NOVEL WEB Chapter 41: Chapter 41: The Final Stand of Chittorgarh
The Night Before the Storm
The air in Chittorgarh was thick with tension. The once-proud fortress now bore the scars of endless battle—walls cracked by cannon fire, streets littered with fallen warriors, and homes turned to ashes.
Yet, despite the devastation, not a single Rajput soul had surrendered.
Inside the palace, Amar Singh stood with his commanders, staring at the map of the fortress.
"The walls won't hold another day of cannon fire," said Rana Karan Singh, his voice heavy with exhaustion.
"We don't need them to," Amar Singh replied. "We just need to hold the enemy at the gates."
The Rajputs knew what was coming. Tomorrow, the Mughals would launch their final assault.
But they would not go down without a fight.
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Jahangir's Plan: The Final Blow
At the Mughal camp, Jahangir sat atop his war elephant, looking toward the battered fortress.
"The Rajputs are at their limit," he said, turning to Asaf Khan. "One more push, and Chittorgarh will be ours."
The plan was simple:
1. A massive artillery bombardment at dawn to weaken the walls further.
2. A full-scale infantry charge, overwhelming the remaining Rajputs.
3. An elite Mughal force to breach the gates and capture Amar Singh.
Jahangir smiled. By tomorrow's end, Chittorgarh would belong to the Mughals.
Or so he thought.
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The Rajputs' Oath: Death Before Dishonor
That night, the Rajputs gathered in the temple of Maa Kali. Hundreds of warriors stood in silence, the flickering flames casting shadows across their faces.
Amar Singh raised his sword.
"Tomorrow, the Mughals come to break us," he said, his voice echoing in the stone halls.
"But we are Rajputs. We do not surrender. We do not kneel. We die with our swords in hand, our honor intact!"
A roar erupted from the warriors.
Each one took the sacred Rajput oath:
To fight to their last breath.
To take as many enemies with them as possible.
To choose death over dishonor.
They would either win or embrace Veeragati (a warrior's death).
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The Battle Begins: A Rain of Fire
At dawn, the Mughals unleashed hell upon Chittorgarh.
BOOM!
The first cannonball struck the eastern wall, sending debris flying.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The entire fortress shook under the relentless bombardment.
From the ramparts, Rajput archers fired back, raining arrows upon the enemy. Many Mughal soldiers fell, their bodies riddled with arrows before they even reached the gates.
But the Mughals had the numbers.
Asaf Khan led the first wave of infantry, charging toward the fortress with ladders and battering rams.
The Rajputs met them head-on.
Swords clashed. Arrows whistled. The battlefield became a sea of blood.
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The Mughal Breakthrough: The Gates Are Breached
For hours, the Rajputs held the walls, repelling wave after wave of Mughal attacks.
But then—CRASH!
The main gate splintered under the force of Mughal war elephants.
The enemy poured into the city, overwhelming the defenders.
Yet, even as the Mughals stormed the streets, the Rajputs refused to retreat.
Instead, they charged straight into the enemy lines, fighting like lions.
Rana Karan Singh cut down ten soldiers before he fell.
Udai Bhan held a street alone until he was struck by a spear.
One by one, the great warriors of Chittorgarh embraced Veeragati.
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The Jauhar of Chittorgarh: The Women's Final Sacrifice
Inside the palace, the women of Chittorgarh made their decision.
They would not allow themselves to be captured. They would not become trophies of the Mughals.
Led by Rani Karnavati, thousands of women dressed in their finest clothes, adorned with gold and jewels.
They lit the great pyres in the temple courtyard.
With one final prayer, they stepped into the flames—choosing death over dishonor.
As Amar Singh watched the fire rise, his heart burned with fury.
This was no longer just a battle. It was vengeance.
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Amar Singh's Last Stand
With blood in his eyes, Amar Singh charged into battle one last time.
He cut through dozens of Mughal soldiers, his blade a blur of death.
Even as arrows pierced his armor, he did not stop.
He fought until his body could fight no more.
With his final breath, he let out a roar, the cry of a warrior who refused to bow.
And then, at last, the Rajput lion fell.
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Victory… But At What Cost?
As the smoke cleared, Jahangir rode into the ruins of Chittorgarh.
The city was his.
But there was no celebration.
The Rajputs had not surrendered. They had perished on their own terms.
Jahangir looked at the thousands of bodies and felt a strange emptiness.
Yes, he had won. But in the eyes of history, it was the Rajputs who had achieved true immortality.
Chittorgarh had fallen. But the legend of its warriors would live forever.
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