Mughal base camp , Chandanpur vilge.

  As dusk fell, the fading daylight filtered through the grand tent's fabric. Golden threads in the curtains caught the st rays of sunlight, while candle holders, nterns, embroidered cushions, and statues adorned the space. Lanterns hung from the ceiling, casting a flickering glow, and vases of fresh flowers stood in the corners, adding to the elegance.

  In the center of the tent, a luxurious sleeping arrangement with plush bedding and silk sheets was set up. However, a disturbing sight ruined the scene as a trail of crimson liquid snaked across the carpet, leading to a lifeless body on the bedding, with a naked figure calmly sitting beside it.

  The body, naked and pale, belonged to Prince Adil Khan of Agra. His throat bore multiple stab wounds, and fresh blood still seeped from the gashes , turning the surrounding veins a sickly purple as poison coursed through his veins. The prince had succumbed to the treachery of his own partner, who had been riding atop him wildly moments before.

  Her name was Priya, and she sat nearby, equally naked, her legs folded beneath her as she rested her head on her knees. A small amount of blood trickles from her mouth, staining her lips crimson. Yet, her eyes, devoid of remorse, held a chilling calmness as she gazed upon her hand, coated in the sticky, clotting crimson fluid. Despite the grim scene, a faint smile pyed on her lips.

  As Priya stared at the corpse, its face frozen in shock, her mind drifted back to that day's events that had led her to this fateful moment.

  Few days before

  Priya knocks on the door of the house with a look of excitement. In her hands, she carries a thali adorned with vibrant flowers and flickering oil mps, along with sweets as offerings to the gods on her 18th birthday. Anticipation fills her heart as she eagerly awaits the evening, knowing that a potential suitor will visit for marriage talks.

  The door swings open, and Priya is greeted by her brother, Raju holding a bundle of scrap wood collected from the nearby forest.

  "Didi, you're early! Look, this is your birthday gift," Raju teases as he presents the wood to her.

  "Very funny, Raju. I don't need any gifts from you. But why aren't you at school? In my time, I never had the opportunity, and here you are wasting it when it's free, " she pyfully pinches her brother's ears, scolding him with a smile,

  A mature, feminine voice resonated from the kitchen as Priya's eyes drifted towards the corner, where her mother stood over the earthern stove, tending to pots and pans filled with bubbling, fragrant dishes.

  "It's okay, Priya, leave him. I asked him to help me prepare food for you. Taking a day off from school won't hurt," her mother reassured, adding more wood to the fire.

  Her brother, released from Priya's pyful grip, pinched her cheeks back, "You just want me out of the way so you can spend time with your suitor, don't you?"

  Priya blushed and pyfully pulled his hair. "You're asking for trouble, stop talking nonsense. Here, have a sweet," she offered, feeding him a sweet as their mother's voice came from the kitchen.

  "Raju, stop teasing your sister. It's her birthday today. Bring me more wood if you want extra kheer (sweet dish of rice and milk) ," their mother instructed, and Raju obediently went to fetch more wood. Meanwhile, Priya pced the thali on a nearby stool and approached an earthen pot to pour water from a near by gss made of cy.

  Her mother inquired, "Where is your father? Wasn't he supposed to return with you from the temple? I don't think there are any other rituals left."

  Priya gulped down the water and replied, "My dear mother, don't forget that Father is not only a priest but also the vilge head. Some vilgers surrounded him to discuss something important, so he sent me home alone."

  As Priya continued drinking the water, the sudden chaos and noise outside made her startle.

  'SMASH!'

  With a gasp, the gss slipped from her grasp, shattering on the ground with a loud crash. Panic surged through her as she realized something terrible was happening outside.

  "Maa! (mother), what's happening outside? I heard shouting!" Priya asked in panic.

  "I don't know, Priya. Raju, come with me. Let's see what's going on."

  Her mother, sensing the urgency in Priya's panicked expression, immediately abandoned her cooking and rushed to the door, followed closely by her son. Together, they stepped outside to investigate the source of the commotion.

  "Oh god, what's happening?!", her mother brought her kids to closer in fear.

  To their absolute horror, they were met with the sight of invaders attacking vilgers indiscriminately.

  "Save me!"

  "No! please spare my father."

  "Run, save your lives."

  They were killing anyone who came in their way, while people ran through the streets like headless chickens.

  "It's the Raiders! They're attacking the vilge!"

  Priya's mother's hand flew to her mouth in shock as she watched in disbelief. Some soldiers dragged the lifeless bodies of the sin vilgers and hung them from nearby trees as a warning to others.

  "That's... that's Baba!"

  Tears welled up in Priya's eyes as she pointed in horror at a corpse lying on the ground, realizing with a gut-wrenching dread that it belonged to her beloved father. She covered her mouth with her hands to avoid attracting attention and sobbed quietly.

  "Come quickly, inside! We have to protect ourselves!"

  With trembling hands, Priya's mother swiftly gathered her children, her face pale with terror. Without dey, she dragged them back inside the house, smming the door shut to shield them from the chaos unfolding outside.

  As her mother rushed to the window to shut it quickly, she saw a figure emerge in the vilge square. The man introduced himself as the Mughal commander, Ansari, and decred,

  "Listen, people of this vilge! From this day forth, Chandanpur belongs to the Mughals for few days, of course. Anyone who dares to oppose our soldiers will meet the same fate as those lying lifeless before you."

  He gestured to the bodies hanging from the trees, continuing, "But fear not, for we offer mercy to those who cooperate. Provide us with food, bor, and women willingly, and we may spare your lives."

  There was pin-drop silence from the vilgers at the mention of women, as everyone understood what it meant.

  Ansari continued, "Yes, you heard right. We need your women to satisfy our fatigue. We can have them by force, or you can give them up willingly and save your meager lives."

  The soldiers cheered at the news of open access to their brutal entertainment.

  "If you think it's unfair, fret not. More captives will arrive to accompany you. I promise we will leave once our task is done. Attempts to escape are futile, as our camp will be surrounding this entire vilge."

  Upon hearing this, Priya's mother swiftly closed the window and drew her children closer into her embrace, comforting them as they shed silent tears.

  Outside, voices of protest mingled with the sorrowful cries of those mourning their losses, creating an atmosphere thick with despair. Among them, the anguished please of women mirrored the collective brutality done by soldiers outside.

  Priya clutches her mother's hand in horror as the cries of the women, their struggles against the brutality, deepen her anxiety. On the other hand, her brother quivers with fear at the looming threat of hanging outside. Yet, their mother's steady gaze offers a glimmer of hope, her smile assuring as her embrace comforts that everything will be alright.

  After a while, a harsh knock resounded through the house, sending chills down the spines of those hiding inside. Priya's mother signaled them to hide beneath the bed, her voice trembling with urgency. "You have my oath, don't come out no matter what, or you'll see us all dead," she warned.

  Priya and Raju huddled together in fear beneath the bed as the door banged open. It was Ansari who approached, his sinister presence filling the room. "I heard this is the house of the vilge head. Surely, he didn't disappoint me for having such a masterpiece," he remarked with a smirk.

  Priya's mother panicked, backing away until she found herself cornered on the bed.

  Ansari's words sent a shiver down her spine. "Don't give me that look. I don't like forcing women. If you please me well, I might save you from my guards waiting outside."

  Pondering for a moment, she dropped her saree's pallu, revealing her cleavage atop her blouse. Ansari smiled at her acceptance.

  Both Priya and her brother's eyes welled with tears as they heard the sounds of Ansari's brutality that he inflicted upon her all afternoon. But that was not the end.

  Eventually, he confronted Priya's mother, once he was done. "Now, I remember a guy tipped me about your daughter, who is still a budding flower. He is supposed to be the suitor and pleaded for sparing him instead from the bor. What a shame. So, care to tell me where she is, sweetie?"

  Priya's mother's eyes widened in horror as she tried to hide her naked body beneath the saree, while Priya felt heartbroken at the news of her suitor selling her out to save his own skin.

  'SLAP!'

  Meanwhile, a sharp sp echoed through the room, causing them to catch their breath.

  "Don't make me repeat myself, woman. My patience can wear thin," Ansari spped her mother as he asked her again.

  Priya's brother clenched his fist, attempting to go to her aid, but Priya held him back.

  Feeling exhausted from his yelling and frustrated by her resistance, Ansari replied, "Well then, I shall take care of my end of the deal since you didn't completely oblige."

  He called out to the three guards standing outside, "Enjoy yourselves. Do whatever you like. But don't all go at once; she is fine material for the harem."

  At that moment, Raju couldn't contain himself any longer. He broke free from Priya's hold and lunged forward to save his mother. The soldiers quickly subdued him, dragging him away and beating him mercilessly as Priya's mother cried out for mercy.

  Ansari was taken aback by the sudden outburst, bending down to get a closer look and catching sight of Priya hiding in fear.

  "Look who we have here!" , with a wry smile, he taunted,

  Later, Raju was taken away to bor while Priya's mother was sent to the newly made brothel for the soldiers' pleasure. Priya herself was confined to another pce, designated to be served as fresh item for the upcoming prince. In her confinement, Priya received news from other prisoners serving as maids that both her mother and brother had died. The devastating news left her shattered, with nothing left but a burning desire for revenge.

  As she learned of the upcoming prince's importance, Priya devised a pn to kill him and bme Ansari for betrayal, hoping to incite his forces to turn against him. She complied with her captors' orders, gaining their trust and earning more freedom. She even managed to obtain poison from toads while on toilet duty outside.

  Taking matters into her own hands, she poisoned three of the captured women who were to be gifted as concubines to the prince. Fortunately, no one suspected her actions, and finally, the day of reckoning arrived.

  In the climax of the confrontation, Priya struck Prince Adil Khan multiple times on his throat with the hairpin shed with poison, all while shutting his mouth with frustration as he threw his hands in desperation. He tried to sp, thrash then choke Priya in a st-ditch effort to defend himself. However, weakened by the poison coursing through his veins and the loss of blood from his wounds, he couldn't get any better. As Priya continued to stab by applying pressure, Adil Khan's struggles grew weaker until he finally fell silent, lifeless.

  Now at present , as the echoing footsteps drew closer, Priya braced herself for the inevitable arrival of the soldiers who would surely drag her away. But to her astonishment, the soldier who entered wore a look of shock mixed with gentleness. He hurried to grab the saree lying on the carpet and gently wrapped her with care.

  "What happened here? Are you alright?" he asked with genuine concern in his voice. Despite the comfort of his touch, Priya's strength began to waver under the weight of the toll and struggle she had endured. The st words she understand before succumbing to darkness were, "Prince Aditya."

  As she drifted into unconsciousness, the soldier's words echoed in the room. "Don't fear, I am a spy from Prince Aditya's forces. We will rescue you from these vile bastards."