The sun was setting down, and the bell rang. The school finished for today and kids rushed the gate, running, jumping and gossiping.
Two boys dashed through all the crowd near gate, bumping and rushing, laughing.
"Hey.. what are you doing?" a young boy shouted after them, as they bumped on him.
"Sorry, brother Shroff," one of the boys shouted, apologizing. Shroff was too wasted to argue or run after them, so he just frowned his brows. Just then somebody bumped his back again,
"What's up, Man!!" Shroff heard as he turned back pissed off.
It was a well built dark skinned boy. Smile like a crescent moon. A girl was with him, young girl.
"Hey! What's up, Smith," Shroff replied, swinging his arm landing right at Smith's gut. Smith dropped to his knees, coughing. The girl beside him chuckled, pulling him by his jacket, helping him stand up.
"How was the day?" Shroff asked as the started walking, Smith rubbing his stomach. "Good… Ugh.. I guess," he replied. "That hurts man…"
Just then the girl pulled his jacket. "Yes, what is it Jenny?" Smith asked, turning to her. "I'm Hungry…" She replied, looking back at him. The little earing sparkled as the sunlight made it's way.
"Yeah, ok… When we reach the store." Smith muttered facing the road. Jenny was Smith's younger sister. Although their skin color had a large difference, their height difference was also the same.
Smith and Shroff were neighbors ever since Shroff remembered. Both of their fathers were teachers and mothers house wives. Smith had strict parents, tough childhood and that was the reason Shroff was sure about landing that punch.
"The store, brother," Jenny spoke, pointing to the store other side the road. They were at the road merge, and to reach their home, they needed to cross the main road. So, they stood by a wall, waiting for the traffic to scarce out.
A pink flower tree crossed over the tree, raining flowers on road. The wall separated someone's private garden from the street. 'Beware of Dogs' sign hung by the door on wall. Sweet smell of flowers and food covered the street and soft breeze flew by their cheeks.
Shroff looked back, searching for something. Smith followed, looking at Shroff.
"What is it man?" He asked. Shroff turned faced forward again. "Nothing… I just felt like someone was calling for you." Shroff replied, stretching his arms.
"Must be dogs."
Shroff looked at Smith, staring at him with no emotion.
"What?"
"Haha… nothing man, just kidding…" Smith replied, laughing with his crescent. Shroff just shook his head as if he was disappointed.
"Let's go, brother. Light's green." Jenny said, pulling Smith by his sleeve. Smith stumbled, wrapping his hand around Shroff's neck, dragging him with himself.
"Lets go man." He screamed, laughing hilariously. "Okay, okay man…. Don't pull me." Shroff yelled back, breaking free Smith's grip, dashing and stumbling on the road.
"Hey you blackie," Shroff heard someone shouting behind him, just as they reached the other side. They turned back. Smith was pissed and ready to smash some heads, but to his surprise, all the anger disappeared as he saw the guys behind him.
A bike just stopped by the road, and a tall dark skinned guy got off it. He held a cycle chain in his hands. He was wearing J-middle school uniform, but he was too rough looking to be a middle schooler. He came near Smith, and stared down at him.
He was a tall guy, so tall that he needed to lean forward inorder to meet smith's eyes.
"You smith?" He asked.
"No-no.. I'm Jason," Smith replied, trying to dodge the trouble.
"Ha… Hahhaha, You heard that Akky?" That guy shouted. The guy sitting on the bike chuckled, rubbing his hand over his chin. He was a pale guy, wearing black goggles, scratching a small scar on his chin.
"You think I'm stupid?" The tall guy lost it. Leaning down towards smith's face, he was breathing on his face.
"You think I'm stupid?" He yelled.
"No, man… calm down…" Smith muttered. Jenny clenched his jacket from behind.
"You know… Sana?" Tall guy asked, rolling his eyes all over him.
"Ye… Yes." Smith replied, staring at the chain in his hand. He kept looking back at Jenny, making sure she was safe.
"Good… Good… keep distance from her," Tall guy whispered, blowing on Smith's face. "I heard you getting too clingy with her… She's mine, You here me? Don't get near her, you shit." He added, threatening Smith, rubbing the chain over Smith's jacket.
"Okay?"
Smith didn't reply, he just kept staring at the chain.
"I SAID, OKAY?" He yelled on Smith's face.
"YES… OKAY." Smith yelled back, now staring straight in his eyes. He clenched his hands, he was ready to fight. He clenched so hard that his fingers fell pale.
"You fucking bitch… You scream at me?" Bunty was mad now, he swung his chain,
"Hey, Bunty… Its getting crowded," Akky said before Bunty could launch the chain. It was getting crowded as people started gathering hearing the ruckus. "Lets go, we'll handle it later." Akky added.
Bunty stared down at Smith, clenching his teeth. "You are done, bitch." He declared before leaving. He turned back towards the bike, and within seconds they were gone leaving the tire marks on the road.
"Are you good? Smith." Shroff asked, patting over the chain marks on the jacket. Smith looked down at the ground for a second and after a deep breath, "All good man.. I'm fine.. I'm fine…" he smiled again.
"Huff… Huff.. I was scared, brother.." Smith's brows frowned upon hearing that. He turned back, as Jenny stood weeping, clenching on his sleeve. "Hey.. hey.. Jenny, I'm fine… Look at me." He added.
Shroff softly patted Smith's back, telling him to get out of the crowd. The started moving. Smith was comforting Jenny with each step and each word. His voice held compassion and care, but Shroff was concerned. Not because Bunty threatened Smith but because Smith's eyes held something else.
Anger.
---
Shroff was walking down the road in the night. Street light lighted the road, and stalls covered the needs. He held a bag in his hand, looking down at the road, he dragged his body as he walked.
"Not again… It's the third night I didn't get my favorite chicken rolls," he swung the bag down, grieving. "Again I'll have to live on noodle… huff"
"No, brother V…" He heard someone talking. Shroff looked up on the road. There two figures stood under the street light. One completely visible and other beside the pole. Smoke rising from him, he stood leaning on the wall.
Shroff's eyes widened as he recognized the guy at front.
"Smith?" He muttered.
Smith looked back, noticing Shroff standing behind him with a bag in his hand. "Hey man!! What are you doing here this late?" Smith asked, showing his crescent smile, he slammed his hand over Shroff's shoulder.
It made a loud slamming sound. "God damn it man.. how many time times do I have to tell you to not do that shit!!" Shroff snapped, yelling at Smith, rubbing his shoulder.
"What are you doing here this late anyway?" Shroff asked, frowning at him. Smith chuckled, looking behind him.
"Well, you know what happened today right… So, I came to… ahh, somewhat to ask for a help!" Smith explained, scratching his head.
Shroff looked behind him, at the guy leaning on the wall, smoking the cigarette. He was a tall man. Lean but tough, wearing a white shirt. His hands and knuckles were covered in scars and a deep scar was on his cheek.
"So.. brother V," Smith turned to him, "He is my friend, Shro—
"Shroff," V muttered before Smith could have completed his sentence. "I know him." He added.
Shroff's brows shot up in surprise and confusion. Smith looked back at Shroff, visually confused, he was asking for an explanation but Shroff shook his head.
"I.. I'm sorry, but I don't recognize you," Shroff said, gently, trying to not hurt someone's feelings.
"Yeah yeah… you were young." V began, "You father…" V slowly stood up straight, breathing in the last blow of cigarette. Then he threw the rest on the ground, crushing it under his boots.
"You father used to teach me… In middle school," V explained, breathing out all the smoke on their faces. "Good man." he added, nodding his head.
"Anyways, I'll handle him," V declared, taking a step. "Ahh… what was his name again? Akky? Bakky?" He put his arm over Shroff and dragged him with him.
"Akky and Bunty, brother V." Smith added, as he tailed after them.
"Ahh… so, they are two people… hmm… not that it matter though."
"Well, nobody troubles you right? Shroff?" V asked, as he stopped by another street light. Shroff shook his head, gesturing no. "Good." V grabbed Shroff by his shoulders, looking down at his face. Shroff couldn't see V's face as the street light was just behind his head.
"But if somebody does… Tell 'em you are my brother." "Alright?"
Shroff nodded his head in agreement. V did the same and left to another street, disappearing in the dark.
"Hell yeah, man…" Smith banged on Shroff's back. Shroff crouched down in pain, rubbing on his back. "Damn it man… What was that?" He yelled.
"What? That was so cool man… I didn't know you knew brother V!!" Smith yelled in excitement, jogging ad jumping softly.
"I didn't," Shroff snapped, standing back up. His head was about to pop up, "And what's so cool about knowing a man?" He screamed.
Smith stopped, his face frozen as ice. He grabbed Shroff by his shoulders and stared directly in his eyes. "You are kidding right? You don't know who brother V is?" He asked, amazed and disappointed.
"No-No, I don't. What is it?" Looking at how serious Smith was, he hesitated.
Smith took his hands off Shroff's shoulders and scratched his chin. "He is V. Vira." Smith added.
"He is the King of S-High," his tone was serious. Too serious that Shroff could hear shivers in his voice. "Do you know what people call him?" Shroff shook his head.
"They call him the ***uncrowned king***. He's the top dog of this entire region."
Shroff was stunned. He had no words to utter.
"And he calls you his brother… Do you even know what that means?" Smith again shook him from his shoulder, too excited and too invested.
Shroff just stared back, staring at the darkness V disappeared in. Wondering what new mess he got himself into.