Chapter 11: The Battle for Delhi Begins
1. The Mughal Army Arrives
As the sun rose over the plains near Delhi, the distant thunder of war drums echoed through the land. A massive Mughal army of 30,000 soldiers, led by Bairam Khan, approached from the west.
Hemu and his generals stood on a hilltop, watching the dust clouds rising from the marching enemy force.
Raghunath Rao (Supreme Commander): "Maharaj, they outnumber us two to one."
Balram Singh (Cavalry General): "But our men are better trained and our weapons are superior. We have defeated the Mughals before, and we shall do so again!"
Hemu nodded, his eyes burning with determination. "This is the final step. If we win today, Delhi will be ours, and Bharat will be free from foreign rule."
The soldiers, hearing their king's words, roared in approval.
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2. War Strategy Meeting
Hemu summoned his top generals to discuss the battle strategy. They gathered around a large war map inside his command tent.
Jai Kishan (Artillery Commander): "Maharaj, our cannons can break their formation before they even reach us."
Ishwar Pratap (Infantry General): "If we position our pikemen in a crescent formation, we can trap their cavalry."
Hemu placed a marker on the map. "Our war elephants will lead the charge, breaking their center. Then, our cavalry will flank them from both sides."
Raghunath Rao nodded. "A bold strategy, but it will work. If we crush Bairam Khan's forces here, Akbar will be left vulnerable."
Hemu looked at his men. "Prepare for battle. Tonight, we sleep in Delhi."
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3. The Battlefield is Set
Hemu's 15,000 warriors stood in formation, waiting for the Mughals.
The artillery was positioned on a hill, cannons aimed at the enemy approach.
War elephants, covered in steel armor, formed the vanguard.
Archers and musketeers stood behind the infantry.
Cavalry units were stationed on the flanks, ready to strike.
Then, the Mughal army appeared—a sea of soldiers, Persian cavalry, and war elephants.
At the center of the enemy formation, Bairam Khan stood with Akbar's banner behind him.
The tension in the air was thick.
Then, Bairam Khan raised his sword. "Attack!"
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4. The Battle Erupts
The Mughal cannons fired first, sending deadly iron balls crashing into the battlefield.
Hemu raised his hand, and his own cannons roared in response, decimating the enemy's front lines.
Then, the real fight began.
War elephants charged, smashing through enemy ranks.
Cavalry clashed, swords flashing under the sun.
Infantry locked in brutal combat, fighting for every inch of ground.
Hemu himself rode into battle, cutting down Mughal warriors with his massive sword. His presence inspired his soldiers, who fought harder with every cry of their king's name.
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5. The Turning Point
For hours, the battle raged.
The Mughals, despite their numbers, began to falter under Hemu's superior tactics.
Bairam Khan watched in frustration. "This man fights like a demon… if we don't stop him now, we lose Delhi."
Then, he ordered a desperate move.
A group of Mughal archers, hidden in the hills, took aim at Hemu.
A single arrow, tipped with iron, was released—
And struck Hemu in the eye.
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6. The Fall of a Hero
The moment the arrow hit, Hemu staggered, his vision blurring. Blood ran down his face, but he refused to fall.
His elephant roared, sensing its rider's pain.
His generals saw it happen.
Balram Singh: "Maharaj is hit!"
The soldiers hesitated.
Bairam Khan saw the chance and ordered an all-out charge.
Without their leader, Hemu's army began to break.
One by one, his warriors fell. The dream of a united Bharat hung in the balance.
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7. Captured
Despite his injury, Hemu fought until the last moment.
But eventually, he was surrounded, wounded, and taken captive.
The Mughals dragged him towards their camp, where Bairam Khan stood waiting.
Bairam Khan looked down at the captured king. "You were a formidable foe. But now, Delhi belongs to us."
Hemu, barely conscious, gritted his teeth in defiance.
The battle was lost—but the war was far from over.
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