Chương 2: A decision

LAHORE

As he stood there watching the sun set behind the terrain, he couldn't help but remember his defeat. The fact that a trader had pacified him, those barbarians wouldn't have been able to step a foot inside his fortress if he had been half the man he was ten years ago.He had allowed age to catch up with him. No.He was blaming nature for his loss. He would come back. He would come back with strength and power unheard of ,as even when wounded, the lion continued to rule the jungle. He would wait, not heal his wounds but to lure the prey. He saw the sun, in a bright red splendiferous shade that reminded him that blood was due. That reminded him that he had failed . That he had not protected his people when they had needed him most. That he had allowed history to forever inscribe the fact that the Svarnamani; the gem that had felt the touch of Krishna and the blessings of Shiva fell into the hands of a vendor. He snapped his fingers that thundered around the empty chamber. An attendee walked in to see the king sitting in his arm chair as he rocked back and forth. " You called sire?", he said, feeling the tension in the air. The King was obviously angry. Who wouldn't be ?, he had just lost his most prized possession. "Summon all the princes."

The minutes that passed saw the arrival of Duleep, Kharak , Sher , Ishar and Tara. The five valiant sons of the king stood firm, masking their fatigue and wounds from the war. " Take off your turbans", said the Old man." But father", said Duleep and Sher in a state of alarm. After all it was their father who had taught them that a Sikh's turban will never leave his head until his heart had come to a defining stop. " Take it off!", he screamed as the roar of the Sarkar raced through the city of Lahore. "Tara", "my boy", said the warrior who had transitioned his role to father." Call the priest." As the priest walked into the chamber, The king started to speak, before anyone could realise what was happening, It was done." Maharaja Ranjit Singh of the Sandhawalia clan swear that I will not rest until the diamond that has been adorned by the hand of Krishna, being in the presence of Rama, rests unto the hands of my people. I take this promise, not as the emperor of a hundred and sixty two kings but as an honest Sikh, And this turban that is the pride of me and my clan shall not rest on this unworthy head until it has fulfilled its duty." The entire room seemed to be at a standstill. He looked at his sons , each one with a different colour on their faces and the priest who was pale as he realised that he was testimony to a daring promise to say the least. Duleep was the first to revive from the shock." Shall I announce the war father ?"

No.", He said." Summon the commander." The commander who had been licking his wounds was filled with a sense of renewed vigour and inspiration as he heard of the king's actions. He began with his plan as he walked into the chamber," My lord we have a total of six hundred and ten thousand men, four hundred and fifty thousand of which are in a condition to fight , our elephantine forces will be ready to go by tomorrow and the cavalry with the modern weapons..." ,"No", said the King. We need a new strategy. One that doesn't cause much commotion, these men are not our people. These men are from another country with a more modern force. No one needs to know that the diamond that they possess is going to be a fake. Let them live with that lie for as long as they have to." And let us realise the fact that it is easier to defeat one man instead of an army." " The king walked around the chamber with his cabinet waiting for a decision." Do the people of their country know that the diamond has been annexed ?" " Yes sire." said the commander evidently intrigued." So it is obvious that the vendor will now receive a letter of appreciation from their king."

Of course father",said Sher; finally out of the shock from the events that had ensued in the last hour." What if we intercept it ?" ,chimed Duleep, now beginning to understand his father's masterpiece." Good Duleep", said the father momentarily pleased and give him a rye smile before becoming the warrior again.''Commander intercept the letter and burn it. However, save the seal. give it to the best candle maker in the entire province and create the mold. Bring me the best mediator in the province and make him write what I say and not a word more. " If he had not been in such an important situation, the commander would have fallen at the Maharajah's feet. He realized that not any king could become a Sarkar." To whomsoever it may concern...."

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