It is you - I

It is you - I

Pratap gave one last glance to his brother working with the other men. He knew Shakta was a good fighter and would be able to take care of things, but he was impulsive just like the other boy, Patta. Patta had been introduced to them as the best fighter of the village; he was quite popular with the children and the other villagers.

“Shakta and Patta are so alike,” Pratap thought to himself, “impulsive, angry, love drama and show-offs. They’ll be good together.”

He walked through the village making notes of all the paths that led to the centre and the gate. 10 minutes later, he found himself in front of the temple entrance. The complex was not as busy as early in the morning, but a few people were still present. He walked up the stairs towards the darshan area and found himself face to face with the head priest. The priest offered him the prasad and showed him around the complex when the alarm went off

 “Dacoits are coming!!!”

Pratap hurried outside as everyone rushed to find shelter. The village it seemed was prepared for the attack, children and women were all indoors, men had divided into groups and taken their positions at the entrance, on the security post and at higher elevations – some in trees, some on rooftops and some on top of the temple. 

As soon as the sound of hooves neared, a female voice rang out

“Archers, ready” she ordered, “Attack!!”

Pratap had joined Shakta and the others when they saw the arrows rain down on the dacoits.

“Baijilal’s idea is working,” one of the men smiled. Pratap had to give it to Baijilal, she had used a perfect warfare defensive tactic to their advantage. 

He along with Shakta charged at the ones left behind,

Har har Mahadev

Jai Mewar

The war cry startled the dacoits who were not expecting resistance at all. It seemed the news of Mewar abandoning the village was false.

“Retreat,” the head shouted as he pulled on the reins of his horse. An arrow landed right near the horse’s feet startling the creature,

“not so fast dacoit,” Patta caught up to him with his sword out, “you are not going anywhere.”

The dacoits were all tied up as they were taken away by the men. Their loot was taken to the temple where it would be kept till the panchayat decides its fate. The village was slowly returning to its regular self as children came out rushing with happiness on winning the fight against the dacoits.

“Dadabhai, did you see the archers?” Shakta asked as his brother took a sip of water. He looked in the direction of a group of young boys and girls collecting arrows that lay on the ground, “they are the archers trained under watchful eyes of Baijilal.”

“Baijilal,” Pratap looked as the boys and girls made their way back to the temple complex.

“Here you go,” Patta handed them laddoo, “eat up we have some rebuilding to do, Laxman Prasad ji.”

Shakta made a face upon hearing his fake name, “Bhai Patta you are an able swordsman,” he flattered the other guy who flashed his teeth, “would you be so kind to teach me a few moves?”

Pratap hid his amusement as he knew the reason behind Shakta’s buttering the fellow did not want to do any heavy lifting. 

Patta nodded his head, “Swordsman I’m the best and I assure you that bhai Laxman I will teach you a few good moves. Stay with me and when you go back, you will be a better fighter.”

Ajabde smiled as she saw the injuries this time were only superficial, and nobody was in a critical condition. The idea of having archers had worked wonders for them but they could not rely on it for long. She was sure one or two dacoits might have run away or managed to send information back to their leader. He would attack again all prepared to tackle the archers. The village needed more men and one more security post towards the river bank so that nobody came through the river. 

She walked back to her hut and found a pigeon waiting patiently on the window sill,

Kunwar Pratap and Kunwar Shakta are on the move. Choti Ranisa under house arrest.

Stay alert!

Ajabde threw the note in the fire as her mind went off in a thousand different directions. Both Kunwar Pratap and Kunwar Shakta were no longer in Chittor, which means they either had gone to a battlefield or maybe a trip to the borders to check for security.

Maybe they are right here in the village. Two well-built young men have been sent to aid, remember her inner-voice added. 

Ajabde shook her head, she needed to learn the identity of the two men as soon as possible.

“Jija, we have guests,” Patta’s loud voice made her look up as she covered her head with the dupatta. She looked through the window to glance at the guests. Both men were well-built, dressed like ordinary men but the way they carried themselves was not at all ordinary. The sun rays fell on them making both shine brighter but as soon as they looked towards the window, her eyes met with his for only a fraction of seconds, but it was enough for her to learn the identity of the person standing on her doorstep.

She opened the door hesitantly as Patta walked in unaware of the stress his sister was under,

“Jija, those dacoits ran away like cowards. I’m sure those dacoits fear the brave Patta,” he bragged only to stop when Shakta fake coughed.

“My apologies,” Patta rambled, “Jija meet Laxman Prasad and his elder brother Ram Prasad. They both helped us in the fight against the dacoits.”

She bowed her head and rushed into the kitchen to get some distance from him.

Ram Prasad was Kunwar Pratap. He had found her.