章節 24: Prince's troubles
** Purana Qila, old fort of Delhi **
The next early morning, beneath the golden rays of the rising sun, the royal training grounds once again buzzed with activity.
In the vast expanse of the royal training grounds, the clinking of swords and the rhythmic thud of footwork echoed through the air as Prince Aditya engaged in a spirited sparring session with his trusted advisor, Jeetendar.
Their movements were fluid, a dance of steel and muscle, as they exchanged blows with practiced precision.
As their duel reached its climax, the training grounds were suddenly interrupted by the melodious voice of Raamya, the chosen ruler of Bengal and the current general for the southern corps of the imperial forces.
Her presence added an unexpected twist to the training session, drawing Aditya's attention away from his current opponent.
With a confident stride, Raamya approached the sparring duo, her eyes alight with determination. "Mind if I join in? a duel of Lathis (sticks)?" she asked with a playful grin, her gaze fixed on Aditya.
Aditya couldn't help but feel taken aback by Raamya's unexpected appearance. Unlike her usual military attire, she was now adorned in a vibrant red Ghaghara and choli along with close-fitting trousers, a stark departure from the usual kurta pyjama uniform.
The outfit highlighted her feminine curves, drawing attention to her deep cleavage and voluptuous bust.
It seemed as though she was relishing her newfound freedom to express herself as a woman, or perhaps she had donned this attire to test Aditya's character. Another possibility lingered in his mind: was she trying to distract him and gain an unfair advantage in their duel?
Despite Aditya's initial skepticism, he welcomed the challenge with a gracious nod. "Of course, Your Majesty Raamya. It will be an honour."
Seeing the unequal exchange, Jeetendar objected, "Your Majesty, I believe you should consider..."
However, Raamya cut him off, saying, "Don't worry, Guard! I also need a sparring partner. I started learning this lathi vidya(stick fight) yesterday, so I think it will be fair."
Aditya was amused by the conversation, wondering how, as a general who had fought in wars, had only recently started training with a stick and what this duel was truly about? He questioned what her real intentions might be or if she genuinely perceiving him as that incompetent. Nonetheless, he felt a rush of adrenaline at the prospect of gauging his own skills after such a long time by sparring with a seasoned warrior, even if she was only claiming herself novice in this particular skill.
With a nod to the guards, Raamya requested two long wooden sticks.
As the thin long sticks were brought forth, Aditya and Raamya squared off against each other, their eyes locking in a silent exchange of determination.
Raamya launches the first strike aimed at Aditya's head. The stick slashes through air as he ducks swiftly. She follows up with a swing aimed at Aditya's ribs but he reacts with lightning reflexes, blocking the strike effectively.
Then Raamya launches a series of thrusts with her stick, but Aditya deftly evades each strike by sidestepping and pivoting away.
Undeterred by Aditya's evasion, Raamya continues her assault with a series of spin moves, attempting to keep him on the defensive and test his response time.
Aditya, recognizing the need to maintain a defensive stance against Raamya's aggressive onslaught, focuses on blocking, deflecting, and parrying her strikes, effectively nullifying her offensive maneuvers.
As they sparred a sense of adrenaline swept over him along with the undeniable attraction he felt towards Raamya for her mastery in sticks.
But Raamya had something different in mind. She is here to beat the crap out of the pervert under the facade of training, something she had wanted to do before, and now she had the chance.
As the exchange intensifies, Raamya sees an opportunity to exploit Aditya's focus on defense. She feints a horizontal swipe with her stick, intending to catch him off guard. However, Aditya remains composed and quickly assesses the situation.
When Raamya transitions into a sudden vertical chop, Aditya reacts with split-second timing. He sidesteps with precision, causing Raamya's strike to miss its mark. The force of her swing propels her forward, and her stick crashes heavily onto the ground with a distinct thud.
With Raamya momentarily off balance, Aditya seizes the opportunity to strike back with a thrust aimed at her midsection. However, before he can connect the blow, Raamya swiftly shifts her body and narrowly dodges the thrust while keeping the balance.
Seeing Aditya's failed counterattack, Raamya swiftly follows through with the rotation, harnessing the centrifugal force as she launches a devastating roundhouse kick squarely aimed at Aditya's chest, landing a solid hit.
Caught off guard by her sudden attack, Aditya staggers backward, the force of the blow knocking the wind from his lungs.
Raamya taunts, "Lurking around girls at night isn't a commendable habit, Your Highness."
Aditya coughs and, after catching his breath, retorts, "Walking alone and singing loudly? Seems like an open invitation to me, Your Majesty."
Enraged by Aditya's retort, Raamya launches into a flurry of attacks, each move aimed with precision. However, Aditya's quick reflexes come into play as he skillfully dodges or parries each strike, refusing to be hit even once.
Raamya lunges forward, closing the distance between them with lightning speed. With a deft feint, she lures Aditya into a false sense of security before unleashing a powerful right swing aimed at his left side.
The impact sends a jolt of pain coursing through Aditya's body, forcing him to stagger backward.
As Aditya struggles to regain his footing, Raamya seizes the opportunity and thrusts her stick forward, aiming to catch him off guard.
However, Aditya's quick reflexes come into play as he deflects the attack with a well-timed block, swiftly countering with consecutive strikes of his own. In the midst of the intense exchange, he inadvertently closes the distance between them.
With a swift jab, Raamya lands another solid hit on Aditya's nose, momentarily staggering him again. Simultaneously, Aditya's attempted strike to her hand is deftly blocked by Raamya, showcasing her skill and precision in combat.
Taking advantage of Aditya's momentary distraction, Raamya feints an attack with her stick, only to change the trajectory midway. Aditya, caught off guard, attempts to dodge, but Raamya's strike connects, landing squarely on his back.
Just in time, Aditya manages to bend slightly to lessen the impact, but the blow still lands, causing him to wince in pain.
Hastily, he takes a few steps to the right, trying to create distance between them, but the ache in his back constantly reminds him that the opponent is not to be taken lightly.
Aditya wipes the blood from his nose with the back of his hand, his gaze locking onto Raamya with a predatory intensity.
"Looks like someone's in need of a real spanking," he remarks, with a hint of amusement and challenge.
Aditya deftly manipulates the stick in his hand, his movements fluid and precise, causing a sense of caution to stir in Raamya's instincts.
Aditya, drawing upon his hidden skills of past life martial arts, unleashed a flurry of attacks with expert manoeuvres, catching Raamya off guard with his sudden change in style.
For the first time, Raamya felt the pressure of Aditya's onslaught, struggling to block his relentless strikes. His demeanor shifted, from prey to predator, revealing a hidden strength and determination that belied his outward rookie appearance.
As Aditya's strikes continued unabated, Raamya found herself overwhelmed by his feints and expertise. She fought valiantly, but the sudden change in tactics left her at a disadvantage.
In a decisive moment, Aditya hooked Raamya's stick, pulling her closer with a calculated move. Sensing the danger, Raamya exerted all her strength backwards in an attempt to break free, only to have her stick shattered and take few steps back in the process. .
Unwilling to accept defeat, Raamya refused to back down. With fierce determination, she dual-wielded the broken stick fragments and took position to continue the duel.
In an attempt to regain her confidence, Ramya resorts to mockery. "Don't think its over yet, Your Highness?"
She taunts, "Just because you got lucky for your monkey dance, doesn't mean you can overcome my years of expertise," her words tinged with a hint of sarcasm.
Before she can even react, Aditya unleashes a series of powerful strikes in response, aimed at her head and waist, each blow executed with formidable strength.
Raamya swiftly adapts, blocking and parrying his attacks with skillful precision, but Aditya's repeated change in tactics catches her off guard.
With a swift rotation of his stick, he feigns an hook attack from behind, prompting Ramya to block, only to find herself vulnerable to his unexpected upward strike of other hand aimed at her chest.
Reacting instinctively, Raamya steps back to evade the assault, but in doing so, she falls victim to Aditya's swift leg sweep, knocking her off balance and sending her crashing to the ground.
Wide-eyed and momentarily stunned, she struggles to comprehend what had just transpired.
As she lies sprawled on the ground, Aditya's smug smile conveys his triumph. "I am not your enemy, Ruler of Bengal," he states firmly, his voice laced with sincerity.
"I merely happened to be in the vicinity and was drawn by the sound of your voice. I am not a pervert."
With a composed demeanour, Aditya swiftly departs from the training ground, not sparing Raamya so much as a glance. As he makes his way out, he leaves her behind, lying on the ground, her breaths heavy and laboured.
In the aftermath of their intense spar, Raamya slowly comes to the realization that the training ground is now deserted. There is no one in sight, neither within the vicinity nor near the gates.
It dawns on her that their altercation may have been misunderstood by those observing, prompting them to give the two combatants some space to resolve their differences.
She gazes towards the direction he departed from and whispers to herself, "Whether you're a deity or a demon, one thing is clear: our destinies are intertwined."
Feeling a mix of embarrassment and amusement, Raamya can't help but let out a soft chuckle at the absurdity of the situation. Slowly regaining her composure, she rises to her feet, brushing herself off with a sheepish smile.
As she makes her way out of the empty training ground, she can't shake the lingering sense of admiration for Aditya's skill and determination, despite their playful banter.
** Royal garden **
Aditya strolled through the lush palace gardens on his way to his room, enjoying the fragrant flowers that surrounded him.
As he rounded a corner lost in thought, he nearly bumped into Amira, the beautiful daughter of the esteemed general Shadi Khan.
Their eyes met in surprise and then warmed with recognition. "Hey, Aditya," she said with a smile. "I was looking for you. Take a look at my new dress. What do you think? Does it suit me?"
Aditya was taken aback by Amira's stunning appearance. She wore a silver silk saree that shimmered in the dim light. The deep-cut blouse accentuated her figure, and her silver jewelry sparkled with elegance.
She looked like she had stepped out of a fairytale, her beauty enhanced by the saree's delicate embellishments. The fabric flowed gracefully around her, making her fair complexion glow.
Trying to regain his composure, Aditya joked, "Ahem! Don't forget, I'm of royal descent," with a playful glint in his eye.
Amira pouted and playfully punched him in the same spot where Raamya had kicked him earlier. "You loafer, are you belittling my efforts? Do you think wearing a saree is a joke?"
Despite the lingering pain, Aditya managed to smile. "Easy, princess. My muscles are still sore from training."
Amira gave him another playful jab, eliciting a slight groan from him. Then she reached out and lightly touched his biceps, saying with a grin, "I don't care if you're a prince or a conman, just remember, you're my Aditya. Now, loafer, tell me quickly, how do I look?"
Aditya chuckled at her response. "Well, you look absolutely stunning, like one of those heavenly beings from your Jannat (heaven as per in Islam)."
Amira blushed and replied, "I don't want to be a hoor, then I'll have to compete with the other 71 bitches."
Then, she added with embarrassment, "Instead, I'd prefer to be an apsara from Swargloka (heaven as per in Hinduism)."
Aditya chuckled at her response, finding solace in the simplicity of their era. "Too smart, huh! Want to rule all the deities of Swarga and boss around for your beauty. Very clever of you,"
She responded with a swift kick to his foot, declaring she was done with him. Aditya groaned and quickly apologized.
"Idiot, always teasing me," Amira said, her tone playful yet annoyed.
Despite her words, Aditya's gaze softened as he noticed a canopy of jasmine vines nearby. He plucked a fragrant flower and tucked it into Amira's hair, adding a touch of natural beauty to her appearance.
Amira glanced at her reflection in a nearby pool, her heart fluttering at the sight of the flower in her hair. A soft smile spread across her lips.
As Aditya gently brushed a stray lock of hair from her face, Amira's cheeks flushed with embarrassment at the unexpected intimacy.
"Forgive me, princess," he apologised sincerely.
Amira's anger melted away, and she looked at him with a mix of surprise and affection.
In that moment, Aditya was captivated by her pure eyes and enchanting smile. He felt as if he had fallen under her spell. He forgot his values and wanted nothing than to drown in her oceanic beauty.
Amira took his hands in hers, grateful and smiling warmly. They shared a heartfelt hug, their embrace full of warmth and contentment.
Under the jasmine canopy and beside the serene pond, time seemed to stand still as they enjoyed their quiet moment together.
Just as they were lost in their private haven, the voice of Bheem shattered the budding feelings, calling out Aditya's name as if it is the last day on earth and if not for him then the whole world would go down.
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