Meera had checked on her maids and now was walking towards Abhishek's tent with Kanika by her side and Hania tailing them.
"Have you met or heard of Raja ji Meera ?" Kanika inquired
"Not yet, that's what I have to discuss with Abhishek Bhaisa, he can talk to the sultan or the chieftain and discuss the terms." Meera sighed
"How can Abhishek Bhaisa discuss anything ? I mean, he has no power to take decisions, that's the Royal family's right, your right."
"Rani Maa did make it very clear that no compromise was to be made, whatever the cost Baba's freedom is priced at we have to pay it Kanika." Meera said playing with her dupatta, a trait she had developed to deal with her anxiety.
"I hope the devil does not ask for our soul in exchange." Kanika said in a sour voice.
"If he does, we have no choice but to give even that to him." Meera gave her a sad smile and entered her ministers tent chamber.
Meanwhile Haider had taken upon him self to map out the route back to Agra, it had been months since he was away from home and so were his men, he had lost a hundred to the tough journey and nearly a thousand to the war.
But deep down he knew, it was worth it, it would all be worth it after today.
"—so this shall take us about 12-13 days to reach Agra if we travel 16 hours a day."
"Seems like this is the route we shall be taking then." Tahir said. "Make sure to stalk up food and fodder, send out a troop tomorrow to scout and prepare a make shift camp for before we start our journey. Send the best scouting team Ali Baksh, the Sultan's safety is our utmost priority and our men are tired of fighting, less the trouble the better it would be for us right now."
"I will make sure it's safe and secure sir." Ali Baksh said, paid his respect and left the main tent.
"So ?" Tahir stared at Haider with mischief in his eyes.
"What?" Haider roared, but Tahir remained unfazed.
"You know I'm not really affected by your pretentious anger, I know you better than you know yourself Haider." Tahir smirked
"Spit it out already Tahir." Haider said rolling his eyes.
"You plan on being home by the next full moon, are you sure the Rajput King is going to agree to your terms ?"
"They will agree, they have no choice." Haider said calmly, his calmness scared Tahir but he knew for sure that they would be back home by the next full moon.
"Sultan, the Rajputana Minister is here to see you, he requests you to meet him." The guard stationed outside came in to inform this
"Send him in."
"Okay sultan."
Abhishek had discussed all possibilities with Meera, although he felt his shoulders slouch with the weight of the responsibility of Rajputana sultanate on him , his head remained high.
Abhishek had never gone past small dealings and barter for grain he did with the farmers and other small kingdoms, but this was huge, trading the life of his King, negotiating with the man who called him Badesha-e-Hindustan! He took a deep breath and entered the main tent.
His eyes wandered around, the tent was brightly lit on the inside with huge chandeliers lighted up by candles.
A throne sat on a slightly raised platform along the right end of the huge tent, his eyes danced along with rich velvet curtains and Persian carpets that covered the length and breath of the tent, his eyes landed on the man he was here to meet, to negotiate with, leaning on the maps placed on the long table stood the Badesha along with his right hand, Tahir Shah.
"Ghani Khamma Sultan Khan." Abhishek greeted the king to which Haider nodded in response.
"What brings you here ?" Tahir asked raising an eyebrow in question.
"The same thing which brought us here from our home sire, I and the princess believe that the terms for release of Raja Vikram Singh must be discussed now and then we shall take your leave and head back home."
"And the mighty Rajput's have sent you here ? Their grain minister to negotiate for their King's life ?" Tahir laughed. "Why does it seem to me that they don't really love their king or a headless king for them might do."
"Tahir." Haider said in a calm voice but it was enough to shut him up.
"Minister, I mean no disrespect to you, but I expected the princess to be here to listen and to agree on my terms for her fathers release, I shall only be discussing the terms with her."
"Your highness but the prin-."
"This isn't a request, I plan on travelling back to Agra the day after, with or without your king will be decided by your princess." Haider looked at the minister with a sharp gaze, enough to make a shiver pass down Abhishek's body.
"Please tell the princess that I invite her to dine with us today, her father would be present too and we shall then discuss the terms of release."
"But sult-."
"That will be all young minister, I shall have further conversation with the princess and only the princess." Haider dismissed him.
Abhishek scrambled out of the tent, terrified by the kings calmness, he walked towards Meera's tent and repeated the Sultan's orders.
"How can this be possible, Meera will not walk into that wolf den, she cannot, it's preposterous." Kanika screamed in protest
"We have already entered the den Kanika, I have nothing to loose except my father here, I have to do what he says." She said in a composed manner.
"No Meera you don't -."
"I do understand Kanika, and I know you are concerned for my well being, you all are but I have no choice." She smiled at her best friend, her maids and Abhishek who stood there which his head hanging low in shame.
"I'm a Rajputana Princess, I only fear God, what are a couple of men ?" She tried to lighten the mood.
"Prepare for the the Dawat (feast) and make sure that we are ready to leave for home by tomorrow."
YOU ARE READING
The Two Kingdoms (Completed)
Romance•Completed• *Read only if you can accept the grey shade of life* The Kazi was called in, a few prayers were read in a tongue unknown to her and then she agreed to being his wife with just two words, three time for a life time. Two people, A Rajput...
