บท 69: The Fall Of Maratha Kingdom Part :1
With the invention of cement, all the important cities in the empire began to be paved with cement roads.
Several fortifications were constructed along the coast of Kochi, cleverly hidden in the dense forest in a camouflaged manner. It was Vijay who had devised the battle plan for the impending war.
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Maratha Kingdom.
"Bang!"
The door of the palace was smashed open.
"Father, we have received news that both Kota Fort and Pathankot Fort have fallen, and my younger brother was struck by an arrow while retreating... he has passed away," Aditya, the Crown Prince of the Maratha Kingdom, said with a choked voice.
Aditya didn't know what to do. They had already received information from Vijayanagara half a month ago, but unfortunately, no matter the schemes they employed, they were not strong enough to resist the mighty Mughal army.
Thinking about his little brother, his sadness turned into anger as he questioned his father, "I already told you to let me go to the frontlines. Look at it now, my brother is dead," he said with a livid face.
*Sigh*
Tears rolled down Rajendra Bansal's face. He was deeply saddened by the passing of his youngest son. He was already an old man, and seeing his son pass away before him was a source of great sorrow.
Aditya had never seen his father like this before. His father had always been an upright and brave man, akin to the might of a lion. But suddenly, he looked like a weak old man.
Aditya didn't question his father any further. He felt his father's sorrow and said, "Father, let me join the frontlines. You should retreat to my sister's home. You will be safe in Vijayanagara. We have received news that the Mughal army is approaching the royal capital, and they will be here within a few hours."
Rajendra Bansal nodded his head, with some lingering sadness on his face. But being the king of a kingdom for so long, he was able to compose himself somehow.
"Alright, we will do as you said," Rajendra said as he got up from his throne and hugged his eldest son, knowing very well that this would be the last time he would see him.
He still had a little regret that he wouldn't be able to see his grandchild, but perhaps it was Brahma's will. Who was he to question it?
Aditya, who was hugged by his father, became emotional again as he talked about the passing of his brother.
"Thud!"
Suddenly, Aditya was struck unconscious by the chief guard of the palace.
"Old friend, thank you for your help," Rajendra said.
"This life is yours to command, Your Highness. Please don't be so formal. But is this the right way, Your Highness? You should also retreat to Vijayanagara with the Crown Prince. This servant of yours will put his life on the line to hold the Rakshasas back."
"Huh."
Rajendra chuckled in amusement as he heard those words. In the next moment, the old man's expression changed, and he became a raging lion as he reprimanded, "Me, retreat? How dare you question my integrity? Know your place, Guard."
The chief security officer was in a panic as he heard the king's reprimand. Just as he was about to explain his intention, the king waved him off and continued, "Do you know why I sit in this position, Guard? Not because of fancy titles or conquering new lands, but because my family has the support of the people of this land. Now you're telling me to abandon those very people who gave my family power and wealth, and choose to run away and hide in my daughter's home? If this kingdom should be lost, it will be over my dead body."
The Guard Captain, hearing those words and feeling the king's determination, chose to submit and no longer insisted. He fell to one knee and handed his sword to the king. "Please forgive me, Your Highness. Please let this slave accompany you."
Rajendra accepted the guard's plea. Soon after, he sent the unconscious Aditya to Vijayanagara with his pregnant daughter-in-law.
"Father, please forgive me for making such a selfish request, but my child and your grandchild should not grow up without a father. When my husband wakes up, I will take full responsibility for this grave sin that I have committed,"
Harshpreet Bansal, his daughter-in-law, begged as she held onto his legs before departing. Her face was filled with guilt and tears as she clung tightly to his feet.
"Arre arre, what is this? Get up, get up! Even if you did not ask me, I was going to send both my sons out of the kingdom. You don't have to worry, unfortunately, your brother-in-law passed away,"
Rajendra said as he wiped the tears from his daughter's eyes. "You are almost at the time of birth. You should not cry like this; it is not good for my grandson's health. You go ahead; I will finish off the matters in the kingdom and come later."
Rajendra said, in all honesty, he couldn't tell his daughter-in-law that he was staying behind because he knew she would never let him go, and he did not want to affect the birth of his grandson.
"And take this letter, give it to Aditya when he wakes up. This will teach him to treat you nicely after he reads this,"
Rajendra said as he sent his son and daughter away in a carriage. Seeing the departing carriage, there was still a little unwillingness in him to see his family go away, but he soon steeled his determination.
He returned to the palace and opened the armoury, where an old full-body armour lay on a table. It was the ancestral Armor belonging to the royal family of the Maratha Kingdom, which was passed down from generation to generation. Rajendra had worn it when he was young, but now it was his time to wear it again.
With the help of servants, the old man donned the full set of armour with difficulty. Looking in the mirror, there was a majestic and royal air around him. If the future generations of people saw him, they would recognize him as Kattappa from Baahubali.
Rajendra, adorned in silver armour, made his way to the city wall to oversee the battle for one last time.
To Be Continued...
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