Chapter 17: The Siege of Delhi – Fire and Steel
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1. The Rajput Army Marches – A City in Chains
The Rajput forces stood ready at dawn, their armor gleaming in the golden sunlight. The banners of Mewar, Malwa, and the newly united Rajput clans fluttered in the crisp morning breeze. Warhorses, draped in protective gear, stomped the earth restlessly as warriors mounted their steeds.
At the center of the formation, Hemu, Maharana Pratap, and Rani Avantibai surveyed their forces.
Hemu, dressed in battle-worn armor, raised his sword high.
Hemu: "Delhi was ours before, and it shall be ours again. The Mughals sit behind their walls, believing they are safe. Today, we show them that no wall can protect them from the wrath of Hindustan!"
The soldiers erupted in a mighty "Har Har Mahadev!", their voices carrying across the plains.
Rani Avantibai, riding beside Hemu, looked toward the distant Mughal fortifications.
Rani Avantibai: "Bairam Khan is no fool. He will not surrender easily. We must be patient, strike where he is weakest, and break his will before we break his gates."
Maharana Pratap, gripping his spear, nodded.
Maharana Pratap: "We have cut off their supplies. Their men grow weaker by the day. Now, we let the siege tighten until they are forced to face us on our terms."
With that, the Rajput army began its march toward Delhi, the earth trembling beneath thousands of hooves and armored warriors. The final battle for the city was about to begin.
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2. The Walls of Delhi – A City on the Brink
Inside Delhi, the Mughal army struggled to maintain order. The once-thriving city was now a prison. Food was scarce, water supplies were dwindling, and disease was beginning to spread among the weaker soldiers.
Bairam Khan, the Mughal commander, paced in frustration inside the palace.
A trembling officer knelt before him.
Mughal Officer: "My Lord… the people are starving. The Rajputs have burned our grain stores outside the walls. Our soldiers are eating whatever they can find, even rats."
Bairam Khan clenched his fists.
Bairam Khan: "Curse these Rajputs! They fight like cowards—hiding in shadows, attacking our supply lines instead of facing us in battle."
Just then, another soldier rushed into the chamber.
Soldier: "My Lord, scouts report that the Rajput army is advancing. They have begun their siege formations outside the city!"
Bairam Khan's eyes narrowed. The moment he had dreaded had come. The Rajputs were not going to wait for him to surrender. They were coming to tear down Delhi's gates.
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3. The Siege Begins – Fire and Arrows
The Rajput forces surrounded Delhi, their siege weapons rolling into position. Massive trebuchets and flaming catapults were assembled, their crews preparing to launch destruction upon the Mughal defenses.
Archers lined the siege towers, their arrows coated in oil, ready to set fire to the enemy positions.
At Hemu's command, the first wave of fire was unleashed.
Hemu: "Let the flames remind them that this land is not theirs!"
The sky darkened with flaming arrows, raining down upon the Mughal outposts along the walls. The wooden structures ignited instantly, sending black smoke curling into the air.
Maharana Pratap led a unit of cavalry, launching swift hit-and-run attacks on any Mughal troops trying to regroup outside the walls. The siege had begun in full force.
Bairam Khan, standing atop the city's ramparts, watched in horror as fire consumed his outer defenses.
He turned to his officers.
Bairam Khan: "Prepare the cannons. If they want war, we will give them war!"
The Mughal artillery roared to life, hurling iron cannonballs toward the Rajput siege engines. The ground shook as explosions sent debris flying.
But the Rajputs had prepared for this. Shielded by reinforced wooden barriers, they advanced steadily, undeterred by the enemy's counterattack.
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4. Breaking the Gates – The Final Assault
After days of bombardment, the walls of Delhi began to crack. The once-mighty fortifications were weakened, their wooden gates charred and splintered from repeated attacks.
Hemu, knowing that the time had come, called his commanders for a final war council.
Hemu: "Tomorrow, at sunrise, we break through. We will not stop until every Mughal soldier inside Delhi lies defeated!"
Maharana Pratap stepped forward, his eyes fierce.
Maharana Pratap: "I will lead the charge through the western gate. The Mughals are weakest there."
Rani Avantibai gripped her sword.
Rani Avantibai: "Then I will take my forces through the southern gate. We will attack from two sides and crush them from within."
Hemu nodded.
Hemu: "The moment their defenses falter, I will bring in the main force. We will claim Delhi in the name of Bharat!"
The Rajput warriors roared in approval. Tomorrow, history would be made.
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5. The Storming of Delhi – Blood and Steel
As the first light of dawn broke over the horizon, the Rajput army surged forward. War cries echoed through the air as the battering rams slammed into the weakened gates.
The Western Gate—led by Maharana Pratap—was the first to fall. His warriors stormed inside, cutting through the Mughal defenders like a blade through cloth.
The Southern Gate soon followed, as Rani Avantibai's forces overwhelmed the struggling Mughal troops.
Inside the city, chaos erupted. Mughal soldiers, weakened by hunger and exhaustion, struggled to fight back. Many threw down their weapons and attempted to flee, but there was nowhere left to run.
Hemu led the central force, cutting through the city streets like a tidal wave of vengeance.
His sword flashed in the sunlight as he struck down every enemy in his path. The Rajputs were unstoppable.
Bairam Khan, realizing that the battle was lost, attempted to retreat toward the palace. But Hemu, atop his mighty warhorse, cut him off.
Their eyes met—Rajput defiance versus Mughal arrogance.
Bairam Khan: "You may win this battle, but you will never rule Hindustan!"
Hemu, his voice cold and unwavering, replied:
Hemu: "Hindustan was never yours to rule."
With a single strike, Hemu knocked Bairam Khan from his horse, sending him crashing to the ground. The Mughal commander was dragged away by his remaining guards, disappearing into the chaos of the battle.
As the Mughal resistance collapsed, the Rajput banners were raised over the palace. Delhi was theirs once more.
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6. Victory and a New Dawn
By nightfall, the battle was over. The Mughals had been expelled from Delhi.
The Rajput warriors stood triumphant, their armor stained with the blood of their enemies. They had reclaimed their city.
Hemu stood atop the palace balcony, looking over the city he had fought so hard to free.
Maharana Pratap and Rani Avantibai joined him.
Rani Avantibai: "We have won the battle. But the war is not over. The Mughals will return."
Maharana Pratap: "Then we will be ready."
Hemu, his sword still in hand, looked to the horizon.
Hemu: "Today, we have taken Delhi. Tomorrow, we take back all of Hindustan."
The warriors below raised their weapons in celebration. The Rajputs had risen once more, and nothing would stand in their way.
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