Rebel camp, Bawal , 1st March 1557.

  Deep within the forest, in a grand tent belonging to the rebels, an ongoing meeting of leaders took pce. Spread open in the center of the table were maps of the fort, their edges weighted down with small stones to keep them ft.

  The meeting was hosted by rebel leader Rao Kishan Pal. Seated on his right was Jaunpur's regent and current supreme commander, Rahimulh, while on his left sat Ajmer's Prince Amar Singh Rathore. Surrounding them were their fellow nayaks (feudal lords). Despite the luxurious surroundings, tension filled the air as they waited for Rao Kishan Pal's response, his attention focused on scanning the map.

  He pointed at the intricate sketching that denoted the wall and remarked without looking up, "I'm starting to think this wall is mocking us, even with our strength of 100,000 strong. We should have breached it by now. Remind me why we're still out here?" He gestured towards the marked area denoting the forest side.

  Rahimulh Khan panicked, knowing the question was indirectly directed at him as the supreme commander of the force. In the face of defeat, it was the most polite inquiry he could expect from the man under whose banner he was fighting.

  Before he could respond, a nayak, sensing the cue that the question was for all, answered, "Your Majesty, they were better prepared. The fire onsught was overwhelming, and the fming stones caused considerable damage."

  Another voice chimed in, "Your Majesty, it's because we couldn't use cannons or anything like catapults; otherwise, it would have been a walk in the garden."

  Another noble suggested, "Yes, My lord, I think we should use cannons again. Initially, we were able to fire few rounds. Maybe we should try firing intermittently after safe intervals, otherwise cannons are wasted."

  At this point, Rao Kishan Pal looked up, and everyone fell silent. He turned towards Rahimulh Khan for answers.

  Rahimulh Khan felt his throat dry. After clearing it, he replied, "Cannons can't be used extensively with the sand-mixed gunpowder. It's too risky as the barrel erodes with each use, and it also wastes the cannon anyways."

  Rao Kishan Pal pressed his forehead in frustration, knowing the main fault y with him, but unable to openly express his displeasure towards his benefactor. He controlled his rage and asked politely, "Commander Rahimulh Khan, tell me, how many lives have we lost?"

  Rahimulh felt the weight of his title as commander and cautiously replied, "Your Majesty, the estimates suggest around forty thousand have fallen."

  Rao Kishan Pal then inquired, "Do you have any pns to breach that wall?"

  Rahimulh considered carefully before responding, "If Prince Amar Singh could assist in constructing simir siege engines, perhaps we could use them to bombard the wall."

  Amar Singh instinctively declined, saying, "I apologize, Your grace, but we do not have artisans of such caliber among us at the moment."

  He further added, "What if we attempt to dig a tunnel to approach the wall?"

  Rahimulh Khan pondered for a moment, then turned to his subordinate and asked, "Have we received any response from the Mughals?"

  The subordinate replied, "Not yet, Hazur."

  Rao Kishan Pal's eyes narrowed, "What do you think, will they lose?"

  Rahimulh cautiously responded, "It's not that I doubt their ability to win, but trusting them completely would be foolish. They're likely to retreat once they've achieved their objectives. I'm concerned that the tunnel strategy may not be feasible, given the time it would take and the potential for retaliation from the empire..."

  Upon hearing this, Rao Kishan Pal's anger fred and he couldn't wait for him to complete and thumped the table with frustration, "Does this mean there's no way we can breach that cursed wall anytime soon?"

  Rahimulh Khan hurriedly added, "I believe we can still find a way." All eyes turned towards him.

  He expined, "If we load battering rams with gunpowder bags and detonate them manually." Seeing no objections, he continued.

  "This time, we'll employ siege towers since their moat is already filled. Soldiers will advance with gaps to minimize casualties, pushing the rams behind the protective cover of the siege tower towards the walls. Upon reaching there, we'll detonate the ram on the southern side.

  Our forces will then charge in, forcing them to divert more manpower there. Taking advantage of the distraction, soldiers can breach the walls using the siege towers on both the western and eastern sides. From there, we can unch a coordinated attack. But we must give it our all." Murmurs of approval spread throughout the room.

  Rao Kishan Pal felt excitement as a viable pn finally took shape. Still cautious, he added, "Rahimulh Khan, we have much at stake."

  Rahimulh Khan reassured him, "Don't worry, Your Majesty. By tomorrow's dawn, the fort will be yours."

  Rao Kishan Pal patted his shoulder, "I trust you, my friend." Then he instructed everyone to rest well, knowing the night would be long.

  Fort of Bawal, outer courtier.

  In one of the grand chambers of Bawal fortress, torches flickered softly while morning sunlight streamed through tall windows. Alliance leaders gathered around a massive table.

  King Rao Todar Mal, seated at the head of the table with his trusted security in charge, Kartar Singh, stood tall addressing all the delegate leaders present.

  King Rao Todar Mal addressed the assembly, "My esteemed allies, with our united effort, we have successfully repelled the rebels, but we all know that the war is far from over." He then turned to Kartar Singh, "What is the extent of the damage?"

  Kartar Singh responded, "Your Majesty, the southern and eastern walls have faced the full brunt of their assaults. The defenses are intact, but our men are anxious. The western gate, however, remains untouched."

  Rajendra Singh of Gwalior raised his concern. "Perhaps they're pnning to breach the western gate. We must reinforce it immediately."

  Tej Pal Singh of Amber, his brow furrowed, said, "We cannot make major changes based on assumptions. We better treat them all fairly."

  Uma Devi of Bundelkhand joined in, "I agree with His Majesty, but we should rather worry more about their cannons. They used them before and then hid them as if they didn't exist in the first pce."

  Baljit Singh of Punjab nodded in agreement. "If they turn those cannons against us, our walls won't hold for long. We will have to change strategy."

  Kartar Singh assured, "I can confirm that their cannons are useless. We've had reports of explosions in their ranks, expining why they haven't used them despite their losses. Our main concern now is their siege structures. With the moat filled, they are likely to deploy siege towers along with their dder towers. The pressure will be immense."

  Diego from Portugal interjected with confidence. "Your Majesty, if I may. I've seen how they deploy their siege towers. If we can pack pots of coal and set them alight, we can cripple their advance. But I'll need enough coal and pots."

  Rao Todar Mal considered Diego's suggestion carefully before nodding. "You shall have what you need, Diego. Your performance st night was commendable. But remember, our survival might depend on this innovation."

  Meenakshi Devi from Vijayanagar proposed, "Your Majesty, I have a suggestion. Last night, they must have marked our defenses. If we change the position of leaders along with their units, then their preparation would be in vain."

  The room murmured in agreement, recognizing the wisdom in Meenakshi Devi's words. Vishal Rai of Garhwal, spoke up, "It's a risk we must take, your majesty. Surprise will be our advantage."

  King Todar Mal nodded. "Agreed. Last night showed us varied tactics in different sections. We must keep the enemy guessing."

  His eyes gleamed with excitement. "Lastly, my friends, I've received word via pigeon post. Our prince's forces are in Chandanpur and are on their way here with Mewar delegates as reinforcements. They will arrive tomorrow. We must defend the fort with all our might tonight."

  A ripple of excitement swept through the chamber. Leaders exchanged gnces, renewed hope evident on their faces.

  Chandanpur vilge, Aditya's camp

  In a bustling military camp near the Sahibi River, the afternoon sun cast long shadows across the array of tents and soldiers. Aditya and his friend Bheem emerged from their tent, deep in conversation.

  "Do you think Amira knows?" Aditya asked, adjusting his tunic.

  Bheem nodded. "With her mood tely, I don't think so. She was very happy about her father's release. In fact, it was his idea to send her with Raamya since she was pestering him constantly."

  Their discussion was abruptly interrupted by the sounds of a cheering crowd nearby. Curious, they followed the noise and soon found a gathering around forming akhada(stage), where two wrestlers grappled fiercely in the dirt. The crowd's enthusiasm was palpable, with shouts of encouragement and bets being pced on the outcome.

  "Look at that," Bheem excimed. "I didn't know we had such entertainment here."

  Aditya chuckled. "It seems the Rajputs are keeping themselves busy."

  They made their way through the crowd and soon spotted Jeetendar, currently acting as betting broker, collecting money on bet.

  "Jeetendar!" Aditya called out. "What's going on here?"

  Jeetendar turned, his eyes showing a hint of embarrassment as he attempted to conceal the pouch. "Ah, your highness! The Rajputs were getting restless, so they proposed this wrestling match to keep themselves occupied. I thought it would be a good idea to assist in organizing it. Would you like to watch?"

  Aditya responded with a smirk, by nudging his shoulder, "I wouldn't mind, but make sure to handover fifty percent tax for using my territory."

  As they chatted, they noticed Pratap watching the match with intense interest. They approached him and exchanged greetings.

  "Prince Pratap, enjoying the show?" Aditya asked.

  Pratap grinned, his eyes never leaving the wrestlers. "Indeed, your highness. It's good to see the men keeping their spirits up. But I was thinking, why not make it more interesting?"

  Aditya raised an eyebrow. "What do you have in mind?"

  Pratap turned to face Aditya, his grin widening. "A challenge. Let's have a match between my Rajputs and your mercenary army. What do you say?"

  Aditya's eyes sparkled with excitement. "I like the sound of that. You're on!"

  The announcement of the challenge sent a ripple of excitement through the crowd. The akhada was quickly reorganised, and the anticipation grew as people whispered and pced new bets.

  From the Rajput side, Prince Veerendra Singh, Pratap's cousin, stepped forward to represent them. He was met with loud cheers and appuse from his comrades.

  On the mercenary side, the royal guard commander Ujjwal Singh confidently strode into the akhada, the mercenaries cheering him on.

  The crowd's cheers reached a fever pitch as the two combatants faced each other. The atmosphere was electric, and the excitement was palpable.

  In one corner stood Ujjwal Singh, a towering figure with a broad chest and muscur arms. His body glistened with sweat, highlighting the rippling muscles that spoke of years of rigorous training. Ujjwal was known for his brute strength and aggressive style.

  In the opposite corner, Veerendra Singh, leaner but equally fierce, adjusted his loincloth, a ngot, and performed a quick warm-up routine. Veerendra's strength y in his agility and technique, his moves fluid and unpredictable.

  Jeetendar as referee signaled the start of the match . Ujjwal and Veerendra circled each other, eyes locked in a fierce stare, each gauging the other's next move. The crowd hushed, the only sound being the soft shuffle of their feet on the earth.

  With a sudden burst of energy, Ujjwal lunged forward, attempting to grab Veerendra's waist. But Veerendra, quick on his feet, dodged the attack and countered with a swift leg sweep. Ujjwal stumbled but regained his bance. A look of determination fshing in his eyes.

  The two wrestlers cshed again, this time locking in a powerful grapple. Ujjwal's strength was evident as he tried to overpower Veerendra, but Veerendra used his agility to twist and turn, avoiding being pinned. The spectators erupted in cheers and gasps, their excitement mounting with each move.

  Ujjwal managed to lift Veerendra off the ground, showcasing his raw power, but Veerendra escaped free mid-air through zig-zag twist movement, nding gracefully on his feet. He immediately went for a low tackle by legs, catching Ujjwal off guard and bringing him down to the ground. The crowd roared, appreciating Veerendra's skillful maneuver.

  Both wrestlers now grappled on the ground, their bodies entwined in a battle of strength and technique. Ujjwal, using his powerful arms, attempted a chokehold, but Veerendra slipped out, reversing the position. He locked Ujjwal in a tight hyperlock with elbow (armbar), using weight leverage to his advantage.

  Ujjwal grimaced, the strain showing on his face, but he refused to give up. Summoning all his strength, he managed to break free from Veerendra's hold and stood up, breathing heavily. Veerendra too rose to his feet, both wrestlers eyeing each other with newfound respect.

  In a decisive moment, Veerendra executed a fwless double-leg takedown, catching Ujjwal off bance. With a swift move, he pinned Ujjwal to the ground, using his body weight to keep him down. The jeetendar counted to three, and the match was over.

  Amidst the pyful sport, Ujjwal Singh's pride was wounded by his defeat to someone so young, and he promptly requested a rematch, to which Veerendra readily agreed.

  In the midst of this, Aditya was approached by Colonel Nilesh, who handed him a pigeon post.

  As Aditya read the contents, his face drained of color.

  Concerned, Bheem asked, "Is everything alright, Your Highness?"

  In a shocked expression, Aditya replied, "The fortress of Bawal is under attack. We must march immediately."