CHAPTER TWO
Altunia was dumbstruck at her words.
Did he hear right ? In his arms ? Dum todna ?
What in the name of merlin was wrong with her ?
Holding her in his arms was one of the most wonderful feelings he ever got. But watching her die in his arms ? He felt very cold and heavy inside. He could not bear to think like that anymore. He could not bear to think about her death.
May death choose me instead. I will embrace it with open arms. I will die a thousand times in the most brutal and painful way possible in this universe if it means it will keep her alive instead. No. No. No. I cannot let this happen. And it will not happen. At any cost.
His eyes were wet. He tried hard not to let those tears fall. Tears of fear. Tears of the thought of separation with her by death. This woman standing right there in front of him was crazy. Crazy in his love. And so was he for her. He moved towards her and cupped her face with his hands.
She noticed the wetness in his eyes and immediately realized the effect her words had on him. She felt guilty. She should not have said it. But words had escaped her mouth without even her knowing it. The blaze in her eyes were gone. She looked at him back with deep affection, staring directly into those green eyes. Just as he opened his mouth to speak, a sandstorm hit their eyes. A wind had started to blow causing the sand in the battle field to fly. They shook their faces shutting their eyes tight. Waved their hands in front of the sandstorm. Rubbed their eyes.
Just as they both opened their eyes slowly, Altunia's head was towards the right and Razia's was towards the left. Their eyes widened with shock. A group of soldiers were running towards them. They were still a bit far but they were coming from both the sides. They were not injured. They did not look wounded or tired at all. They looked fresh. Fresh as if they just slept, ate and exercised well before coming here. Moiz had sent an all new team of soldiers towards them who had not entered the battlefield until now.
They looked back at each other. Altunia looked down at his sword which was still in her hands. She noticed him looking at his sword. They did not have time for argument. She rolled her eyes and jerked her face quickly in the direction where she had dropped hers which was just a little distance away, signaling him to go and pick that up. He smirked and ran to pick up her sword. She did not understand the reason behind his smirk. That too at this serious hour ? Whatever in the world was wrong with her beloved crazy husband ?
He came back quickly and looked at her with a grin. "Yeh toh wohi Qutubi Shahi Shamheer hai na Mohtarma, jiska istemaal karne wala Delhi Sultanate ka Sultan hota hai ?" He asked amused.
"Jab aapko humne jung mein haraya tha, tab aap apne saath yeh Shamsheer Bhatinda lekar aayi thi, apne seene se lagakar rakhti thi aap isko maano aapki jaan ismein basti ho.
Humse nikaah karne ke baad bhi ek baar humein haath tak lagane nahi diya tha isko. Kehti thi isko haath sirf Delhi Sultanate ka Sultan hii laga sakta hai. Aapko dil-o-jaan se bhi aziz tha aapka yeh Shahi Shamsheer jo pehle aapke Dada aur phir aapke Abbu ke haathon istemaal hua tha. Aaj achanak se aapko kya ho gaya hai ? Humein choone kaise diya aapne yeh Shamsheer ko ? Aapka dimaag toh theek hai na ?" he finished with a big grin.
The enemies were drawing closer, but Altunia was busy examining the majestic and sharp sword that he had just got hold of with awe, whose handle was decorated with precious stones. Razia was irritated at him for asking questions like these when they should be discussing about how to tackle those enemies coming towards them.
She spoke quickly and irritably " Itne bhi pathar dil nahi hai hum Mirza, hum jaante thay ki aapki badi tamanna thi ek baar iss Shamsheer ko haath mein liye kisike saath talwaar bazi karey, just to get it the feel of holding and using this wonderful sword" (please excuse the mix of urdu and English here)
"Toh aaj humein aapki yeh tamanna poora karne ka dil chaha. Yehi sahi waqt hai iska aapke haathon istemaal hone ka."
Altunia stopped examining the sword and looked at her, perplexed.
What was wrong with her today ? First the talks about embracing death in his arms, now she is allowing him to use this sword... THIS ONE just because he had wished for it a few times ? They were together for four months with all their misunderstandings cleared, if she really wanted she would have allowed him to use this sword that time itself. Why suddenly now ?
No ! This is so unlike her. Something is wrong. Something is going on in her mind. I will get it out of her. But that later. He looked left and right. They were almost here. Their shouts and evil laughs ringing in his ears. He had to focus on killing them all and also sending the love of his life away from this battlefield.
"Seedhe seedhe samjhate hai toh aap samajhti nahi, lagta hai humein phir tedi chaal chalani padegi aapko yahan se bhagane ke liye." He said confidently turning his back on her to face the enemies who had now closed in. She too turned his back on him focusing at the enemies.
They were surrounded completely. CLANG CLANG CLANG came the sounds of swords clashing with each other. They were not too many in number, but they were fresh means a bit stronger and less tired than Razia and Altunia.
Their backs were still close to each other given the fact that the enemies made a small circle around them which allowed them to remain close by.
Razia tossed her head on the side and spoke out to Altunia with her back still facing his " Kya kaha aapne Mirza ? Tedi chaal ? Phir tedi chaal ? Kya matlab hai aapka ? Aap humein phir gumrah karenge jaise uss waqt Yaasir ke zeher ka kaant dene ki umeed dikha kar humein door bhej diya tha ?"
CLANG CLANG CLANG ! She fought with three this time, pausing her talks for sometime. He was busy fighting but he was also listening carefully to what she was saying. Finally when she stabbed one of them to death, she continued quickly
"Aapko kya lagta hai ki uss din ke baad se hum hoshiyar nahi ho gaye thay ? Aapne humse waise bhi koi tedi chaal nahi chali hai uss din ke baad aur agar chali bhi hai toh humne aapko jhatt se pakad liya hoga.
Aap humse koi bhi baat nahi chupa sakte hai, koi bhi daga nahi kar sakte, koi bhi jhoot nahi bol sakte chahe woh mazaak mein bhi bola gaya ho Mirza, aap hamesha hamare haathon pakde gaye hai, isiliye behtar yehi hoga kii aap humein yahan se nikalwane ki zidd ab chod de aur jung par dhyaan de."
CLANG CLANG CLANG !
She continued fighting the enemies, waiting for him to reply. They were slowly outnumbering them. True, Moiz had sent a fresh bunch forward, but the utmost fool of the highest order that he was, these soldiers were quite untrained, quite inexperienced.
CLANG CLANG CLANG ! Amid the sounds of the swords clinging, she heard him chuckle loudly. What was so funny ? How does he even get the time to find some humor amongst serious situations ? Ah, maybe just like how she had laughed at him a few minutes back, he too must have remembered something, some incident. Even though she was tensed and a bit irritated, she wanted to know what was the thing that had made him chuckle so loudly. Before she could ask, he answered the question revolving around her mind.
"Mohtarma, jitni tedi aur shatir aap khud ko samajhti hai na, ussey kayi zyada masoom aur nadaan aap andar se hai, yeh baat Mirza ke alawa aur koi nahi samajh paaya aap ke bare mein, haan who baat alag hai ki Mirza ke alawa aapko aur kisine Chakma dene ki gustakhi nahi ki aaj tak" He said teasingly "Agar hum abhi aapko bata de ki nikah wali raat ko aur..." he stopped talking very suddenly.
CLANG CLANG CLANG !
"Kya ??" she asked completely distracted this time that a sword missed hitting her cheeks very narrowly, she jerked her face backwards right on time. "Nikah wali raat ko kya ? Bataiye humein, abhi bataiye" she said quite restlessly this time. "Hum toh uss raat aapke saath hii thay aur aisa kuch..." she too stopped talking very suddenly turning crimson again, remembering certain moments of theirs.
CLANG CLANG CLANG !
He chuckled again as he knew why she had suddenly stopped talking, fighting a battle inside himself again to turn around and look at her blushing face. "Kya hua Mohtarma, aap ruk kyun gayi...aage bhi toh boliye na" he teased her again, with his back still facing hers.
She was both annoyed and desperate to know now what mischief he was up to on the night of their wedding. "Mudde ko badaliye mat !" she almost yelled "Bataiye humein, uss raat ko kya kiya tha aapne jiske bare mein aaj tak hum anjaan hai"
CLANG CLANG CLANG !
She slit the throat of one soldier impatiently, waiting for him to speak.
Altunia was now happily fighting with the soldiers with a big smile on his face. Those two enemies who were fighting with him were perplexed for a split second looking at the mesmerized smile on Altunia's face as if he was having the most beautiful time of his life right now.
"Rehne dijiye Mohtarma" he said half laughing now, " Yeh waqt sahi nahi aur jagah bhi sahi nahi hai, phir kabhie aaraamse baithkar aapko sab batayenge"
CLANG CLANG CLANG !
Razia was neither annoyed nor irriated or restless now. She did not utter a word. Sadness had taken over her. She felt heavy from the heart. She had a blank expression on her face but she continued to look up and fight her enemies off.
CLANG CLANG CLANG !
Altunia was surprised by her sudden quietness. This was again so unlike her. Few seconds ago she was arguing with him in full swing, demanding answers, and the typical Razia would not rest unless she would get them. What had happened to her now ?
These small-small nok jhoks with her mattered a lot to him. It gave him immense joy to converse with her like that. Not serious fights, only these small cute nok jhoks, the ones you only have with your sweetheart. It made him feel that this sweetheart of his belonged to nobody but him.
Where was the ever-ready-to-argue with him Razia ? Something was seriously wrong with her today.
"Kya hua Mohtarma ?" He asked, his tone full of conern. "Aap itni khamosh kyun ho gayi ? Arrey humne kaha na aapko baadmein waqt ki nazakat ko dekh kar, aaramse sab batayenge, lekin humari woh ladaku begum kahan gayi ?"
CLANG CLANG CLANG !
Razia still remained quiet.
"Mohtarma !" he said with more concern now prompting her to speak up
"Waqt !" Said Razia with a lot of pain in her tone.
"Yeh waqt kii hii toh baat hai na Mirza. Yeh kab kiske haath se choot jaaye, Maalik ke siwaye iski khabar kisko hai ? Magar Maalik bhi kabhie kabhie ishaare de deta hai Mirza, dil ki baat dil mein nahi rakhni chahiye.
Yehi sahi waqt hai Mirza, aaj abhi aur issi waqt. Kya pata iske baad aisi baatein karne ke liye hum dono ko shayad waqt miley...ya na miley. Aaj hamari daaman ko aap apni baaton se bhar dijiye Mirza !" she said with a very heavy heart.
CLANG CLANG CLANG !!
Altunia was horrified at what he had just heard.
He was scared. Very scared. He wanted to stop everything that they were doing at that very instant and just hug her tight, very tight. So this is what was wrong with her, it all made sense to him now. Her expressing the desire to die in his arms, her allowing him to use The Sword of Sultan, her sudden and painful silence after hearing the word "Waqt" from his mouth.
It was evident, very much evident that she had already made peace with the fact that today she might not be able to make it from here...alive.
He looked around while fighting with the enemies. The circle had diminished to a great extent, but outside the circle he could hardly see any of their soldiers alive. The leftover soldiers of theirs whom he could see were fighting with atleast 4 or 5 enemy soldiers at once. Yes, it was obvious, very obvious that they were losing badly. Perhaps almost lost already.
Carried away in his thoughts, he paid less attention to the ones he was fighting with and suddenly one of the enemies slashed his upper left arm just a bit below his shoulders.
Altunia hissed in pain. "Mirza !" screamed Razia at the sound of his hiss.
She turned quickly facing his back after giving a quick slash to her enemy. She put her left hand on his back signaling him to stand facing her and with the other hand continued to fight with the enemies from the sides.
"Mirza ! Hamari baat suniye Mirza" she said shaking him from the shoulders slightly
Mirza was still in a shock...eyes shinning with tears. He was not ready to stand facing her just yet.
CLANG CLANG CLANG !
He continued to fight with the enemies but his thoughts revolved around the excruciatingly painful reality which Razia just made him realize now.
"Mirzaaa !" said Razia desperately digging her nails her slightly in his clothes and flesh, coming to a sudden realization about something after her deep talks about WAQT, shaking him again.
Like him, she too couldn't bear to be burdened with the fact that what would she ever do if today he loses his life in the battle.
How will she ever be able to live ? How will she ever be able to forgive herself ? Just like Mirza ki jaan uski Mohtarma mein basti thi, Mohtarma ki jaan bhi uske Mirza mein basti thi.
This fight was hers. It was to win back HER sultanate. Her Father's, her Grandfather's. Qutubi Shahi Khandaan. Why did she simply involve Mirza in all this ?
She wished she had forgiven him sooner after he had waged a war against her. She wished she had never taunted him about how her kingdom was snatched away because of him. She wished she never threw all those tantrums at him, insulting him no end about how miserable he had made her life.
All of that...yes all of that was the root cause of Altunia's decision of promising to help her to win back Delhi or die trying. Die trying.
"No ! No ! No ! Ya mere Maula what a grave mistake I committed !" she thought her eyes too shining with tears.
"MIRZA !" She roared loudly "Aap ko yahan se jaana hoga Mirza, abhi aur issi waqt. Yeh hamari ladayi hai. Humari takht aur taaj wapas paane ke liye. Hamari Dilli wapas haasil karne ke liye. Aapko issey kya?" she said foolishly.
Though she knew she was making a very weak argument right now. Being her husband and someone who loved her insanely, all this was HIS matter as well. Like he would listen to this pointless argument of hers. But she wouldn't give up. She had to send him off anyhow.
CLANG CLANG CLANG !
She continued fighting but didn't stop talking,
" Aap toh sirf Bhatinda ke Subedaar hai, Moiz ko aapse kya dushmani hoyegi ? Kya khatra hoga aapse ?
Jung toh hum ladne aaye hai na ussey...agar usko aapse dushmani hoti toh woh pehle hum par jung ched deta.
Aap jaayiye yahan se Mirza aapko hamari Mohobbat ka waasta !"
Altunia gave a very heavy and brutal slash to three enemies at one time as if he was irritated and angered by what she had just said. Finally he turned around and looked at her. But he was not angry.
His eyes were soft, tender, but shinning with a bit of tears. He looked at her very lovingly but there was pain all over his face. Pain that made Razia feel excruciatingly heavy from the inside.
They both continued to fight the last remaining soldiers in the circular group from the sides, tilting their bodies slowly as it was required but continuing to stare at each other with both pain and love.
CLANG CLANG CLANG !
"Khud kehti hai ki dum todengi toh sirf hamari baahon mein, aur khud humein uski paak Mohobbat ka waasta dekar ek jaan ko doosre jaan se alag kar rahi hai ?" he said softly, painfully and lovingly.
CLANG ...Four enemies left
"Ab agar hum chale gaye Mohtarma, toh aapki jo zidd hai hamare baahon mein aane ki woh poori kaise hogi ? Har zidd aapki, har hukum aapka sar aakhon par."
"Ab iss deewane ne bhi ek zidd pakad li hai Mohtarma ki ab Mirza fannah hoga toh sirf aur sirf uski Mohtarma ko apne baahon mein lekar hoga" His voice echoed.
CLANG... 2 enemies
Razia stared at him, fighting hard not to let the tears come out. She half smiled out of love, but the pain didn't leave her.
"Hum kahin nahi jaa rahe, dobara boliyega bhi mat" he warned her sternly like that was his final word.
CLANG...Inexperienced circular group of useless soldiers all dead
"Yahin rahenge aapke paas aur aapki chaati pe moong sekenge. In do pal ke lamhon ke khazaane ko aaj, aap aur hum apne daaman mein saath bharenge..."
He paused, and continued with a very heavy heart with tears now successfully falling from his eyes after much controlling ..."aur saath marenge" he finished.
Razia's face was already wet with a lot of tears. She smiled through her tears. Once again, the words of her beloved Mirza had proved that...
~They were not each other's better halves, they were the halves of the same whole~
('Halves of the same whole' line courtesy - Breaking Dawn, Twilight series book)
*END OF CHAPTER 2*
Sorry Sorry Sorry guys it was painful I know...but it has to be this way...I almost cried writing all this too
A happier chapter coming up next.
Precap - Flash back to Nikah night and Horse Stable night. The battle continues
NOTE - Please excuse me for the grammatical and spelling errors
Edited by arshia200 - 9 years ago
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