"Joseph Shroff to division D." a person standing on the stage said.
Joseph stood up and walked to a group of seventy students sitting under a tree. A man stood in front of them. He was a tall, white male. Well dressed and face holding a silly smile. Everything was fine, except for his hairstyle. It was as if someone had put a bowl over his head before cutting his hair.
Joseph sat on the ground beside other students. There were over a thousand students available at that open ground. It was the time for class allocation for high school. It was the famous Saint's High School, also called the S-High.
"Your class teacher's name is Mr. Hugh," man standing by the students said. "Look over around, you will find him."
Joseph frowned. He was in an awe.
"How am I supposed to find someone I've never seen in my entire life?" he murmured to himself as he also followed others, finding the mystery man.
"Hehe.."
A soft chuckle. He noticed it, subconsciously turning his head towards the noise. Just as his eyes found the reason, his brows shot up and eyes fixed on her. A young girl sat covering her laugh with one hand, looking back at Joseph. He was too lost to notice that it had been some time him staring at the girl.
"You are finding him." she muttered, pointing at the same man who told them to find Mr. Hugh.
"Huh?"
"I said, he is Mr. Hugh." This time a little louder.
"All right everyone!!" the voice attracted everyone's attention. The man smiled even brighter, and opened his mouth. "Did you find him?" he asked, waving his hands. "Nobody?" his gaze covered the entire class. Then finally with a chuckle, "Well, I am the Mr. Hugh you've been finding… haha…"
Students looked at him in disbelief. Some students shook their head as if they were disappointed.
"See? I told ya." the girl muttered again.
"Y-yes, it seems like that.." Joseph replied, stumbling his words.
"Now, lets go on a tour, and see your classroom!!" Mr. Hugh announced, turning to the other side and moving towards the building. Everyone else followed, as well as Joseph and the girl.
"By the way, hi!!," she offered a hand. "My name is Amita." Joseph shook her hand, bowing a little.
"I'm Joseph Shroff. I guess we are in the same class." he replied with a sweet smile.
"This will be our class room," Mr. Hugh said, standing by a room door. "Now take a seat inside. I will be back in a moment."
Joseph didn't realize but the tour was already over. Mr. Hugh left as soon as he got the chance and everyone else started moving in the classroom. Joseph was looking around just observing the structure as others moved.
The building had four faces, three stories and a little garden in between. Each story had at least ten classrooms and two sets of stairs. The building went progressively rougher as Joseph's eyes reached the top, where two figures stood wearing the school uniform.
"Lets go, Joseph" Amita said as she moved inside the class. Joseph followed, entering the classroom.
It was a large classroom, easily able to hold more than seventy students. The last benches were set in a position where it covered the entire lane.
Joseph walked by five benches and sat on the sixth one. Everyone else also took a seat. Amita took the seat just infront of Joseph.
Mr. Hugh entered, clapping hands. "Everybody!!" he yelled. "Take your seats. Today we will be just introducing the syllabus."
The bell rang. It was time for the school to end.
"It was just the first day and it's already so boring…" Joseph muttered to himself.
"Hey there young man!! How was your first day?" a voice pierced from behind. Joseph turned back and a sweet smile covered his face.
"Hey there, brothers!" he raised his hand, dapping.
Two young men stood just behind him. One with brown hair, brown eyes with glasses and other with black hair, black eyes.
"Today was just fine," Joseph replied, "except for the long lectures."
"Hmm… that's a downside for sure." Ash, one with the glasses said. They kept moving.
"Anyways, did you find someone on your first day?" Vicky, one with black hairs asked with a mischievous smile.
"Wh-what do you mean?" Joseph asked, fumbling over his words.
"Oh! com on man… There must have been someone you'd have noticed, right?
"Well, there were many people but that doesn't mean I found someone…"
"And… ?" Vickey pushed even harder.
Just then someone bumped on Joseph's back. Joseph turned back in madness. He knew who it was or rather he thought so.
"Brother Shroff," a small structure boy stood behind Joseph, holding his shoulder. "I've got a problem." he said.
Joseph looked at him, staring at his eyes. He could see something moving in those eyes, he nodded.
"No.. no.. what are you even doing?" Vickey intervened, grabbing Joseph by his shoulders. "You just got into high school and already fighting? You'll end up as a delinquent at this rate."
Joseph, Vickey and Ash were cousins. They attended the same middle school and now the same high school. Everything was going fine until one day Joseph just started beating other kids and making a name for himself. And now, the moment he stood infront of a young man called, Mitz; he can't throw away his dignity and just refuse to fight.
"Where is he?" Joseph said under his breath.
Mitz nodded his head, "I'll show you."
Bang. Bang. Bang.
The blows covered the entire wood mill. Joseph sat on one of the logs stacked on each other, staring down at two figures fighting on the ground. One sitting on another, punching his head. Blood splashed everywhere, even his own face. It was Mitz.
"Is that all? Aye Mosa?" Mitz roared, punching even harder. The guy on the ground, Mosa, moved his right hand, trying to block the next move.
*Crack
Joseph stood up, shocked, his brows shot up. Mitz also jolted, looking back at Joseph with a serious scared look in his eyes.
"What?" Joseph whispered under his breath.
"Its his arm," Mitz replied. "It broke."
Joseph jumped down the logs, closing in with Mitz. Mitz stood up and turned towards Joseph.
"Don't worry," Joseph said, "he is still breathing right?"
"I…I guess so"
"Just leave, I'll handle the rest." Joseph proposed, putting his hand over Mitz's shoulder. Mitz looked down. He was dripping in sweat, covered in blood and mud. With a deep breath out, he looked back at Joseph and nodded. But just then,
A shadow stood behind Mitz and swoosh, before Joseph or Mitz could react, a sharp rock pierced Mitz's cheek.
"Ahhh… Ahhh…" Mitz screamed, holding the stone stuck in his jaw, piercing his cheek. Blood dropped on the ground like water leaking from a tap.
Joseph stared at Mitz coughing blood on his shoes and pant. Shocked, he looked up at Masa smiling like a maniac holding his broken arm. His nose was flattened, and teeth were dyed red with blood.
"You stupid fuck!!" Joseph roared, swing his arm. And the next second, Masa was lying on the ground. Out cold.
"Hey hey…." Joseph helped Mitz stand up straight. "Are you okay? Pull that out." Joseph enquired, pulling the stone from Mitz's mouth. He screamed in pain, collapsing on his knees. Joseph helped him move, walking beside him.
"Ahh… you… mothe…. fucker…" Masa muttered. Joseph stopped, turning his head back towards Masa. "Stay dead… Motherfucker." Joseph growled, taking steps forward.
"Yes, maybe I will. But he will not." Masa cried. His voice just enough for Joseph to hear. "I will tell him. Johnson. Keep your eyes behind your back."
Joseph didn't react to Masa's words, but those words stuck in his mind. "Johnson… Johnson" he carved the name in his mind.
Ten thirty in the morning and it was the time for school. All the boys stood outside the building on the ground. Different groups of students were standing, talking, screaming and rushing. All the girls were inside the building as it was the policy of S-High.
Joseph entered the school gate. There was a huge slop by the gate, and just by the end of it a group of students stood. All small stature but cloths were weird. A guy standing in the middle was barely Joseph's shoulder height. Their pants were tightened from the bottom and shirts folded till biceps.
"Hey Joseph!" the small guy called. His name caught Joseph's attention and he turned to them. The small guy waved, as well as the guy behind him with a handkerchief covering his face. Joseph's brows shot up, as he recognized the guy.
"Hi Prince!" Joseph said, reaching out his hand for a shake.
"You remember me? man!!" Prince asked.
"Yeah… We used to be in the same class in the middle school, remember!!" Joseph replied.
"Man… All that good but what were you doing? You were there right?" Prince said disappointed, turning behind. "Look at him… Look at his face…" Prince pulled the handkerchief from the guy's face standing behind him.
"Yo.. yo.. guy," the guy said. But just as the cover was blown, Joseph's eyes widened and brows frowned.
"It looks bad, Mitz." Joseph muttered. His voice low and serious as if he was regretting his decision.
"Nah its— "Yeah man, it is bad… Just take a look at his face… I would've beat the shit outta that guy if he did this with one of my guys… man, I'm disappointed in you." Prince cut in line, before Mitz could've finished.
Joseph just looked away, staring at other students standing on the ground. There were many student groups visible but two were especially noticeable. Too large compared to others and looking regional.
"Prince," Joseph called, turning his head back to them. "Do you know who this Johnson is?"
Just as the name dropped, Prince's face fell pale, his eyes widened and let out his breath. "Don't tell me, It's Johnson you're dealing with!" he muttered under his breath.
Joseph was shocked looking at Prince's reaction but he didn't react and just kept staring at Prince's face. Then he just nodded.
Prince bit his lower lip, wiping his forehead with his palm, he said, "That's bad man… Johnson is a very bad news. And I mean it." "I heard he cracked open a guys skull on street last week… You are in a serious situation man… keep eyes behind ya back, he doesn't play fair."
Joseph cracked his fingers one after other, listening to Prince. He had got an idea of what kind of situation he was in. But still the mystery lingered. Who is Johnson?
"I'm sorry man, but I gotta keep my distance, or else my people might get attacked." Prince whispered these words before turning back and started leaving. Only Mitz stayed, as he was the reason behind all this.
"I'm sorry, Brother Shroff." Mitz murmured, feeling guilty.
"That's fine. We'll pull through," Joseph replied, smiling, as he put his arm over Mitz's shoulder and pulled him with himself. "Or, maybe we'll just demolish this so called Johnson."