Treason

Inside Maharani Padmini's palace,

"Hmm… so you are proficient in medicine and want to teach your knowledge to all the ladies inside the fort…?"

Maharani Padmini looked at Radha who was bowing to her with surprise.

"Why…?"

In ancient times, knowledge of medicine was valuable. It was so valuable that ancient physicians only taught them to their direct descendants only. Obiously Maharani Padmini had her own doubts when a 20 year-old girl told her that she wanted to teach medicine to all the laides inside the fort.

"Because of upcoming war… I also want to contribute and teach my knowledge in medicine to the people ironside the fort… I did not want to die without doing anything…"

After saying the last sentence, she looked resolutely at Maharani Padmini.

"You do not have to worry… as long as a single Rajput stands, they can't touch us ladies… but…"

Maharani Padmini then looked towards Radha, "I will allow you to teach medicine to the palace ladies…"

"Thank you Annapurna…" After getting Maharani Padmini's permission, Radha felt as if a big burden had been lifted off her shoulders. She quickly thanked Maharani Padmini and left the palace with joy…

---

Days passed as Both Radha and Aarv got busy training people.

While radha passed her knowledge of medicine with the palace ladies, Aarv taught special army training methods to the lords who were coming for training.

Today was a special day for all the guards under Aarv got a holiday. Not because they asked for it but, because Aarv willingly gave it to them while saying,

"Rest well… we will gather at night…"

Although he did not specifically mention the reason, everyone felt the seriousness in his voice. The kind of seriousness that was telling them, their time for action has finally come.

After instructing his guards, Aarv walked towards the fort walls. He knew that the time for negotiations was coming near and he had to prepare for that.

When he got on top of the fort wall, he saw a massive Khilji camp in front of him. The only problem with the camp was that the camp was placed out of the firing range of Arrows. Within his field of vision, only the camp was visible. Other than the enemy camp, not a single blade of grass could be seen.

'Almost eight months have been passed'

Aarv thought as he looked at the Khilji camp. In history, The siege of chittod lasted for eight months. After which Alauddin sent his emissary to negotiate peace with the Rajputs. He was also helpless because of the dry season in Mevad. His army had no food as well as water.

But the fort of Chittod was not in any better shape. They only had about 4 days' worth of food left. So, reluctantly, Maharawal ratan Simha accepted the peace talks. But this time it was different, Aarv had 2 months of additional supplies stored inside his house.

'Tomorrow, the Khilji emissary will visit for of Chittod for negotiations…'

On this specific day, Alauddin sent his personal slave Malik Kafur to Chittod for negotiation, the day of Holi.

---

When Aarv returned from the city wall, he first walked into his personal Kothar inside his house. He wanted to bring the additional food to the king tonight so that Maharawal Ratan Simha could change his stance on negotiating peace.

When he lifted the first sack of rice, he found it abnormally heavy. Suspiciously, he tore the sack open and what he saw inside made his face pale.

Without even thinking, he opened the second bag… and then the third bag… as he opened more and more bags, his face turned paler and paler.

"Damn…!!"

"Guards… call Supriya over…"

He could only order his guards to call Supriya over.

Within 15 minutes, Supriya arrived at his house with a surprised expression. When she arrived, she wanted to lecture Aarv about his overbearing attitude but, when she saw his gloomy look, she swallowed all her words…

"What happened Aarv… you look troubled…?"

Aarv looked at her and asked, "Did you check what food supplies you bought…?"

"This… time was at essence, so I did not check the supplies… I just tasked other lords to buy them from the market…" Supriya explained honestly.

Aarv looked at her honest expression and stood up while saying, "Follow me…!"

When both of them reached the kothar, Supriya saw 3 bags that were cut open and lying on the floor.

All three bags were filled with salt rather than grains.

"It shouldn't be right… Aarv this can't be happening right Aarv…"

Supriya's legs went limp as she fell to the ground. She was unable to believe her own eyes. She hurriedly crawled forward wanting to check the rest of the sacks.

"It's useless… I have already checked them… there is nothing but salt…"

Supriya stopped in her tracks and looked back at Aarv with tears in her eyes. She felt regretful that she did not check the sacks before.

"Although our plan failed, I still have a backup plan… Just don't say anything to the other lords…"

Aarv had already simulated all the possibilities beforehand. For plan A to completely fail was unexpected, it was within his simulations. He also created Plan B. but he did not want to use this plan unless it was absolutely necessary.

Because this plan was a bloody one…

"You can go and rest…" Aarv dismissed Supriya… While leaving, she turned and said softly, "Sorry…"

But, Aarv did not even glance at her as he left the Kothar…

Author note: Kothar = a big ventilated room where people store grains as well as food.