Chapter 15: The Battle for Delhi – Fire & Blood
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1. The Storm Approaches – A City in Fear
Delhi, the heart of Hindustan, stood on the brink of war. Within its towering walls, tension hung thick in the air. Merchants closed their shops. Soldiers patrolled the streets. The people whispered among themselves—Hemu is coming.
In the Mughal court, Bairam Khan sat at the head of a long table, surrounded by his commanders. Maps of Delhi and its surroundings lay before them, covered in markings of defenses, troop movements, and ambush points.
Bairam Khan: "Hemu has gathered an army of Rajputs. He thinks numbers alone will win him Delhi. We will teach him the power of the Mughal Empire."
A general stepped forward.
Mughal General: "Shall we meet him in the open field, my Lord?"
Bairam Khan shook his head.
Bairam Khan: "No. We will fight on our terms. Fortify Delhi's walls, station our cannons, and prepare for a siege. We will bleed him dry before he ever reaches the gates."
The Mughal army moved swiftly.
15,000 Mughal infantry were positioned inside the fortifications.
5,000 elite musketeers took position on the ramparts.
500 war elephants, covered in armor, stood ready to charge.
200 cannons lined the city walls, ready to rain fire on the enemy.
Bairam Khan stood atop the palace, looking out at the city. The sun was setting, bathing Delhi in hues of gold and crimson. He whispered to himself:
"Let him come. I will crush him like I did before."
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2. The Rajput Army Arrives – Thunder in the Distance
As dawn broke, the people of Delhi heard it—the sound of hooves.
Hemu's army had arrived.
From the city walls, the Mughal sentries stared in disbelief. The horizon was filled with warriors.
10,000 Rajput cavalry—warriors in gleaming armor, their lances sharp and unyielding.
5,000 elite infantry—shields locked, swords drawn.
1,000 cannons—more than the Mughals had ever seen in one place.
200 war elephants—their tusks reinforced with steel, carrying archers atop them.
Hemu rode at the front, clad in black and gold armor. His sword, bloodied from past battles, glinted in the morning sun. He turned to Maharana Udai Singh and Maharana Pratap, who rode beside him.
Hemu: "Delhi is before us. Today, we reclaim our land."
Udai Singh nodded.
Udai Singh: "Mewar stands with you."
Maharana Pratap's young voice was filled with fire.
Maharana Pratap: "Let them hear the roar of Rajputs!"
Hemu raised his sword.
Hemu: "Archers, take position! Cannons, load! Infantry, prepare to storm the gates!"
With a mighty war cry, the Rajput army advanced.
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3. The Battle Begins – Fire in the Sky
Bairam Khan watched from the city walls. He raised his hand.
Bairam Khan: "FIRE!"
The Mughal cannons roared to life. A wall of smoke and flame erupted from Delhi's ramparts. Cannonballs hurtled through the air, smashing into the Rajput ranks.
BOOM! A cannonball struck an elephant, sending it crashing to the ground. BOOM! Another blast tore through the Rajput cavalry.
But Hemu did not waver.
Hemu: "FIRE BACK!"
The Rajput cannons answered.
BOOM! The city walls shook as cannonballs struck. One Mughal tower collapsed, crushing soldiers beneath it. Fire spread through the streets as Rajput bombardiers launched flaming projectiles.
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4. The Rajputs Attack – Swords Against Muskets
With the defenses weakened, Hemu gave the order.
Hemu: "INFANTRY, CHARGE!"
The Rajput warriors surged forward, climbing the walls with ladders, dodging musket fire as they fought their way into the city.
At the main gate, Maharana Pratap led the assault. His sword danced like lightning, cutting down Mughal defenders. A young warrior, but already a force of nature.
Maharana Pratap: "RAJPUTS, WITH ME!"
The gate shattered under the force of war elephants, and the Rajput cavalry stormed into Delhi.
Inside, the battle turned into a brutal street fight. Houses burned. Swords clashed. The cries of the wounded filled the air.
Udai Singh led his forces through the alleyways, cutting down resistance wherever they stood. Blood painted the walls of Delhi red.
But Bairam Khan had prepared a trap.
From the palace, he watched as Hemu's forces entered the city. He turned to his elite guard.
Bairam Khan: "Now, we strike."
A horn sounded. From the narrow streets, hidden Mughal forces emerged.
5,000 musketeers fired in unison, cutting down the Rajput front lines.
500 war elephants charged through the streets, trampling soldiers.
Mughal cavalry struck from behind, surrounding Hemu's forces.
Hemu realized the danger.
Hemu: "Fall back to the main square! Regroup!"
The battle raged on. The Rajputs were fighting in the heart of the Mughal stronghold, but the enemy was everywhere.
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5. The Duel – Hemu vs. Bairam Khan
As the battle reached its climax, Hemu and Bairam Khan locked eyes from across the battlefield.
Bairam Khan, astride a black warhorse, rode forward.
Bairam Khan: "Come then, 'Samrat' Hemu. Show me if you are truly a king!"
Hemu rode to meet him. Two generals, two legends—one battle.
Their swords clashed, sparks flying. Bairam Khan was a skilled fighter, but Hemu was stronger. Each strike from Hemu forced the Mughal commander back.
Bairam Khan: "You fight well... but not well enough!"
He swung at Hemu's head. Hemu ducked and countered with a powerful strike, knocking Bairam Khan from his horse.
The Mughal general fell, blood staining his armor. But before Hemu could finish him, an arrow struck his shoulder.
A Mughal archer had fired from the rooftop.
Hemu stumbled, but did not fall. He turned to his soldiers.
Hemu: "The battle is not over! FIGHT ON!"
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6. The Aftermath – Victory or Defeat?
The sun was setting. The streets of Delhi were filled with bodies. Fires burned in the distance. The Rajputs had fought with unmatched bravery, but the Mughals had reinforced their positions.
Bairam Khan, injured but alive, watched as his forces slowly pushed Hemu's army out of the city.
The battle was fierce, but in the end, Delhi remained in Mughal hands.
Hemu, wounded but unbroken, regrouped with Udai Singh and Maharana Pratap outside the city walls.
Udai Singh: "We fought well, but the city is lost."
Maharana Pratap: "This is not the end. We will return."
Hemu, his hand clutching his bleeding shoulder, looked back at Delhi. The war was far from over.
Hemu: "We may have lost the battle. But the war for Bharat has just begun."
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