Chapter 9| Friendship

"Alms!" exclaimed Kunwar Pratap looking at his mother. 

"Yes. I need to offer Eklinji bhog today." Said his mother with a straight face. "There's a village nearby, go there and get something." 

"Yes." He replied and left. Immediately Maharani Jaivantabai turned towards the Shivling and began praying desperately, that the plan would succeed. 

For a moment she wondered which mother would voluntarily send her child into danger and here she was doing exactly the same thing, hoping that he'd come out of his comfort zone. 

Walking around the village, Kunwar Pratap began asking for alms. Some shunned him away and others simply said they had nothing to offer him. Embarking ahead his eyes went on his brother and Ajabde who were walking around the market. 

"We need to get the map." Muttered Kunwar Shakti under baited breath. "Every Afghan soldier carries a map with them to guide them around this place. Do you know to pickpocket?"