So my Janemans... here is a massive 7k words chapter for you all.
I want to be very clear about something. Saying that I am not greedy for votes or comments does not mean I do not deserve them. I put hours of hard work, energy, and research into writing these long chapters...
To the handful of my sweet girls who constantly show up, motivate me, and truly live this story with me, I am so grateful for you. Honestly, you are the only reason I keep writing this.
If it comes down to it, I will gladly send the chapter files to you personally.
But as for updating here on the platform, I will not post a single word until the vote and comment targets are met.
If you are too lazy to drop few comments and hit the vote button, then I am equally lazy to sit down and write for you.
50 votes and 100 comments..
Targets will need to be cleared before the next update. Plain and simple.
• An Unexpected Lesson •
The throbbing cramps in Dilshana's lower abdomen had begun at the break of dusk, turning every breath into a struggle.
Inside the bath chamber, Kumud and two senior maidservants moved with hushed care. Kumud handed Dilshana the folded layers of clean cotton cloth. Turning away toward the wall, Dilshana secured the cloth with trembling fingers.
When they stepped back into the main chamber, Dilshana's eyes fixed immediately on the bed dominating the room. She rasped out softly, "Humare liye neeche farsh par hi chatai aur ek halka kambal bichha do..."
(Spread a grass mat and a light blanket on the floor for me...)
Kumud hesitated, her brow furrowing with quiet concern. "Naaz... aap is avastha mein.."
(Naaz... in this condition..)
Dilshana interrupted, her strength fading too fast for an argument. "Just do it."
The other maids obeyed, quickly spreading a grass mat near the wall and laying a folded blanket over it. Dilshana lowered herself slowly as her knees buckled under a fresh wave of spasms, curling into a tight ball with her arms wrapped around her lower belly, her eyes shut tight to endure the clawing pain.
The doors swung open without warning, and Agnijeet stepped inside, bringing with him the cold quiet that always marked his presence. His gaze swept across the room, the maids hovering near the corner, and the huddled shape on the hard floor.
"Ekaant," he commanded. (Privacy.)
Kumud and the servants bowed low, rushing out into the corridor and pulling the double doors shut behind them.
Agnijeet walked over, stopping at the edge of the mat. Without a word, he reached down and yanked the blanket away. Dilshana gasped. Before her mind could grasp his intent, he bent down and grasped her upper arm to pull her off the floor.
He growled low, holding her upright while his eyes narrowed into sharp slits. "Ab bhoomi par lotne ka swang kyu rach rahi ho?" (Why are you acting to roll on the floor now?)
He tightened his grip, drawing her closer. "Uttar do!"
(Answer me!)
The sudden jerk sent a violent cramp locking through her lower torso, making the room spin around her. She looked up to his stone-carved face through a veil of helpless tears, her voice broken.
"Hum... hum guzarish karte hain..." she whimpered softly, her forehead almost touching his chest as her strength gave out completely. "Hume nahi ladna... Sone dijiye hume."
(I... I don't want to fight with you... Let me sleep.)
Agnijeet went still with shock; the fierce lioness who had drawn his blood and spat curses at him was now begging him with entirely spent voice.
"Lad... nahi rahe hum..."
(I am not fighting...)
As he spoke, the palm still locked around her upper arm registered a alarming sensation. Her skin was burning, consumed by the sheer physical toll.
He shifted his focus over her flushed cheeks, her dry, parted lips, and the thin sheen of cold sweat glistening along her hairline. "Tumhari deh tap rahi hai..."
(Your body is burning...)
He turned toward the entrance. "Hum rajvaidya ko abhi bulwate hain." (I will call the royal physician right now.)
Before he could take a step, Dilshana's hand flew up as she grab his wrist to hold him back. Mortified by the thought of a male physician examining such a private matter, she looked up at him with wide eyes. "Nahi... Sipahsalar, mat bulaiye..."
(No... Commander, do not call him...)
Agnijeet stopped dead in his track, looking at her feverish hand clutching his wrist, his jaw setting into a tight line.
"Why not?"
A burning flush rushed to Dilshana's cheeks, hot enough to outshine the fever humming beneath her skin as she lowered her gaze, unable to bear his unblinking stare.
Her fingers tightened around his wrist in hesitation, her mind struggling to summon words, her voice barely carrying above her breath as her eyes remained down. "Woh... hum... na-paak hain abhi... Yeh... Aurto ka masla hai yeh... samjhiye aap..."
(That... I... am impure right now... it is a woman's matter... understand it yourself...)
His brows pulled into a knot of utter confusion as he looked from her pale face down to her hands. "Saaf-saaf bologi? Kya badbada rahi ho?" (Will you speak clearly? What are you muttering?)
Her gaze snapped up to his, a sudden flare of disbelief cutting through her agony as she marveled at how a fully grown man could be so completely blind to the basic nature of a woman's body.
She let out a bitter huff, throwing curses straight into his face. "Khabees! Mahina aaya hai humein... Khun beh raha hai hamare jism se! Ab toh samajh mein aaya hoga, ya ab bhi aapko tafseel se samjhana padega?!"
(Vile, senseless executioner! I am on my monthly cycle! I have gotten my period... I am bleeding! Surely you understand now, or do I still need to explain it to you in detail?)
The blunt outburst hung heavy between them. Agnijeet remained motionless, his chest rising and falling slowly as the information settled into his mind, recalling the quiet isolation of the women in the Palace. The harsh edge in his gaze flattened into a curiosity.
"Toh... Isme peeda hoti hai?"
(So... there is pain in this?)
Dilshana's breath came in ragged gaps. She gave a single nod, biting her lip.
Agnijeet watched the tight strain in her jaw, his eyes shifting down to the grass mat on the floorboards. "Toh bhoomi par sone se thik lagta hai?"
(So does sleeping on the floor make it feel better?)
She shook her head slowly, keeping her eyes fixed on the floor between them. "Nahi... par bistar gandaa ho gaya toh..."
(No... but if the bed gets dirty...)
Agnijeet glanced at the bed, then back at her, answering flatly.
"Toh naya aa jayega... Upar so jao." (Then a new one will come... Sleep on the bed.)
He simply stepped back, offering space while gesturing toward the mattress with a silent tilt of his head.
Dilshana hesitated, attempting a weak protest. "Hum yahin farsh par.."
(I on the floor here..)
He did not interrupt her with words, standing like an immovable wall until she swallowed her protest, dragging her weak legs across the chamber to collapse onto the mattress. Agnijeet walked to the opposite side, pulled the duvet over her shoulders awkwardly, removed his tunic, and lay down on the far edge of the bed.
He maintained a clear distance, leaving a void between them where his oppressive heat usually lingered.
An Hour drifted by in agonizing silence as Dilshana tossed and turned, unable to find rest while continuous spasms clawed at her lower abdomen.
Agnijeet turned his head toward her restless movements. "Iski koi aushdhi hoti hai?"
(Is there any medicine for this?)
Dilshana did not answer his question, her eyes lingering on the wide gap separating them. A bitter smile touched her dry lips. "Aapko ghin aa rahi hai... humein pata hai. Hum farsh par so rahe the..."
(You feel disgusted... I know. I was sleeping on the floor...)
She pushed her hands into the mattress, trying to return to the floor, but his hand shot out instantly, clamping firm around her upper arm to pull her back onto the pillows. "Yoddha hain hum... humein rakt se ghin kyun aayegi?"
(I am a warrior... why would I be disgusted by blood?)
He held her steady, his voice dropping into a rumble. "Aur... hum tumhe kasht nahi pahunchana chahte... Abhi."
(And... I do not want to cause you distress.. right now.)
Dilshana stared up at him in utter disbelief. "Abhi?... Bahot meherbani, Jahanpanah..."
(Right now?... How merciful, Your Highness...)
Her bitter, sarcastic smile deepened despite the pain throbbing in her gut.
"Rakt se ghin nahi aati? Toh kya aapke liye sabhi tarah ka khoon ek jaisa hota hai? Koi farq nahi hota kisi mein?"
(Does blood not disgust you? So is every kind of blood the same to you? Is there no difference at all?)
Agnijeet looked down at her, his eyes unnaturally calm.
"Nahi... Sab rakt ek jaisa kaise ho sakta hai? Shatru ka bahana hota hai... aur apne saathiyon ka bachana hota hai."
(No... How can all blood be the same? An enemy's blood is meant to be shed... and the blood of one's allies is meant to be saved.)
And then, he raised his hand and pointed his index finger straight down toward her lower body, as if analyzing a strategic tactical query. "Par... iske baare mein gyat nahi hai humein."
(But... I have no knowledge about this.)
Dilshana froze in absolute shock. Her jaw dropped open, her eyes widening to the size of saucers. "Tauba!"
An intense rush of burning embarrassment flushed through her, momentarily wiping away the clawing cramps in her abdomen.
She snapped her face away and spun around, turning her back to him completely. She buried her face into the pillow.
Between the physical agony of her cramps and the sheer absurdity of this ruthless executioner, she was left utterly stunned in the quiet dark.
After a while, She lay still as the quiet settled back over the room, broken only by her shallow breathing. Another tearing cramp locked through her abdomen, forcing a smothered gasp through her as she curled her knees tight against her chest.
In the late hours, his grip gradually loosened. He rolled over onto his side, turning his back toward her.
Dilshana's eyes fluttered open. She lay motionless, staring up at the beams of the high ceiling.
She turned her head, looking at his back facing her, the defined muscles of his spine glistening faintly under the moonlight. His hair fell messily across the nape of his neck and the pillow, his chest rising and falling in rhythmic cycles.
Dilshana shifted quietly across the sheet until the distance between them evaporated into nothing.
She leaned forward, her lips almost brushing his shoulder blade as she murmured into the stillness of the night.
"Dozakh ki aag mein jalein aap, Sipahsalar..."
(May you burn in the fires of hell, Commander...)
Yet, she leaned in completely, pressing her front flat against the his back. She buried her face into his back and wrapped her small arm tightly around his torso, locking herself into his warmth.
• The Morning Routine •
The sun had risen over the fort when Kumud hurried into the royal kitchen. The vast stone space was filled with the scent of simmering lentils, clarified butter, and warm spices.
Kumud moved swiftly toward the stone counter, reaching for a plate to dish out a bland meal for Dilahana.
"Stop." A sharp voice cut through the noise of the hearths.
Kumud stopped in her tracks, turning to see Kesar standing near the threshold. Dressed in her plain white, Kesar's eyes, cold and assessing, locked onto the plate in Kumud's hands.
Kumud bowed her head quickly, keeping her voice low. "Naaz ki tabiyat kharab hai... unhe tivra peeda hai aur unhe bhookh lagi hai. Main unke liye sada bhojan parosne aayi thi..."
(Naaz's health is very bad... she is in severe pain and she is hungry. I came to serve simple food for her...)
Kesar interrupted flatly, her tone icy and devoid of an ounce of sympathy.
"Koi baat nahi. Thodi pratiksha karo."
(It is no matter. Wait a little while.)
Kesar stepped past her toward the steaming brass cauldrons. She took a silver plate from the shelf and served a spoonful from every single pot.
Kesar stared down at the silver surface with hawkish precision, waiting to see if the metal tarnished. Once satisfied, she picked up a spoon and ate a portion from every dish on the thali.
She pulled a stool into the doorway, sitting down with her spine straight, her hands resting quietly in her lap. She simply sat there in stony silence, letting the minutes tick away while the staff worked around her.
Kumud stood near the counter, keeping her head down. She knew the routine all too well. For years, Kesar had quietly taken over this duty. She made herself the ultimate wall between any betrayal and her family, using silver to check for venom and her own body as a live shield before a single drop of water or morsel of grain could cross any threshold.
After nearly twenty agonizing minutes, Kesar slowly stood up. Her eyes remained cold, but her pulse was steady, her breath untroubled. The food was clean.
She turned to Kumud, her face showing no warmth, no pride, and certainly no desire to be seen as a savior.
"Doodh mein haldi mila do," Kesar commanded softly, her voice carrying a flat weight. "Aur Vaidhya ji se jaakar aushdhi le aao... kintu dhyan rahe, tum swayam hi jaogi. Kisi anya sevak ke haath mein woh aushdhi nahi aani chahiye."
(Mix turmeric in the milk. And go get the medicine from the Physician... but remember, you will go yourself. That medicine must not pass through the hands of any other servant.)
Kumud nodded respectfully.
Kesar adjusted her drape, turned on her heel, and walked out of the kitchen.
While, Agnijeet walked toward the training grounds, the dust of the courtyard swirling around his boots.
Near the weapon racks stood Vijaydev, holding a brass box wrapped in silk. The moment Vijaydev spotted Agnijeet, a wide grin spread across his face.
"Rana Sa!" Vijaydev called out, stepping forward with bright eyes. "Mere sasural se samachar aaya hai... putri hui hai meri patni ko!"
(Rana Sa! News has arrived from my in-laws' home... my wife has given birth to a daughter!)
Agnijeet paused, his eyes softening just a fraction as he reached out and took a piece of sweet from the open box.
"Badhai ho. Ab jaakar apni patni aur putri ko surakshit wapas le aao."
(Congratulations. Now go and safely bring back your wife and daughter.)
Vijaydev bowed his head, beaming with pride. Agnijeet stood silently for a long moment, looking at the high walls of the palace. He cleared his throat as he turned his focus back to his friend.
"Vijay..." He began, his voice dropping into a unusually guarded tone. "Tumhari patni ko jab... peeda hoti hai... toh tum kya karte ho?"
(Vijay... when your wife is in... pain... what do you do?)
Vijaydev blinked, his smile wavering into a puzzled frown. "Kaisi peeda?"
(What kind of pain?)
Agnijeet stood stunned for a second, his brows furrowing in a disbelief. He took a rigid step closer, glaring at Vijaydev.
"Tum toh vivahit ho... tumhe itna bhi nahi pata? Woh... jo har mahine... striyon ko peeda hoti hai..."
(You are married... you don't even know this much? That... pain which women experience every month...)
A spark of realization flashed in Vijaydev's eyes. A suppressed laugh twitched at the corners of his mouth, though he forced his face into a serious mask to avoid getting thrown into the sandpit. "Haan... woh toh gyat hai."
(Yes... that is known to me.)
Agnijeet demanded, his arms crossing over his broad chest.
"Toh kya karte ho?"
(So what do you do?)
"Sek karne se thodi rahat milti hai," Vijaydev explained, his tone turning grounded. "Aur unhe unki pasand ka kuchh achcha khana mil jaye... toh man aur sharir dono ko aaram milta hai."
(Applying a warm compress gives some relief. And if they get something good of their choice to eat... it gives comfort to both mind and body.)
Agnijeet's eyes narrowed.
"Acchha matlab? Ghas-chara thodi milta hai unhe partidin bhojan mein?"
(What do you mean by 'good'? Are they served grass and fodder every day in their meals?)
Vijaydev let out a breathless chuckle, shaking his head. "Arre nahi! Aisi sthiti mein swadist meetha, jaise mawa ya halwa... unka dhyan peeda se hata deta hai."
(Oh no! In such a condition, delicious sweets, like mawa or halwa... distract their mind from the pain.)
Agnijeet kept his gaze locked on him, processing his advice. Suddenly, he snatched the box of sweets out of Vijaydev's hands. He tucked the box under his arm and turned cleanly on his heel, marching back toward the archways.
Vijaydev stood frozen in utter shock, looking at his empty hands before calling out after his retreating silhouette.
"Par, Senapati... Rajsabha? Sabhi aapka pratiksha kar rahe hain!"
(But, Commander... the Royal Court? Everyone is waiting for you!)
Agnijeet didn't even slow his pace, his voice booming back over his shoulder.
"Aaj Kaka sa ko Raja bane rehne do."
(Let Kaka sa play the King today.)
Agnijeet entered the chamber, the box held in his grip before he set it onto the mattress right beside Dilshana's knees.
"Khao ise." (Eat this.)
Dilshana shifted against the piled pillows, her eyelids heavy and warm with fever as she looked down at the dull sheen of the brass latch, then slowly up toward his face. "Yeh... kya hai?" (What... is this?)
He stepped so close to the bed that his silhouette completely cut off the morning sunlight filtering through the windows. "Eat it, quietly."
Her fingers trembled on the brass latch to open the lid, revealing row after row of sweets steeped in saffron syrup. The scent of crushed cardamom, roasted almonds, and warm ghee filled the space. She took a small piece and lifted it to her lips.
As the rich sweetness hit her tongue, a faint wave of warmth seemed to cut through the bitter taste of fever in her throat. She swallowed slowly, her eyes remaining fixed on his tunic, noticing the subtle rise and fall of his chest as he stood over her without moving an inch.
After he saw the movement of her throat as she swallowed the second bite, he step back, turning toward the corridor to order the guard outside, while Dilshana retreated to bath area.
The minutes stretched in silence, filled only by the distant rustle of servants moving through the far passageways to execute his command.
Dilshana stepped out of dressing area with kumud after completing her morning routine.
As Dilshana walked to the bed, Agnijeet closed the distance and grasp her wrist, pulling her towards the back garden.
Dilshana rasped, her bare feet dragging on the floor as she stumbled to match his stride through the shadowed archway. "Kaha le ja rahe hain aap humein?"
(Where are you taking me?)
As they stepped across the threshold into the courtyard, the cool morning air hit her skin, carrying the scent of damp earth and the subtle tang of burning wood.
When her eyes adjusted to the open light, she noticed the scene that had been readied beneath the roots of the tree, a low bolster arranged over rugs, a brass sigdi already radiating heat from glowing coals, and a tray of folded linen towels.
Understanding settled over her all at once, flushing her cheeks with a deep heat that had nothing to do with her fever.
Dilshana tried to pull back from his grip in raw embarrassment. "Kumud... Kumud kar degi... Aap... aap jaiye, Kumud kar degi..."
(Kumud... Kumud will do it... You... you go, Kumud will do it...)
Agnijeet halted instantly. He did not let go of her wrist, instead turning slowly to lock his eyes onto her flushed face. "Kumud ka saath accha nahi lagta kya tumhe?" (Do you not like Kumud's company?)
The flat threat hung between them like a drawn blade. Dilshana's chest seized, her wide eyes searching his face for any sign of leniency before she quickly shook her head. "Nahi... nahi... Aisa nahi hai..."
(No... no... It is... it is not like that...)
Agnijeet halted as her hand feebly protested against his sleeve. He unclenched his grip from her wrist and turned his gaze toward Kumud, who stood near the stone archway.
"I will take care, Kunwar sa." Kumud whispered, her voice trembling.
Without another glance, Agnijeet turned on his heel as he walked away, leaving behind only the glowing heat of the embers.
Dilshana slowly sank onto the bolster, letting out a shaky breath as Kumud quickly stepped forward with the warm compress.
As the deep heat finally touched her aching belly, Dilshana closed her eyes, slowly yielding to the soothing relief.
The courtyard was quiet, save for the soft crackle of coals and the gentle rustle of leaves overhead. Dilshana shifted slightly, looking at Kumud, who was attentively pressing the warm cloth against her lower abdomen.
"Kumud..."
Kumud looked up. "Hmm?"
Dilshana stared off into the distance. A faint, puzzled furrow appeared between her brows. "Yeh... ardhangini kya hota hai?"
(What does 'ardhangini' mean?)
Kumud paused for a second, a soft smile warming her face as she dipped the cloth back over the heated coals. "Ardhangini ka arth hota hai aadha ang, Naaz. Yaani patni apne pati ke sukh aur dukh mein uski sahbhagini hoti hai, aur pati bhi apni patni ke dukh aur kasht ko apna samajhta hai."
(Ardhangini means a husband's other half, Naaz. It means a wife shares her husband's joys and sorrows, and a husband considers his wife's pain and suffering as his own.)
Dilshana listened in absolute silence, her heart giving a strange thud. A bitter smile touched her lips.
"Kya khoob mazaaq hai... Jis shakhs ne hamari zindagi ko saza bana rakha hai, ab wahi hamare dard ko apna manenge? Aur hum uske har sitam ko apna samajh kar khamosh baithein?"
(What a brilliant joke... The very person who has turned my life into a punishment, will he now consider my pain as his own? And am I supposed to accept all his cruelties as my own and sit quietly?)
Kumud opened her lips to say something, but Dilshana's bitter laugh flared again before she could speak.
"Ye sab kehne ki baatein hain," Dilshana said, her voice dropping into a harsh rasp. "Unhe to andaza bhi nahi hai ke hum kaisi laanat hain apne aap par."
(All these are just words to say. He doesn't even have an idea what a curse I am to myself.)
Her gaze lifted once more toward that vacant archway. A painful smile hovered on her dry lips.
"Begum aur shauhar..."
(Wife and husband...)
She squeezed her eyes shut, turning her face away. Yet, as the heat he had arranged continued to warm her, she pulled the blanket closer around herself and slowly yielded to sleep under the shade of the tree.
The darkness of sleep shifted into the sun-scorched memory of Shahraz years ago.
Under the blinding midday heat of an outer royal courtyard, a group of Shahraz royal youths stood in a tight circle, their harsh laughter echoing off the sandstone walls. In the center lay Farhan, barely twelve, his tunic torn and covered in dust.
The older boys used wooden switches to strike at his back and bare ankles, mocking him every time he flinched. Farhan curled into a tight ball on the hot ground, his hands protecting his face while tears cut clean tracks through the grime on his cheeks.
From behind the tall marble pillars, fourteen-year-old Dilshana watched, her face fully concealed behind the folds of her veil. Seeing one of the youths raise a thick wooden rod toward Farhan, she broke cover.
She rushed into the open courtyard as she placed herself firmly between Farhan and the raised rod. Dropping to her knees in the dirt, her trembling voice begging for mercy. She spoke with soft words, taking the blame upon herself and bowing again and again until the lead youth spat onto the ground in disgust, tossed the rod aside, and walked away with his group.
Dilshana pulled Farhan up by his arm, bearing his slumping weight as they moved quickly through the shaded archways of the estate.
They passed through the wooden doors of their quaters, where the faint scent of dried herbs filled the air.
Their mother dropped the pitcher she was holding, a sharp gasp escaping her lips at the sight of Farhan's bloodied tunic and trembling legs. She rushed forward, pulling the boy down onto the seating, her hands hovering over his torn back, hesitant to touch the fresh welts.
Farhan buried his face in his mother's lap, painful sobs breaking from his chest as the burning pain set in. Dilshana stood over them as her chest heaved.
"Hum abhi baba ke pas se marham lekar aate hain, Ammi."
(I... I will bring the ointment from Baba right now, Ammi.)
Dilshana adjusted her veil to ensure her face remained completely hidden before turning toward the door to fetch the medicine.
The memory snapped like a dry twig.
Dilshana jolted upright in the courtyard of her chamber, a ragged gasp tearing from her throat as she broke free from the dream.
The cool evening draft hit her damp neck, chilling the tears that spilled over her eyelashes and ran down her pale cheeks.
She sat alone in the dark, her knees pulled tight against her chest while painful sobs shook her chest. The old ghost of Shahraz lingered heavy in the air, leaving her weeping quietly into the deep silence of the empty chamber.
• The Gurukul •
The chill of the night bit through leather as Agnijeet rode hard, Vijaydev and four trusted men trailing closely in his wake.
Their horses' hooves thudded against the hardened dirt of the ancient forest trail, kicking up dust under the fading light of the moon.
By the time the dark canopy gave way to the bruised pink of dawn, the dense treeline cleared into a small village.
Tucked at the far edge of the settlement stood an ashram, weather-worn, and seemingly quiet at a casual glance.
But to a trained eye, the perimeter was an impenetrable fort. Shadows shifted behind the tall thickets, while silent guards positioned among the high branches of the banyan trees. Every entry point was watched by eyes that never blinked. It was Agnijeet's ancient gurukul.
Agnijeet dismounted, his boots crunching against the frosty grass as he crossed the outer gate with Vijaydev behind him.
An elder in his seventies was standing in the open courtyard, despite the icy wind of the dawn, Bare chested, wearing only a faded saffron dhoti, his posture remained as unyielding as old teakwood.
Agnijeet and Vijaydev immediately bowed, touching his feet.
"Pranam, Gurudev."
(Salutations, Master.)
The old master, Mahant Devavrat, blessed them.
He looked down at Agnijeet, his eyes gleaming with a mixture of quiet pride and deep discernment.
"Agni... kaise ho, putr?"
(Agni... how are you, son?)
Agnijeet kept his gaze respectfully lowered, standing silently before his master. Gurudev Devavrat needed no words, for the unspoken tension lingering around his finest student told him everything. A quiet sigh escaped the guru's lips as he turned, gesturing for them to follow.
The sun climbed higher into the sky, casting warm light across the roofed grass house where the three of them sat cross-legged on the woven mats inside.
Gurudev Devavrat looked closely at Agnijeet, his voice heavy with gravitas. "Tum iski ghambhirta samjhte ho na? Parinam se avagat ho?"
(You understand the gravity of this, don't you? Are you aware of the consequences?)
Agnijeet did not hesitate, his voice firm and unwavering. "Ji, Gurudev."
Gurudev observed him for a long moment before speaking slowly, each word carrying the weight of years of wisdom. "Apne moh ko kabhi lakshay par bhari mat padne dena, Agni."
(Never let your attachment overpower your target, Agni.)
Agnijeet's brows knitted together.
"Moh?" (Attachment?)
A faint smile touched the corners of Gurudev's weathered mouth. "Iske purv tumhe koi itne dino tak mahal ki deewaron ke bhitar nahi rakh paya."
(No one has been able to keep you within the palace walls for this long before this.)
Agnijeet fell completely silent, guru's words striking a deep chord within him. He stared at the woven grass mat beneath his hands, his tone turning cold as iron. "Sultan ka vinash humare hatho nishchit hai."
(The destruction of the Sultan is certain at my hands.)
Reaching into the his pocket, he pulled out three rings, the very rings he had taken from Dilshana's fingers, and placed them in Gurudev's palm.
Gurudev Devavrat brought the rings closer, inspecting them meticulously. He unscrewed the delicate caps of the first two, revealing a fine powder contained within their hidden chambers.
But when his thumb passed over the third ring, he paused. The ring was empty, yet the dark, unpolished stone set into its crown caught the light unnaturally.
Gurudev looked up, his eyes piercing. "Tumhe gyat tha?" (Did you know?)
Agnijeet shook his head quietly. "Nahi... Bas ek aatmbodh tha. Jisne hume ranbhoomi mein murchhit kar diya tha, uski angoothiyan khali toh nahi ho sakti thin."
(No... there was no proof. It was just an instinct... the woman who rendered me unconscious on the battlefield using a drug.. her rings couldn't possibly be empty.)
[That was an era when people often used secret chambers in their rings to carry lethal powders, antidotes, and medicinal herbs.]
Gurudev nodded slowly, understanding the sharp intuition of his disciple.
Beside them, Vijaydev shifted uncomfortably, his fingers fidgeting against his knees as he grew anxious under the heavy atmosphere.
Agnijeet turned slightly toward his master. "Gurudev... iski patni ko putri hui hai." (Master... his wife has given birth to a daughter.)
A warm glow washed over Gurudev Devavrat's face. He raised his hand, offering a blessing toward Vijaydev. "Aayushmati bhava. Sanatan ka kalyan ho, putr." (May she live a long life. May the eternal grace be with you, son.)
Vijaydev bowed deeply, relieved and humbled.
Agnijeet stood up, the restless energy inside him finally breaking through his disciplined composure. He stepped out of the grass house into the bright morning light.
Moving deeper into the inner courtyard of the ashram, his eyes landed on the open grounds where young disciples were rising, laughing, and beginning their morning practice in the fresh air.
• Midnight Adventure •
In the dim glow of the lamps, Kumud folded the linens and paused near the doors. "Naaz, main aapke paas ruk jau? Aapka swasthya..."
(Naaz, should I stay with you? Your health...)
Dilshana shook her head, her face devoid of any warmth. "Nahi Kumud... tum jaakar apne kamre mein aaraam karo. Agar Sipahsalar laut aaye, toh thik nahi hoga..."
(No Kumud... you go and rest in your room. If... if Sipahsalar returns, it will not be good...)
Kumud smiled gently. "Thik hai... par humari aavashyakta pade toh hume bulva lena."
(Alright... but if you need me, call for me.)
She bowed respectfully and slipped out, pulling the doors shut.
Dilshana lay back on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling, forcing her breathing to stay even. Agnijeet hadn't returned to the chamber last night either. But for her, his absence for two straight nights was an opportunity she had been waiting for.
Hours passed as she lay in the darkness, counting every single minute in her mind. Memories of her home washed over her. She wanted to break out of this prison and return home and for that she needed the map of this vast estate.
Finally, when the clock eerie quiet settled over the corridors, Dilshana's eyes snapped open. The wait was over.
For weeks, she had been silently taking mental notes of everything. She had mapped the palace layout in her mind, tracked where the private study was situated, located where the key remained hidden, and memorized every single blind spot along the hallways.
She slipped off the bed stepped into dressing chamber. She reached her fingers into a hidden notch behind the hand-carved frame. Her heart hammered against her ribs, her fingertips finally made contact with the chilled brass.
The key to his private study. She locked her fingers around it.
She moved swiftly. Her silk outfit was out of the question. She pulled out one of Kumud's simple cotton pair and changed quickly. It was plain, dark, and completely silent against the stone walls.
She eased the chamber door open slightly, blending into the shadows like smoke. Every night Agnijeet had been away, she had pressed her ear against the door, counting the footsteps of the guards and mapping out their rotation shifts. She knew their exact routines now.
The icy draft hit her face as she stepped out into the hallway. Torchlights flickered along the high stone walls.
She pressed her spine flat against the cold stone, inching forward until a sudden thud of boots echoed.
Two guards were turning the corner. Dilshana's heart slammed into her throat. She ducked behind a massive pillar, pulling her knees tight and holding her breath.
The footsteps stopped right beside her pillar.
"Did you hear some noise?" one of the guards muttered, his shadow stretching dangerously close.
Dilshana closed her eyes tight, her knuckles turning white around the key. She pictured her mother and brother's faces, clinging to the memory to keep her breathing silent.
"Keval vayu ka veg hai, aage badho," the other grunted. Their footsteps finally faded down the hall.
(It is just the force of the wind, move forward.)
Dilshana let out a shaky, silent exhale. "Ya Allah... shukr hai..."
(Oh Allah... thank goodness...)
Hiding behind every shadow and flinching at every creak of the ancient palace, she finally reached the oak doors at the end of the secluded wing.
Agnijeet's private study. The vault holding the maps and the way back to her freedom. With trembling hands, she guided the brass key into the lock.
The lock gave way with a soft click.
She took one wall mounted torch, easing the door open, the pitch-black void of the study greeted her. She threw one quick glance over her shoulder at the empty hallway, stepped inside, and pulled the door shut behind her.
She took a deep breath, resting her back against the locked wooden door. Her heart was beating like a wild drum inside her chest, each thud echoing loudly in the quiet space.
She turned around slowly, holding the small torch to inspect her surroundings.
The study was massive, cold, and dominated by an overwhelming sense of power.
High ceilings disappeared into shadow, while the scent of aged leather and dried ink filled the air. Wooden shelves lined the stone walls, packed tightly with leather-bound scrolls, books, iron-bound ledgers. At the center of the room sat a grand desk.
Dilshana scanned the space, her voice barely a whisper in the gloom.
"Naksha... mahal ka naksha..."
(The map... the map of the palace...)
She moved deeper into the room, her eyes darting frantically from one corner to the next. Searching was torturously slow. She had to hold the small flame dangerously close, the heat pressing against her face, making her skin sting.
Her hands trembled constantly. Every tiny flame flicker caused her heart to jump.
Yet, the desperation to find the passages kept her pushing forward. She pulled out scrolls, checked inside chests, and flipped through stacks of old documents.
Finally, near the display of daggers, her hand brushed against a rolled leather tube tucked inside a compartment.
She pulled it out quickly. Inside were several thick parchment sheets. She spread the largest sheet flat across the desk, anchoring the curling edges with a paperweight. She hovered the flame just close enough to see the detailed ink lines.
Her eyes turned sharp, tracking every pathway with hawk-like focus. She traced the main gates, the outer boundaries of Mewar, and the surrounding terrains, mapping the exact direction of the hidden exits, calculating which path would take her away from the monster.
Suddenly, thudding footsteps echoed right outside the study door. Panic surged through her veins. If anyone saw the light under the door, she was dead.
In her desperate attempt to extinguish the torch, her trembling hand struck hard against the wooden rack behind her. Several parchments and ledgers from the shelves scattered across the floor. The torch came crashing down with them.
The flame landed directly on the fallen papers. The flames raced hungrily across the scattered papers before licking upward, catching the velvet drapes hanging beside the desk.

Within seconds, the curtains erupted into bright orange flames. Dilshana's eyes widened in horror. "Nahi... nahi..." she sobbed, tears instantly streaming down her eyes. (No.. no...)
Desperate to stop the growing fire, she grabbed a woollen throw from the nearby couch. She began beating at the flames frantically, her hands shaking, her breath coming in ragged gasps.
But the drapes were already engulfed, sending sparks flying onto the wooden carpet frame. The smoke grew thicker, stinging her eyes and choking her throat.
The fire was growing too fast, its heat radiating against her skin.
Panic completely took over.
She backed away from the heat, her lungs burning from the smoke. She turned on her heel and ran toward the corner of the room, weeping silently as the flames climbed higher toward the ceiling.
Outside the door, the sound of crackling wood grew louder. The reality of the trap she was in finally broke her silence.
She opened her mouth, her voice breaking through the thick smoke in sheer desperation.
"Sipahsalar!"
Only the sound of the burning wood answered her. Dilshana squeezed her eyes shut, her lungs stinging as she screamed louder this time.
"Sipahsalar! Kaha hai aap?"
The fire took another violent bite of the bookshelf near the center of the room, sending a cloud of sparks flying into the air. Panic seized her entirely, stripping away all her pride and calculation.
"Koi hai?!" she cried, her voice breaking. "Senapati ko bulaiye!" she cried out a third time, her voice cracking with pure terror.
(is somebody there? Call the commander!)
Suddenly, A TERRIFIC CRASH shattered the wooden door!
The burning frame broke inward as a powerful force kicked it open. Heavy pieces of charred oak clattered.
Through the roaring fire and black smoke, a towering silhouette stepped into the room.
Dilshana's tear-filled eyes snapped toward the doorway. Through the blur of smoke, she saw him. Agnijeet stood in the entrance.
He scanned the haze until his eyes locked directly onto her small, trembling frame tucked behind the bookshelf.
Agnijeet walked straight into the flames.
A burning wooden bar fell across his path. With one swift kick of his boot, he sent the burning beam flying across the room, clearing his path instantly.
The moment he reached the space behind the bookshelf, Dilshana scrambled forward and collapsed straight into his arms.
"Sipahsalar..." she sobbed hysterically, clutching at the front of his tunic, her hands trembling violently.
Agnijeet caught her. His arm wrapped around her waist, cupping the back of her head, pressing her face into his chest.
He stayed standing there, unbothered by the heat radiating around them. His dark eyes slowly swept across the burning room. Then, his gaze shifted downward.
His eyes landed on the central table.
As she looked at him, the dancing orange flames cast a terrifying glow across his chisel-cut features. As black smoke swirled around them, his striking brown eyes remained unblinking, like two pools of molten gold reflecting the inferno. There was not a single flicker of fear, panic, or warmth in his gaze, just a hypnotic stillness that made him look less like a man and more like a ruthless deity who ruled over the fire itself.
Instead of turning toward the exit, Agnijeet gripped Dilshana by her waist and pulled her backward, dragging her to the edge of the burning desk.
He stood behind her, chest to back, trapping her completely. His right arm locked around her midsection, pinning her tightly.
Dilshana gasped, her eyes widening in sheer horror as the heat from the desk blasted against her face.
Agnijeet leaned down slowly, his lips brushing the shell of her ear, his breath calm against her burning cheek.
"Dhyan se dekho is nakshe ko. Kis dwaar se nikalna chahti ho?"
(Look at this map carefully. Which gate do you want to leave through?)
Dilshana's heart hammered violently against her ribs. She looked at the flames rising inches away from the desk, panic strangling her throat. She sobbed out, pulling at his arm around her waist.
"Sipahsalar... yahan se chaliye! Charon taraf aag lagi hai!"
(Sipahsalar... let's leave from here! There is fire all around!)
Agnijeet did not budge an inch. He stood behind her like a wall while the room burned around them.
Slowly, he moved his hand over her lower back. He cupped her hip firmly, his fingers digging softly into the thin fabric, stroking the curve in a slow rhythm.
"Koi baat nahi... kuch nahi hoga," he whispered near her ear, his lips grazing her skin. "Dhyan se dekho... aur mujhe batao, Ardhangini. Kaun se raaste se jaana hai?"
(It is alright... nothing will happen. Look carefully... and tell me, Wife. Which path do you want to take?)
Dilshana stayed completely horrified. The terrifying mix of his intimate touch and the roaring inferno around them made her head spin. She shook her head hysterically, her voice reduced to a broken whimper.
"Nahi... nahi... nahi..."
(No... no... no...)
Agnijeet shifted behind her. He slowly cup her face. He tilted her head back gently against his shoulder, his thumb brushing along her jawline.
He looked down into her tear-filled, wide eyes with absolute stillness. He asked softly, his tone almost tender.
"Jaana nahi hai yahan se?"
(Don't you want to leave from here?)
Dilshana nodded her head frantically, tears spilling over his thumb.
"Aag... aag lagi hai... Sipahsalar, yahan aag lagi hai!"
(Fire... there is a fire... Sipahsalar, there is a fire here!)
Agnijeet stared into her eyes for a long moment.
"Koi baat nahi... chalo. Maanchitra rehne dete hain... main tumhein sabse accha raasta batata hoon. Chalo."
(It is alright... come. Let the map be... I will show you the best path. Come.)
He bent down and scooped her up off her feet, hoisting her over his shoulder.
He turned on his heel and walked through the burning doorway, completely indifferent to the falling embers and smoke.
He simply raised his voice in corridor, a single command booming across the high stone arches.
"Ekaant!"
(Solitude!)
Instantly, dozens of guards and servants were running with buckets of water, every single guard stopped dead in their tracks. Not a single man dared to raise his eyes or look toward the Commander and his wife.
Agnijeet walked past the shouting guards, moving toward the open courtyard at the center of the palace wing.
He set her down on her feet in the ground, away from the water buckets and the frantic movement.
With synchronized bows, every guard backed away silently, disappearing down the adjoining hallways until the vast courtyard fell into dead silence.
Agnijeet pointed a steady index finger toward the wide-open archway. His face remained entirely blank, like carved marble under the moonlight. His voice was chillingly soft, carried on a calm breath. "Wahan se jao... woh sabse surakshit marg hai. Jaldi bhago."
(Go from there... that is the safest path. Run quickly.)
Dilshana remained pinned to the spot, frozen like a statue. Cold sweat pooled along her spine as her knees trembled violently. She looked at the black portal leading out, then back to Agnijeet's face. There was no anger, no fury. Just an deadpan void that sent a primal panic screaming through her nervous system.
Her chest heaved in ragged jerks as her lungs fought for oxygen. Fresh tears welled up, spilling over her soot-stained cheeks. She was breaking from the inside out, trapped between the suffocating nightmare of the burning palace and the terrifying stillness of the man standing before her.
Agnijeet closed the small distance between them by a single step, his tone shifted into something low, and terrifyingly absolute.
"Bhago!"
(Run!)
The command struck her like a physical blow. Dilshana gasped, as her heart slammed against her ribs with brutal force.
Instantly, survival instinct took over. She turned on her heel and sprinted straight into the abyss of the open doorway.
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