Jag Nivas, State of Udaipur

  "Khamma Ghani, Maharana!"

  "Khamma Ghani, Saamant. Welcome. What news do you bring?"

  "Maharana*, I bring bad news."

  The fat man, dressed in an oversized gown that was embroidered with chips of gold, took out the hookah pipe from his mouth, coughed, and stared at the figure standing in front of him.

  "What happened? Has he proclaimed a new firmaan?"

  "Jee, maharana. This time it is a Tughlaqi firmaan*."

  (They talk in Mewari*.)

  "What is left to decree? What more can that bastard want? He has plundered our lands, violated our women, terrorized our children, and looted all our riches. His soldiers, unclean and uncouth, have pillaged, plundered, abused, and raped on an unimaginable scale. He has long since stolen the peace, the harmony, the very essence of Rajputana!"

  "Maharana, pardon me; I have something to say."

  "Say, my minister."

  "Why does not the coalition rebel against such an oppressive rule? Why must we remain subservient to such a tyrant? We are the scions of Maharana Pratap* and Rana Sanga!"

  "Besides," added another, "he treated our daughter like a puny, downtrodden maidservant! She was not a prostitute! She was your sister!"

  The maharana did not reply and again looked eerily into the eyes of the figure standing in front of them.

  "What says the decree, saamant?"

  "The decree states that in addition to the previous order concerning the audit and control of the finances and budget of autonomous kingdoms and dependencies, the court in Delhi now reserves the right to directly monitor the defence and the foreign affairs of all autonomous kingdoms that have accepted its suzerainty."

  "W-WHAT?!"

  "Ji, maharana. According to this decree, no diplomats can be appointed and no treaties can be signed unless the prior approval of Crown is obtained. This applies to both defensive pacts and treaties concerning trade and commerce."

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  "THIS IS UTTER MADNESS! THE WATER HAS CROSSED ALL LIMITS," shouted the monarch, clearly annoyed and fuming.

  This was an attack on their sovereignty! Delhi had no right to decide how Rajputana would conduct itself its foreign affairs! Their State was not a protectorate of the Crown.

  The Rajputs had signed a pact of mutual non-aggression and defence with the then newly consolidated Gupta Empire. The Emperor Avaneesh had categorically avoided interfering in the internal affairs of the Confederacy except under extraordinary circumstances. The Rajputs had always been extremely protective of their privacy, and Avaneesh thought it prudent not to antagonize such a formidable power.

  "Maharana, I believe that it is time we act. We have had enough. 'Tis our duty to rise against the oppressors!"

  "Ji. In fact, there is no point in us acknowledging the treaty if they do not."

  The maharana thought for a moment and then said:

  "Yes. Go and send two messages. One should reach all our kings. And one should reach that cuckold in Delhi, informing him of his impending doom."

  "Ji, maharana."

  ***

  "What response have we received, kaptan?"

  "Sipah-i-salar, the governor, in his response, has said that he has, in addition to the loyalty of the garrisons in Murshidabad, Shrirampur, Chandannagar, and Kalikata, the logistical and financial support of the Raja of Cooch Behar*, the fealty of the local chieftains and zamindars, and the ire of the disgruntled populace."

  "I can sense how popular the Emperor is," said the Commander-in-Chief, chuckling to himself.

  The captain adjusted his turban, coughed awkwardly, and continued.

  "Sir, he desires a meeting with you to discuss the entire modus operandi."

  The bearded man nodded in response.

  "True. Such operations cannot be executed in haste."

  "Captain―"

  "Yes, Huzoor?"

  "What response had the Emperor given again?"

  "Exactly no response was received."

  "I see. Couldn't expect anything more than pure indifference."

  "Sire..."

  "Yes?"

  "Please pardon my insolenct and blatant tongue, but I must make it known that I despise the lukewarm manner in which you are treating this matter. Nearly a month has passed and literally nothing, nothing has been done. You have been simply exchanging letters and promising meetings in a future that doesn't seem to arrive any soon. Sire, when will you act? We have been oppressed for waaaay too long!"

  Commander-in-chief Asghar's lips curved in a sly smile. He put an arm on the young captain's shoulder and said," You're a really boisterous man, kaptaan. Too noisy for your age!"

  "Pardon, my lord. I couldn't contain my disgruntlement. I seek forgiveness."

  "Oh, 'tis nothing worth fussing over. We all are disgruntled at the end of the day. Don't worry, young man. The seeds have been sown. We need to water them, and we WILL water them."

  The captain nodded and gave Asghar a sharp salute. His palm landed awkwardly on his huge turban, disturbing it and making it fall.

  The man, silent and petrified, stared at the fallen turban with stony eyes.

  "Precisely why you should learn to take it easy, captain."

  Maharana A title adopted by Rajasthani monarchs. Means "Great King/Lord"