Location: "Bhagyavati," the capital of the "Mukt Kingdom."
In front of the soldiers' dining hall, a line had formed. The line was very long—faces tired, armor torn, and soldiers waiting in a huge queue just to get food.
As always, this time too, in the old fort, dried meat, stale bread, and lukewarm water were being served. The food was placed in plates made from banana leaves. The soldiers took their share of food and went to sit wherever they could find a spot. Some sat under the peepal tree to eat, some sat on stones. No one complained—this was a luxury after the war.
In that line stood "Raghuveer." He was 20 years old. There was no mark of any caste on his hand, nor was he wearing any armor. In the entire line, he was the only one without any armor. His hair was tied with a thread. He wore only an old robe, and on his back hung a priceless sword. His eyes were fixed on the old walls, as if he was lost in thought while staring at them.
"You don't look like a soldier."
The soldier standing in front of Raghuveer asked him.
Raghuveer looked at him. "I am hungry," he said.
The soldiers standing behind Raghuveer heard this, and they moved closer to him.
"You're not a soldier. Get out of this line," one of them said.
Raghuveer ignored their words. The soldiers repeated themselves again and again, but still Raghuveer did not leave. One strong soldier, about 7 feet tall, came forward. He pushed Raghuveer hard and threw him out of the line. Raghuveer fell to the ground with force. But there was no reaction on his face, as if he was already used to such treatment. All the soldiers present there witnessed this scene.
Without showing any emotion on his face, Raghuveer stood up and punched that soldier hard on the nose. Blood began to flow from the soldier's nose, and within moments, he lost balance and fell backward. The soldiers could not believe what they saw. The others immediately drew their swords.
One soldier attacked Raghuveer with his sword, but Raghuveer kicked him down. Many soldiers attacked him, but Raghuveer overpowered them all. Another soldier attacked him from behind, but Raghuveer quickly turned back, kicked him down, and then sat on his stomach, punching his face repeatedly without stopping. Blood began to flow from that soldier's nose and mouth. His face became like a crumpled piece of paper. Still, Raghuveer's face showed no emotion.
Seeing this terrifying sight, one soldier from the line came forward.
"You are not a soldier. This food is only for us. We have just returned from the war—we are tired. If the situation were different, we would not have said anything to you. But now, please understand our helplessness and leave."
Raghuveer stopped and looked at that soldier. His eyes looked exhausted.
Raghuveer then stood up and, without saying a word, started to leave. The soldiers moved aside to make way for him. He too had not eaten anything for many days. Perhaps this was the punishment for killing his Guru—that he always had to fight for food.
At that moment, the same soldier who had asked the first question stepped forward.
"Alright," he said, "I will share my food with him. Hey… someone stop him."
"This warrior Bharat is calling you," another soldier said.
Raghuveer turned back. Bharat was coming toward him with food in hand.
"Come, let's sit under that tree," Bharat said. Raghuveer followed him.
"Is this fine now?" Bharat asked the soldier who had earlier told Raghuveer to leave.
"Yes, it's fine," the soldier replied.
The two of them sat under the tree. Bharat pushed his plate toward Raghuveer. Raghuveer slowly put a piece of food into his mouth. After many days, his tongue felt the taste of food. Then he started eating quickly, almost devouring it. Bharat kept watching him.
"Where are you from?" he asked.
Raghuveer said nothing.
"Are you from the Shudra caste?" Bharat asked further. But Raghuveer still did not reply.
"Alright, I understand… you don't talk," Bharat said, slightly annoyed.
This reminds me of my Guru, Raghuveer told himself.
"Forget it. Look at that soldier sitting on the rock—he lost his brother in today's battle. But see how he laughs, as if nothing happened to him," Bharat said, pointing at a soldier.
Raghuveer also looked at him and saw tears hidden in his eyes, which no one else noticed.
Perhaps hiding grief is also a kind of battle, Raghuveer told himself.
Just then, the "Messenger" arrived.
"Listen, listen, a piece of good news. Two members of the 'Bloody Sudi' group have been killed…"
All the soldiers present stopped eating. A commotion began everywhere.