Surya and his friends were working out at the gym, the rhythmic clanking of weights filling the air.
"Dude... I decided a long time ago to give him two..." Pratish's voice carried a hint of mischief as he pushed through another set.
Surya, spotting him, chuckled. "Didn't you get your wish now? That's it, Surya."
Pratish grinned, his eyes flashing. "Anyway, fine dude... You should have seen that girl's face. It's been a while since he started stalking her and harassing her. Since he got two today, she'll still see your face in her mind."
Surya laughed harder, wiping sweat from his brow. "By the way, didn't I go to give him two? And don't you all go over his body?"
Pratish looked over at Surya, his smile widening. "Ha...didn't I say that, dude, that I was going to give him two. He is Shilpa's best friend. He is the one who tells her every single thing about me when I go to set her up."
"Hey bro, Pratish, I'll tell you something. If we walk behind a girl like that, we have to do whatever it takes to impress them. If that doesn't work, there's another way."
Pratish's curiosity was piqued. "What's that, dude?"
"That's the bad way… we have to make her worse and ours. Got it?"
"Oh oh oh... just like you set up Roshni last year, didn't you..."
Surya nodded, a glint of nostalgia in his eyes. "Yeah, yeah... I only got ten minutes in the middle of the youth festival but she was a hot piece. I never got that thrill after she fell in love with me."
Salman, who had been listening quietly, chimed in. "Hey dude, where is she now? There's no address..."
The group fell silent for a moment, the only sound the clinking of weights and the steady hum of the gym around them.
Surya leaned back, a smirk playing on his lips as he heard Pratish's remark.
"She and the kids all went to the Gulf or something. Why we want to think that now...didn't we get what we wanted?" Pratish said, his eyes twinkling with mischief.
Surya, Salman, and Gokul burst into laughter, the sound echoing in the gym.
"That's right, bro... the black mole on her left breast... I still remember it," Salman added, then bit his tongue, immediately regretting the slip.
Pratish chuckled, turning to Surya. "What do you plan to do with her? Do you want to marry her and stay with her, dude?"
"Hah, marrying her? Do you think this Surya will do that, guys?" Surya scoffed. "When you say she is my girlfriend, isn't she yours too?"
"That's power," Pratish said, glancing at Surya's folded hands with a knowing look.
Suddenly, Gokul's phone rang, breaking the moment. He walked over to the window, picked up the phone, and glanced at the screen.
"Shut up, guys. It's mother ... the problem..."
"Stay away and talk," Salman suggested.
Gokul moved to the gym door, phone pressed to his ear.
"Bro, what's the program tomorrow? Shall we go to the cinema?"
Salman asked Surya.
"Oh, what's that... let's go," Surya replied, already imagining the fun.
As Surya and his friends continued chatting, Gokul, still near the door, suddenly stumbled and fell amidst them. Surya's eyes darted to the gym entrance, where Ajmal stood, fists clenched and chest puffed out.
"Where's Surya?" Ajmal demanded, stepping inside with his friends in tow.
Surya rose to his feet, lifting Gokul from the ground. "Guys, who are these new guys?"
Pratish leaned in, whispering urgently, "Dude, these guys are in that music band with your girl, the Blue Dragons."
"His girl? When did Neeraja become his girl?" Sanju asked, eyes narrowing.
Tension crackled in the air as Sanju lunged forward, grabbing Pratish by the neck and slamming him to the ground. The room erupted into chaos as fists flew and bodies collided, the once jovial atmosphere now charged with anger and confusion.
Surya's boot connected squarely with Sanju, sending him sprawling after he had knocked down Pratish. As Sanju tripped and fell, Ajmal seized the opportunity, grabbing two approaching assailants by their necks and hurling them aside with brutal force.
Abid charged in next, his knee driving hard into someone's chest, leaving the unfortunate victim gasping for breath on the floor. Nearby, Gokul picked up a pair of dumbbells and flung them at Sachin, who dodged just in time. Seizing the moment, Robin punched Gokul hard in the stomach, doubling him over.
Manish swung a wild fist at Surya, but Surya caught his arm and twisted it behind his back. A sickening crack filled the air as Manish's bones gave way. With a swift chop to the right side of Manish's neck, Surya sent him crashing to the ground, where he lay groaning and writhing in pain.
Ajmal saw his chance and moved to attack Surya from behind. Springing to his feet, Surya rushed toward him. As Surya swung his arm, Ajmal grabbed it, countering with a punch of his own. Surya caught Ajmal's hand in mid-air. They stood locked in a fierce struggle, each trying to overpower the other.
By then, Surya's friends had arrived. Atul, Sanju, and Sachin grabbed Ajmal from the sides, trying to pull him off. Abid sprinted towards Surya and delivered a powerful kick that knocked Surya's hand away from Ajmal's grip. Abid caught the staggering Surya, giving Ajmal the chance to throw off Surya's companions who had been restraining him.
Surya's hand shot out like a viper, his fingers tightening around Atul's neck who was standing to his right. A chorus of shouts erupted as the others moved to pry Surya's hand away. Robin, his face twisted in anger, lunged forward and clamped his own hands around Surya's neck. Despite the pressure, Surya remained unyielding.
Ajmal, sensing the escalating violence, sprinted towards the fray and with a fierce tackle, drove his shoulder into Surya's chest. The impact sent Surya crashing to the ground, dragging Atul, Sachin, and Sanju down with him. The chaos of limbs and shouts filled the air as Abid and Robin pounced on Surya's prone form. They rained down blows with their fists, targeting his face and body with relentless fury.
Around them, the rest of the group had scrambled to their feet, turning their aggression towards Pratish, Gokul, and the others.The scene devolved into a melee, with bodies colliding and fists flying.
Soon, Surya and his friends were overpowered, their bodies crumpled on the ground, blood streaming from their mouths and noses. The once defiant group now lay beaten and motionless, subdued by the brutal assault of Ajmal and his friends.
Sachin and Atul, their movements slow and labored, managed to lift Manish, who lay groaning on the ground. Supporting him between them, they struggled to get him upright. By then, Robin had fetched some water. They shared the drink with Manish, the cold liquid offering a brief respite.
Together, they hoisted Manish, each of them taking one of his shoulders, and slowly made their way outside, leaving behind the echo of their violent confrontation.
Ajmal stood over Surya, who lay on the ground, drenched in his own blood. The moonlight cast a pale glow on the scene, adding an eerie stillness to the night.
"Thou art not the sun, nor the moon, nor any god," Ajmal declared, his voice a cold hiss. "Nor lift up thine eyes to one of us. This is for that."
With that, Ajmal stomped on Surya's chest, the sickening crunch echoing in the stillness.
"Now let me tell you one more thing," Ajmal continued, his eyes narrowing. "Didn't you beat someone this afternoon, Vaishnava? Neeraja is his girl from now on. So even when you touch him, you will have to remember us. Don't you hear me, son of a dog?"
He spat on the ground beside Surya before turning to leave, his footsteps fading into the darkness as he joined his friends.
Surya, despite his pain, managed to lift his head and shout, "Eh, I'll pay for all this. You don't really know me..." His voice was strained, but the defiance in his eyes burned brightly against the night.
Ajmal loomed over Surya, his expression dark and menacing. "I know you... I know you very well," he began, his voice dripping with contempt. "Aren't you the son of Minister Vasudevan Menon? If you think your father's influence can save you, think again. The police won't help you. They walk with the same belief that the sky is above and the earth below, just like I do. This isn't the case for you or those with you. You all have a lot to lose, and you should remember that. If you have any complaints, keep them to yourself. Otherwise, you won't be alive to celebrate the coming festival."
Ajmal cast one last, disdainful look at Surya before turning on his heel and walking away. Surya lay on the ground, the words echoing in his mind, his frustration boiling over. He spat blood onto the dirt, his eyes burning with anger as he surveyed the scene around him. His friends, including Gokul and Pratish, were strewn across the ground, bleeding and groaning in pain.
Rage contorted Surya's face, and he let out a primal scream, "Ah!"
Outside, Sanju caught up to Ajmal, placing a hand on his shoulder. "What did you say, bro, that you will kill him?" he asked, a mix of curiosity and concern in his voice.
In the late afternoon light, the road was bathed in a warm, golden glow as the group walked toward their bikes. Shadows stretched long and thin across the pavement. Ajmal walked ahead, his face serious as he spoke.
"It's nothing... I just said it for a punch. What if he leaves the police and arrests us if we don't give him a threat like that?" His tone was steady, though a hint of urgency underpinned his words.
Sachin, catching up to Ajmal, glanced at him with a furrowed brow. "So there will be no police case after this?"
Ajmal shook his head, a wry smile flickering on his lips. "It's not like that. There will be cases. Anyway, we have to arrange a good lawyer. And with their current situation, there is no possibility of any problem until Gajotsavam. And I heard that Surya only gives direct retaliation. He doesn't put up any cheap show using the police. Whatever happens, we'll see where it comes from. We all say. Let's see."
As they neared their bikes, the group fell silent for a moment, the weight of Ajmal's words settling in. Sachin finally nodded, his expression resolute. "That's enough. That's our courage too."
Ajmal's smile widened as he extended his hand. One by one, the others, including Manish, placed their hands on top of his. The late afternoon sun cast a warm glow over them, emphasizing the unity in their gesture.
"Blue Dragons," Ajmal whispered, his voice steady.
"Blue Dragons," the others echoed, their voices combining into a firm, collective vow.
As they mounted their bikes and prepared to ride off, the afternoon light seemed to solidify their resolve, an unspoken promise to face whatever challenges lay ahead together.
Will continue...