Kyrat, 1988
It was a peaceful and eventful evening in eastern Kyrat. The Golden Path had conquered their seventh outpost, killing all Royal guardsmen there, which was nearly half of all the outposts in the area. Slowly but surely, the rebel group was growing and thriving in Kyrat, and the ruthless Pagan Min's patience was being tested right to it's limits as his men were murdered. He was showing his true colours; he'd betrayed the Nationalists after lying to them, killed the Royal Heir and then grabbed the thrown for himself.
This miraculous and brave uprising from the Golden Path was seen as an act from the Gods. Music played, people danced and families rejoiced together gleefully in relief ; all except one family- the Ghales. They were at their homestead, arguing for the Gods.
"Mohan, please," Ishwari tried for what felt like the one hundredth time, placing sleeping baby Ajay in his cot. "You're not giving me a chance here!"
"No, Ishwari," Mohan responded, tired of his wife's constant whining about the matter, "It's too dangerous. If I die, Ajay needs a mother."
"It's because I'm a woman, isn't it?" Ishwari folded her arms, glaring accusingly at Mohan, "Don't lie, it is!"
"No, my love..." Mohan used a softer tone cupped his angry wife's face in an attempt to calm her, "It's nothing to do with that. It's just too risky. You can't be a fighter for the Golden Path because you might get hurt. I wouldn't want that for you. War is no place for A Tarun Matara. " It didn't work.
"You know I'm worthy," Ishwari argued, taking back her face, "I don't care that I'm the Turan Matara. You know I'm strong and you know I'm good at defending myself. Just give me a chance! Isn't that what the Golden Path is all about? Giving people a chance?"
It bugged her so much that Mohan used the excuse "you're Kyrat's Tarun Matara, if anything happened to you I would not be forgiven" over and over. Barely anyone remembered that Ishwari was the Tarun Matara, ever since her and Mohan had to go into hiding when the Nationalists were overthrown by Pagan. That, and many of those who remembered were slaughtered by Pagan's orders for "treason" for being involved with the Nationalists.
Mohan sighed. She was right, but he couldn't let her know she was. He couldn't give into her, he couldn't let go of her that easily. He knew they were both stubborn and neither of them would give in. They needed to somehow reach an impasse...
Then, an idea came to mind: if he sent her to do something which would scare her away from fighting, then she'd stop nagging him and be there at home for Ajay.
"Tell you what," Mohan said, "Spy on Pagan. Find a way to earn his trust and discover his plans."
Ishwari furrowed her eyebrows at the seemingly impossible task, "And how the hell do you expect me to do that? I can't exactly just walk into his fortress and start demanding answers."
"No, but to our advantage Pagan's requested a peaceful meeting with the Golden Path in attempt to 'reason' with us. He'll arrive here two days from now. You should go. I'll tell the others right now, if you so wish..."
Two days later, Ishwari waited at the opium poppy fields of the village with two other Golden Path leaders, Lakash and Tibad, for Pagan Min to turn up with his men.
It was a surprisingly hot but pleasant day in the mountains, and the colours of the surrounding nature seemed to be brighter than usual and the air more humid than most days. Ishwari would much rather spend her day sat embroidering outside or spending time cooling off in the small waterfall outside the house, but this was important if Mohan was to gain faith in her.
Ten minutes late, Two incredibly noisy and ugly orange trucks with mounted automatic guns sandwiching a black but dusty Rolls Royce pulled up beside the fields, and Pagan Min climbed out the Royce wearing a bright green silk suit and open baby-blue shirt. Ishwari had never seen him before in person, only on Rupee bank notes, and was taken aback due to how attractive the man was; a man in his mid-twenties with high cheekbones, cat-like eyes lined in black, strong jawline and a slender figure. He had a very camp and flamboyant manner about him, but he didn't appear to match the rumours about being a heartless killer.
Pagan opened his arms, looking at them one by one directly in the eyes. His gaze remained on Ishwari the longest which made her uncomfortable.
"My, my, you've been quite a troublesome lot," he said, shaking his head and tutting, approaching the three, "And for what? Freedom?" He laughed at the idea. "Well, go on then. Give me your propositions. Don't hold back, I'm here to listen."
"We're a bankrupt country," Lakash said immediately, "There are hardly any job opportunities and barely any land which can grow crop at all. We need someway of making money and sustaining our land. The Golden Path would ens-"
"-And overthrowing me and my men will improve this country's state?" cut in Pagan, "This country was a mess when I got it. You're just looking for someone to blame other than me. Next." He moved onto Tibad.
"We're not free to believe in what we want," Tibad said, "Our old traditions are threatened and anyone who speaks up gets shot. We need a free, breathable coun- "
"-Um, last time I checked one of our laws does give the people of Kyrat to believe in what they wish. I, however, sincerely apologise for the way my men have acted. I know they've been a little...freelance as of late. It looks like this meeting will be cut a little short..." He smirked as he moved onto Ishwari, who stared at Pagan in the eyes, unafraid. "And what have you got to say about all of this, my dear lady?"
"Medical institutions are needed to be renovated," she said, "More children are being lost in childbirth than ever and diseases which should be easy to cure kill off dozens of your precious subjects each week. A little contribution will hugely improve the health of Kyrat and restore their faith in you."
Pagan's jaw dropped purposely as he looked at the guard next to him in disbelief and nudged him with his elbow, "Did you hear that?" he asked, almost rhetorically, "She has the best idea about both of these mongrels. A woman. And it doesn't involve freedom or jobs or overthrowing me or any of that bullshit, but the health of my subjects!" He looked back at Ishwari, "You are a smart woman. I actually like that idea. What's your name?"
"Ishwari."
"Ishwari?"
"Ishwari Ghale."
"Ghale..." murmured Pagan, tapping his foot in thought, "Now, where do I know that name? Ghale, Ghale, Ghale, gah-laaay... Oh! I know you! Your pesky little husband is the founder of the Golden Path and siding with the Nationalists. I'm so sorry you're married to such a dick of a man."
Ishwari couldn't help but smile. Mohan was indeed a dick.
"It's no problem at all," she said, "I can handle him." Pagan's smile became genuine instead of cocky for a moment before he glanced at the two other Golden Path leaders.
"You two," Pagan pointed at Lakash and Tibad, "Run along. This woman is the only one who knows what she's talking about, and know what she wants."
The two men stood there for a moment both mildly confused and slightly annoyed, but obeyed the king. Pagan turned back to Ishwari, and indicated to the footpath,
"Care to take a walk with me?" he asked.
"Of course, my king."
"After you." The two started walking down the footpath, in silence at first. Ishwari was very nervous. She knew that the King wouldn't do anything like try to kill her but there was a certain level of unpredictability which surrounded him. She wasn't sure what he'd do or say next and that scared her.
"So," Pagan said, after a long pause, "Ishwari, was it?"
"Yes."
"So tell me, how else should I spend my money?"
"Providing the means to renovate houses so they're not primeval-like shacks would also help," Ishwari answered without hesitation, "And money towards hunting gear. Tigers and honey badgers are overpopulated."
Pagan chuckled, "So my people are being killed by tigers and honey badgers and they're blaming me. Oh, that's classic."
"It's not that they're blaming you," Ishwari parried, "It's that you're not doing much to help. Or anything for that matter."
"You have quite a tongue on you," Pagan commented, raising an eyebrow at the mouthy woman. Despite this, he liked the fact that she spoke up to him. She was confident, not a coward.
"I was under the impression there were no laws restricting my freedom."
"Ooh, you're good."
Ishwari smiled gently, "No disrespect of course, my king."
"Evidently," replied Pagan, "You know what? I like you, Ishwari. In fact, I think I'll invite you to my fortress for, ah, next Saturday?"
Ishwari nodded, "That's fine with me."
"We can discuss Kyrat's future for longer then. But I am indeed a busy man with a busy schedule so I must be off. I'll take your suggestions into consideration but for now let's leave it at that." He turned to leave, before adding: "I'm amazed they'd let a woman into the Golden Path. Isn't it all about saving tradition, after all?"
"People only listen to me because I'm the Tarun Matara. If it wasn't for that, I'd be silenced all of the time."
"An intelligent and beautiful woman like you should never be silenced," commented Pagan. Ishwari nodded graciously before the king climbed into his Royce and left as loudly as he arrived.
"You were what?!" Mohan repeated in disbelief.
"I was invited to his fortress to discuss further business," Ishwari replied simply whilst scrubbing a pot. She was very pleased with herself that she had done a good job and proved her husband wrong. Mohan had not been expecting the meeting to have gone so well, let alone for it to have gone so well that his wife was invited personally to Pagan Min's fortress. He didn't expect this at all.
"And he trusts you?" he asked.
"Not yet. But he will." There was a silence for a while until Mohan suggested:
"Maybe when you go, you should take Ajay with you."
Ishwari turned around to face Mohan, a doubting look on her face, "What, why?"
"It gives you a softer image or something to talk about. There's something about an infant which eases people." They both gazed at the slumbering Ajay, who was drooling on his blanket and was completely oblivious to what was going on. Mohan continued: "You need him to trust you."
"I suppose," Ishwari replied thoughtfully. He had a point.
"Just..."
"Hm?"
"Be careful. It could be a trap."
Ishwari rolled her eyes, sighing and shaking her head, "I can handle myself, Mohan."
"Yes but can you handle Ajay, Pagan, and three dozen guards or more?"
"I just need to handle Pagan," replied Ishwari, "Besides. I think he has a soft spot for me. There was something different about the way he addressed me than the other two. He seemed to respect me a little more."
"Respect you?" scoffed Mohan, "Than man wouldn't know respect if it stabbed him in the eye. I heard he has his maids executed if they lay his bed out wrong. He is a monster, Ishwari. A complete monster with no compa-"
"-Don't start, Mohan. Don't...you weren't there." She sat down on a nearby chair, exhausted, "You can't judge someone for the rumours said about them, and that's all you ever seem to do."
She rubbed at her forehead stressfully, as the two remain quiet for a while. Mohan was leaned against the large full bookcase which rested against the west wall, rubbing his fingers together and counting his breaths to calm himself. They both knew that they needed to cool off before they began arguing needlessly again, or before anything became too heated.
"Ishwari," Mohan spoke softly, trying to get Ishwari's attention. Ishwari ignored him as he paced over to her. "Ishwari, look at me. Please."
Ishwari spared him an annoyed stare.
"I trust you, Ishwari," Mohan said quietly, kneeling down before his wife and holding her small hands in his, "I trust you with my life, with Ajay's life, with anybody's life. I should have more faith in you and I'm sorry I've been like...like this..."
Ishwari softened, smiling warmly at Mohan's apology.
"Thank you," she nodded in appreciation, "And we shouldn't bicker like this. It'll prove the elders right about our marriage."
Mohan smiled at her. "We can't have that now, can we?"
"No, we can't," Ishwari mirrored his smile and cupped his face, giving him a loving kiss.
