SUNDRI
PART IV
In the camp, the group of Sikhs had bathed and begun the recitation of "ASA DI WAAR". Hari Singh sat down and began to listen, After the Bhog, he related all that he had heard from the two guards.
"Brother Balwant Singh and his sister are captives in Doaba, and will be forcibly converted to Islam on the coming Friday,’ he told them.
The Sikhs were outraged to hear this news. Their blood boiled at this tyranny, and especially at the thought of a young girl in Mughal captivity. They were ready for action and the air rang with the sound of "Guru! Guru! Guru!"
Bhai Sam Singh gathered all the Sikhs together and told them, "We must leave immediately, There is no time to waste. We shall see what food we can get on the way. Lets go!"
The whole ‘Jatha’ of Sikhs tightened the reins of their horses and rode off as one.
It is a cloudy day, and a strong wind is chasing the dark clouds across the sky, so that the sun, cannot be seen, At times the wind turns into a gentle breeze, but after some time, it freshens again, blowing dust all over the place.
The people, mostly Mughals are busily moving around, while some poor shop – keepers sit in resigned silences in their shops.
The big Mosque is a hive of activity. Groups of men are coming in and sitting down, till the place is over – flowing with people. Fully armed soldiers are standing guard outside the main gate of the Mosque.
Just then a palanquin, borne on the shoulders of four Brahmins comes into view. In it sits the senior Mullaji who had been specially invited. He comes out of the palanquin and enters the Mosque, where he is respectfully escorted to a seat at the front.
The Nawab comes next with his armed guards, and immediately behind them is a closed palanquin followed by a young man on foot, whose hands and feet are in chains. He is wearing dirty and torn clothes, with a small turban on his head. This is tied so loosely that long strands of hair have escaped on to the nape of his neck. He has an anxious expression on his face but his eyes are flashing defiance and anger at the lookers – on.
A burqa – clad figure comes out of the palanquin and along with the prisoner is pushed into the Mosque.
The Mosque was crammed with people, who waited in silence for the drama to begin.
The Mulla addressed the two figures in an authoritative voice, "Do you, Balwant Singh, willingly agree to accept Islam?"
Balwant Singh: "It is death, I willingly and joyfully accept!"
The Mulla turned to the Nawab and said, " He is a stubborn one. He will not agree easily. You will have to cut off his head or use force ——-".
Nawab: "Yes, your second suggestion is good."
Mulla: "Is the barber present? "
Barber: "Yes, my Lord,"
Mulla: "Come here and remove this fellow’s hair."
Barber: "As you wish, my Lord."
The barber opened his bag and took out a sharp razor, but as he approached he glanced at Balwant Singh’s face and immediately moved back, such was the threat In the Singh’s angry face. Immediately four guards moved up and roughly caught hold of Balwant Singh so that he could not move. As the barber approached him again, the figure standing quietly by, suddenly flung the ‘burqa’ aside and grabbing the barber by his scrawny shoulders gave him such a push that he went rolling like a football across the courtyard.
The people were stunned to see the vibrant beauty of the young girl, and looked on in silence. The Nawab looked as if he had been struck by lightning. The Mulla made a sign to the two nearest guards, who immediately caught the brave girl and pulling her hands behind her back tied them securely.
The barber got up, and brushed his clothes. He came forward for yet another attempt. Sawaswati looked at her beloved brother with eyes filled with love and despair. For her sake her gallant brother was to go through such dishonor!
Just then, a loud banging was heard from the bazaar and a cloud of dust could be seen, Some thought it was a dust storm, others felt a house had collapsed or there was an earthquake.
Soon it became clear that armed horsemen were fighting with the soldiers. One small group entered the Mosque like the wind and with a loud victory call they snatched up Balwant Sinqh and his sister and forced their way out through the crowds.
Surrounded by the rest of the party, this army of Sikhs moved like lightning through the bazaar towards its Eastern gate.
Suddenly their leader called, ‘Halt’! and their way was blocked by soldiers who had recovered from the shock and were ready to attack.
Sardar Sham Singh pointed silently to two soldiers with cannon which were partially hidden. Immediately his ace shooters took aim and let off a volley from their hand guns, with the result that the two soldiers fell on the road like dead birds.
Another group with bows and arrows then let off a shower of arrows knocking out the rest who stood guard at the gate. Battering this down, they rode out to be faced by another bunch of soldiers.
With their swords raised, the Sikh warriors rushed through, slashing left and right till they were clear, and soon