The danger arrived quietly.
No smoke.No weapons drawn.No screams to warn the chhauni.
It came disguised as concern.
Whispers in the Wind
Within days of Arjanveer's return, murmurs began spreading beyond the camp.
"They are becoming too powerful.""They decide who deserves protection.""Today they defend villages… tomorrow they may command them."
The words did not come from enemies with swords.
They came from traders.Messengers.So-called well-wishers.
Jathedar Jasraj Singh listened, expression unreadable.
"This is how rot spreads," he said calmly."Not through attack… but suggestion."
A Familiar Face
One evening, a man arrived at the chhauni gates alone.
Well dressed. Educated. Calm.
He introduced himself as Harvindar Malhotra, a representative of nearby towns.
"I admire the Nihangs," he said respectfully."But admiration must be balanced with accountability."
Arjanveer felt unease stir in his chest.
The man smiled too easily.
The Poisoned Argument
Inside the council tent, Harvindar spoke smoothly.
"You defend people," he said."But who decides when force is used?"
"We follow maryada," Jasraj Singh replied.
Harvindar nodded."And who interprets it?"
Silence followed.
He turned to Arjanveer.
"You are young. Strong. Influential.Tell me—do you not fear what unchecked power becomes?"
The trap was subtle.
If Arjanveer defended the Nihangs blindly, he would confirm suspicion.If he doubted them openly, he would weaken trust.
This was not a test of strength.
It was a test of clarity.
Truth Without Defense
Arjanveer stood slowly.
"We do not claim perfection," he said."We are not above question."
Harvindar smiled—thinking he had won.
"But," Arjanveer continued,"we are bound by discipline, sacrifice, and accountability to the Guru—not to ambition."
He met the man's eyes.
"The moment we seek control… we cease to be Nihangs."
The room felt lighter.
Harvindar's smile faded—just slightly.
The Mask Slips
That night, a scout reported quietly:
"The man left… and met with known agitators outside the region."
Jasraj Singh nodded.
"He plants doubt, then lets others water it."
He turned to Arjanveer.
"This enemy cannot be chased.Cannot be struck."
Arjanveer understood.
"So we stand visible," he said."Transparent."
"Yes," the jathedar replied."And patient."
Strength in the Open
The next day, the Nihangs did something unexpected.
They opened the chhauni.
Villagers were invited to observe training.To ask questions.To witness discipline—not secrecy.
No speeches.No defense.
Only action.
Service.Prayer.Restraint.
The whispers weakened.
Truth, when lived openly, required no protection.
Closing
That night, Arjanveer sat beneath the Nishan Sahib, watching it move gently in the wind.
Steel had its place.
So did silence.
But clarity—
Clarity was the sharpest weapon of all.
And the path ahead would demand more of it than ever before.