Wanderers 28- Second Day

The sunrise marked something important. All assembled in positions as the previous day except Rana Punja who took position next to Rana Pratap. Pratap was joined by the kings of various places.

Mughals had by morning reached the cliff and now proceeded to the forest area. Forest was overpopulated now with soldiers and the Bhills.

The skilled guerilla warfare warriors took place in hiding. Mughals thinking nothing was there moved slowly towards the maze. But as the Mughals reached the core of the forest, i.e they cannot run back or forth situation the Bhills attacked them.

The second day witnessed Maan Singh leading the army. He believed that Pratap won’t attack them in the forest. He was very confident and so moved carelessly towards the maze.

“Hukum apko nahi lagta ki agar hum poori sena ko jungle ke taraf se le jayenge toh humare sainik kam ho jayenge…”

“Hum jante hai ki aap kya kehna chahte hai parantu hum yeh hi karenge kyu ki hum jante hai ki Pratap humpar peeche se waaar nahi karega…”

“Parantu hukum…”

“Parantu kuch nahi ab tyaari karo…”

He headed the army and moved towards the maze.the Mughals army was divided into four sections, First headed by Maan Singh, Second by Mansood Khan, Third by Ahmed Khan and fourth by Tashem Khan.

Tashem Khan’s army was not too storng, it only consisted of walking soldiers with swords. Being the portion easy to attack the Bhills showered the arrows pouring like rain and the last part of the army were stranded easily before anyone realized.

Tashem Khan was so busy in having fun with Masood Khan that he never knew his army was not there anymore. The arrows were touched with poison and the soldiers died instantly.

Still three parts were left and before the Bhills could shower more arrows Maan Singh’s patch moved out to meet the strongest of the war. Hakim Khan and Shakti Singh waited there with all might.

As soon as Mughal flag was seen all were cautioned and the west front took position. All were prepared for the ultimate countdown. Soldiers hid the two warriors inside the Chakraviyuh.

All the soldiers stood around the two with shields facing the outside and they hid themselves behind the huge shield. The Mughal soldiers did not understand how to break the formations but Ahmed Khan ordered them to move ahead and break the formations but slicing the soldiers from between the shields.

One part of the arrangement as broken and as much as three thousand entered the arrangement. Shakti handled them with his sword single-handedly and Hakim began firing cannon on the rest of the army of the Mughals.

Some Mughals broke down the back of the west front and went away towards the back side of the field. They were not stopped because all were now busy handling the soldiers who broke down into their own arrangement.

Guru Raghvendra fought well and stopped all from entering the circle. Mughals noticing that Shaliwaan was Pratap’s brother-in-law aimed him continuously.  But he stopped all the arrows from far with his efficient hands.

On the east front was Ram Shah Tanwar was a old man but his experience was more than anyone else’s. He fought along with Balwant but Balwant too was small to fight so their front was tough to handle.

Pratap volunteered to help them out but the others wanted Pratap to be safe and sound so he was asked to stay where he was and fight who came there. Till now no Mughal head dared to fight. Soldiers fought and the heads fought with the Mewari soldiers and did not confront the Rajputs.

Balwant was engaged with Akbar’s Khan-e-Khana, Rahim outside their arrangement. He was instigated by words.

“Zara hum bhi toh dekhe ki yaha uss Pratap ke Shurveer Patni ka bhai kaise ladta hai…”

“Aur dekho toh sahi yaha yeh andhar darr kar baita hai… kaun kahega ki yeh uss nalayak Baijilal ka bhai hai aur Pratap ka saala udhar billi ke tarah baita hai…”

“Tumhe kya lagta hai ki hum apke sath nahi lad sakte hai….waise bhi aap toh ek…”

“Mein kya??”

Balwant attacked before answering him. Rahim and Balwant were equally strong but Rahim’s experience was more therefore he had an upper hand. Both swords clashed and each defended. Always Rahim attacked and Balwant defended. The fight continued until Rahim was exhausted and stopped attacks and then Balwant began his attacks, sometimes from down and sometimes from up. Rahim had no strength to even defend and so he ran away with all might wounded.

Meanwhile, Raghvendra went to support Ram Shah Tanwar to help him when Balwant was busy with Rahim. Raghvendra was a teacher but his strengths were incomparable. He was well-versed in Vedas and he was a king in warfare.

Shaliwaan on the other hand was left alone to fight all the soldiers. Pratap had promised his sister that nothing will happen to anyone.

“Dada bhai, Shaliwaan ji ko kuch hoga toh nahi??”

“Maan hum hai na, hum kuch hone denge unhe…aur unke sath hum sabhi hai…”

“Parantu dada bhai hume toh gabrahat ho rahi hai…”

“Accha Maan hum apko vachan dete hai ki jab tak hum unke paas honge unhe kuch nahi hoga…”

He quickly rushed to Shaliwaan to help him with the over flooding army and left the center to all his sons.

“Rana ji aap??”

“Shaliwaan ji hum humare jagah se dekh sakte hai ki yaha sabhi apko marna chahta hai aur isliye hum yaha apke madath ke liye aaye hai…”

“Parantu…”

“Shaliwaan ji aap apna dharm nibhayiye aur hum humara vachan…”

“Joh aagya rana ji”

Pratap and Shaliwaan together fought the soldiers and Mughals lost almost a patch of army. Pratap was very powerful with the sword and Chetak helped him at all times.