Chapter 49: A stupid life’s meaning

One hour before the raid, 50 kilometers away from the settlement….

The Jamani Mahila is the only palace that is far superior to all others in Punjab, in terms both of elegance and glory.

A massive wall surrounds the palace, and within it are lush green lawns with beautiful plants and colorful flowers.

This place is a work of art in and of itself.

Every corner of the palace has a bastion, placed like a soldier on his duty to protect.

A beautiful dome lies in the center of the structure that looks even more gorgeous at night when it is glowing in beautiful shades of blue.

A small garden bathes in its light, with a kiosk on one side, where one can find shelter and rest, and a pond on the other, where lotus flowers float peacefully.

“What are you coming for, Nala?” Asks a clear deep voice that causes vibration on the pond’s surface.

A hand on my talwar’s pommel, I bow. I’m wearing my full battle attire. My usual green and beige sherwani and my royal pagdi on my head. The sherwani is made of a reinforced material that protects akin to Kevlar, and the pagdi covers my head almost as well as a helmet, while keeping elegant and light.

The man who spoke doesn’t look at me.

Extending his hand to his cat rather than his son.

The animal, pleased by the attention it receives, purrs loudly on his hips.

“Nila is in trouble, Father. The British army is here.”

Not concerned by these words, the man smiles.

Running a hand through his gorgeously long trimmed beard, he giggles. “Is that so? And what are you going to do?”

Frowning, I bite my lower lips. “Fight, of course.”

The man laughs. He didn’t take off his night clothes for a few weeks. “For what reason have you come?” He chuckles.

His words run through me like blades. “Shall you hear that I have died, shall you know the reason why?”

The cat jumps on his shoulder and play with his long jet-black hair. “There is no glory in dying a soldier’s death. I failed to teach you how to use your head.” His deep voice echoes under the dome.

“I rather die the death of a soldier than that of a coward!” I scream. “Father, when did you last step out of this fortress? Look at the world outside! See the misery your comrades go through! You dare hope to save this country?!”

The cat hisses and jumps off the man’s shoulder before he could answer. The face he makes didn’t make it obvious whether he was pained by the words I spoke, or by the loss of his furry friend.

“You have no idea of what you’re saying.” He spits.

“Then, explain!” I yell and he finally dares to look at me.

His face is in shambles, and huge bags are dropping from under his eyes. “Go to bed!” He orders.

“I refuse. I did not come just to say this, father. I ask you to lend me your army.”

His face brightens and he bursts out laughing. “Are you out of your mind, silly child?!”

“I am not. You are a wise man, Father, as much as I regret it. You shan’t let both of your sons die in the same night. What about your lineage? What a pity.”

The man kicks in the pond with his bare foot. “I WILL NOT ALLOW THAT YOU LEAVE THIS PALACE! SAHEJ!” He screams enraged by my words.

The old butler named Sahej appears from the shadow in the kiosk. He’s wearing his usual black sherwani and a long black fan stands in his turban. “Yes, sir.” His voice shaking because of age.

My father points at me with enraged eyes. “Don’t let this insolent brat leave this place!” He screamed.

“It’s too late, father.” I smile, with tears building in my eyes.

My father, noticing that the butler doesn’t move, grabs his own head in his hands. “What have you done?!”

I bow towards the butler.

“Prince Nala hasn’t done anything, sir. Your words aren’t that of the master of this house anymore.” He bows in response.

“Thank you, Sahej.” I say, my voice shaking from emotion. “Father, if you cannot do anything for your son’s life if that son is not the heir, then I shall accelerate the procedures and take your place. The marriage with my bride, the Lalasona princess, has been decided, and a date for the ceremony shall be announced soon.”

Boiling with anger, the man approaches me with fire in his eyes and slaps my face. “How dare you speak like this to your father? Do you think a king is king once he marries? You won’t be the master here as long as I breathe!”

The tears that were building in my eyes fall on the ground and what’s left is my determination. I snap my fingers and eleven soldiers, chosen by me from my father’s army, enter the garden in full war attire and stop behind me.

Recognizing among the bests of his soldiers, my father takes a step back. “What’s the meaning of this? A coup?”

“Nothing of the sort, Father.” I grab his hand and apply pressure on it. Weakened by his new way of life, he bends the knee rather easily. “Look, you may not notice it, but you are very tired. Maybe you are sick? When is the last time you’ve seen a doctor?” I turn towards the newcomers and shout. “SOMEONE BRING A DOCTOR; MY FATHER IS NOT FEELING WELL!”

A doctor conveniently appears from behind the crowd of soldiers and runs in our direction.

“What is this farce?!” My father roars. “I am in perfect health!”

Keeping my father in my grasp so he doesn’t move, the doctor takes his pulse and his temperature, then announces his verdict. “The master is sick! He needs some rest!”

My father’s eyes widen. “LIES! THIS IS A COUP! NALA, STOP THIS MADNESS!”

Sahej approaches me and proposes. “Prince Nala, while your dearest father is convalescent, you must be the temporary regent of this house. If you do not agree, shall we ask your mother?”

“No need to bother Mother, Sahej, I will accept this duty.” I smile. “Please, Suhavi and Harkirat, would you escort my father to his quarters and make sure no one disturbs him?”

“Yes, sir!” Two soldiers, a man and a woman step out and hold one of my father’s arms each.

“NALA!” My father screams again. “YOU’RE MAKING A GRAVE MISTAKE! YOU BETRAYED ME LIKE MANY OTHERS, BUT THEY’RE ALL DEAD AND I’M HERE! YOU ARE NOT MY SON ANYMORE! I WILL NEVER FORGIVE YOU!!”

His voice slowly fades away as he leaves the garden. I straighten my clothes and give my thanks to my accomplices. “Thank you for your swift decision-making, friends. As you could see from the past months, my father is not in a state where he can rule anymore. The burden he carried was too heavy for him, but stronger and younger shoulders are here. My father was about to abandon none other than his own child, his second son to the barbarians who defile our lands and families. Now, do not fret, you can trust that I will lead you to victory.”

A burst of cheering comes out from the soldiers, and I lead the way out of the garden.

“Ready 12 horses and find two more soldiers that are ready to fight right now. We don’t have a minute to waste.” I order, walking in the palace’s halls, while Sahej covers my shoulders with my father’s dupatta. “I don’t need this.” I say as I remove it and throw it to the ground.

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“Sir, where are we headed?” A beautiful horsewoman in a hijab asks me.

She may be more than twice my age; she doesn’t look like it at all, and her perfect posture proves that she’s both a strong and fast warrior.

“Auntie Nishaa, you can call me Nala. It’s a little heartbreaking to be called ‘sir’ by one’s wet nurse and horse-riding teacher…” I smile.

“Don’t forget talwar fighting teacher too!” She raises her finger.

I laugh. “I’m sorry, my eternal, beautiful, and all-knowing teacher! We’re going to a little settlement near the desert.”

Nishaa frowns. “Is that where you two and Rohini were hanging out recently? We told you many times that this place was off limits!”

“We will say ‘sorry’ once all together. No way I’m getting scolded on my own.” I shake my hand as we walk out of the palace and horses are waiting for us, saddled and ready to run.

We dash at the same time and jump on the horses in almost perfect synchrony, but Auntie is half a second faster and laughs at me.

“You’re acting spoiled as always.” She sighs. “And here I hoped getting promoted would force you into maturity.”

“What?” I give her a sidelong glance. “You want me to change and become like my father?”

She gives me a frantic smile. “No way, you’re way too cute.”

I beam and pull my talwar out. Pointing it to the moon, I announce to the soldiers behind me: “My friends, may this night mark history.”

 

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“It’s not for you, I know you’re an idiot!” He smirks. “It’s for your girlfriend.”

Auntie Nishaa looks at Nala and then at me with wide eyes, but before she could react Nila screams: “Girl! Friend! A friend that is a girl! Right, Rohini?”

I laugh awkwardly. “Yes, of course? How is that a question?” And mouth ‘Are you a fucking idiot?!’ to Nala.

Nala giggles. “Naturally, it’s not a girlfriend in the romantic way; actually, I don’t think Rohini can have romantic feelings at all. Have you seen how she always acts like a monkey? Maybe she’ll have a crush for a monkey one day, we’d better be careful!”

Auntie Nishaa gives Nala a scary face and slaps the back of his head. “Don’t you dare speak like this to your bride!”

Nala overreacts by holding his head, acting like the slap hurts a lot more than it is. “How dare you land a hand on your master?!”

Nila and I blink.

“Master…?”

“How is Father?”

Nala shrugs. “Father is sick for a bit so I’ll rule meanwhile. It’s temporary, don’t worry.”

I know the twins’ relationship with their father is quite difficult. I don’t see any world in which he would lend them his role, even if he was on the verge of death.

I stare at Auntie Nishaa who gives me a look that means ‘I’ll explain you later,’ so I don’t insist further.

Two horsemen approach us and drop from their horses.

“Did you find any survivors?” Nala asks them.

“Yes.”

“Two children hid in a cabin. They are emotionally shaken but they’re physically well.”

Nila sighs of relief.

“Can I speak with them?” Nala asks.

“Of course, this way.” They guide him away.

Auntie Nishaa jumps off her horse as well and follows them “I will see too, look out for Sra for me.” She orders before leaving.

I turn to Nila and show him the radio Nala threw at me. “What did he mean by that?!” I frown.

Nila extends his hand so I give him the item. He looks at it for a few seconds and explained: “With this we might be able to get into contact with Gini.”

 “What?!” My heart skips a beat.

Nila nods. “Yes, do you remember when we captured her in the desert, you told us you heard a male voice coming from a radio when you were both alone, but after we searched her when she was unconscious, we couldn’t find anything that looked like a radio. I’ve thought about it for a bit and wondered if she didn’t have it inside her body…”

“INSIDE?” I yell. I probably misunderstand what he means.

“Yeah, I mean. Like an implant, you know?”

“What the hell is an implant?” I’m not that good with technology, so if it’s something high tech, there is low chance that I know what it is.

“Implants, you know? Like people who have bad organs, they can get other people’s organs implanted, though in this case it’s called transplant. Anyway, the word means that you have a foreign body implanted in yours. In this case, chips. They can be placed under one’s skin with very basic surgery.”

“Ohhh, I see.” I put a finger on my lips. “But I don’t think I saw anything like this when I undressed and cleaned her.”

Nila points at his head. “It can be well hidden, behind her hair for instance, or maybe in her ear, but I’ve never seen a chip that small.”

I nod and laugh, impressed. A funny thought entered my head and I can’t help but share it. “You’re so smart, Nila, if I ever have a child, I want you to be his teacher! Imagine if he knew about medicine or technology, it would be thanks to you! Wouldn’t that make you proud?”

Nila smirks. “I think it would give my stupid life meaning… Too bad neither of us will have children.”

We laugh and give ourselves a high-five.

“NOPE!” We shout in unison.

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