquin rest and knocked on the door, and again and again but the princess did not reply.
She slowly pushed the tiny doors open and peeped in. Meera had fallen asleep.
"Meera." Kanika called. "Meera wake up. Meera."
Kanika now shook Meera but her body fell limp, she was burning with fever and remained unresponsive to Kanika's call.
"Abhishek Bhaisa Meera isn't waking up and her body is burning up." Kanika cried out distressed.
The unconscious princess had caused a wave of panic among the bunch of Rajputs, they all swarmed around the palanquin, running around like headless chickens.
"Help the Princess." Haider said looking at Tahir.
"Let me help!" Tahir's voice boomed and a path was already made for the tall giant of a man he was.
"Carry her to the tent prepared for her, and I shall send the Hakim and a few maids for her soon." He told to Abhishek who has the princess out of the palanquin and his arms.
Haider stood a good 10 feet away from the commotion and saw a limp body in the hand of the young Rajput.
Long hair were falling loose and her arm hung down by her side, he tried to take a better look being discreet but failed to do so.
The princess and her companions marched towards the other end of the camp away from the tents of the two kings.
YOU ARE READING
The Two Kingdoms (Completed)
Romance•Completed• *Read only if you can accept the grey shade of life* The Kazi was called in, a few prayers were read in a tongue unknown to her and then she agreed to being his wife with just two words, three time for a life time. Two people, A Rajput...
