Chapter 33 – Battle in the Desert: The Silence of Betrayal
In the previous chapter you read, in the desert, Salar Shah's soldiers surround Ali and his companions.
Now ahead...
(The remaining 6 soldiers draw their weapons and surround Ali, Junaid, and Hussain from all sides. All seven soldiers were waving their swords in the air.)
All around, sand was flying, and the shimmer of swords flickered in the winds. The soldiers' breaths were fast, and with every step, the rustling of the sand was deepening the fear.
Ali and his companions stood, looking into their eyes without fear.
Ali and Junaid take out stun pins from their pockets.
One soldier (laughing, sarcastically) –
No Ali, no... you cannot defeat us with the same weapon. With this pin, you made one of our companions unconscious. Now it will be of no use.
Ali (with a shine in his eyes, seriously) – Whether this weapon will be useful or not, who are you to decide that?
Soldier (in a serious voice, raising the sword) – I am giving a final warning... surrender yourselves to us, or you will regret it!
Ali (smiling with courage) – Even if I lose, I will lose while standing… so that the enemy remembers that I never came on my knees!
Soldier (shouting angrily) – You all have spoken enough! If you're fond of losing, then get ready now!
Junaid (rushing forward) – But I don't have any weapon, only stun pins.
Ali (with passion) – No problem… I will give the weapon!
(He picks up the swords of two unconscious soldiers and gives them to Junaid and Hussain.)
Junaid (holding the sword) – Now come… now none of you will be spared!
(Now only 6 soldiers remain.)
One soldier (looking at Hussain and laughing) – This slave… with a sword in his hand? He doesn't even know how to wield it!
Hussain was scared at first, then suddenly paused and picked up the sword – there was no fear in his eyes now, there was fire.
Hussain (shouting loudly) – I used to be scared… but now I am not afraid of fear! Now come, and see who knows how to fight whom!
Another soldier (shouting) – Comrades! Now attack with full strength! Do not show even a bit of mercy!
One soldier (with a loud scream) – Attack them!
(Out of the 6 soldiers, 2 attack Ali, 2 attack Junaid, and 2 go after Hussain.)
(Ali's fight turns intense.
Both soldiers pounce on Ali together — one attacks from the right, the other from the left. But Ali was now completely alert. He bent low and dodged both attacks, kicking up sand in the process.
Then he spun in the air — his sword gleamed like lightning and with a "chhann!" sound, one soldier's sword split into two pieces. He struck the second soldier's sword with such force that it flew far away.
The soldiers were stunned, but Ali didn't stop. He punched one of them square in the chest, sending him crashing backward.
He leaned towards the second soldier's neck, pulled out the unconsciousness pin from his pocket — and struck it with perfect precision.
The first soldier tried to get up, but Ali quickly reached him and drove the pin into his neck just as neatly.
Both soldiers mumbled something, then their eyes slowly began to close. Within seconds, they were lying on the ground lifeless — as if they were never conscious at all.
Ali took a deep breath for a moment — the fire in his eyes still blazing.)
(Meanwhile, an intense clash was raging between Junaid and the two soldiers. Swords clashed, sand flew, and with every strike, flames of anger lit up in Junaid's eyes. One soldier lunged at him, but Junaid turned to the right, blocked the sword with his own blade, and drove his knee forcefully into the soldier's chest.
At the same moment, Ali quietly advanced towards one of the soldiers from behind — his movement like a panther closing in on its prey. Without making a sound, he reached the soldier's neck and stabbed him with the pin at lightning speed.
The soldier let out a faint cry, then slowly lost strength — his eyes closed, and he dropped straight to the ground.
The second soldier was knocked hard by a sudden kick from Junaid. His back hit the ground, and his sword slipped from his hand. He was dazed for a few moments — but not completely unconscious.)
(Now only 2 soldiers were left, who were fighting Hussain.)
(Ali and Junaid step forward and push Hussain back. Suddenly, one soldier charges toward Ali, and Ali punches him hard. The soldier cries out in pain and falls to the ground, pretending to be unconscious.
Meanwhile, the other soldier tries to sneak up from behind, but Junaid's sharp kick brings him down. He too groans in pain and then pretends to be unconscious.
Junaid (laughing) – You were talking big... but couldn't last very long!
Hussain (twirling his sword) – They said I didn't know how to use a sword... but look who's lying on the ground now!
Ali (catching his breath) – Say what you want... this fight wasn't easy... I almost lost my life!
Junaid (laughing) – Ali... you basically defeated 6 soldiers... you're something else!
(The three turn around and start talking to each other.)
(Meanwhile, the three soldiers pretending to be unconscious were lying on the ground, holding their breath, eyes half open, exchanging signals. One of them slowly moved a finger toward his sword, the others blinked to signal agreement. The game wasn't over yet...!
Soldier 1 (gesturing softly) – I'll grab the sword and capture Hussain... you two back me up.
(Both nod.)
(Soldier 1 silently gets up, picks up a sword, and tiptoes toward Hussain. Suddenly, he grabs Hussain from behind and puts a sword to his neck.)
Soldier (in a serious tone) – That's enough... now none of you will escape us!
Ali (startled) – You... were supposed to be unconscious? And... let go of Hussain!
Soldier (smirking cruelly) – If I wanted to let go... why would I take him captive?
(He speaks to his two comrades who also get up.)
Soldier – Get up! Tie up Ali and Junaid with rope!
(Both soldiers get up and move toward Ali and Junaid with ropes.)
Junaid (in surprise) – These two... were faking it too?
Soldier (laughing) – You all made one mistake... you used the pin on the others... but not on us three. Now that mistake will cost you dearly!
(Soldier with rope, in a threatening tone) – Ali and Junaid... don't try to act smart... or you can't even imagine what'll happen to Hussain!
(After that, the two soldiers tie up Ali and Junaid with ropes.)
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Will Ali and Junaid be able to escape from Salar Shah's soldiers?
Or will they remain trapped in this desert forever?
**To find out, read
the next chapter...
Chapter 34 –
Coming Soon…