Shedding ROYAL Blood

▪︎2▪︎Pt I▪︎The Risky Task

Panipat, Rajputana Province

▪︎Amrit▪︎

"Will you do this for me?"

I held his hands in mine and said, "Kunwar Sa, if this means so much to you and our estate I will do it."

"Think about it again. It's too risky. Just like we have strict rules of quick execution of spies, so do they." One of the ministers said.

"Being so worried about me isn't an option now. I know it's risky but if we sit here waiting for things to happen, soon we will lose the whole country, our motherland to those foreigners."

He sighed. "So you are absolutely sure about this?" Kunwar Sa asked again.

I nodded determinedly. He called the guard and ordered him to summon all the ministers for the Council meeting at once." The guard was rather confused but did as asked.

After a little while, they were all surrounding a round wooden table in the conference room, giving their opinions about how it should be done.

"This is the map of Agra with secret routes and passages. First you need to memorize it. You cannot carry it with you." One of them said giving me a papyrus roll.

The other one said, "You have to go to Vaid Ji (Ayurvedic Doctor) to cover up that mark completely. That is easily doubtable." He said pointing to the mark around my collarbone. It wouldn't even be visible if I wasn't wearing such a deep neck blouse. But I didn't expect to be standing in front of eight to ten men at this time of the night.

I touched the mark and it was written in hindi, 'विशाल की जागीर' (Property of Vishal) with a sharp needle and then rubbed with soft mud causing the blood to clot and it to become a permanent tattoo. The day Kunwar Sa brought me to the Palace from my parents, I was given this mark to be recognized in case I ran away. After that every month, a decent amount of money for my services was sent to my parents.

When the so-called decent men have to marry a woman, they ask the female of their household to check a woman's body for this mark.

Ofcourse virgin girls and married women don't have it, Only slave-girls and other working women who are frowned upon.

"By tomorrow morning, I will arrange the coins used in the Mughal Empire. That would make it easier for you to stay there if it took a little longer."

I carefully listened to everything they had to say and prepared myself for this. If this person has trusted me in and out, I won't let him down.

After the whole discussion, it was Kunwar Sa who announced, "So it is final. You will leave the day after tomorrow. Till then, take a break from everything else and focus on this. Do all the things like memorizing this map and train for a little self defence, use of a dagger etc."

The two days passed in a blur and I did all the things asked. I also gave a short visit to my parents only to be mocked for visiting after a whole eight months and finally the day of the departure came.

It wasn't easy as my confidence started to waver now. I dressed up and was about to leave Kunwar Sa stepped in. "Kunwar Sa? You here?"

"Yes. I won't be seeing you for many days now." He said honestly and it made me smile. "You will leave with a group of farmers who are going there for trade. Take care of yourself And..." He pulled out a simple ring with a green crystal on top from his pocket and slid it on my finger. My heart fluttered at the gesture. "This is solidified poison. In case you can't make it." He said slowly.

I know the risks. I shouldn't be shocked. I nodded. Nothing would go wrong. Everything will be fine.

"And yes, when you come back, I am going to give you a special reward that you deserve for your bravery."

Special reward? What? Is he... going to accept me in front of everyone? This day can't get any better and any sacrifice is worth this.

Agra

▪︎Sultan Omar Khan▪︎

Mounting my horse, I had a tour of the Paytakht (Capital City) with a few trusted generals, looking out for suspicious activity. The spy problem isn't new but it is just getting too much these days and before a battle it is better to be extra cautious. Even if you are powerful, but the enemy knows all your cards, you lose.

The whole day passed in discussions, visits, training and it took longer than usual in Diwan-e-Aam (Hall of Public Audience where common people come with their problems and justice is served by the King). Injustice among people has seemed to increase these days. There are more cases than before. Sometimes it is land disputes, sometimes family fights, sometimes strangers fighting over money or other assets. As a Sultan it is my duty to serve justice in my rule. People's discontentment is the first step of rebellion.

After a whole day of complete exhaustion, when I went to my Chamber, a worker gave me the message that Badi Begum Sahiba wanted to see me whenever I was free.

'Tai Ami (Paternal Aunt)? Why now?' I walked to her Chamber without thinking about anything else.

As I entered, I saw her reading the Quran. I sat there and waited for her to finish. Soon, she finished and as she saw me, her face brightened up with a smile but then she narrowed her eyes and asked, "So, you got time from the busy schedule?" She asked in a scolding tone.

"Is there anything you want to talk about Tai Ami?" I asked.

That didn't go well with her. "Oh yes I forgot I didn't have any right to meet my nephew whenever I wanted. Sorry about that. Next time I will find a topic, take an appointment and then call you." She sarcastically and I couldn't help but smile. She is sweeter than my mother. I placed my head in her lap and said "pardon me for my rudeness."

Ever since I have opened my eyes, Tai Ammi has been a real mother, caring, loving, nurturing as she did not have any sons of her own. I lost ny brother in his youth. Even if she did, I'm sure I would still be her most favourite son. My Taya Abbu (Father's elder Brother) passed away just four years after his marriage and then my father handled everything. My parents had to become strong political figures to keep the enemy out which got me neglected. If not for Tayi Ammi, I would have been a scared, lonely and abandoned child in his childhood.

She caressed my hair and I felt an inexpressible peace and calm. "So how was your day?" She asked.

"It was exhausting." I said with a frown. She rubbed the frown from my forehead with her fingers. Her fingers worked their magic qnd I heaved a sigh of relief closing my eyes.

"So what's new?" She asked.

I slowly opened my eyes and said, "Malika-e-Jahan wants to bring the second scapegoat as soon as possible."

She gave a glare. "Don't call her that. She is going to be your wife."

"Not a real one. Just a stepping stone to step on and move towards my future and starting a family."

She heaved a deep sigh. "Now I see why Gulmohor Begum is so sad all the time. Who can be happy to have a husband who thinks this way of her?"

"Did she complain to you?" I asked.

"I wish she did. That would mean that you meant something for her. Why do you two live like strangers? Why have you two abandoned each other like this?" She asked and this is one thing I didn't want to talk about right now.

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