Chapter 67: Mathew Silva Part -1

Chapter 67: Mathew Silva Part -1

** 1552 AD, Goa **

Mathew Silva and his wife Julia felt excited and hopeful as they set foot on Indian soil. They had travelled a long way from their home, driven by the promises of a better life and new opportunities awaiting them in India.

Mathew grew up in Portugal in a family of metalworkers. His father taught him everything about making cannons and working with metal.

As he grew older, he had the chance to work with a famous blacksmith who served the king. This helped Mathew learn new and advanced techniques.

He loved his work and got really good at it. He learned how to use watermills to help him make things even better. Because he worked hard and did a great job, Mathew became famous for making really precise and innovative metalwork, especially cannons.

His life took an unexpected turn in his late 30s, when Rodrigo Vasques, a high-ranking official in the Portuguese administration, visited his workshop. Vasques was impressed by Mathew's skills and reputation, so he offered him a great opportunity.

He asked Mathew to set up a new branch of cannon manufacturing in colonial India and become the incharge of his own workshop.

Excited about the opportunity for wealth and success, Mathew eagerly accepted the offer, seeing it as a chance to provide a better future for himself and his wife Julia, who was the daughter of his respected master.

Arriving in India, Mathew was filled with wonder and excitement as he entered the new lands.

However, amidst the busy streets and lively markets, he couldn't help but feel a sense of disgust for the majority of the locals who look dirty due to their skin complexion.

In the midst of the bustling port city, Mathew heard a piece of sad news. A beautiful nun known for her kindness had been found dead and violated in a nearby village.

Rumors circulated that the local villagers were responsible for the heinous act, unable to control their lust for her beauty. They took out their pent-up anger on an innocent soul like her, who was there to spread the word of God.

It was Captain Raul Mendes, a formidable figure in the military, who wasted no time in taking quick action after receiving the news. He led his troops to punish the perpetrators and the village came under control as the military presence intensified.

The incident only made Captain Mendes's reputation stronger, earning him more respect and authority in the region.

Mathew couldn't help but feel a sense of awe and admiration for Captain Mendes as he watched the soldiers return with pride.

One day, a notorious incident occurred that deepened Mathew's disdain for the locals.

The wife of a local wealthy landlord was discovered practicing witchcraft. She had been using unknown potions, rumoured to contain the blood of infants of European descent, to heal people in her community.

It was revealed that she had made a pact with the devil in an attempt to bring her husband back who has gone missing under mysterious circumstances.

As time passed, Mathew's perception shifted, and he began to engage with the people around him, seeking to understand them first-hand rather than relying on colonial biases.

The more Mathew immersed himself in the lives and hardships of the local people, he heard countless tales of oppression and injustice inflicted upon them under Portuguese rule.

Each story he heard painted a vivid picture of the harsh reality they faced, and his heart became weighed down with sorrow and anger. The once-privileged perspective he held was shattered by the brutal truth of colonial exploitation.

Mathew's perception of Captain Raul Mendes underwent a drastic transformation when he heard firsthand from a rebel who was the sole survivor of a recently attacked village.

According to the survivor, the Portuguese troops arrived without warning and demanded the majority of the village's produce. When the villagers tried to reason with them, the troops responded with violence, dragging women away and subjecting them to unspeakable acts while forcing other family members to watch at gunpoint.

Then, without mercy, they lined up the villagers and opened fire, burning the entire village to the ground and looting all its resources.

The survivor, who happened to be outside the village at the time, was the lone witness to the horrific genocide. This account shattered any remaining illusions Mathew had about Mendes and the true nature of Portuguese colonial rule.

The revelation of Ratna's tragic past struck the deepest chord within Mathew's soul. He realized that Ratna was the daughter of the woman he had once feared as a witch, who was none other than the wife of a wealthy landlord.

Her husband had been taken by church authorities for refusing to convert to Christianity. Despite her repeated pleas to the authorities, they ignored her, and she dedicated her life to the welfare of the local people.

This hindered the church's attempts to perform miracles and ultimately led to her unjust trial by fire.

Fortunately, Ratna who fled with her merchant lover earlier, who returned after learning of her mother's injustice.

Hemu, Ratna's lover had already traded with the Portuguese and tried to convince Mathew to switch sides, as he believed that the days of the Portuguese in India were numbered.

He assured Mathew that he would become the general of the North Indian empire, as he had gathered support in local politics of ruling dynasty and promised to take care of Mathew and his family, ensuring that his expertise would be valued and his name renowned in whole Indian subcontinent.

Although the offer was tempting, Mathew ultimately rejected it. He couldn't bring himself to betray his own country, no matter how wrong its actions were.

He politely declined, stating that even if he were forced, he wouldn't be able to give his all as his heart belonged to his own people. He could only pray for success in his endeavors.

Impressed by Mathew's honesty and loyalty, Hemu spoke with the rebel leader for the release of the prisoners , putting his weight as the financer. Though he gained nothing from it, this act of humility touched Mathew's heart deeply.

However, the return to the colony was not the joyous homecoming Mathew had envisioned.

Instead, they were met with suspicion and scrutiny from the authorities. Relentless questioning followed about their time in captivity and whether they had divulged any secrets to the rebels.

In that moment, Mathew couldn't help but wonder if rejecting Hemu's offer had been the right choice?