บท 31: The Lone Witness Part -1

** Following day of treachery, night time in Lahore, Pakistan sultanate**

As Mahmud Khan paced along the fort walls, his gaze swept over the heightened security measures and the arrival of Ansari, Bairam Khan's renowned henchman and subedar, along with a brigade of soldiers. His worry deepened as he noticed the absence of his cousin Ali Quli Khan, who had ventured out for a meeting regarding the growing discontent among the forces. In the midst of the brewing rebellion within the empire, Mahmud Khan could only place his hopes on his brother.

As he pondered the absence of his cousin Ali Quli Khan, who had ventured out for a crucial meeting, Mahmud Khan's thoughts were interrupted by the presence of his loyal guard, Balwindar.

"Balwindar," Mahmud Khan called out without turning, his voice tinged with urgency, "did you bring that leather pouch?"

Balwindar bowed respectfully before responding, "Yes, sir. Here it is. Its contents are at your discretion."

Mahmud Khan accepted the pouch without a second glance, hastily extracting its contents and indulging in a deep inhalation. With a sigh of relief, he savored the taste, acknowledging the luxury of having a non-believer by his side.

"AAgh! What a taste, thanks to you for being a non-Muslim, I can enjoy this thing with ease." Mahmud Khan exclaimed with satisfaction, his tongue clicking in disapproval as he lamented, "Tsk..Tsk.. those bunch of fanatic idiots. They will never know the pleasure of this heavenly delicacy."

As Mahmud Khan gazed down at the arrival of additional security forces below, he turned to Balwindar, his trusted guard, seeking his honest assessment of the situation.

"Tell me, Balwindar, your honest thoughts about the current situation," Mahmud Khan inquired, his voice tinged with concern.

Balwindar, ever loyal and observant, responded without hesitation. "Sir, rumors abound that many subedars in the ranks are contemplating rebellion. They blame the Badshah for his perceived foolishness in losing the almost won battle and are rallying their factions to protest. They seek to force the Badshah to break the treaty and wage war."

Mahmud Khan chuckled incredulously at the notion. "Protest for what? To meet death? Fools! Let them behave, and they shall be crushed by my cousin's cavalry."

However, a seed of doubt lingered in Mahmud Khan's mind as he pondered the role of Bairam Khan in the unfolding chaos. "Tell me, what do you think of Bairam Khan?" he queried, his tone thoughtful yet guarded.

Balwindar's response was cautious, reflecting the gravity of the situation. "Forgive me, sir, if I overstep, but I cannot help but entertain doubts. The rebellious faction seems to favour Bairam Khan, and it is not beyond the realm of possibility that he is behind it all."

Mahmud Khan nodded thoughtfully, his expression betraying a hint of confidence. "You are correct, Balwindar. But he would be wise not to overplay his hand. There are many loyal to the Badshah who would gladly lay down their lives for him."

Mahmud Khan turned to Balwindar, his expression earnest as he addressed his loyal guard. "Have you never once doubted that your talents are wasted?" he inquired, his tone reflecting genuine concern. "You've dedicated five years of your life to our brigade, climbing the ranks from sepoy to subedar. Yet, I singled you out among your peers to stand as my personal guard, elevating you to the esteemed position of subedar and entrusting you with the execution of my most confidential tasks. Do you harbor any dissatisfaction in serving under my command?"

Balwindar bowed deeply, his sincerity evident in every gesture. "I dare not doubt your wisdom, sir," he responded earnestly. "It is well known that within the Mughal ranks, it is only within your brigade and that of Lord Ali Quli Khan where non-Muslims like us are given opportunities to earn a living and support our families. Without your grace, we would be at risk of losing our lives for failing to pay the jizya tax."

"Good!, Good!", Mahmud Khan's hand rested reassuringly on Balwindar's back as he gestured for him to stand upright. "Your loyalty is commendable," he remarked, his voice filled with genuine appreciation. "I am pleased with your dedication to your masters."

Mahmud Khan turned back to the window, his gaze fixed on the shimmering moon as he continued to share his thoughts. "At first, my brother and I were not of this mindset," he began, his voice tinged with reminiscence. "But it was Her Majesty the, mother Empress who received a divine revelation, foretelling the coming of a Messiah. This Messiah, Balwindar, is destined to usher us in an era of Sulh-i-Kul, or universal peace and I firmly believe that it is none other than our Badshah. He will lead us to a time where there is no need to wage war in the name of religion, where the ban on wine will be lifted, and the happiness in air will flow as heaven..."

Pausing briefly to control his excitement, Mahmud Khan spoke with a sense of calm conviction. "When the future is already written, who are we to discriminate?" he pondered aloud. "We shall stand by the Badshah , ensuring our names are remembered for eternity. And by embracing individuals like yourself, Balwindar, into our ranks, I have reaffirmed that there is no inherent difference between us. Peace is indeed possible."

Balwindar, deeply moved by Mahmud Khan's words, offered his sincere response. "Sir, I dare not dispute your vision, and I pray that your words come to fruition. For me, you are my lord and my foremost priority, and I pledge my unwavering loyalty to you for all time." Mahmud Khan, visibly impressed by Balwindar's unwavering devotion, nodded in appreciation.

Suddenly, Mahmud Khan's keen senses alerted him to the whistling of an arrow hurtling towards his head. Instinctively, his martial training kicked in, and he deftly dodged the projectile just in time. As he scanned the chaos unfolding below the fort, his heart pounded with a mixture of shock and apprehension.

With a swift glance, Mahmud Khan spotted Ansari, armed with a bow, aiming another arrow in his direction. Reacting swiftly, he leaped to the side, narrowly avoiding the deadly shot. The realization dawned on him like a bolt of lightning – the fort was under siege.

Turning to Balwindar, his trusted companion by his side, Mahmud Khan's voice rang out with urgency. "We must act quickly. The safety of the empress and the others inside the tent is at stake."

With a sense of foreboding, Mahmud Khan surmised that his cousin, Ali Quli Khan, had likely been eliminated or sent away, leaving only one remaining target – the Badshah's ailing mother. Determined to protect her at all costs, Mahmud Khan and Balwindar surged forward, cutting down rebel soldiers in their path.

As they reached the gate leading to the mother empress's quarters, they were met with fierce resistance from the rebels attempting to breach the room. Mahmud Khan fought with ferocity, his sword flashing in the dim light as he defended the entrance.

Finally overpowering the rebels, Mahmud Khan called out to the mother empress and her maids, their fear palpable in the air. "Open the door, quickly!" he urged, his voice urgent yet reassuring.

As the door swung open, Mahmud Khan's heart sank at the sight of the mother empress and her attendants, huddled in fear in the far corner of the room. With gentle words, he sought to calm their trembling nerves. "Fear not, Your Majesty empress. We will ensure your safety."

Escorting the mother empress and her maids to safety through a secret tunnel leading out of the fort, Mahmud Khan's mind raced with the gravity of the situation. However, his relief was short-lived as he emerged from the tunnel to confront a formidable obstacle – a vast number of enemy forces guarding the entrance.

Mahmud Khan's determination faltered for a moment, but he steeled himself, knowing that the safety of the Badshah's mother and the empire depended on his resolve. With Balwindar at his side, he prepared to face whatever lay ahead.

Turning to Balwindar, Mahmud Khan's gaze was steely with determination as he made a solemn request. "Promise me, Balwindar, that you will protect the former empress and ensure their safe escape. I trust you to lead them to Kabul safety."

Balwindar hesitated, torn between his duty to his lord and his concern for his own safety. Yet, in the end, loyalty won out as he nodded solemnly. "I promise, my lord. I will do everything in my power to ensure their safety and guide them to safely to kabul."

With a final glance, Balwindar clasped Mahmud Khan's shoulder, his voice filled with conviction. "But you must promise me sir, that you will stay strong and survive. Our destiny is intertwined, and together we shall see the dreams that you realized before." Mahmud khan just smiled in return and moved to the opposite direction.

Taking a daring stance, Mahmud Khan stepped out into the fray, his sword flashing in the moonlight as he engaged the rebel soldiers head-on. His presence drew the attention of the guards, providing Balwindar with the opportunity he needed to usher the mother empress and her attendants to safety.