"Board ko dekho, Ekam," [Look at the board, Ekam], Aarav whispered during lunch. "Top ten mein se aath log Commerce ke hain. Science ka dum ghut raha hai." [Out of the top ten, eight are from Commerce. Science is suffocating.]
Aarav's plan was complex. Ekam was supposed to beat Aarav for No. 2, creating a tie in the upcoming gang vote. "Jab tie hoga, decision No. 1 lega. Tab main Karan ko challenge karunga. Main khud ko tod dunga par unki tyranny khatam karunga." [When there's a tie, the decision falls to No. 1. That's when I'll challenge Karan. I'll break myself but I will end their tyranny.]
Suddenly, the door flew open. Karan marched in with an army. He seized Ekam's throat.
"Tujhe lagta hai tu bahut bahadur hai?" [You think you're very brave?] Karan hissed. "Mere air mein saans lega tu?" [You think you can breathe my air?]
Aarav pried Karan's fingers away. Before a brawl started, Ekam spoke.
"Mujhe sirf dodge nahi karna," [I don't want to just dodge you], Ekam said, his voice cold. "Mujhe tumhari position chahiye. Ritual mein No. 1 ke liye ladunga tumse." [I want your position. I want to fight you for No. 1 in the Ritual.]
The room went cold. Karan laughed. "Tu? Ek maggot mujhse ladega? Teri aukat hai?" [You? A maggot will fight me? Are you in my league?]
"Agar dar rahe ho," [If you're scared], Ekam challenged, "toh bas bol do." [just say it.]
Karan's eyes darkened. "Theek hai. Ladenge. Par agar tum haare—aur tum haaroge—toh ye school hamesha ke liye chodd doge. Gayab ho jaoge." [Fine. We fight. But if you lose—and you will—you leave this school forever. You'll disappear.]