Rewari Kingdom, Inner pace of Bawal, morning of 14th March 1557

  As dawn's light started to come through the temple windows, the grand complex was quiet compared to the night before. The temple was lit by the soft glow of flickering diyas and a few torches, creating a peaceful feeling. The scent of incense from the night rituals still hung in the air.

  In the dimly lit temple courtyard, the marble floor was covered with people who had fallen asleep after a night of Jagran (vigils) and prayers. Some leaned against the cool marble pilrs, using them for support, while others y directly on the floor, sprawled in various positions.

  Meenakshi got fallen asleep during the Jagran, was nestled against Aditya's side. She had drifted off while sitting, her head gently resting against his shoulder. Aditya, though visibly exhausted, maintained a straight posture, his eyes closed in quiet meditation or perhaps sleep. The sight of Meenakshi's sleeping form resting against him was a proof to their mutual trust and commitment to the night's observances.

  As the light touched the temple's marbles, Meenakshi stirred and realized her body was leaning against Aditya. Feeling a bit uncomfortable, she corrected her posture and sighed in relief to find everyone was still asleep. She couldn't help but blush as she recognized how close they were, the warmth of their closeness lingering in her mind.

  Her gaze then fell to the temple's interior, where the priest was sitting but awake near the Shiv Ling, observing her with a gentle smile. She felt a bit embarrassed for getting caught, but the priest's next words shocked her.

  "Good morning, Princess," the priest greeted softly. "It seems you have completed your devotion for the night. Prince Aditya has done a great favor to you in this jagran, ensuring you would not touch the ground."

  Meenakshi's gaze moved to Aditya, who remained still and appeared to be in a meditative pose. She felt immense gratitude towards him, touched by his unexpected and silent support. A feeling of longing towards him crossed her mind, but she regained her composure.

  The priest continued, "Your devotion has been honored. As part of the ritual, you may now ask Mahadev for a boon. This kash of Ganga water will aid you in this prayer."

  Surprised by the priest's offer, Meenakshi took the kash, feeling a deep sense of reverence. The priest added with a knowing look, "Remember, Princess, any boon you receive will also benefit Prince Aditya, as he has shared this vigil with you. Be mindful of this connection."

  Blushing slightly at the priest's words and the thought of their intertwined fates, Meenakshi offered a silent prayer to Lord Shiva, asking for the protection and prosperity of her declining empire. She gently offered the water from the kash before the Shiv Ling as her mind filled with hopes for her empire's safety.

  As Meenakshi rose to leave, the temple began to awaken. The delegates and officials stirred from their slumbers, stretching and blinking in the soft light. Aditya, also coming to consciousness, noticed that Meenakshi was no longer there and had perhaps returned. Soon he saw the priest's gentle smile, so approached him for a blessing.

  The priest greeted Aditya with a tika, marking a blessing on his forehead, and spoke with a blend of prophecy and advice. "Prince Aditya, I foresee a journey ahead for you, one that will take you far from these nds and test you in many ways. Those who stand by you will be your invaluable allies. Be careful not to harm them, for they will aid you greatly."

  Aditya listened intently but remained skeptical. "Thank you, priest, but I believe I can shape my own destiny through my will. As for my people, I never intend to harm them."

  The priest's expression turned grave. "Beware, Prince. A storm is approaching that you cannot avoid. You may face situations where you must make difficult decisions, ones that you might wish to avoid, and take actions that could affect those you held dear. These choices will be crucial and life-altering. Exercise caution."

  Aditya felt uneasy at the priest's words but dismissed it as superstition. He believed in culture but not in prophecy, as for him karma is supreme. Still, he gave a smile and left the pce.

  Outside, he was surprised to find Diego waiting for him. Diego approached him with slight hesitation in his gaze. "Your Highness, if possible, could you arrange a transted version of the Bhagavad Gita? Although your words seemed impractical, I believe there is wisdom in it that could benefit humanity. I like the part that it doesn't need anyone to change his religion."

  Aditya was taken aback. Initially, he had thought the conversation was over, but this request was unexpected. He hesitated, considering the potential misinterpretation and misuse of the ideas by other Europeans and the Middle East, which could lead to unwanted attention or conflict with established powers that still relied on religion to rule. Knowledge is power and must be handled with caution.

  However, he recalled Swami Vivekananda's courage in sharing the philosophy of the Bhagavad Gita in Chicago in 1893, despite all the odds he faced. If Vivekananda had not hesitated about its impact, was it overthinking for him to be cautious? Aditya decided not to let fear dictate his actions. He was not seeking sainthood, but if sharing his religion's ideas could promote tolerance and peace, then he would do so. Now only time will tell what butterfly effect it would cause in the world.

  After some contemption, he agreed, "Certainly, Senhor. It will take some time, but I will bring a copy on my visit to Bengal. I hope we meet there."

  Diego responded with a smile, "Alright, Your Highness. Let's look forward to the banquet tonight." They exchanged mutual farewells, and Diego left.

  Aditya felt exhausted at the thought of the evening banquet and the damned king's court meeting earlier. He needed rest, so he made his way to his quarters. As he walked, the priest's words bothered him. What if there were indeed such a situation where he was forced to take actions that might harm the people he cared about? And what kind of storm did the priest mean? He wondered how Raamya and Amira were doing and soon ended up before the door of his quarters.

  Kingdom of Amber, Few kilometres from Jaipur fort, Few days back

  In the wide-open fields near the important stronghold, a rge camp of military tents sprawled under the clear blue sky. The air was alive with the sounds of soldiers getting ready and adjusting their gear. The tents were arranged in neat rows, with each section assigned to different factions. At the center of the camp was the rgest tent, representing the northwestern Rajput alliance of Rathod cns.

  The grand tent was a rge, beautifully decorated pavilion with rich red and gold fabrics that fluttered in the breeze. Inside, a long, polished wooden table took center stage, surrounded by key chieftains. Sunlight coming through the open sides illuminated the assembly.

  Maldev Rao, the host and a prominent leader from Marwar, presided over the meeting with a commanding presence. To his left, Rao Karan Singh of Bikaner and Prithviraj Singh Rathore of Ajmer took their pces. The table was also fnked by key nobles and chieftains from Nagaur, Pali, Churu, and Sikar, their expressions filled with anticipation and resolve.

  The meeting commenced with Rao Karan Singh of Bikaner expressing his gratitude for the support and presence of the assembled leaders.

  "Esteemed allies, I thank you for your unwavering support and presence here. We have assembled a formidable force of 60,000 standard troops, supported by 20,000 reserve militia and missionary forces. The supply lines of Jaipur fort are cut, and with fellow nobles of Amber's kingdom who have joined us on the righteous side, we are determined to win."

  A murmur of approval and anticipation rippled through the gathering.

  Maldev Rao, seizing the moment, leaned forward and added, "Our strategy for the siege of Amber is set. We will use our full strength to overwhelm it and seize its territory with our alliance. The new ruler of Amber will be installed, and the spoils will be shared. We seek revenge against King Tejpal for his betrayal and disrespect towards our alliance. Although he joined the Empire to save his life, he will pay the price with his kingdom."

  Karan Singh of Bikaner nodded in agreement, "Indeed, the betrayal by the Amber kingdom cannot go unanswered."

  Prithviraj Singh Rathore of Ajmer spoke up. "Reports suggest that Jaisalmer Rajputana will soon join us. However, we must reconsider our strategy in light of recent setbacks. The failure at Bawal, due to the Empire's advanced weaponry, indicates we need a new approach."

  The room fell into a tense silence as the leaders recalled this information. The range siege weapons that can cause explosions on impact were indeed scary, but they had their resolve hardened.

  An enthusiastic noble from Nagaur voiced his determination. "If others couldn't defeat them, it doesn't mean we can't. We are Rajputs. We have faced many challenges and emerged victorious. This time will be no different."

  Another noble chimed in, "Indeed. The previous defeat was due to overreliance on poor peasants. This time, we have our elite forces, forged with years of training and discipline."

  Maldev Rao's face darkened as he delivered the bad news. "The trouble is that Gwalior and Malwa kingdoms have joined their ranks as fresh reinforcements, and we can expect reinforcements from Rewari within a week. Also, there is no news from Agra, so it's better to expect that we are on our own now."

  The revetion was met with a heavy silence. Despite the grim news, none of the leaders wished to back down, as their honor and pride were at stake. However, the situation was forcing them to think otherwise.

  A concerned noble asked, "Should we consider merging with Pakistan and officially request Mughal aid?"

  Karan Singh responded, "That's a st resort. The new weapons are not an immediate threat. Our spies have confirmed that the fort cks these advanced weapons and that half of their forces are stationed in Rewari. We can still manage."

  Prithviraj Singh Rathore interjected, "Given the failure at Bawal, it is clear we must adjust our tactics. If the kingdom of Agra had at least honored their promises and provided more forces, we could have started the siege by now."

  A wave of concern swept through the tent. The leaders exchanged worried gnces, pondering the implications of the failed attack and the ck of Mughal support.

  Maldev Rao reassured them, "The Rewari reinforcement forces will require significant time to reach our position. If we act swiftly, we can secure Jaipur before their arrival. We will wait for Jaisalmer's forces to arrive in the next two days, and then we will unch our attack on the fort as the new dawn starts. We need to ensure that it is ended before nightfall."

  The assembly fell into thoughtful silence as they considered this pn. The prospect of an imminent assault on Jaipur fort city with a bolstered force was a rallying point. Finally, the leaders nodded in agreement with renewed resolve.

  The decision was made: they would wait two days for Jaisalmer's forces and then proceed with the attack on the captial of Amber kingdom (Jaipur). The grand tent got filled with the murmurs of strategy as they were determined to teach Amber the lesson it deserved.