We Lost the Motherland

The sun loomed over Srirangapatna, casting an eerie glow over the battlefield. Smoke curled from the broken walls of the city, rising like ghosts of the fallen. The British, having breached the fortress with the help of treachery, surged through the streets, cutting down any resistance that remained. Blood painted the cobbled paths, mingling with the dust of a city that once stood unshaken.

In the heart of the chaos, Tipu Sultan stood tall, his sword glinting under the fading light. His eyes, fierce as ever, scanned the battlefield. His city—his kingdom—was under siege, but surrender was never an option.

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Scene 1: A Leader Among Warriors

Location: Inside the Fortress, Tipu Sultan's War Chamber

Inside the palace, a handful of Tipu's loyal commanders gathered, their expressions grim but determined. Their once-proud uniforms were torn, their bodies weary from battle, but their spirit remained unbroken.

General Rehman: (Wiping blood from his brow) "Sultan, the walls have been breached. The British are pouring in from the northern gate."

Tipu remained calm, his hand tightening around the hilt of his sword.

Tipu Sultan: "Then we take the battle to them. We are not lambs to be slaughtered; we are tigers. And a tiger fights till his last breath."

The soldiers, despite their exhaustion, straightened at his words.

Commander Hussain: "We will fight by your side, Sultan. To the very end."

Tipu nodded. He knew his men were ready to die for him, for Mysore. But there was no time for speeches. He turned to his generals.

Tipu Sultan: "Position our best marksmen on the rooftops. Let the cannons fire until they burn to the ground. We make them bleed for every step they take into Srirangapatna!"

The men saluted and rushed out, preparing for the final stand.

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Scene 2: The Streets of Fire

Location: Outer Fortress, Near the North Gate

The battle raged on as Mysorean soldiers clashed with the advancing British forces. The air was thick with the scent of gunpowder and burning wood. Tipu Sultan himself rode through the streets on horseback, cutting through enemy ranks with the precision of a seasoned warrior.

British Soldier: (Pointing) "It's Tipu Sultan! Take him down!"

A volley of musket fire erupted, but Tipu maneuvered swiftly, striking down three soldiers in rapid succession. His men followed his lead, fighting with renewed fury.

Despite their resistance, the British numbers were overwhelming. Cannons thundered, reducing parts of the city to rubble. Tipu's warriors fell one by one, but they refused to retreat.

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Scene 3: The Treachery Unfolds

Location: The Palace Courtyard

Inside the palace walls, Mir Sadiq, the traitor, stood in the shadows, watching the chaos unfold. He had already given orders for certain reinforcements to be delayed, ensuring the city's fall. His lips curled into a sly smile as he watched the British advance.

A messenger rushed in, breathless.

Messenger: "Mir Sadiq, the British are expecting you. They say the gates must be left unguarded at the east entrance."

Mir Sadiq nodded. He had sealed his fate, but he believed he would be rewarded with power once Tipu fell.

Mir Sadiq: (Murmuring) "The tiger will finally be caged."

Unbeknownst to him, his actions would soon earn him the wrath of both Mysore and the British.

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Scene 4: The Final Charge

Location: Near the Royal Treasury, Inner Fortress

Tipu Sultan stood amidst the carnage, his once-white tunic soaked in blood—his own and that of his enemies. A musket ball had grazed his arm, but he paid it no mind. He cut down another British soldier, his eyes burning with defiance.

A group of British officers advanced cautiously. General Baird, leading the charge, observed Tipu with a mix of admiration and determination.

General Baird: "Surrender, Sultan! Your city is lost."

Tipu laughed—a short, bitter sound.

Tipu Sultan: "Lost? No, General. Mysore will never be lost. You may kill me, but you will never own my land."

He lunged forward, slashing through the ranks. The British scrambled to contain him, but he was a storm, cutting through them with relentless fury.

Another musket ball struck his side, but he did not falter. Instead, he drove his sword into the nearest British soldier, his strength defying the pain.

A British officer, seizing the opportunity, raised his gun.

British Officer: (Shouting) "Now! Bring him down!"

The shot rang out, hitting Tipu in the chest.

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Scene 5: The Fall of the Tiger

Tipu Sultan staggered, his vision blurring. His knees buckled, but he refused to fall. Blood seeped from his wound, staining the ground beneath him.

His mind raced with memories—his father, Haider Ali, leading him into battle as a young boy, the victories they had won, the dream of an independent Mysore.

A British soldier approached cautiously.

British Soldier: "Is he dead?"

Tipu forced a breath, his voice barely a whisper.

Tipu Sultan: "Better to live one day as a tiger than a thousand years as a sheep…"

With those final words, the Tiger of Mysore fell.

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Scene 6: The Aftermath

Location: Srirangapatna, The Following Morning

The fortress was silent, the air heavy with the weight of defeat. British soldiers looted the city, their victory secure. In the palace courtyard, Mir Sadiq was dragged before General Baird.

General Baird: (Coldly) "We have no use for traitors."

Before Mir Sadiq could plead, a bayonet was thrust into his chest. He gasped, falling to the ground, his treachery earning him only death.

Nearby, Tipu's body was laid out, his sword resting beside him. Even in death, he looked unbowed, as though defying his enemies from beyond the grave.

A British officer approached General Baird.

British Officer: "What shall we do with the body, sir?"

General Baird hesitated for a moment before replying.

General Baird: (Solemnly) "Bury him with honor. A warrior deserves no less."

The flag of Mysore had fallen, but the legend of Tipu Sultan would never fade.

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End of Chapter 18