** Delhi outskirts , some miles away from Purana Qi **

  In the outskirts of Delhi, as dusk loomed over the tent, King Istehar Khan of Agra sat in his tent, sipped his goblet of wine as he awaited the arrival of his ally, King Abdul Hameed of Kashmir.

  As Abdul Hameed entered the tent, Istehar Khan rose to greet him warmly, embracing him with a brotherly hug.

  "It took you two days to reach here?" Istehar Khan inquired with concern.

  Abdul Hameed took up another pced goblet, poured the wine from jar and after taking sip responded, "Things are different now Istehar Khan. Your impulsive actions have made it difficult for others to openly align with you. I needed to wait for the right moment."

  Istehar Khan furrowed his brow at Abdul Hameed's words, pcing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "I understand your caution, but remember, we are on the same side."

  Abdul Hameed gently removed Istehar Khan's hand from his shoulder. He replied with a grim tone . "No, we are not. I came here to make that clear, Your Majesty."

  Istehar Khan's voice boomed through the tent, echoing in fury, "ABDUL HAMEED! How dare you defy me?"

  Istehar Khan's eyes widened in disbelief as Abdul Hameed continued in calm tone. "Lower your voice, Your Majesty. I am not your subordinate on the battlefield anymore. I am an equal king. If I choose to speak out, your reign will be over."

  Enraged, Istehar Khan retorted, "You betray your own men for these infidels! We may bow to them in deference to their power, but to fully side with them is bsphemy!"

  Abdul Hameed chuckled, taking another sip of wine. "Indeed, but they are powerful now. With our forces combined, we are nothing but mere ants before elephants."

  A glimmer of hope fshed in Istehar Khan's eyes. "Its not over yet. We can gain their trust, increase our influence, and seize our chance when the time is right," he suggested eagerly.

  Abdul Hameed's ughter echoed in the tent. "Take our chance? You underestimate their power, my friend. Even generations of your descendants won't stand a chance against them. Because they have a bigger trump card."

  Confusion clouded over Istehar Khan's face, prompting Abdul Hameed to crify, "Do you think your humiliation was solely due to Shadi Khan? Age seems to dull your senses more than it should. Do you know the master of behind the scenes."

  Istehar Khan trembled with rage, his fists clenched. Despite being enraged, his face still contained little curiosity.

  In that small dimly lit tent, tension hung thick in the air as King Istehar Khan and King Abdul Hameed stared at each other in heated exchange. Abdul Hameed's calm demeanor contrasted sharply with Istehar Khan's growing frustration.

  "It is Prince Aditya, the newly found prince. No matter before, in which mountain hemu hid him, but now, he is no ordinary man. His ideas and reasoning are beyond our understanding, and most importantly, they are far-sighted," Abdul Hameed expined as he rested his hands on Istehar Khan's shoulder.

  Istehar Khan scoffed dismissively. "What could that child possibly know? He dares not go against any of his noble subjects. He's nothing more than a silver-tongued chartan. I have concubines who provide more useful mouth service than him."

  Abdul Hameed regarded Istehar Khan with pity. "You are delusional," he remarked as he another sip of wine. "Aditya's diplomatic skills and persuasive abilities surpass those of any commander. He seeks stability and respect, qualities you seem incapable of understanding. He may be the solution we've been seeking through generations."

  Istehar Khan's patience wore thin, and he seized Abdul Hameed's colr in frustration. "You admire that brat over me?" he spat as his anger boiled over. "He's nothing more than a child with milk teeth, not fit to lead more than ignorant peasants. Don't make me ugh."

  Abdul Hameed calmly freed himself from Istehar Khan's grasp. "Even a dozen rulers like you cannot match his potential," he retorted. "You speak about interests of your men, yet your lust for power blinds you. I feel sorry for your narrow-mindedness and regret to once follow you."

  Abdul Hameed chuckled at Istehar Khan's fury and retorted, "I pity you, Istehar Khan, for being so foolish. Call me zy if you must, but at least I am loyal to my men who have stood by me. We have water, nd, and women , why should we seek the trouble for power? Its not like we are compelled to change our faith, yet we still enjoy greater freedom. "He scoffed as he added, "Besides, unlike your forefathers who shamelessly converted their religion for a false legacy, I remain true to my beliefs and my lineage. "

  Istehar Khan's rage boiled over, and he drew his sword, pointing it menacingly at Abdul Hameed's neck. "Take back your words, Abdul Hameed," he demanded as he trembled with anger.

  Abdul Hameed's ughter echoed in the tense silence, and he responded boldly, "Gaining a khan title wont change anything. Go ahead and try me. The Samrajya will avenge any harm done to me, and my lineage will endure , unlike yours, which will be wiped out for your ck of restraints."

  Istehar Khan's resolve wavered at the open threat, and he lowered his sword, his hands trembling with uncertainty.

  Abdul Hameed smirked at the shift in demeanor. "You see, I wasn't sure at first either," he remarked calmly, "but I've come to realize the consequences of my choices. Under this new Samrajya, not only I can achieve stability for my people but also ensure my safety, simply by invoking its name."

  With a dismissive wave, Abdul Hameed bid Istehar Khan farewell, thanking him for the wine. "I quite enjoy this new reign," he remarked casually, "where I can savor wine without facing the restrictions of old era. Change yourself before it's too te and I shall forget this meeting."

  As Abdul Hameed departed, leaving Istehar Khan seething with anger, the king's fury exploded, and he shed out, sshing his sword at nearby furniture. Fruits kept on the table were scattered in all directions which were testament to the brewing storm within Istehar Khan's heart.

  With the departure of Abdul Hameed, a hooded figure emerged from the shadows of curtains, addressing Istehar Khan with a tone of concern. "You said he would be useful, but it seems your most trusted companion has betrayed you."

  Istehar Khan composed himself, realizing he was not alone in his vulnerability. He responded, "Everything will fall into pce once we take care of that loyal dog Shadi Khan."

  The hooded figure smiled knowingly, replying, "I see. I will ensure, your Majesty gets what he wants, but I urge caution before we actually pn. The alliance will restore the sultanate's reign in Hindustan, with you as the primary benefactor."

  Greed flickered in Istehar Khan's eyes as he contempted the offer. "Very well," he agreed, his voice tinged with anticipation. "But I demand triple the size of my current territory with full autonomy in return of my support. For now, I will do as your master wishes, but ter the heads of both Shadi Khan and Abdul Hameed must lie at my feet."

  As the hooded figure nodded his head in approval, Istehar Khan drove his sword into the ground, sealing his pact with determination and ruthlessness.