Episode on Saturday, February 14, 2009

Prithvi is by Arjun’s bed side and shakes him, Arjun! Wake up Arjun! Open your eyes Arjun! His hand is on his forehead.
Arjun responds he is okay he slowly opens his eyes, huh Prithvi, friend…Yes Prithvi I have told you….
Chand is crying.
Prithvi holds his hand and nods listening carefully to him.
…. That I would take my last breath in my own Dhilli/Ajmer, there… Not in Kannauj, you forgot what I said, what?
Prithvi feels bad and holds his hand in his fist and cries.
Arjun lifts his hand and touches Prithvi’s head, Prithvi, this is not the time to shed tears. You quickly win the war and then head back home. There sister-in-law must have prepared a grand welcome for us, he smiles, he can barely speak.
Your sister-in-law will be the happiest to see you return victorious, Prithvi strokes his forehead.

In Dhilli at the palace ‘darbar’ servants decorate the floor with a carpet of flower petals, they arrange the lamps in a design. Sanyo is inspecting the work, she sees it and complains what is this you have used ordinary colours of petals as “rangoli”, you must use bright colour flowers instead, she mentions a “victory” kind of flower. I am sure that our “yodha” will return back victorious, she smiles.
Sanyo moves to another area and meets another servant, did you get any news of the war?
You just don’t worry about it Queen. As soon as I get any news of it, I will come directly to you and inform you about it.
Okay. Now it’s late at night you just tell them all to do the remaining preparations early morning.
The servant acknowledges it and says okay.

It is morning the sun is rising, at the Kannauj battlefield everybody is present and ready. Prithvi stands with Chand and his army. He has his shield this time and sword with him, all the Dhilli troops stand behind him in a row.
At the opposite end are Jaichand and his “Senapati” and his army standing behind them in a row also.
Prithvi keeps on remembering the same incident of Pundir hit with a spear, the thoughts don’t go away. He also has to abide with his oath, he cannot harm Jaichand in any way, he made a promise to Sanyo. Tears run down Prithvi’s cheek.
Jaichand looks above in the sky, the sun is on the verge of rising to the fullest. Few minutes later the horn is blown, morning has come, the signal for the battle to start.
Jaichand doesn’t waste time he raises his sword in the air and orders attack! “Senapati” raises his too and shouts attack, to the troops. In front are the archers kneeling in a row, ready to shoot the arrows, the other troops race to attack the Dhilli army.
Prithvi races forward and is the first to attack, he kills the first Kannauj troop that attacks him, attack! Prithvi runs fast to the other side. Jaichand watches. Both sides meet each other in the battlefield the fight starts. Hundreds of swords clash, Dhilli troops versus Kannauj army. Prithvi runs and knocks one troop down, then a second, he twirls around and kills another. Prithvi rams his sword into one more and another flips in the air. One troop attacks him in front, Prithvi stabs his body through and through, he is killed instantly, Prithvi is on a rampage.
Jaichand watches his men fall at the hands of Prithvi.
More troops enter the battlefield and surround Prithvi, he finishes another instantly. One more troop attacks Prithvi, he moves away and flings his sword on the enemy, he is down. Prithvi has left a trail of dead troops of Kannauj behind him.
Jaichand doesn’t realize Prithvi’s strength and underestimates him, he just stands and watches how Prithvi eliminates his men one by one.
Prithvi shields himself from another troop and pushes him away. Prithvi uses his sword and cuts one more attacking at his side. He thrashes his sword on another and pushes one more with his shield, thump! Prithvi jumps in the air, another troop with his sword is cut again. Prithvi still has the same image of Pundir in his mind, the way he lay dead in his arms with a spear lodged in his chest. The image of Pundir in his mind fuels his rage to constantly attack. Prithvi keeps on attacking his opponents, and the image of Pundir dying keeps on flashing back in his mind. Prithvi has the image of Arjun lying in the bed in his mind, he too has very less time left.
Jaichand is furious none of his troops are able to beat Prithvi and kill him. Prithvi walks ahead and attacks two troops at a time, he attacks one with his shield and other with his sword.
Prithvi remembers how his father was slayed. Prithvi twirls around and cuts two more troops with his sword using centrifugal force. Again the image of Sanjam being devoured by buzzards races in his mind. Prithvi had taken oath he would not allow anything to happen to his friends, but things didn’t turn out that way. One troop tries to attack him he ducks down and pushes him back. Another he fights with his shield, he pushes him away with it. Prithvi twirls around and cuts the leg of another troop who tries to attack him.
Jaichand is on guard he waits with some men. Prithvi is eliminating his men one by one, he nears Jaichand now. He watches Prithvi angrily.
Prithvi jumps into the air and kicks another troop away, he flips over. Prithvi looks around for more men to attack, he holds his shield and sword. Many dead or injured soldiers of Kannauj lay on the ground around him. Nobody left to attack him now, he flings the shield away into the air and looks at Jaichand.
The end of this fight will be decided by Prithviraj’s death! Jaichand shouts and points at him. Go! Eliminate him! Go!
Just understand Maharaj the end is coming, says one troop.
Prithvi bravely walks forward in the enemy’s direction few troops who are left proceed towards him. Two of the troops attack Prithvi, he ducks away from their swords. He instantly swings his sword on them and they are gone.
Jaichand watches Prithvi finish his last batch of troops.
Prithvi attacks two more running his way, and another he kills. Two more troops swing their words on him cling, clang, cling, clang, he pushes them backward. Prithvi then swings his sword on one of the troops throats and same on the other they are both knocked down dead.
Jaichand watches how Prithvi butchers them so easily like they were chickens. He looks at Prithvi, nobody is left to fight Prithvi except himself.
Prithvi looks at Jaichand and walks in front of him passing some troops on the ground. Jaichand gives him an angry look. Prithvi and Jaichand look at each other for a moment they both stand motionless. The fight starts between them, both raise their swords and strike. Prithvi tries to get Jaichand but he turns around and ducks, Prithvi tries to cut his neck but again he moves away. All the Kannauj troops lay dead or unconscious on the ground. Chand holds the shield in his hands and watches the fight. Both of them swing their swords and hit each other, cling, clang, and cling! Prithvi twirls around and screams AHHH! His sword is up and aimed at Jaichand’s left shoulder. But Prithvi halts his movement and keeps the sword steady on Jaichand’s body, he has lost his weapon. He remembers the promise he gave to Sanyo again, he is not permitted to harm him in any way. Prithvi looks at Jaichand angrily the sword still rests on his shoulder. Jaichand! My promise I gave Sanyo has saved you today! Before my burning anger slaughters that promise, you get out of here!.... Get out of my sight!... Go!... GO!
Jaichand is speechless he moves two steps behind, then he hesitatingly leaves the battlefield without giving a response, he doesn’t even challenge Prithvi or threaten him. Jaichand walks away silently.
Prithvi takes a deep breath and watches him leave. Prithvi sees that he has gone and turns away, he has won the battle, it is finally over. Prithvi takes his sword and stamps it into the ground, he kneels down on both knees and holds his sword vertically. Prithvi bows his head and screams ahhhhhhhhhhh! He bends his head backward, achhhhhhh! Ahhhhh! He faces the sky. Ahhhhhhh! Prithvi bends forward again the sword touches his head, he leans on it and cries, he has lost one friend and is on the verge of losing another, what did he gain? Prithvi screams to shake out the frustration and pain of the loss, inside.

In the Dhilli palace, Sanyo is in the bedroom she is very excited and happy, she rushes to the dressing table. On the table is a jewelry box. She opens the lid of the box. Sanyo can see a jewel in it, she removes the jewel and holds it in her hands. She recognizes it and laughs. Okay, my own symbol has reached here before I did, she giggles “bigde raize”.
Suddenly a servant comes rushing into the room, Maharani! Congratulations Maharani, congratulations!
The war is over Maharani, she smiles with the good news. Maharaj Prithviraj Chauhan is victorious! Our Maharaj! Our Maharaj has won the war! The servant puts her hand on her chest.
Really? Sanyo holds her servants arms.
Yes!
But Sanyo is not happy, she removes her hand from the servant and gets serious all of a sudden. But is Maharaj Jaichand okay? Sanyo has her loyalty to her father.
Yes Maharani, Maharaj Jaichand is well.
Sanyo is so thrilled only because her father is not harmed, she covers her face and laughs with joy, she turns around and around in happiness and grabs the servant, she almost lost her balance.
You have told me such good news, says Sanyo, the servant smiles at her. Sanyo walks over to the dressing table and returns with an ornament, take this. But has everything been prepared for the welcome ceremony?
Yes Maharani.
Okay then, Sanyo is thrilled, you go, and I will come in few minutes.
Okay, the servant runs back to continue her work.
Sanyo is so happy she twirls around and around again, I knew that Prithvi, you would turn out the victor. I just knew it! She lifts some rose petals in the room and throws it up in the air and twirls around again stretching her arms out. The petals scatter and fall on her.

Simultaneously the situation at the other end is not happy. Everybody is at camp in Kannauj. The Dhilli troops spread garlands of marigold and rose petals on the body of Pundir, he still lays on the platform outside in the camp, all the troops are present around him. Prithvi returns from the battlefield and walks over to Pundir’s side. The troops finish their work and put the trays of flowers down, Pundir has been decorated with flowers. The troops move aside and give way to Prithvi. Prithvi looks at him and stands by the platform, he slowly squats down and looks at him. Prithvi lifts Pundir’s right arm gently and holds his hand. Prithvi looks at his face closely a lamp is lit by his head. Prithvi looks at his hands, we have won friend. He continues to look at him and pats his forehead, let’s go, we will go back home. Prithvi still holds Pundir’s hand, see how….. I won today, but lost everything. I don’t understand what it was…. What it was for you to go away so hurriedly? Prithvi cannot control his tears, I have lost, Pundir, he shakes his head and starts to cry, I have lost. Prithvi weeps on Pundir’s hands.
Chand returns and puts his hand on Prithvi’s shoulder and kneels down next to them both, he is sad.
Prithvi looks at Chand, is Arjun alright?
Chand doesn’t answer he just bows his head down and tries to avoid crying.
Prithvi lays Pundir’s arm down, gently, come we will return home.
Chand acknowledges him and cries.
Prithvi pats Pundir’s forehead as if to tell him they are returning back.

In the Dhilli palace Sanyo is happy, she is with her servants and takes a garland of jasmine and roses from a tray they show to her. She inspects it and says there are less pearls in it. Go and add more pearls in it for decoration she advises them. I have promised Arjun and Pundir that their welcome ceremony will be so grand, so grand, that even God will come and give them blessings, okay then, go. The servants leave.
Sanyo walks over to another servant in the “darbar”, what is the condition of the other preparations left outside?
Yes Maharani, the musicians, “Raj Sangeetkar” have gone outside the palace and taken seats in their positions, Maharani.
And has the flowers to shower for victory been arranged yet?
Yes Maharani, from the palace entrance to the Maharaja’s quarters, the servants are ready and stand in place to shower blankets of flowers from trays.
Sanyo giggles, she exclaims, all of you people must fill up your trays with so many flowers that it should look like the Gods in heaven themselves are showering them with flowers from the sky, understand?
Yes.
All of you do it fast. By now the people must have left for Dhilli.
The entire floor of the palace has been decorated with “rangoli’ and flowers, and 1000’s of lamps are lit all around the palace. Many servants are busy working. Sanyo orders them all, she is so happy and enthusiastic, but she doesn’t know what has really happened.

Prithvi and Chand have already left for Dhilli. They both ride in two separate camel driven carts led by troops on foot carrying torches, through the night.
In Chand’s cart lies Pundir’s body. Prithvi who is traveling ahead of Chand, is with Arjun who rests on a cot, he is sleeping. Prithvi sits by his side and has his hand on his forehead. Chand sits alone staring into blank space with Pundir, a white sheet is covering his full body.
Prithvi sits with Arjun and watches him continuously, the camels ride on. Prithvi in front and Chand behind.
Arjun has woken up and slowly opens his eyes. Prithvi sees him. Arjun grins. Prithvi quickly shows his finger on his lips and goes, shhh! Prithvi holds his chin, don’t say anything, he whispers. He checks outside, we are about to reach home, he smiles at him.
Prithvi, we have won the war?
Yes.
Arjun is pleased, he can relax now.
We have won the war Arjun, Prithvi smiles at him.
I knew it.
Now don’t talk too much, and rest a while. Prithvi pats his head, we are about to reach Dhilli.
Yes…I will give up in Dhilli.
No Arjun, Prithvi is upset with his words. Nothing will happen to you understand. Nothing will happen to you.
Now, there is still some time friend. Arjun’s condition doesn’t look good he seems to be fading away. He looks as if he is losing hope. His eyes are closing. They travel ahead. Arjun moves his head a bit, he can see behind in the next cart. Arjun sees Chand sitting alone expressionless, something seems suspicious to him. Arjun is disturbed, Pundir? Where is Pundir?
Prithvi doesn’t respond.
Prithvi?
Prithvi hesitates to tell him the truth it may affect his health. He… He is resting in the caravan behind, Prithvi pats his head, you just don’t worry, Chand is with him. Nothing will happen to him, he is just a little…… Prithvi stops his sentence.
Arjun has figured it out and knows what he saw. He is lost in the image he saw earlier, Chand sitting alone expressionless, not communicating with anybody.
Prithvi again assures Arjun, nothing will happen to him.
I wish to see his dead body just once, Arjun says very slowly.