Brahmaputra, p.12
Brahmaputra, page 12
Lachit smiled at Chakradhwaj and said to Chung Mung, ‘For the final time, I urge you to give up, Prince Chung Mung, while you still have the time.’
In response, Chung Mung ordered his men to attack the combined forces. The tribals attacked them with spears, arrows and swords.
The battle went on for a couple of hours. The tribals fought bravely, but as time progressed, their numbers started to drop.
After a soldier’s sword sliced through the leg of Chung Mung’s horse, the rebel prince fell to the ground, his sword flying off his hand.
Seeing this, Lachit jumped down from his horse and quickly placed his leg on Chung Mung’s wrist so that he couldn’t pick up his sword again.
Chakradhwaj reached there too. Chung Mung was now at their feet, trying to crawl away.
Lachit asked, ‘What should we do with him, Prince Chakradhwaj?’
‘Borphukan wants him alive.’
They tied Chung Mung’s hands and legs to a horse and dragged him all the way to the capital’s gates.
When they reached the gates, they dumped him before Borphukan. The gate had been repaired and Borphukan had the whole area under control.
Borphukan looked at Prince Chakradhwaj and then Lachit and said, ‘Well done, Prince and Lachit.’ Then he ordered the soldiers, ‘Take this traitor into custody and lock him up in the jail’s basement.’
CHAPTER 9
The win over the tribal rebels was celebrated by organizing a special ancestor worship ceremony called Me-Dam-Me-Phi in Jorhat. The priests chanted mantras and the Ahoms thanked the spirits of their ancestors who helped them win.
While the two other rebel princes had died in the battle, Prince Chung Mung’s fate was yet to be decided. The tribals had lost many lives, and according to Ahom’s intelligence sources, they were now repenting having taken the side of Chung Mung. They also feared that now that Chung Mung had lost, the Ahom soldiers would come to the mountains and ransack their villages. To calm their nerves and to convey the message that the capital had pardoned them, Himabhas sent emissaries to the far-off lands and the mountains where the tribals lived, with the message that there would be no retribution and they should forget about the attack and move on with their lives.
The ancestor worship rituals continued for one week and every Ahom citizen actively participated. When finally, the rituals were over, one morning, Chung Mung was escorted to the court. It was high time that a suitable punishment was given to the traitor according to the law of the land.
As he slowly walked into the court, the shackles hanging from his body clanged disturbingly with every step he took. The expression on his face was completely unreadable.
The Swargadeo’s throne was empty, but Himabhas and Borphukan would use the power vested in them to decide the fate of the shackled prince. Besides them, Chakradhwaj, Lachit and other members of the court were present. The guards, as usual, stood on one side. The three Mughal advisors were present too. It was a solemn atmosphere, and all eyes were on the traitor.
After Chung Mung was brought to the designated spot, Himabhas raised his hand, indicating that the proceedings may begin.
Prince Chakradhwaj stood on his feet and began to speak, ‘Prince Chung Mung—’
‘Just Chung Mung! He doesn’t deserve to be called a prince any more,’ Borphukan interrupted him.
Chakradhwaj nodded and said, ‘Right. Chung Mung instigated the princes of the Ahom kingdom and waged a battle against our land and our people. This is treason, and I recommend a death sentence to be awarded to him.’
There was a pause for a few seconds and then Himabhas said, ‘Chung Mung, do you have anything to say in your defence?’
He turned his head to look at those present one by one. The wounds on his body were yet to heal and he sported a few-days-old stubble. He finally grinned and said, ‘This court is a joke. You are under the Mughal empire, and it is they who have to decide my fate.’
Chakradhwaj replied, ‘Your arrogance is shocking. Honourable Prime Minister, he doesn’t deserve a trial. We should have killed him on the battlefield.’
Chung Mung laughed, ‘If you had the guts, you would have killed me long ago. But you can’t do anything without the approval of your boss in Agra, can you?’
‘Enough! Do you have anything to say in your defence or not?’ It was Himabhas.
‘Yes, I do. The truth is, I didn’t instigate anyone. The people of Ahom want to get rid of all of you and they selected me as their leader. The people want a leadership that’s courageous and trustworthy, not like Jayadhwaj, who gave his daughter away.’
Borphukan was on his feet, ‘Be quiet! We knew about the king’s incompetence and tried our best to reform him. What did you or your rebel leaders do? Where were they for the last twenty years?’
Chung Mung stayed quiet.
‘All right then, as the prime minister of this court, I—’ said Himabhas.
‘Wait!’ All eyes turned towards Lachit.
Himabhas asked, ‘Do you wish to say something, Lachit?’
‘Yes, honourable Prime Minister … I was with Chung Mung for six years in gurukul. We have trained together. I know him very well. He’s not a bad person. He’s made a mistake, but I think he can be reformed. He is not an enemy, even though he did behave like one. He is a prince of our kingdom. I recommend that an exception be made, and he is allowed to live.’
Lachit’s unexpected suggestion made everyone think and the court was quiet for a couple of minutes before Himabhas asked, ‘Prince Chakradhwaj, what’s your opinion?’
‘Hmm … The way Lachit has put it … well, I think I would like to second his recommendation.’
‘Borphukan?’
Borphukan looked at his son and said, ‘The Ahoms only kill during battles. Let’s allow this man to repent and reform.’
A count of votes was carried out. The Mughal advisors were invited to vote too.
Most of those present supported Lachit’s stand. Chung Mung watched the proceedings as a mute spectator.
Himabhas finally declared the verdict, ‘As the prime minster of the Ahom state, and by the powers vested in me by Swargadeo himself, I award a life sentence to Chung Mung.’
There was no reaction of sorrow or relief on Chung Mung’s face as the guards took him away, the sound of his shackles ringing throughout the court.
In Agra, Prince Bahaadur had put a plan in motion that would allow him to meet Padmini and spend time with her without drawing attention. He had got the emperor’s approval to take all the royal women for a river cruise on the Yamuna, followed by a royal feast organized on the banks of the river in the shadow of the Taj Mahal.
At seven on an October morning, the queens, princesses and their attendants were brought in chariots to the banks of Yamuna, where six boats waited for them.
The royal ladies were escorted one by one to board the boats. While the chief of the Mughal navy was nominated to be in the first boat to accompany the queens, Princess Padmini was escorted to the sixth boat that Prince Bahaadur had earmarked for himself.
When Prince Bahaadur boarded the boat, his eyes fell on Padmini, and his heart stopped. How will I gather the confidence to speak to her, he wondered.
But as she looked up at him, he managed to smile and said, ‘Good morning, Princess Padmini. I’m Prince Bahaadur.’
Padmini smiled back, ‘Good morning, Prince Bahaadur. It’s nice to meet you.’
He kept on smiling, his eyes on her as he stood awkwardly. Padmini’s attendants stared at him. The boatmen also stole glances at him from the corner of their eyes.
Padmini felt uncomfortable, and she repeated, ‘Prince Bahaadur, it’s nice to meet you.’
He understood then and walked past her to occupy the frontmost seat that was reserved for him. He was now seated directly ahead of her.
After a few minutes, the boats started to sail in a single line. The wind was cold but not harsh, and the early morning fog hung heavy on the riverbed like a giant cushion. In the sky, parrots crossed over them and, on both sides of the river, as the boats moved, they saw egrets searching for fish in the shallow patches of the river.
Padmini had noticed Prince Bahaadur earlier too. He had been taking a lot of interest in her and she could sense the attraction he felt for her. Through her sources, she had found out that the prince was among the top three contenders for Aurangzeb’s throne. But the emperor was in his mid-fifties and no one knew for how many more years he would maintain his stranglehold on the Mughal kingdom.
In the zenana, there were rumours about the emperor’s aggression in the south and the east, and she had overheard people say that he was unhappy to share the power of the Ahom kingdom with the Ahom royalty. He wanted to conquer the state and terminate the existing arrangement.
These rumours had put Padmini in a very precarious position, and her first priority was to warn Lachit. But there was no way she could send a message to him without it being intercepted.
As the boats sailed, sharbat was served to everyone, beginning with the royal women. Seizing the opportunity, Prince Bahaadur turned in his seat and smiled at Padmini. She smiled back.
‘I hope you are liking the view, Princess.’
‘Yes, I do. You can call me just Padmini, if you wish.’
‘Sure … Padmini.’
As the boats sailed over the next couple of hours, Prince Bahaadur described the villages they were crossing, the aquatic birds who were dependent on the river and the variety of fish that was available in its waters. She listened intently though she understood this was merely an excuse for the prince to converse with her.
As Padmini listened to him, an idea started to form in her mind. With that, her smile got wider.
Encouraged, the Prince finally said, ‘You are very beautiful Padmini. I love you.’
She giggled, as did her attendants.
By now, they had reached their planned stop. One by one, everyone got down from the boats. The air smelled of skewered meats.
Seating had been arranged for the royal family along the riverbank. Servants went around with trays of dry fruits and meats. A group of musicians played on one side.
Padmini’s eyes were searching for the prince. After getting down from the boat, their paths had not crossed. She saw him one moment but lost him in the other due to the movement of people.
By now, it was clear to Padmini that if she played her cards carefully, the prince could become her saviour and the saviour of her kingdom.
Just the prospect made her giddy with excitement. At last, she thought, there was a ray of hope.
That’s when her eyes met Bahaadur’s for the first time since disembarking from the boat. He smiled, and she matched the width of her smile with his. He started to walk towards her.
When he reached her, he asked, ‘Padmini, I hope you are enjoying yourself?’
‘It’s a beautiful day, Prince. We have a river in Ahom kingdom too. It’s called Brahmaputra.’
‘Yes, I know.’
‘I … I …’
‘What is it, Padmini?’
‘I’m missing Jorhat today.’
‘I’m sorry. My intention in bringing you here was not to make you feel uncomfortable, I just wanted to …’
‘All of this was your plan?’
He realized the slip of the tongue, took a deep breath and said, ‘Yes, I wanted to spend a day with you and tell you that I love you, and no matter what, I’ll always love you.’
She looked away coyly and looked back at him after a few moments. She said, ‘I like you too, Prince Bahaadur.’
‘Call me Bahaadur, just Bahaadur.’
‘Okay.’
The queen came to where they stood and addressed them, ‘Look at the two of you. Do you know the gossip that’s going around here today?’
‘Mother!’
She raised her finger to her lips and whispered, loud enough for both of them to hear, ‘Shh … that the prince is in love with Princess Padmini.’
Prince Bahaadur was embarrassed.
Padmini said, ‘It’s nice to be here with everyone, Queen.’
The queen smiled, ‘Let me correct that for you. It’s nice to be here with Prince Bahaadur.’
Before Padmini could react, Prince Bahaadur said, ‘Mother, enough! Can we spend some time alone?’
‘Of course. I didn’t know I was intruding.’ She laughed and walked away.
The prince said, ‘I’m sorry, Padmini. Please don’t mind what my mother says.’
‘I have no reason to mind, Bahaadur.’
In Jorhat, Prince Chakradhwaj and Vedha invited Lachit, Borphukan and Yashodhara for a feast at their palace one evening.
By now, a couple of weeks had elapsed since their wedding and Lachit thought of the meal as nothing more than a social obligation. He got ready and came to join his parents. But Yashodhara and Borphukan were not yet ready.
‘Father, Mother, we are going to be late.’
Yashodhara said, ‘Lachit, we are not royals. What Chakradhwaj is trying to do is against the protocol. We can’t go to his palace as invited guests and be treated equal to him and Vedha.’
‘Mother, he’s my best friend. And he is yet to become the king.’
Borphukan said, ‘He’s your friend and, so far, you don’t have a state portfolio, so you can go.’
He raised his hands and tried to convince them. But they had made up their minds.
Finally, Lachit bid them farewell and decided to go alone.
When Lachit arrived at Chakradhwaj’s palace, he was received by his best friend right at the entrance with a warm hug and friendly back-slapping. Then he asked, ‘Where are your parents, Lachit?’
‘They couldn’t come. But they have sent their greetings.’
‘Kindly thank them when you return.’
Inside, Vedha greeted them.
‘Welcome, Lachit,’ she said, smiling.
Her expression, body language and greeting were cultured and controlled, and Lachit relaxed.
He replied, ‘Thank you for inviting me to your royal home.’
‘Let’s drink, Lachit,’ Prince Chakradhwaj said. ‘This is the first time you have come here since our wedding.’
‘I’m delighted.’
‘We have two things to celebrate—my wedding with my beloved and the win over the rebels.’
They raised their glasses and took a sip.
While the men chatted, Vedha remained in the background, making sure that the snacks and wine were served on time by the servants.
Soon, the two friends seemed relaxed as the alcohol started to soften their edges.
Chakradhwaj was saying, ‘You know what, I think we should have killed that bastard Chung Mung. He is a crafty man and his being alive is dangerous.’
‘I agree that he’s crafty. But we have eaten same food for six years in the gurukul, drank the same water, learnt the same lessons from the same guru.’
‘I understand the sentimentality of it, Lachit, but look at what he did to us. Calling him the same as us now will be a grave mistake.’
‘I agree! But he can do us no harm by being in the jail. To tell you the truth, he will die a million deaths in prison. It’s worse than killing him.’
‘Perhaps. I agreed with you, my friend, in the court, because I don’t want to go against you, ever.’
Lachit smiled, ‘I know. Thank you. And had it not been for you when Chung Mung had surrounded me, he might have overcome us.’
‘Until I die, my brother, no harm can come to you.’
‘I know, and I’m waiting for the moment when you will become the Swargadeo and sit on the throne.’
‘That’s what I was trying to tell you. All the other princes who were contenders to the throne have either run away or have been killed. But Chung Mung is still alive and, technically, I can’t ascend the throne until he’s dead and cremated.’
‘He’s a traitor, Chakradhwaj. We can convince the court to cancel his candidature.’
‘Rumour has it that the Mughal advisors will veto that. They secretly wanted him to ascend the throne. By not killing him on the battlefield, we have complicated matters.’
‘Hmm …’ Lachit nodded, beginning to understand the seriousness of the problem.
An attendant approached Chakradhwaj and said, ‘There’s someone to see you, Prince.’
He looked at Lachit and said, ‘I’ll be back soon.’
After he was gone, Lachit sensed Vedha coming towards him. He looked up.
‘Why are you hiding in the shadows, Vedha? You should join us.’ He kept his tone friendly and casual.
She said, ‘I … I …’
Lachit was shocked to see tears brimming in her eyes.
He looked here and there. This was not looking good.
‘I suggest you go inside and rest. I’m planning to leave now too.’ He got to his feet.
She took a step forward and held his hand, ‘No, no. Please don’t go.’
Chakradhwaj, who was returning at that moment, saw Lachit and Vedha holding hands. He froze.
Lachit tried to move his hand away but her grip was firm. He couldn’t free himself without hurting her.
‘Vedha, please leave my hand. You are a married woman.’
‘Yes, I’m a married woman, but my soul is not married to him.’
Chakradhwaj cleared his throat and resumed walking towards them.
Vedha dropped Lachit’s hand.
Chakradhwaj said, ‘Vedha, my beloved, ask the servants to get some more wine.’
Lachit said, ‘Chakradhwaj, I would like to leave now. I’m feeling too full.’
‘You sure?’
‘Yes.’
After this, Lachit nodded at Vedha, hugged Chakradhwaj again and left. Chakradhwaj raised his hand to pat Lachit’s back, but he didn’t.
After Lachit was gone, Chakradhwaj smiled at Vedha and said, ‘Shall we go inside?’
A few days later, Lachit received a letter from Agra. It was addressed to him by name, but the sender’s name was not mentioned. The letter was brought by a special messenger on horseback, who had taken two weeks to reach Jorhat from the Mughal capital.
Who could it be, he wondered, even though a part of him knew who it was. With shaking hands, he opened the envelope using a small knife.
