Chapitre 20: Raamya's Trouble

Long before Emperor Hemu's reign, in the turbulent times of Mughal ruler Ziauddin, the Bengal Sultanate set its sights on the small Hindu kingdom of Bikrampur. However, King Jayadev Sen stood firm against the impending invasion like an unyielding citadel.

But disaster struck when Jayadev was betrayed by his own brother, who took over the throne and allied with the Sultanate's forces.

Amid this betrayal, Queen Sayantika Sen, who had been married for only a few months, discovered that she was carrying the future of the kingdom within her womb.

To secure her position, she remarried the usurper king, only to poison him on their wedding night. She then took the throne and ruled as regent with an iron grip.

Her acceptance of the role of ruler was only on the basis of being the mother of the future heir. The kingdom had high anticipation, and a male child was needed to secure the queen's rule.

But fate had different plans. Raamya was born a girl, shattering the queen's hopes and changing her plans.

Raamya's life took a difficult turn. To fulfill her mother's ambitions and maintain stability in the kingdom, she was raised to pretend to be a boy and disregard her real identity as a girl. From an early age, she had to face a life of deception and hardship.

Despite her desire to be herself, Raamya endured rigorous training as a male soldier, living a life that felt foreign to her own identity.

However, in private, She found solace in activities that reflected her true self. Dancing, creating delicate rangoli designs, and honing her culinary skills gave her moments of peace amidst the chaos.

Yet, these small joys were overshadowed by her mother's relentless quest for revenge and the heavy demands of her duties.

Forced to hide her true identity and live a life of deception, Raamya struggled to reconcile her innermost desires with the expectations placed upon her.

Behind the facade of masculinity, Raamya longed for the freedom to express herself as a woman: to dance, create art, and indulge in the simple pleasures of life.

Yet, bound by duty to her kingdom and her mother's relentless ambition, Raamya was trapped in a web of lies and manipulation.

Though she longed for authenticity and acceptance, Raamya's fate was deeply entwined with the harsh realities of power and politics.

Destiny took a decisive turn when General Hemu, aligned with the Sur dynasty, sought aid from their kingdom to challenge the Bengal Sultanate. Queen Sayantika Sen saw this as a chance for her long-awaited revenge and quickly pledged her support to Hemu's campaign.

As the battle raged on, unforeseen complications arose. With the death of sher shah suri and confident by his victories, General Hemu, began considering seizing the throne for himself. At this critical moment, he approached Sayantika Sen with a proposal to ally with him in his bid for the throne of North India.

The queen faced a difficult choice. Aligning with Hemu could expose her daughter's secret, but without his support, her kingdom might face external threats. Reluctantly, she revealed Raamya's true identity to Hemu, sharing her fears about involving her daughter in the dangerous world of politics and warfare.

Hemu responded with a solemn promise. If he succeeded in taking the throne, he would elevate Raamya to a leadership role, granting her the freedom and authority she longed for. For the first time, Sayantika Sen glimpsed a future where her daughter might live as her free self, so she readily agreed.

As the final Battle of Panipat approached, Raamya sought solace in prayer to Lord Shiva. While pouring milk over the Shiv Ling, she was horrified to see it turn into blood. Looking up, she saw a surreal sight: the sky seemed to bleed, casting a crimson pond over the battlefield. The fallen bodies of allies and enemies lay scattered, and the air was filled with the cries of crows and vultures, signaling imminent danger and violence.

In a moment of terror, Raamya's screamed. Her shout broke the eerie silence. She closed her eyes, trying to process the horrifying vision. But just as suddenly as it appeared, the vision vanished, leaving her trembling in fear. The surroundings changed in front of her eyes.

Shaken, Raamya found herself in the opulent halls of a palace she had never seen before. A tall, imposing figure sat on a grand throne, his presence unsettling. With an enigmatic smile, he extended his hand towards her but his intentions were unclear.

Raamya instinctively recoiled, feeling uneasy, and then woke abruptly from her restless sleep. Her mind was in turmoil. Shaking off the vivid dream, she tried to steady herself.

But fate had other plans. Soon after, Raamya encountered Aditya in the jungle. He resembled the mysterious figure from her dream in the palace halls, who was rumored to be their savior.

Initially, she was startled by the resemblance, but she chalked it up to pre-battle nerves. Watching Aditya's malnourished figure, Raamya's immediate concerns eased. Still, a lingering feeling of unease nagged at her. 'Could this chance encounter be more than coincidence?'

Months later as Raamya prepared for her nightly bath with her trusted maid in the lake nearby. She felt her privacy was abruptly disturbed by an unwelcome presence: a soldier lurking in the shadows.

Raamya's initial suspicion fell on Aditya, whose frequent presence had not gone unnoticed. Yet, her doubts faded when she saw him calmly bathing nearby, seemingly unaware of the disturbance.

Assured that her modesty remained intact, Raamya dismissed the incident as a minor lapse in security. However, when she faced Emperor Hemu and revealed her true identity as instructed by her mother, she locked eyes with Aditya once more.

To her dismay, he wore the same teasing grin as of that dream. His eyes sparkling with mischief, evoking an unsettling sense of déjà vu in her body.

Being in ceremony, in front of the emperor, Raamya was swept by a wave of shock and anger as she realized Aditya was that intruder who had indeed invaded her privacy. His bold gaze gave her the unspoken acknowledgment of their secret encounter, This audacity fuelled her fury.

Struggling to maintain her composure, Raamya clenched her teeth, her cheeks burning with humiliation. Though she tried to stay calm, tears threatened to spill, revealing the turmoil she felt inside.

In that moment of vulnerability, she longed to beat the crap out of the audacious intruder who had seen her in such a private state. But bound by her position, Raamya could only suppress her frustration, her trembling body betraying the storm of emotions within.

Raamya's distress was palpable. Her gentle features twisted in a touching expression of pain and innocence, making her appear vulnerable and unfairly judged, like a scared child being scolded, which fit exactly with the situation, in opposition to her claim to rule. Even the stern head priest softened at her sorrow.

Emperor Hemu, however, showed no sympathy. His pride stung by the implications of his earlier declaration, he seethed with anger. His voice was filled with righteous fury as he chastised the head priest, his resolve hardened by Raamya's distress.

"Shame on you, priest!" Hemu thundered, his words resonating with authority. "Have we not worshipped Goddess Durga, the supreme deity who vanquished demons that all others could not? Do the sacred shlokas not fall under the authority of Goddess Saraswati? What hypocrisy is this?"

The gathered nobles were moved by his impassioned defense of Raamya, murmuring their agreement as they witnessed the blend of sorrowful femininity and martial prowess in the young general. Even those who had seen her on the battlefield, clad in armor and turban, were captivated by her vulnerability in this moment.

Shadi Khan, knowing Raamya's true identity and holding paternal affection for her, stepped forward in support. "Head priest," he interjected firmly, "I have witnessed Raamya on the battlefield. She is unmatched, capable of defeating hundreds with her left hand alone. To doubt her now is foolishness."

The head priest, feeling the weight of collective condemnation, attempted to maintain composure. "She may be a formidable general," he retorted defiantly, "but rulership is traditionally a mantle for men. To elevate her would bring doom upon our empire."

Chandrashekar, the prime minister and Emperor's father, impatiently unsheathed his dagger and pointed it at the head priest menacingly.

"Remember that if the Mughals had prevailed, your fate might have been far less forgiving. The fact that you still stand is a testament to our regard for your role in temple. Do not push our patience, if you wish to keep your head, where it is."

The head priest recoiled in fear, his resolve crumbled in the face of imminent danger.

"I...I meant no disrespect," he stammered, his voice quavering. "There may be... alternatives to mitigate the supposed sin. If a penance of sufficient weight is undertaken, the gods may yet be appeased."

Chandrashekhar, softened by the priest's capitulation, offered a conciliatory smile and withdrew his dagger. "I understand, head priest," he replied, his tone gentler now.

"Forgive my earlier harshness. It would have served us both well, had you recalled this solution sooner."

The head priest, relieved to have saved his dignity and avoided disaster, chuckled nervously in agreement. The promise of additional compensation eased his wounded pride.

Following the Emperor's decree, Raamya underwent a ritual of weighing. She was measured against seven different metals, including gold and silver, along with items like fine linen, camphor, salt, and sugar.

Additionally, at the insistence of Sayantika Sen, a significant sum of hundred thousand was distributed among the Brahmins from her side to prevent any further escalation of the matter.

With this proclamation, the Emperor assured that changes to inheritance laws would be enacted within three days and that reforms would be discussed with the nobles to ensure alignment and consensus.

Murmurs spread among the nobility, but the reward ceremony continued. Aditya watched from a corner, amused by the unfolding events, recognizing that the stage was being set for change in the empire.

Though it wasn't planned, he welcomed the prospect of incremental progress, understanding that small changes often led to significant reform.

His amusement turned to surprise when the Emperor called his name and offered him a reward of his choosing to help lessen the empire's debt in recognition of his service.

Bowing respectfully, Aditya spoke with humility, "Your Majesty, I have no desire for administrative positions or authority at this time. What I seek is to establish my own company."

The assembly was taken aback, their eyes wide with a mix of surprise and curiosity at this unexpected request.