Chapter 25: The Calm Before the Storm

The morning after Rajesh's arrest, a strange quiet settled over Fort Panhala. The traitor had been dealt with, but Vidur Pant couldn't shake the sense of unease gnawing at him. The fort had been won, the Mughals had been pushed back—for now—but something about the calm didn't feel right.

Vidur stood on the ramparts, watching the soldiers move about the courtyard below. Repairs to the walls continued steadily, and the men worked with a quiet efficiency. But despite the apparent order, Vidur knew the truth: they were vulnerable. The Mughals would return, and when they did, it would be with a force much greater than before.

"Thinking too much again, Vidur?" Narayanrao's voice broke through Vidur's thoughts as he approached, his usual calm demeanor in place.

Vidur smiled slightly, but his eyes remained fixed on the horizon. "It's hard not to. Rajesh was just one threat. We might have stopped him, but how many more are out there? And now, with him gone, Aurangzeb will know we're onto them."

Narayanrao nodded, standing beside him. "True. But we couldn't afford to let him keep passing information. At least now we can prepare for whatever the Mughals throw at us."

Vidur sighed, running a hand through his hair. "The Mughals will strike back soon, and we're still short on men. Even with the fort's defenses, we can't hold them off forever without reinforcements."

Narayanrao glanced at him, his eyes narrowing. "We'll have to buy time until help arrives from Raigad. But I agree—we're at a disadvantage."

Vidur's mind raced, trying to think ahead. They needed a plan, something to hold off the Mughal forces long enough for reinforcements to reach them. He knew the Mughals wouldn't make the same mistake twice. They would come prepared, with siege weapons and greater numbers.

"What's our next move?" Narayanrao asked quietly, sensing Vidur's thoughts.

Vidur's eyes scanned the landscape. "We need to secure the surrounding area. The hills around Panhala give us an advantage—if we can set traps, block the Mughal approach, we might be able to slow them down."

Narayanrao raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "You want to set up ambushes?"

Vidur nodded. "Exactly. We can't just sit here and wait for them to storm the gates. We need to control the land around the fort. If we can catch them off guard, we'll weaken their forces before they even reach the walls."

Narayanrao thought for a moment, then nodded. "It's risky, but it's the best option we have. I'll send out scouts to find the best locations for ambushes. We'll use the terrain to our advantage."

The day passed quickly as the Maratha soldiers worked tirelessly to reinforce the fort and prepare for the coming battle. Vidur and Narayanrao, alongside Santaji Ghorpade, carefully planned the ambushes, selecting strategic points in the hills surrounding the fort where small groups of Marathas could lie in wait.

"Make sure they stay hidden until the Mughals are fully committed," Vidur instructed the scouts. "We can't afford to reveal our hand too early."

Santaji, who had been quietly observing the preparations, stepped forward. "If the Mughals fall into our traps, it will buy us precious time. But we must be ready for the moment they break through. The fort will be our last line of defense."

Vidur nodded. "Agreed. We can't afford to be caught off guard. The men inside the fort need to be ready for the worst."

As the scouts left to carry out their mission, Vidur felt a slight sense of relief. The plan was set, but now all they could do was wait. He knew that even with these preparations, the odds were still stacked against them. They were fighting a far larger force, and it would take more than just strategy to survive the coming storm.

That evening, as the soldiers prepared for the night, a messenger arrived at the fort's gates, his horse drenched in sweat from the long ride. He was ushered inside immediately, his face pale but determined as he dismounted and handed Vidur a sealed letter.

Vidur quickly broke the seal, his eyes scanning the message. It was from Raigad.

Sambhaji Maharaj had received word of their victory at Panhala, but the message was grim. The Mughals were already regrouping, and Aurangzeb was sending a large contingent to retake the fort. Reinforcements were on their way, but it would take time for them to reach Panhala.

"Reinforcements will arrive in three days," Vidur said aloud, handing the letter to Narayanrao, who read it quickly.

"Three days," Narayanrao muttered. "We need to hold the fort for that long. Can we last that long?"

Vidur's expression hardened. "We don't have a choice."

Santaji, who had been listening silently, stepped forward. "Three days is enough. If we can hold them off until then, we'll have a fighting chance. But we must be ready for anything."

Vidur nodded. "We set the traps, weaken their forces as much as possible, and hold the fort. We can't let them take it back."

The atmosphere in the fort was tense. The men knew what was coming. The next few days would determine their fate.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the courtyard, Vidur stood at the top of the fort, looking out over the surrounding hills. His mind was racing, thinking through every possible scenario. The Mughals could attack at any moment, and the weight of responsibility pressed down on him heavily.

The soldiers moved quietly through the fort, their faces grim but determined. They knew what was at stake. There was no room for fear now.

Narayanrao joined Vidur on the ramparts, his eyes scanning the darkening landscape. "It's going to be a long night."

Vidur nodded. "We're as ready as we can be. Now we wait."

For a moment, the two men stood in silence, the wind rustling through the trees below. Despite the tension, there was a strange sense of calm in the air. The calm before the storm.

"We'll hold, Vidur," Narayanrao said, his voice steady. "We've been through worse."

Vidur smiled faintly, though the worry still lingered in his eyes. "I hope so. This time, the stakes feel higher."

Narayanrao clapped him on the shoulder. "We'll survive. We always do."

As the stars began to twinkle in the sky, Vidur knew that tomorrow would bring the real test. The Mughals would come, and they would come with everything they had.

But tonight, Fort Panhala stood strong.

And so did Vidur.