Chapter 28 Agastya
Iwas done.
I gave up trying to make her understand. She avoided me, possibly to punish me, and wanted nothing more to do with me.
I inhaled sharply and turned away from her door.
Something inside me broke beyond repair. The final ounce of hope lay shattered.
The last hope of having someone to hold on to had gone.
I returned to my chamber, completed my war plans, and left the following day; I had informed Rudra Bhai-sa.
She didn’t come to see me off, and I didn’t want her to either.
I didn’t feel it anymore. I could force her into a relationship, but I couldn’t ensure her happiness against her will.
She wanted to be happy, but it seemed like she only wanted to hate someone.
After she stopped hating and I stopped loving, we couldn’t be anything to each other anymore.
And now it was my choice.
Fuck love.
I arrived in Pratapgarh early in the morning and met the head commander of Mahabaleshgarh with his troop.
“Commander Ashwin,” I acknowledged, dismounting my horse.
He stood, joining his hands, “Welcome to Pratapgarh, Kunwar Agastya.” I clasped his hands, accepting his greetings, before stepping ahead for a tight hug.
We were all friends from the Gurukul—Ashwin, Eklavya, and many others.
“How are you?” I asked, shaking his shoulders with pride. He was one of the brightest stars among us.
“I can’t be any better,” he smiled.
Pratapgarh had undergone a complete transformation since my last visit. Significant reconstruction had altered the landscape, and the trees and greenery appeared vibrant. The flooring, scenery, and everything else were mesmerising.
“It’s beautiful. King Abhinandan has done a phenomenal job here.” I couldn’t help but admire, unlike those who failed to appreciate someone’s effort and dedication.
“Indeed, he has. After all, he has great taste in architecture and a fine knowledge of colours,” Ashwin added, earning a gentle nod from me.
“Alright, what’s the situation here?” I asked. He stepped back to place the map on the concrete slab adorned with small stone-carved soldier idols in their respective positions.
“If the situation escalates at Mehrangarh, I will meet the Army with King Abhinandan twenty miles before Pratapgarh. We’ll deploy the troops in three divisions.
The first will be the competent front-line soldiers on elephants and horses, waiting for the army twenty miles from here.
We will assign hidden troops to eliminate the army’s smaller contingents, which are lying in ambush along the route.
They will hide among the trees; they’re known for their marksmanship.
The third group will comprise soldiers stationed at Pratapgarh castle, equipped with the remaining elephants, horses, and weapons,” he explained as I focused on the map to understand his words.
“Alright. That looks like a solid plan. Attacking them in phases would weaken them,” I patted him on his shoulder. “And remember, Ashwin, we won’t give them an inch of our land, much less a kingdom,” I added.
He nodded, staring firmly into my eyes before replying, “We will not, Kunwar Agastya.”
Next, I asked him to show me the weapons stock, provisional goods, and emergency travel supplies. I also encouraged him to bring in some physicians, cooks, and male attendants for the kingdom. This enabled the soldiers to concentrate solely on the war.
After a lengthy discussion, I took my leave, but he stopped me, insisting that I at least spend the night there and leave in the morning, as it was already dark.
I agreed and spent the night on the terrace, staring at the starry sky.
The image of her face haunted my heartbeats against my will. I didn’t want to cause her pain, but it hurt me.
I knew what I had done in my past was wrong, but I confided in her because I trusted her, or at least I believed she would understand me, as she promised to stand by my side through everything. However, she changed overnight.
In that moment, I realised it wasn’t just hurt or resentment; it was mostly about her not trusting me. And under no circumstances, no matter how deeply you love someone, nothing will ever make sense if there is no trust.
My efforts were in vain because she didn’t trust me. I asked her if she could trust me regarding my words, but she declined. Nothing hurt me more than that.
Still, I understood it was all because of her past. She had a painful history, and she was simply a wounded soul.
But I couldn’t let anyone else step into my heart. I offered the rest of my heart to her. And she shattered it.
I took a deep breath, promising myself that no matter what happened next, I would never picture the two of us together, not even in my worst nightmares.
She called me a manwhore. That was true. I was one, but didn’t want to hear it from her mouth. She didn’t have to hurt me like that.
I closed my eyes, holding back tears. I would not cry for her, not for anyone anymore. No one could change that for me, no one’s love, hate, or demands. I was done with love in this life.
Maybe try in the next one.
My only ambition was to expand our kingdom and make our land the most powerful empire.
I tried sleeping, but she eluded me. Her thoughts kept me restless all night, and I woke up with a headache.
After getting into my warrior attire, I left Pratapgarh for Mehrangarh, only to find Eklavya already there. He had taken a break from Rashmika, fabricating stories about his grandmother’s death.
“Eklavya,” I called out as I spotted him where we had agreed to meet. He carried two bags and a few soldiers with him.
“Is everything ready?” I asked.
“Yes, everything’s prepared,” he stated before inquiring, “But what are you planning to do?”
I rolled my tongue over my lips, struggling with the thin air. “I’m planning to fuck these motherfuckers in my way,” I promised, and he thinned his brows in confusion.
“But what is your way, Agastya?” he chuckled softly.
I rested my hand on his shoulder and looked at the soldiers observing me. There were five of them.
“Listen to me very carefully,” I started, drawing everyone’s attention.
“Keep this rope hanging in this empty well for seven days. Do not leave this place. I will come back to this rope soon. And,” I inhaled deeply and looked at Eklavya.
“If I do not return in seven days, do not tell anyone until we win the war,” I ordered, and his expression changed immediately.
“But where are you going?” he asked.
“Just listen to me carefully, Eklavya,” I said, staring at him. “If I don’t return in seven days, take the lead and approach their army with trained archers. Hide behind the trees and kill the invaders immediately. Don’t leave a single one alive, understand?” I asked, and he nodded, looking at me.
I leaned forward and hugged him tightly.
“Jai Mahakaal42!” I cheered, and he responded with a determined, powerful voice.
“Jai Mahakaal!”
Looking at the soldiers, I nodded and ordered, “Hang the rope.”
I took one bag with me and walked toward the large group of soldiers waiting for me at the designated location.
I walked toward the wide, dry river opening I had discovered with Eklavya the other day and saw the soldiers waiting for me. Ashwin had appointed them all at my request.
“So, have you all had breakfast?” I asked, glancing at the soldiers with a hint of fear.
“Yes, commander,” one of them roared, and I appreciated looking at him.
“Bahut se yuddh lade honge aapne. Kintu aaj jo karna hai wo yuddh ladne se adhik mahatvapoorn hai. Chaahe jo bhi ho jaaye, koi bhool nahi honi chahiye, or thakna bilkul nahi hai,” “You all must have fought many wars. But what you will do today is far more critical than any war. No matter what happens, no mistakes should be made, and you must not tire until it is finished.” I said, and they all replied in firm voices.
“Jai Mahakaal!”
“Jai Mahakaal!” I replied in the same tone, and we all entered the cave.
Using the fire torches, I finally got to the spot where the cannons were. The sight shocked everyone, so I told them to tie the cannons to the ropes immediately.
I asked them to do ten cannons at a time. It took quite a while, and by the time a small group of soldiers arrived with food and water supplies for us, it was already evening. After the meal, we resumed work, and I helped tie the ropes to the cannon.
“Come on, pull them forward to the outside now and take them where I asked you to,” I said, helping them move the cannons up the slope. I instructed them to retrieve the cannons, and removing twenty cannons from the cave took almost five and a half hours.
“Take them to the place I asked you all to take them to,” I said, and one of them asked.
“Commander, you won’t come?”
I smiled at him and shook my head. “You take charge from here, and if I don’t arrive in time for the attack, let Commander Eklavya take over,” I said, and they all nodded.
They ghosted the cannons away with the help of elephants dressed in black.
I was left alone.
Closing my eyes, I prayed to Mahadev to watch over everyone and ensure that no one died in this war, not a single soldier.
I went back into the cave and began scrutinising it. I pressed my ear against the cave walls to listen for the water level on the other side, if any, because I had noticed dampness on the rocks the other day.
That meant a parallel water channel ran alongside this dry channel, but a thick wall separated us.
All I had to do was find the spot where the wall was thin.
If I couldn’t burn these cannons to ashes, I could destroy them with water.
I continued searching for narrow places for the next one and a half days and marked a few. I also explored the high-pressure point where the water would be heavy and turbulent, flowing with such force that it would take everything in its path.
I was about to hit that place with the axe. But suddenly, I heard some movement in the cave. My ears perked, and I quickly ducked behind a wall, extinguishing the torch in my hand. I couldn’t afford to be caught.