Lust Or Love?

Chapter 9

The coconut shells fell from her hand as she felt sharp edge of a cold metallic thing to touch her throat.

"One more step and this little girl will be lying dead! " the man who have put the dagger on her throat said as he captured both her hands through his one hand.

She looked at the others when she saw a unbelievable scene. The unconscious man was now standing upright on his feet with his sword in his hand. As if nothing had happened!

"No don't! " He said.

Mallika felt the sharp edge of the dagger piercing into her skin. She looked around, there were about twenty men lying in the pool of blood. With black soldier attire. And instantly recognized it. Delhi Sultanat!

What were they doing here? With him? Her mind ran in different directions to understand the situation.

When her captor yanked her hairs and pulled with him.

"Don't dare to come any closer.....or you will loose this little gem of yours."

***

Surya felt his eyelids too heavy to open and lie there for the rest of his life in unconsciousness. It was more peaceful!

A few more seconds and then he felt pain in different parts of his body.

Where was he? He looked around and realized that it was the same place where sher Khan and his men attacked him and left.

But he is alive! How come did this happen? He remember being weak and helpless and then slipping into unconsciousness. In a place where no one could ever find him.

Was this a miracle?

But then his eyes caught the glimpse of madhavilata and realized that it wasn't a miracle but someone saved his life. But who? In this isolated place who found him?

And where was his savior now?

Looking around he caught the sight of his blood smeared shirt laying a few meters away from him.

He somehow managed to stand up and tried to wear the shirt but failed miserably due to the wound on his right hand.

When he heard the sound of many horses galloping. Someone was coming here?

His eyes searched the neighborhood for something that might help. And saw the large green bush.

He instantly hid himself in the bush and sat there looking at the intruders from a angle where they can't find him.

Seconds later a few men came riding on their respective horses. And their leader in the front.

Sher Khan. Surya counted the number. About twenty.

But why was he back here?

"Look around he should be somewhere near. " Sher Khan ordered his men looking pissed.

"Sultan never believe me! I told him that the pig is already dead but he didn't believe! " he looked around and continued. "And asked me to bring his dead body to him! " he moved his head disapprovingly. And a evil smile spread on his face.

But Surya's heart skipped a beat. What will happen when he won't find his dead body?

"Khan saheb! " (Lord Khan) one of his men called. Surya watched as Sher Khan went towards him.

"This was his! " Sher Khan cringed as he saw the bloody shirt Surya was wearing earlier.

"Khan Saheb.....we looked everywhere but can't find his body! "

Another man came running to him and told.

"Tha...that means he...he is alive!?" Sher Khan said gritting his teeth in anger.

"Start searching! Everyone we want him.....dead or alive! " he said and the men acted instantly.

Surya sat there behind the bush holding his breath. For the perfect time.

He saw a man nearing him and without second thought he stood up and slashed his throat into two. He fell down and Surya wasted no time in getting away. He was about to mount on a horse and leave but then the devil himself appeared.

"Running away little boy! " The wicked middle aged man said with a smirk.

"Sher Khan you will never learn your lesson! " Surya gritted his teeth in agony.

And then the fight started. A unequaled and blood thirsty fight.

Almost sixteen men attacked him and he could do nothing else other than blocking their attacks.

Two more men tried to attack him from back but Surya was fast enough in blocking their attacks and successfully killing one of them.

It was going on and on, Surya's already wobbly legs ached. He felt his energy draining out with each passing second. His wounds once again become bloody. Still he didn't gave up, his moves were swift and pace high.

Giving up wasn't in his blood!

***

"Sher Khan! " Surya challenged him but instead of coming and fighting he choose fled. Running on his heels he somehow managed to reach his horse, but before he could leave Surya was already there.

A strange fear filled his heart as he remembered the time when he lost his left eye, the pain and insult he faced.

When the other courtiers insulted him daily in front of the Sultan of Delhi.

"You should thank the young man....he spared your life! He just took a eye....Isn't it good that you have two of them? " the court entertainer said with seriousness and every single person laughed. The ministers, scholars, the guards and even Sultan Shamsuddin!

He remember the embarrassment he felt, his chest tightened! No one understood he was a human himself! But he said nothing and looked down on the floor.

But that wasn't the only thing, the way common people looked at him made him angry. The men looked at him with pity and the women and children fled like they have seen a monster!

But the most painful part was his own daughter. The five years old little girl when first time witnessed his state. The first she did was to cry, her eyes full of fear and then she hid behind her mother's long dress. This was heart breaking for him, his little princess, whom he loved than anyone else was frightened because of him!

This all happened because of Surya! He believed.

And that was the solemn reason he attacked on them unannounced. He needed revenge!

"Wasn't it enough that I spared your life once? " Surya roared. He was a brave young warrior and have fear of none.

Sher Khan looked around, all his twenty men lying dead. But he won't back out this time....he would embrace death if he didn't get his revenge.

"Or it will be Surya walking around with a foot or without hands maybe! " Sher Khan laughed at his own joke and plunged forward with the sword in a firm grasp.

And once again a fight started!

On one hand there was revenge and on the other hand there was bravery and honesty. Who was going to win?

Seconds changed into minutes and minutes into hours but there was no end to it!

As the sun rose more high Surya saw his opponent getting weaker and he wasted no time in throwing his off guard as Sher Khan's sword fell from his hand, far away from him.

Sher Khan stood up and took two steps away.

"Well I am not going to spare you this time...." Surya said and took a step forward.

When Sher Khan's heart raced with the world's greatest fear. Fear to die!

We all see thousands of people dying everyday and know that one day we have to die as well but still we fear the same ultimate destiny!

He took one more step back when his eyes caught the sight of a beautiful woman claded in Rajasthani dress walking towards them. She was beautiful!

With long black hair pinned in the back of her head. Her face glowing in the sunrays. And her doe shaped black orbs speaking only of beauty!

But What was she doing here? And then he saw her carrying two halves of coconut shells filled with water.

Was she with Surya? Sher Khan thought. But then there was no one with him when he and his men attacked him yesterday!

Still he could use her against him. He pulled out his small dagger, from his waist band and waited. A few more moments and the girl was within a hand away from him.

He instantly pulled her hairs and put the dagger on her throat.

"Stop there! " he roared. And saw as Surya's expression changed from amused to horror.

"One more step and this little girl will be lying dead! " his voice echoed in the forest. Surya stopped and looked at the girl, she was the same.....from the palace.

What was she doing here? Did she saved me from the poison?

"No don't! " he said and felt like a coward because of the meek sound.

"Don't dare to come any closer.....or you will loose this little gem of yours."

He yanked Mallika with her hair and pulled towards the horse. Before Surya could think something to help her the unexpected happened.

With a swift move of her leg Mallika hit the man's groin and instantly his grip on his dragger loosened, as he groaned in pain, taking the opportunity she got out of his reach she pulled out her dagger.

And the next moment, the ground was a pool of blood and there rested the body of army general of Delhi!