Jiwa was the luckiest bride. Or so her friends had said. She was getting married to the bravest of the brave. The chief warrior of Chittorgarh. Patta Singh Sisodia was indeed so at seventeen. She had caught a glimpse of him from behind her veil as she blushed to herself in between the ceremonies. The wedding night was an anticipated one for the new bride. And there she was sitting among her friends and relatives who teased her endlessly. Then, there was a thundering noise that shook Chittorgarh. There was a commotion at one of the gates of the fort. People were running about. She was left alone by the ladies who went to check on the development, worried. All she could hear was "Coward... bombardment... Wall... War" and she had immediately got up and reached for her sword in a reflex.
Some of the ladies gasped at the new bride as she made her way out to the corridor. Sword in hand, she stood at the door, her face still in the veil as she asked to no one in particular, "Did they attack?"
"Not yet. But maybe at dawn. " She turned at his voice. He stood there, his sword exposed like hers. Their first conversation. Was it supposed to be like this? She couldn't care less now.
"We should get the ladies and children to safety." She told him. Patta was for a moment blank as he stared at her and noticed the sword in her hand and the rage in her eyes. He managed a nod and ordered the nearest soldier to take the families to safety.
"Can I... Come with you?" Her words made Patta stare at her with half a smile. She was ready for a battle.
"Not yet." She frowned at his words.
He gestured at her sword and said, "You have to wait till the Bidai comes with me, Baisa. Until then, I think you can hold the fort here with that if needed. I will see that the children are safe." She smiled, blushing as she watched him go.
~ Suranya