THE PRICE OF DEFIANCE
CHAPTER I – THE PRICE OF DEFIANCE
IN 1106
This story is about the world conqueror Nandini. She made women empowerment and gender equality her motto when no one even thought of that. Nandini was born in 1102 to Vijay raj and Payal. Vijay and Payal had 7 kids in total and she were the youngest. She right since from her childhood was naughty, lovely and what not and she had a curiosity in her mind always regarding something. She was not like everyone; she was different, she wanted freedom being a woman which was very rare at that time.
She used to live with her parents and two elder sibling Vashist and Padmavati. Padmavati was elder to Vashist also by 4 years and 16 years older to Nandini. Other kids were Vishakha, Rudrakshi, Durgami, Sathyaraj. Nandini was never close to them as they were married, had kids some of them even were of her age and no one lived in Jammbupura.
Padmavati was like the second mother of Nandini, when she was infant Padma used to let Payal take Nandini from her when it was the time of her feed. Padma always felt a motherly bond with her instead of a sisterly bond. She was fond of her also because Nandini had what she didn't and that was freedom of dreaming, freedom of taking decisions of her life as Nandini never used to hesitate in questioning if something was not right according to her and howmany beating she gets, at the end her decision was accepted by everyone. Because of this nature even her parents couldn't stop her from learning things which were said to be done by man.
In the peaceful village of Jheel Nagar, nestled in the heart of Kashyapamar now Kashmir, young Nandini, no elder than four, played freely with her friends. The warm sunbathed the valley in its golden glow, and the air carried the sweet scent of blooming flowers. Nandini laughed, running barefoot through the grassy fields, her dark hair flowing behind her like a veil of silk.
Her elder sister, Padmavati, watched over her, a loving smile on her face. Despite the hardships their family faced under the king’s harsh taxes, they managed to live with dignity. They worked hard, trading goods, and had managed to keep their small farm thriving. Nandini’s father, a respected man in the village, often kept to his work with determination, while Padmavati protected Nandini from the dangers of the world.
But one afternoon, their peaceful existence was shatterd.
The sound of the hooves filled the air as soldiers rode into the village. Their faces were cold and menacingly in the sunlight. The tax collectors had arrived.
Nandini’s father stepped forward, holding out a pouch of coins. “These are the taxes we owe,” he said calmly, though a hint of worry crept into his voice.
The leader of the soldiers eyed the pouch disdainfully. “This isn’t enough. The king demands more. Double the amount, or face the consequences,” he sneered.
A murmur of protest rippled through the villagers, but no one dared to speak out. Nandini’s father stood tall, though his eyes flickers with concern. Padmavati, ever brave, stepped forward to speak. “You cannot ask for more. This is all we have,” she said firmly.
The soldier, his patience wearing thin, grabbed Padmavati’s wrist, pulling her towards him. “Watch your tongue, girl. Defy the king and you will suffer.”
Nandini’s heart pounded inn her chest. She could see her parent’s face twist in concern, but he couldn’t stop it. Then, without thinking, Nandini’s small hands grasped a sickle lying on the ground. Her heart burned with anger she had never known before. She swung the sickle with all her might, cutting through the soldier’s arm with a sharp, sickening thud.
The soldier screamed in pain, and the others stepped back, momentarily stunned. The villagers watched in a mixture of awe and fear as Nandini, her small body shaking with rage, stood defiantly in front of her family. The soldiers quickly retreated, one clutching his arm, and the villagers rushed to hide in their homes.
Nandini’s parents hurried to her side, pulling her inside the houser, his voice filled with worry. “Stay inside, Nandini. Stay hidden.”
Padmavati, though shaken, embraced Nandini. “You have protected us, but there is nothing more you can do.”
