War For Love

~Eighteen~

Sahib had gone to another village to collect some weapons and to gain some political support. When Siya went to his house in the night to give him the dinner, he was ready to leave, waiting to inform her about his absence for a day before leaving. Siya felt a pinch of sadness in her chest but she knew it was important, it wouldn't be possible to gain independence until there are more and more people fighting for it. Fighting for the independence. But the thought of not seeing Sahib for a day or probably even more, saddened her. Sahib could see the sadness painting her face.

Siya's usually happy and determined face, now had a frown which she tried to pull in a smile but was failing miserably. Sahib felt her pain and turmoil. It's not been long since they've met each other but in that small time, they've became an integral part of each other's life. Siya's morning starts with learning sword fighting from Sahib and Sahib's day ends with the food Siya brings for him. It's like a ritual they follow, every day. How weird it would feel to wake up two hours later and not to walk in that lane for a day, where Siya often sneaks Lord knows, how many times.

"It's only for a day, Siya. I'll be back soon. I've another attack in my mind." Sahib said almost to make her excited and it did work to some extent.

"So soon? Aren't they already on alert?" Siya asked, her eyes furrowed and Sahib gripped his sword, nodding his head.

"This is the perfect time, Siya. The officers are indeed on alert but they know, we're out of weapons and bombs and they have been on strict patrolling at nights. They're expecting attacks in their offices, in their headquarters. But we'll attack their mills."

"But our villagers work there! We can't possibly attack them!" Sahib's lips twitched just a bit, almost like he wanted to make the smug face but his stoic face didn't gave him the permission of the smirk but Siya could read the smugness on his face.

"We won't attack the workers of the mill, Siya. We'll attack on the mill with the help of the workers." Siya tilted her face, realization slowly hitting her as she looked at the man in front of her with raised brows and an impressed look.

"So attacking the police stations and bombing the offices were just to make them guard the headquarters so that we could attack the mills!" Siya was finally understanding what Sahib was intending to do.

Her village was famous for its handloom and famous embroidery. Their exports of handlooms and handicrafts were heavily affected after heavy taxes were levied and they were forced to work in the cotton mills and textile industries. Factories processed clothes were indeed cheap and affordable but it affected the export and jobs for local artisans who made large profits by selling their products. Sahib wanted to restore the market with their desi products (product of one's own country).

"But there are three more mills in the nearby town, Rudra. Attacking one of them won't solve the problem."

"Who said, there would be only one attack, hm?" Sahib asked, his eyes looking at her with seriousness and Siya's eyes widened as she opened her mouth to speak but closed it again, many times.

"You're planning to attack the town too!?" Siya asked, baffled and Sahib shook his head in answer.

"No. I won't, Siya. The town would be bombed by its own people. It's a secret meeting between the head of their own organization— Seth Madhav and I. We'll be attacking the mills at the same time in a few days." Sahib explained, the fire in his eyes blazing and Siya could tell how important this mission was for him. And for her village as well.

"You'll be back by tomorrow night, right?" Siya asked hopefully and Sahib almost melted down in a puddle at her concern.

Sahib had to clench his fist to keep himself from wrapping his arms around the petite woman in front of him. Though Siya had told him what he feels for her wasn't immoral but he couldn't help to convince himself otherwise.

Sahib remembered his mother telling him that sometimes words are not needed when the actions of you can speak enough. It's not always necessary to have carnal desires to express your need. A simple gesture is enough to make someone feel loved.

Sahib accepting or rejecting their relation was the secondary question. But making her feel wanted by him was his primary concern. His words of rejection would be an outcome of the rules imposed on them. But his words should never do injustice to his growing concern and affection towards Siya. If he can't confess his endearment and strong sentiment for her, he would make sure to make her feel one. Even if it would be by a single gesture of his.

He took a small step forward, almost invisible but the distance amid them reduced, even if it was just by an inch. His right hand left the scabbard before he gently stroked Siya's head. Taken aback by his sudden display of affection and the gentleness in his action, Siya's eyes closed for a moment, savouring in the moment when Sahib had made her feel like she mattered to him. She suddenly felt the storm of euphoria wrapping her.

It was just a small gesture. He had just stroked her hair and yet it made her feel like a thousand stars bowing down to her. Warmth of thousand blankets filled her chest and she realized no-one— absolutely no-one could make her heart to thump like Sahib does. No-one can make her feel so loved and wanted without uttering a single word like Sahib did.

It was wrong. But it felt so right and pure at the moment and Siya knew every illegal things feels adventurous to do. But this illegal action made her feel the happiness, she had been oblivious, all her life with.

"You should leave now, Siya. It's getting late, I shall leave too." Siya nodded her head, her fingers gripping the hem of her dupatta (scarf) as Sahib withdrew his hand from her hand.

"I'll see you tomorrow in the evening, Rudra. Stay safe."

"Hm. You too, Siya."

~~~~~

"The officers are approaching this way, Kaki. They seem to have known the woman involved in the protest." Shambhavi said to Siya's mother, who had come in her house to get some salt.

Siya's heart almost dropped down to her stomach for a second. Her eyes widened and her fingers turned cold and numb. Vedika's chest was gripped by the fear as she took a step closer to her younger sister.

"But wasn't that news fake? How can a woman of our village take part in protest when they don't even let their veil even an inch up?" Siya's mother asked though the slightest bit of fear had gripped her too. Whoever the woman maybe, the idea of seeing her punished publically frightened her. And the humiliation that woman would feel was something no woman would wish on another woman.

And what would her daughters learn for this? That it's alright to break the rules and bomb the stations? To sneak out in night and work with men, they cover themselves from?

Siya's mother was unaware from the fact that, the woman she wanted to keep away from her daughters was none other Siya herself. She didn't knew the bad influence, she was so terrified of was born in their house itself. The storm she feared would spoil all the young girls of their village, had its root in her house only. The storm she wished to keep away from Siya was none other than Siya herself.

Just when Siya's mother calculated all the horrors of the situation, some officers invaded their house, much to the astonishment to the women in the house. Some men and women had gathered outside their house, looking at the scene unfolding infront of them.

"Hey, where are you barging in? It's against the laws to barge in the house of women!" Shambhavi said, her eyes narrowing at the officers who in turn glared at her with raw anger and pushed her away with force. Siya gasped, her fingers curling in anger as she held Shambhavi before she could have fallen down.

"Do not get in between our work, girl or I'll have to punish you too!" The police man said, pointing his oiled up stick at Shambhavi and she flinched back in fear. "No one would interfere in legal procedures or they would be punished brutally too!" The policeman barked again.

Siya knew her truth was out. Her participation in the protest was no more a secret. Maybe Sahib warning her about someone spying on them was indeed true. But wasn't that what she wanted? To let the people know that a woman was capable of protesting the wrong and could protect her village and her country.

"Shankar!" The police man asked the constable to come forward who almost in guilt took a few steps forward, his eyes not being able to look at the woman, he had ratted on to save his own sisters. He was guilty. He knew what he did could never be forgiven but he wouldn't have told her truth out, his sisters would have been in her position.

"Yes Sir?"

"Who was the woman involved with that man in the protest?" The police officer asked and Shankar looked hesitantly as he looked up at Siya, pointing a shaky finger at her.

"This woman, Sir. Siya." Like someone had pulled the earth down Siya's mother, her eyes widened and she turned to her daughter who stood straight like a solider, a proud smile on her face and tears rolled down Siya's mother's eyes as she immediately came in between her daughter and the officers, joining her hands, pleading to the officers to leave her daughter, alone. Unharmed.

"My daughter could never, Sir. She's just a kid. It— it must be a misunderstanding. It has to be!" Her mother cried out and Siya felt a part of her heart clenching in guilt. Vedika too was standing as a shield in front of her sister.

"Your daughter was in the protest, woman. Get away or we'll drag you along with your daughter away. You can't hinder a legal procedure." The officer snarled.

"But she didn't do anything!" Siya's mother cried in help, looking at the villagers for help but all they did was, be a guilty, silent viewer.

"Were you not in the protest? Or are you going to be a coward now! Speak before I get the f*****g truth out of you! Were you or were you not in the protest!" The officer growled, gripping Siya's wrist in his painful grip but Siya didn't even once wince, not wanting to give him the pleasure of hurting her.

"I never denied your allegations, Officer. But your system surely looks shaking from the fear by the fact that a woman was involved in the protest. Does that hurt your ego, Officer?" Siya mocked and the officer's eyes darkened with rage as he jerked her out of her house, in public before throwing her down on the floor.

Siya's mother and sister rushed out to protect her from the wrath of the officers but they were held back by the other officers. Siya's mother was still in shock, unable to believe that her daughter was involved in the protest. She had bombed the stations! She was the bad influence.

"You're under arrest Miss Siya for provoking people against the government, bombing our stations and buildings, killing our officers. But since you're the first woman of the village who dared to kill the royal officers, you'll get rewarded greatly, Miss Siya." The officer growled with a wicked smirk on his face that made shivers to pass down her spine but never even once she let the fear that was bubbling inside her to surface her face.

"Shankar!" The officer barked. "Bring the whip, boy. Let's teach the warrior lady, the consequences of rebelling against the royals!"