Ravi's terrace – late afternoon, the sun a fat orange coin sliding behind the Dharavi skyline, turning every tin roof into molten copper.
Ravi kicked the tripod legs open with a sharp clang that bounced down the narrow galli.
Ravi: "Three reels. Clean takes only. No retakes, no excuses. Ready or I start without you."
Ishaan rolled his neck left, right, tied his long hair into a tighter bun, and gave a single nod.
Ishaan: "Roll. Let's make them regret scrolling past."
Camera light blinked red.
First take – Ishaan took four running steps, launched into a perfect front-flip off the eight-foot water tank, tucked tight, opened up, landed in a low crouch with both palms flat on the concrete, then popped up grinning straight at the lens.
Second take – classic Bruce Lee one-inch punches followed by a spinning hook kick that whipped his ponytail like a helicopter blade, every strike framed against the burning sunset.
Third take – Ishaan grabbed the parapet, slow muscle-up until his chest touched the bar, held it for three full seconds, then negative lowered himself inch by inch until his feet touched the floor without a sound.
Ravi's thumb smashed stop.
Ravi: "Titles typed. Thumbnails cropped. Captions ready: 'Terrace Ninja Never Misses'. All three uploaded. Live in five… four… three… two… one. Done."
He flopped down beside Ishaan on the hot concrete ledge, legs swinging thirty feet above the alley where a kid just hit a six and the bowler was arguing with a stray dog.
Ravi cracked open two glass bottles of Thums Up, handed one over.
Ravi: "Bro, listen to me carefully. I am done. One hundred percent done. Done crawling under dining tables to fix some aunty's ten-year-old Dell that smells like sambar. Done charging eight hundred rupees for three hours of sweat. This channel pays me more in seven days than that shop paid in thirty. Tomorrow morning, i will stop the computer repairs. 'thank you for the memories', and I'm out."
Ishaan took a long swig, wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.
Ishaan: "Quit tonight if you want. You've earned the right to leave with a smile."
Ravi: "Tomorrow morning.
Ishaan: "Make sure you complete all the pending work you have taken.
Ravi laughed so hard he almost fell off the ledge.
Ravi: "With my share and my saving I have saved 22 lakhs cash. Not enough to buy a 2BHK outright in Santa Cruze, but more than enough for twenty percent down-payment on a decent1500 square foot flat. Rest on EMI. Channel keeps growing at this speed, I clear the full loan in five months flat. No tension, no bank calls.
Ishaan nodded, eyes on a distant crane swinging steel beams against the purple sky.
Ishaan: "Smart. Very smart. You planned every rupee."
Ravi: "Broker is on speed dial. Three projects shortlisted – two in east , one in west. I'm going flat-hunting tomorrow morning, ten o'clock sharp. You in or you out?"
Ishaan: "I'm in. Ari and I have exactly four days before the landlord changes the locks. Red eviction notice is already stuck on the door like a slap."
Ravi punched his shoulder.
Ravi: "Same area, different buildings. Brothers don't get separated because some greedy owner wants his rent on the first. We rise together or we don't rise."
Ishaan: "Deal. Locked in blood."
Ravi: "One more thing, and this one is massive. We need an office. Real office. Not this terrace where Mrs Sharma hangs her giant bras right behind the camera. Or my flat room,we need Black matte walls, green screen, six ring lights, soundproof foam on every inch, and an AC that doesn't sound like a truck. Forty-five million views deserve a proper studio, not a rooftop with pigeon shit."
Ishaan: "We hunt for the office tomorrow afternoon. Same day. Ground floor only. Thick walls. Steel door. No windows. Half the rent from me, half from you. We sign together."
Ravi: "Tomorrow morning flats, afternoon office. Full day mission. No lunch break."
Ishaan fist-bumped him so hard Ravi's hand went numb.
Ishaan: "Full day. No excuses. No mercy."
Ravi: "Modeling shoots well start exploding too. TOABH agency keeps sending dates, locations, themes. Ishaan: "Office solves everything. Studio, changing room, makeup corner, storage for masks. One roof for Modern Ninja and the masked model."
Ravi: "Modern Ninja finally gets a real address.
Ishaan's phone buzzed against his thigh – Simi.
Simi: "Ishaan! Day after tomorrow, eight PM sharp, Juhu villa. Dad's birthday. You are coming. No excuses, no 'I have work', no nothing."
Ishaan: "I'll be there."
Simi: " Dad wants to meet you". Says- he Haven't seen you in a while.
Ishaan: "you know how it was , but i will come for sure."
Simi: "Perfect. Don't be late. Dad wants to thank you in person again. Bye, hero."
Call ended.
Ravi raised an eyebrow.
Ravi: "Mr Singh's birthday bash?"
Ishaan: "Day after tomorrow."
Ravi: "enjoy the party" , Mr Singh's a bug businessman , it will be in our favour to be on good terms with him.
Ishaan stood, helmet dangling from two fingers, ponytail whipping in the evening breeze.
Ishaan: "See you tomorrow, flat hunter. Nine sharp. Bring coffee."
He jogged down the rusty iron staircase, boots ringing like war drums on every step, disappearing into the orange dusk.