The heavy wooden doors creaked shut behind them, sealing Naina and the other girls inside the dimly lit chamber. The air was thick with the scent of expensive cigars and stale liquor. A few British officers lounged lazily on plush chairs, discussing something in hushed tones.
Naina stole a quick glance at the other girlsâfear was written all over their faces. Their hands trembled, their eyes darting around for an escape.
A large man, dressed in a red military coat with a gleaming medal pinned to his chest, strolled towards them, his boots clicking against the marble floor. His dark gaze swept over them like a merchant inspecting goods.
"Fresh batch, I see." His voice was laced with amusement. "Lovely."
Naina forced her shoulders to slump slightly, appearing timid. It was the only way to avoid suspicion. She needed them to believe she was just another helpless girl.
The officer smirked, then waved his hand.
"Take them to the quarters. They'll be prepped before the auction."
Auction?
Naina's stomach twisted. They weren't just being taken as brides; they were being sold.
The guards shoved them forward, leading them through a narrow hallway. Naina caught glimpses of other Indian girls locked in small rooms, eyes hollow, hope long lost.
Her fingers curled into fists. She had seen enough.
Karan was outside. He would be waiting for her signal.
Now, she just needed to find a way to send it.
The night was suffocating. The dim lantern in the corner flickered against the cracked walls, casting eerie shadows over the frightened girls. Some were whispering prayers, others sobbing silently. Naina didn't have that luxury. She had a mission to complete.
She exhaled deeply, trying to calm her racing thoughts. She had to reach Karan. But how? The Britishers had stationed two guards outside the door, and the windows were barred.
Her mind worked fast. She needed chaos, just enough to create a distraction.
She turned to the older woman from before. "Ek sawaal hai. Tumhare saath jo ladkiyaan hain... kya sabh tayaar hain ladne ke liye?"
The woman's eyes widened for a second before a small, knowing smile spread across her lips. "Jab ek aurat haar maanne ko tayaar na ho, toh koi uska kuch nahi bigaad sakta."**
That was all Naina needed to hear.
She stood up, addressing the girls in hushed but firm words. "Sunno, agar hum chup baithi rahenge, toh humari zindagi yeh log hamesha barbaad karte rahenge. Par agar hum darwaza todne ki koshish karein, toh woh humpe haath uthane ka mauka dhoondenge."
A younger girl sniffled. "Toh hum kya karein?"
Naina's eyes glinted with something sharpâdetermination.
"Hum inhi ke kayde ke khilaf jaake unhi ka ilaaj karenge."
She grabbed a torn piece of fabric from her own dupatta and rolled it tightly into a makeshift rope. "Yeh darwaza bandh hai, par agar ek ladki ko beemaar hone ka natak karne diya jaye toh..."
The older woman smirked. "Toh woh zaroor dekhnay aayenge."
Naina nodded. "Jaise hi woh andar aaye, bas kuch seconds ka time hoga. Tum log bas mere signal ka intezaar karo."
Meanwhile... Outside the Compound
Karan sat under the shadow of a tree, fingers pressed against his forehead as he went over the plan in his head again and again. He had infiltrated enemy territories before, but this was different.
This wasn't just a mission. This was Naina.
She was in there, alone. And he didn't know if she was safe.
Every bone in his body screamed at him to barge in and burn the entire place down. But he knew better. If they failed, not only would they lose Naina, but the Britishers would tighten their operations even more. They needed a plan, not emotions.
Just then, one of the soldier beside him. "Khabri bata raha hai ki ladkiyon ko kal subah le jaaya jayega."
Karan's jaw clenched. "Humare paas sirf ek raat hai."
Just as he said that, a faint noise came from the buildingâa thud followed by muffled shouts.
His body tensed. Something was happening.
Inside the Compound
The plan was working.
The moment Naina's cue was given, one of the younger girls collapsed to the ground, clutching her stomach and wailing in pain. The guards outside cursed in irritation before one of them kicked open the door.
"Kya bakwaas kar rahi ho tum log?!" he barked.
The moment he stepped in, Naina moved.
Like a predator waiting for the perfect strike, she lunged, grabbing the soldier's gun before he could react and slammed it into his gut. He groaned, stumbling backward, but before he could cry out for help, the older woman pressed a rag over his mouth, muffling his screams.
The second guard barely had time to draw his weapon before another girl smashed an earthen pot over his head. He collapsed instantly.
Naina exhaled, gripping the gun tightly. The door was open.
She turned to the girls. "Chalo!"
One by one, they slipped out into the cold night air.
Naina's heart pounded. She had to find Karan.
The Storm Breaks Loose
Karan saw them first.
The sight of Naina leading a dozen girls out of the compound, a stolen rifle in her grip, made something twist inside himâpride, relief, and something dangerously close to admiration.
The moment she saw him, their eyes locked.
A silent message passed between them.
She did it.
He smirked. "Humesha ki tarah apni manmaani kar li?"
Naina gave a breathless chuckle. "Tumhe kabhi disappoint nahi karti, commander."
But before they could celebrate, a loud alarm rang through the night.
The Britishers had noticed.
Karan's expression darkened. "Bhaagna hoga. Abhi."
The chase had begun.
The air was thick with tension as Karan and his men hid in the shadows of the compound's outer walls. The Britishers were scrambling, unaware that their biggest threat was right inside their own den.
Naina crouched beside Karan, her breath steady but her eyes burning with purpose. The girls had escaped safely, now only one task remainedâthe execution of the British head.
A soldier whispered, "Woh apne chamber mein hai. Char aur rakshak hain uske saath."
Karan's eyes flickered in thought. Four guards... easy.
He turned to Naina. "Tum yahaan rukogi."
Naina frowned. "Mujhe bhiâ"
"Nahi, yeh ek assassination hai, ek battlefield nahi," he said, his voice leaving no room for argument. "Ek bhi awaaz hui toh poora camp hoshiyar ho jaayega."
Naina sighed but nodded reluctantly.
Karan gestured to his men. It was time.
The Kill
Karan moved like a ghost, slipping past guards with effortless precision. His dagger gleamed under the moonlight, swift and silent as he eliminated the first two soldiers at the entrance.
soldier Jain took care of the third with a well-aimed strike to the neck. One guard left.
The last one barely had time to react before Karan's blade slid across his throat, muffling his cry into a wet gurgle.
Now, only one target remained.
They entered the chamber where the British head lay sleeping, unaware of death creeping toward him.
Karan stepped forward, gripping his knife, and in one clean motionâplunged it straight into the Britisher's throat.
The man's eyes shot open in shock, blood pooling in his mouth. But before he could make a sound, Karan twisted the knife deeper, ending it quickly.
Silence.
Jain wiped his blade on the dead man's coat. "Kaam ho gaya."
Karan nodded. "Nikalte hain."
The Escape
As they stepped out into the night, Naina was waiting, her gaze scanning them urgently. When she saw Karan give a slight nod, she exhaled in relief. It was over.
Without wasting another second, they melted into the darkness, leaving behind nothing but lifeless bodies and unanswered questions for the Britishers to wake up to.
By morning, the news of the British head's mysterious death had spread like wildfire across the camp, leaving the remaining officers scrambling in confusion and fear.
But Karan, Naina, and their team? They were already long gone.
A New Dawn
The rescued girls were swiftly reunited with their families in a nearby village, safe and far from British reach. For the first time in a long while, they were free.
As they stood watching the sunrise from a hilltop, Naina turned to Karan with a rare smile.
"Aaj pehli baar jeet mehsoos ho rahi hai."
Karan glanced at her, his usual stern features softening for just a second. "Ladai abhi khatam nahi hui, Naina."
Naina smirked. "Toh chalo, agli jeet ki tayyari karte hain, Commander."