"Bas karo," [Enough], Aarav commanded. Ekam released the wrist, leaving Raju gasping and clutching his hand.
"Bhai, itna gussa mat karo," [Brother, don't get so angry], Shrivastav whispered. "Is school mein gussa bahut mehenga pad sakta hai." [Anger in this school can cost you a lot.]
During Chemistry, Keshav Sir noticed Ekam at the back. "Beta, tum in bekar ladkon ke saath peeche kyun baithe ho? Aage aao." [Son, why are you sitting back there with those useless fellows? Come to the front.]
"Sir, Aarav mera dost ban gaya hai," [Sir, Aarav has become my friend], Ekam replied. "Main yahan baith kar school ka system samajhna chahta hoon." [I want to stay here and understand the school's system.]
Suddenly, the door exploded inward. Karan (No. 1) stormed in. He was a Commerce student but moved like an invading king.
"Maine kaha tha!" [I told you guys!] Karan barked at Aarav. "Commerce department se dur raho. Tumne aaj subah Kevin (No. 8) ko maara. Kya main tumhare liye mazak hoon?" [Stay away from the Commerce department. You hit Kevin (No. 8) this morning. Do you think I'm a joke?]
"Wo humhe izzat nahi de raha tha," [He wasn't giving us the respect we're owed], Raju spat.
"Izzat? Main yahan No. 1 hoon! Meri baat hi izzat hai!" [Respect? I am the No. 1 here! My word is the only respect you need!] Karan threatened.
Ekam stood up, looking bored. "Oh bhai, kaun ho tum? Ye Science stream hai. Galat building mein aa gaye ho, Commerce boy. Apne class wapas jao." [Oh brother, who are you? This is the Science stream. You're in the wrong building, Commerce boy. Go back to your class.]
Karan grabbed Ekam's collar. "Tu? Ek 'nobody' mujhse aise baat karega?" [You? A 'nobody' talks to me like that?]
Karan threw a lightning punch. Ekam didn't flinch. With a slight tilt, the punch whistled past his ear. He had dodged the King.
Later, Aarav took Ekam aside. "Ye school ek legacy se chalta hai. Panch saal pehle, Rudra naam ka ek ladka tha. Usne Raven Gang banayi thi." [This school is governed by a legacy. Five years ago, there was a student named Rudra. He founded the Raven Gang.]
Aarav pointed to the terrace. "Rudra 2024 mein mar gaya. Uska bhai, Karan, No. 1 ban gaya, par wo Rudra nahi hai. School sad raha hai, Ekam." [Rudra died in 2024. His brother, Karan, took No. 1, but he's not Rudra. The school is rotting, Ekam.]
"Tumne use dodge kiya. Ritual mein hissa lo. Mere saath No. 2 ke liye lado. Agar Science ka ladka top ranker ban gaya, toh hum Ravens ko wapas la sakte hain." [You dodged him. Participate in the Ritual. Fight me for No. 2. If a Science student becomes a top ranker, we can bring the Ravens back.]