The Dhilli troops march ahead and the 4 travel in 2 separate camel driven carts. Chand is with Pundir in one cart, Prithvi rides with Arjun in the cart in front. Arjun has requested Prithvi that he wants to take ‘”darshan” of Pundir. He found out the truth.
Prithvi just cries he was controlling his emotions all this time for the sake of Arjun so he doesn’t find out what happened to Pundir, because it may affect his health and psychology. Prithvi now releases his frustration.
Arjun lies in the cot, in the cart watching Prithvi, don’t cry Prithvi, he requests, you only cry for someone’s death.
Prithvi cannot control his emotions and covers his face with his hands.
Our friend did not die, he is a martyr, “veer gathi”. I would like to take the last “darshan” of my friend the martyr.
Prithvi understands his buddy, he orders the cart to halt. Chand wonders why they have stopped.
Prithvi whispers, Arjun you just wait, he is lifting his head to see outside. Chand! Bring your cart ahead near ours, Prithvi calls out.
Chand’s cart is pulled up front. Arjun and Prithvi wait for the other cart to be parallel with theirs. Prithvi gently lifts Arjun’s head to view Pundir.
Chand looks at them from the other cart, then he slowly removes the sheet off of Pundir’s head to reveal his face. Prithvi is holding Arjun up in sitting position, he looks sadly at the body of Pundir lying across in the next cart. Arjun grieves for his friend and folds his hands to do final “namaskar” to Pundir. He looks at him intently. He can’t bare the situation and shakes, he is crying now. Chand has joined them in their cart and cries too. Arjun is not able to bear it anymore and weeps loudly.
Arjun?
Arjun hugs Prithvi and Chand tightly.
Meanwhile, Sanyo is getting ready at Dhilli. She is dressing up and puts on her ornaments. She puts on her elegant necklace of pure gold, armlet, earings, bracelets etc. She applies “bindi” on her forehead and she gets her hair done by the servant. Sanyo looks in the mirror of her dressing table and watches the earrings dangle. Her main servant has come into the room. Sanyo sees her from the mirror and gets up, she asks her, tell me fast till where has your King reached so far?
He has reached very close to the Dhilli border Maharani, he will be arriving very soon.
Sanyo is very happy and cheerful she turns and looks at the mirror again and checks her appearance.
The carts travel ahead with the troops following behind on foot. Prithvi, how….How much more…
Just understand we are about to reach the place, Prithvi assures his friend. Just wait a little more Arjun, Prithvi pats his head gently.
Remember,… Remember when we all met in Gurukul for the first time? How we all together troubled Chand? He remembers the time when he took his poetry scrolls away from him for the sake of taking a bath after 5 days. Prithvi finally returned the scrolls to Chand and they all threw Chand in the pond, he got all wet. Afterwards they all joined him too, in the pond. Arjun and Prithvi both remember the good old days, Prithvi looks at him and laughs softly.
How we all use to do mischievous things over there.
Those were one of the happiest times of our lives Arjun. Prithvi smiles, I will never be able to forget it, he admits.
Remember Prithvi, when you left with your father to fight.
Prithvi nods his head and smiles more.
Hmm?
Yes I remember, and you all one by one were ready to accompany me. They were all young and wanted to come along with Prithvi to the war. According to them the King doesn’t depart without his army, but Prithvi didn’t want them to come because of the danger to their lives. Arjun said their lives were dedicated to Prithvi’s Kingdom. If anything happened to Prithvi it was equivalent to their own deaths. Prithvi told them they were crazy those days.
Arjun and Pundir are lost in their thoughts and smile they remember when they all joined hands and took oath of existing together and departing together.
Arjun says, see how we have fulfilled our vows, for real?
Prithvi quickly replies I do not want these kind of promises Arjun, he shakes his head, don’t want it and pats his head.
Arjun’s health doesn’t look good. He keeps on closing his eyes. Prithvi it was prestigious and a great honour to serve and fight for a great King like you.
Prithvi closes his eyes, no Arjun it is a great honour to have fought battles with such great “veer yodhas” like you.
Prithvi… After I go, I wish that my son Veer, join your forces, like I have till his departure, Prithvi.
Prithvi is pleased, Arjun, I promise he will always stay close to my heart as much as you are.
Arjun suddenly seems to be losing it, he breathes harder.
Arjun? The cart travels. Prithvi tries to divert Arjun’s attention, we will be reaching the Dhilli border soon, see over there, he gestures outside the cart, in front we can see, he informs his buddy. All the troops wait outside in a row with lighted torches.
They travel and have almost made it, but Arjun doesn’t seem to be reacting and doesn’t answer his eyes are closing.
No, Arjun? Arjun? No, Arjun? Not now.
Arjun’s vision is going blurry.
Little more time, just wait a little more time Arjun, Prithvi pats and rubs Arjun’s head softly he looks out of the cart and sees everybody in Dhilli waiting for them. He requests his friend to hang on a little bit more. Arjun, keep your eyes open Arjun, we are almost there, he pleads. See it’s all for you. Everything has been arranged for the welcome ceremony. The night has been lit with thousands of torches. See now we have reached, Prithvi tells his friend and smiles.
Arjun moves his head slightly he can see outside the cart, all the troops standing with torches across the edge of the water canal on both sides. He sees the flag and the Kingdom’s emblem. But no use he is fading away fast. Prithvi looks at him in desperation continuously patting his head.
Chand is watching too.
Prithvi calls Arjun,… Arjun,… Arjun. No movement, no response from him this time. Prithvi turns his head in grief, he can’t face it.
Chand closes his eyes in sadness and bows his head down.
Prithvi slowly turns his head forward to look at Arjun, he slowly raises his hand and closes Arjun’s eyes, he is gone.
Chand weeps silently. Prithvi just stares sadly at him and closes his eyes in pain, he has got another loss of his other friend.
In the palace Sanyo races to the hallway of the entrance, two servants stand at both sides of the hallway with two stands of lighted lamps.
Come on fast, he may come any moment inside the palace now, all of you get ready for the reception, come on fast, come. Sanyo leads the way down the hallway her servants follow behind. Many servants stand and wait along the hallway.
Outside in Dhilli the horns are blown, all the civilians stand outside their homes to welcome their King. They all stand along the street many have torches in their hands. Prithvi’s cart arrives first, all shout, Maharaj Prithviraj Chauhan Ki Jai! All the public cheer, Maharaj Prithviraj Chauhan Ki Jai! All throw rice and flowers for victory. Prithvi has come, Maharaj Prithviraj Chauhan Ki Jai! Maharaj Prithviraj Chauhan Ki Jai!
Prithvi sits with both of his slain “veer yodhas” in one cart, he holds both of their hands. Chand also sits next to them behind Prithvi. The cart rides down the narrow lane on the way to the palace. Soon the public quiet down as they see the heroes lay while the cart passes by the people.
One suspicious figure stands wrapped in black clothes and black turban covering his face. He stands alone and eyes Prithvi suspiciously as he passes. He is also watching Pundir and Arjun who lay in the cart.
Sanyo is so anxious and runs through the hallway that leads to the Krishna Idol, she tells a servant, decorate the hallway with lamps, for each returning victor, a lamp lit on his name!
Yes Queen, the servant arranges a tray with “kum-kum”, turmeric powder, flower petals and lamps for Sanyo to take with her to welcome Prithvi, she hands it over to her. Sanyo says I will welcome them in such a fashion that not even in my dreams have I ever thought of it, she giggles.
Outside Prithvi’s cart nears the palace in a procession, the same unknown person in black clothes is vigilant among the public and watches them intently. The cart passes the suspicious person, all the public are silent.
Inside the palace all are waiting, a blue colour carpet is along the full length of the hallway.
Announcement: Maharaj Prithviraj Chauhan is present and enters the palace!
Prithvi is the first to enter inside and he is alone, Sanyo is at the other end of the hallway she is anxiously coming with the tray of lighted lamps everything is set and ready.
Prithvi walks slowly taking big strides. He can see her coming in front, her two servants are behind her. Sanyo is smiling but Prithvi is expressionless and sad. Prithvi stops midway in the hallway.
Sanyo notices something odd and slows down at her end.
Prithvi moves aside in the hallway and gives way to the troops who have entered the palace and carry Arjun’s body on a cot.
Sanyo looks and walks slowly, she soon realizes the fact, she is shocked.
The troops slowly lower the cot down to the floor in the middle of the hallway. Same way Pundir is also behind, more troops have entered and carry Pundir’s body on a cot also, they lay his cot down too.
Sanyo is shocked to see such a display, she lets go of the metal tray in her hands and it smashes to the floor, all the contents scatter. Sanyo stares in horror and then runs to Prithvi’s friends.
They just finish laying Pundir down. Sanyo looks at Arjun and squats down next to him. Arjun, Arjun? Sanyo shakes Arjun’s chin, open your eyes Arjun! See! See how I have prepared and decorated everything for your reception. I have even prepared sweets for you she whimpers, I have even lighted 1000 lamps for you, Arjun! Wake up Arjun! Sanyo shakes his chin vigorously his whole head shakes. You, you wanted a grand reception right? Then wake up! Sanyo whimpers.
Prithvi stares into space.
Sanyo pleads, Arjun wake up! She still shakes his chin, she is crying bitterly. Sanyo turns her head and realizes Pundir is also lying in a cot next to Arjun. Pundir! She walks over to him and kneels. Pundir, Pundir! Open your eyes Pundir! Sanyo looks at Prithvi, Prithvi! Prithvi what is this…
No answer from him.
Chand! Chand! Sanyo gets up, Chand! Arjun and Pundir! How did this all happen? Chand!
No answer from Chand either he is silent.
She looks at Pundir and Arjun and whines. Sanyo looks at Prithvi again and runs to him, Prithvi! Prithvi! Prithvi how did all this….Sanyo cries on his chest.
Prithvi doesn’t answer he just stands expressionless in the palace hallway.
Pundir and Arjun’s bodies have been brought inside. Chand is busy cleansing the bodies of his friends and prepares them for the last rites.
Prithvi sits nearby motionless just lost in his thoughts and is in shock.
Chand is wiping their faces and shoulders.
Sanyo comes into the quarters and looks sadly at the departed friends. Sanyo sits down next to Prithvi, he is just staring in his friend’s direction looking straight but his attention is on nothing.
Prithvi since the time you have come you are silent, speak something. Sanyo puts her hand on his shoulder for how long will you keep silent like this Prithvi?
Chand is still doing the work, his attention is diverted to them both, he finally gets up and walks over to her, you just leave him alone for some days, then everything will be alright.
Sanyo is worried and sad for her husband. Chand goes back to prepare the departed buddies for their last rites. Sanyo sits helpless she cannot do anything for Prithvi. She looks at both of them and remembers how Pundir told her to receive them when they reached Dhilli. She promised Pundir she would bring the tray of victory to do ‘arthi’. She remembers how Arjun requested her to receive them with lighted lamps and rain of flowers, after all they are fighting the biggest war ever in their lives. Sanyo is very upset and gets up. She takes the container of kum-kum and starts to apply it around Pundir and Arjun’s body, she weeps and leaves the room.
In the meantime, the suspicious person in black, who was at the procession earlier, enters into the palace he is in the hallway and walks ahead unnoticed by anyone. Two guards wait at the end of the hallway, he approaches them, where is Maharaj Prithvi?
They answer him, he is there in the quarters ahead one guard points in the direction to show him. He passes by easily nobody questions who he is, he is just able to move around in the palace so freely?
Sanyo has left the quarters, she is sad, she remembers how she was making all the arrangements and told the servants to use other flowers. Sanyo is upset and starts to rip off the garlands of marigolds angrily that hang around the huge pillars of the palace. All the servants are engaged in that task, removing the decorations, it has gone wasted do to her father. Two servants remove a huge bowl of water and pour it on the floor to spoil the ‘rangoli’ and flower arrangement made there. Sanyo watches them and is upset all her efforts for the reception have gone in vain.
The unknown person in black is coming silently he passes through the hallway.
Chand is finishing up and about to reach for the flowers, his attention is on Prithvi again he looks at him, he is worried for him. Prithvi still stares blankly his mind doesn’t seem to be paying attention to anything.
The man in black pushes away his shawl and reveals a dagger. He removes it from his waistband and walks on he seems to be heading directly to Prithvi’s quarters. Nobody is there to stop him, what work he has with Prithvi?
Sanyo is now in the other room helping out the Pandits arrange for the last rites, she assists them and passes the tray to them. A ”Hom” is being prepared with sandalwood as firewood. Four Pandits are getting ready to perform the ceremony for Arjun and Pundir. One arranges a white cloth and lays it on the floor, the other 3 sit and prepare for the rites.
The man in black clothes has made it till there he is coming. He walks over to Sanyo and greets her, ”prannam” where is Maharaj Prithvi?
Sanyo doesn’t even look at his face or ask who he is, she is busy doing the work and just points to the other room there, showing him the direction. The man just follows the direction and goes there.
Prithvi is still sitting in the same place silently. Chand is not present he has finished the work and gone somewhere.
The young man in black clothes slowly enters the quarters where Prithvi is and looks at Prithvi from behind. The unknown man walks towards him and says Maharaj Prithvi?
Prithvi finally reacts and turns his head to see who it is.
Suddenly the man with black clothes takes his dagger and stabs Prithvi instantly in his waist, once.
Prithvi does ahh! He looks at the man in the eyes but says nothing he doesn’t react.
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