The Revolutionary Romance [AnjelRocker x Wander]

[Wander]

“That is your sole duty, my brother. You must kill Francis Hume. He is our primary target. If you have to die in the attempt, then you will be a true Shaheed [Martyr].”

The young man that stood in front of the older one appeared proud of having bestowed such honour as he was now being bestowed. His orders were quite simple: He had to kill General Hume and it had to be in a public place, in front of his army as well as the oppressed people of India. Moreover, while he was expendable, it was imperative that he escape in order to display to the British Empire how helpless they are.

“It will be done.” He assured, twirling the end of his thick black moustache as he pinched it between his finger and thumb and twisted it. When he had released the hair upon his upper lip, it had proudly curled upwards at both ends from repeated pinching. This prostrate moustache was the proud sign of Indian masculinity and displayed the honourable demeanour of Raja Ram Rathod.

Upon his horse rode the revolutionary, making his way towards the assigned duty for which Raja Ram Rathod was chosen. Nobody would recognise him in this new visage and demeanour. No longer was he the thickly bearded, rugged, dhoti wearing renegade wanted by the British Empire. He would be the man who would lay the most massive blow the Imperial Empire of the white folk had ever witnessed.

He rode a horse for he did not trust these new contraptions called “Cars” that the white men had brought into his beloved nation. He would be sure to discard them when he had freed the nation of the oppressive foreigners as well as Gandhi’s idiotic pacifist regime. What a fool that old bald man was.

The ride was a tough one, the horse’s thick black fur glistened under the bright radiance of the eternal golden disk that had bestowed its heat so generously upon this nation. Within the streets of Mumbai, it was more so, for the humidity was absolutely intense.

Beads of sweat formed upon his forehead and it trickled down the deep brown hue of his skin, hanging loosely off the well defined cheek bone and dripping down from it. The deep black eyes possessed no other hue in them and were akin to that of a toad, and yet had the distinct Indian mark of their size proportionately larger than the rest of the facial features for Rathod, or we may call him Shyam Singh for that was the pseudonym he had adopted for this ordeal. The rounded nose and thin line for lips gave him a peculiar masculine appearance, enhancing the long jaw and chin whereas the visibly circular depression created a crater right in the middle of his chin.

He may not have been tall, but Rathod was a very strong man and this was quite evident from his formidable arms and torso for he may not be sinewy with a chiselled abdomen, but possessed the formidable ursine appearance.

Rathod realised he was late and if he did not push the horse to move quickly, he would be very late in reaching the dock in time for the gora [White man] to arrive and for him [Rathod] to welcome the fiend and his wife and escort them home in that abhorrent machine called the “car” they carried along with themselves on the ship.

“Hail, Agro!” He ordered the horse, imploring it to move faster. The horse complied and the pace at which they were moving had caused the Indian revolutionary to hold the hat which was upon his head from flying off the thick black mop of hair upon his head which was straight, short and neatly combed.

The tie flew outwards, under the pressure of the wind, from the suit which he had worn especially to please the gora for it was imperative hat the General trust him completely in order that the plan may be undertaken to perfection. He expected no interference if the plan were to run smoothly.

It was not long before Rathod had arrived at the dock only to realise he had reached before time. He disembarked his steed, giving it a small affectionate pat for its efficiency. He fed the kind beast on a bunch of oats and then stood there, in the light of the sun. In the distance, he could hear the blaring of the sound of the ship arriving and his lips curled into a grin.

He was ready for this. Even as the ship approached closer, his pride grew larger. Rathod could not believe it. This was going to be his destiny. This was when his nation could earn its freedom from oppression if he could deal enough damage to shake the Imperial throne into reconsidering their stronghold where they ought not to stay. He would be the reason for a new India and he was sure of that, and....Proud.

 

[PeggersCove]

The journey from England to India was one of the longest that she had ever taken in her entire life. It was not the first time that she had left England but this was the further that she had ever traveled. There had been holidays in France and Italy to see the sights as well as a trip to Canada to see family... but that had been sometime ago... the journey to India was a little shorter than it had once been with the Suez Canal, however with Eleanor had a terrible affliction of getting sea sick. It would be lovely to return to solid land...

She was on the ship's deck as it was coming into Mumbai's harbour, she could see the people at the docks... it seemed crowded but also incredibly exotic to her as she felt her husband's arm on her waist. It was certainly not a marriage of love but one for status as well as money. She was almost fifteen years his junior but she had charmed him and flirted and so, the match had been made and her parents could not be more delighted. It had only been about eight months since their nuptials before he had been offered a favourable position in India with the British military.

Of course, there was news of the rebellions that were happening but she was getting the perspective of the British High Society. Of course, the British military was to be called in to protect the Empire's interests of their business dealings. After all, there were many exports from India that built her great nation. At least, that was her mentality as she was on the deck looking over the harbour as the steamer moved towards her home for a short time.

“It's beautiful...” Francis said into her ear as she smiled to herself, grey eyes on the shore. “I suppose... but I am still homesick for England.” She said with a little pout. Francis kissed her cheek. “It is only for two years and then, we can return to England... hopefully, with an additional.” He said gently. Well, Francis was sweet with her and she appreciated that in the marriage. “Yes, I think an additional to the family will do nicely.”

Her heart was aching for her home but, this was her new home for sometime.

---

The ship docked in the port as men were taking the ropes to anchor the ship to the side. It was not a very large ship but still impressive. Most of the passengers were going themselves ready for the end of the journey, Eleanor was personally glad of it. She had had to give up most of her things to come on this journey. There were many trucks of her clothing and things that she could not leave England without... they had also brought an automobile to get them around rather than having to take horses or carts like peasants.

There would also be people that had been hired to assist them in India. Of course, all of that sort of thing was nothing what she had to worry her pretty little head about... as her husband had informed her when she had been asking questions about the other side of their journey. She had supposed to but, she was nervous and excited for this new part of her life in a foreign land. Well, it was apart of the British Empire but it was not like most parts of the British Empire.

“Is there already a house for us?” She asked as her husband looked down at her for a moment. “Yes, my sweet... please, I am trying to get everything organized. He also had his valet with him to deal with his business so that he did not have to worry about that. It was the life of the privileged.

Stepping off the ship, she went down the brow to the jetty after her husband... she was looking around her surroundings. It was going to take sometime for the luggage to be taken out of steerage. “Oh, I am so excited.” She said to her companion, Natalie who was looking perhaps a little frighten of the situation of being in a new land. “Are you not, Natalie?” She asked as she was wearing a rather large straw hat over her short blond hair, it was curled. She looked to her jetty as there were men to greet her husband. Of course, she was excited to see India that she had only ever seen in photographs.

 

[Wander]

Yes, he had to slay the man. Rathod knew that very well. The problem was not in the killing of the man as much as finding him. As he stood on the dock, he noticed how massive the ship really was and realised that among the several thousand passengers on it, he will have to find two people. This was going to be more irksome a job than he had assumed.

But Rathod was a man who was always ready for any challenge that life dared pose before him. This was the way with him. Even as a child, the tree in his backyard was always proud and daunting, challenging him with its height and girth. After several falls and broken bones, the young Raja had finally managed to scale the massive structure and build a tree house upon it. Never , however, never did he give up. Then how could he give up against the British that were raping his motherland repeatedly and incessantly? He knew that he had to stop them and drive them back to their country where the sun never shines as bright as it shines on his immaculate nation.

The ship blared spuriously and docked, steam bellowing from within it in thick tufts as Rathod waited quietly, observing the passengers that alighted. Families of white people, some old, and some young made their way out of the massive ship. However, the description did not fit any of the people that walked out. “A middle aged man and a young woman.” That was what he was told and that is what he had to look for. If only someone would fit the description. He gave his moustache another twirl, sharpening the edges as he began to search among the people. But he was held back by the guards.

“I am looking for someone.” He said in a heavy Indian accent, his “a’s” sounding more “ah’s”

The guard shook his head. “No dogs and Indians on board.” He ordered.

Rathod shook his head in disbelief and stood back.

Finally, when someone fitting the description came out, he shot his hand up in the air and he called out. “Sir Hume!”

The middle aged white man heard the call which he knew, much to his consternation, was Indian. “How disgusting,” Thought he with chagrin, “They send me an Indian as an escort? Are they out of white chaps?” His expression remained stoic even when the brown man approached him. Francis Hume was disgusted at the sight of the tall young man. He was almost the same age as his [Hume’s] wife. This aggravated it even more. He expected an experienced escort, not a young inexperienced man. The imperial army should know well and how a knighted General is to be respected. However, he would have to make ends meet now.


Rathod had come rushing forward in order to meet the General. He was much taller and stronger than the General. Even though the Caucasians may believe that Indians were devoid of beauty, Rathod was certainly a man possessed with features that would make the General feel outclassed.

“Shaym Singh, sir. I have been sent to be your escort and assistant.” Said the revolutionary as he offered his target the most reassuring smile. Inwardly, he was already planning on the various means by which he could kill the General. For now, he merely smiled, his expression masking his deceit.

“They could have sent a better man.” The General complained.

“They only had me, sir.” Rathod suggested.

“Very well, then. Grab my and my wife’s bags and be placing them inside the car. I will be out shortly.”

Rathod had not yet noticed the woman behind his target. He was focused too much on his target to notice the woman standing behind him who was supposed to be his wife.

However, what the revolutionary experienced next, he would remember all his life. The moment he saw the woman who was the target’s wife, he was mesmerised. There was an instant spark that electrocuted him. A sudden jolt which felt like a violent awakening from a dream. He knew not what it was, but it was as if his world had stopped for a split moment, his heart refusing to beat any longer.

“Shyam Sigh?” The General complained against the man who was gaping at the sight of his wife.

“Oh, yes sir...” The Rathod managed, snapping out of his momentary loss of comprehension.

“All these brown bastards are such perverts.” The General complained while Rathod, still gazing at the woman from the corner of his eyes, started to collect the suitcases.

 

[PeggersCove]

Eleanor was quite in awe of what she knew was to come in this little adventure in a strange and exotic land, she was the wife of a General and so, she would be living in the lap of luxury and she would be able to experience all that there was to see. At least, she surely hoped as she followed her husband and was chatting merrily. “Oh, I cannot wait to learn some of the customs here. You know get to see such things in magazines like National Geographic.” She said as she looked to her lady’s maid who was smiling nervously. “Francis, is it possible to get a maid from here? I so dearly want to wear their beautiful saris and perhaps even learn the language.” He husband did not really have much interesting in his wife’s rambling.

This made Eleanor look a little glum for a moment but she supposed that they had only just arrived to country and despite the wonder that was bubbling up inside of her… she could perhaps take it down a bit. “Yes, I suppose that I will have to wait until we are a little more settled.” She giggled thinking that she could not wait to get to their new home. She could meet the society that was there.

To be honest, she did not really notice the man who was to be their guide. She was polite however as she said, “Francis… you ought not to give the man too much of a hard time. He is only trying to be of assistance.” Her voice soft as she glanced at him from her wide brim hat and smiled sweetly before going back to her conversation with Natalie, her companion.

Natalie was dressed a little more plainly then Eleanor but she was pretty enough, she had been a companion to Eleanor since they were girls. One being the daughter of the head gardener and had been hired on as a companion since they had been friends. And naturally, Eleanor insisted that they bring Natalie when she was married.

“Good lord, Francis… I know that you are from the Edwardian period but I think an introduction could be in order?” She mentioned as she nodded to their guide for a moment before stepping forward with her hand stretched forward. She was a woman of the 1920’s and the current decade. “I am Mrs. Eleanor Hume… I am very pleased to meet you, Mr. Shayam Singh?” She mentioned as she did not pay much attention to her husband for the moment.

“And this is my companion, Miss Natalie Hunter.” She made the introductions. “You must forgive us. It is a rather long journey and so, we are not all in the brightest of spirits… but I am sure that you will come to know that we all can be quite pleasant people to be among.”

Eleanor smiled at the Shyam as she finished her words. “I best let you return to your duties… or else, my husband will be truly disappointed in my ways.” She grinned, she was a lady who spoke her mind and her husband had known that when he had married her. The marriage was an understanding and a contract rather than for the point of love. Once the poor could marry for love.

The bags were gathered and the cars were taken off the ship so that they could be used by the Humes to get to their new home… Many adventures would await Eleanor in India and she was excited and in desperate need to experience it.