I slapped his hand away.
Jay:
"Move your hand, asshole. The badge is mine."
He smiled slightly.
Not a joke-smile.
A warning-smile.
He stepped closer, locked eyes with me, and said:
"Remember the name… VEER.
And we are BLACK ROOTS."
The guys standing behind him stepped forward together.
The entire canteen went silent.
Rohan came up behind me.
Rohan (low voice):
"Bro… who the hell are these guys?"
Veer scanned our whole group from head to toe.
Veer:
"The school thought Absent Brothers were the biggest bastards.
But the real game?
We were playing it all along."
Rudra:
"What are you, some Netflix villain, idiot?"
Veer's smile disappeared.
Veer:
"We don't do fights…"
(pause)
"We start wars."
The bell rang.
Teachers were coming.
Veer stepped back, and while leaving said:
"Tonight.
Backyard.
Come, Jay…
Or the Scholars' badge will just be decoration."
They left.
Silence in the group.
Atharva:
"Damn… Absent Brothers are gone and new psychos have arrived."
Eashan:
"Are idiots in this school permanent or what?"
After Lunch
A message came.
Aarav wants to meet. Urgent.
Empty classroom.
(CLASS 101 – DIV J)
Just us, Aarav, and some Scholars members.
Aarav's tone was serious.
Aarav:
"You guys saw Black Roots, right? That other gang."
Jay:
"Yeah. Got the name too."
Aarav narrowed his eyes.
Aarav:
"Veer is a rusticated student.
He operates his gang from outside the school.
Absent Brothers were just his pawns."
Rohan:
"So… the backyard?"
Aarav:
"Veer probably wants to see
who actually shows up at the old backyard to face them."
Jay:
"We'll go."
Aarav looked at me.
Aarav:
"This isn't a school fight, Jay."
Jay:
"Then we're not kids anymore."
Decision taken.
By PALTANS and SCHOLARS.
Night
The backyard was half-dark, half-lit.
The streetlamp was flickering.
One by one, we arrived.
Paltans.
Scholars.
And in front of us… Black Roots.
Veer stood in the middle, swinging a chain in his hand.
Veer:
"Welcome, boys.
Today we decide who the real lion 🦁 is."
Rohan:
"Keep the chain. It's useful for tying dogs."
Veer:
"Enough bullshit.
Attack!!!"
At his signal—
Chaos.
Punches.
Kicks.
Abuses.
Rudra (shouting):
"Come on, asshole! Why are you all jumping one by one?!"
Atharva picked up a stick.
Atharva:
"Today I won't be a background character!"
Eashan:
"Damn, your ass is really full of fat, huh?!"
(to a Black Roots member)
I went straight for Veer.
Veer:
"Got a hero complex, Jay?"
Jay:
"No.
I just like shutting idiots like you up."
His punch missed.
Mine landed on his jaw—but it didn't hurt him much.
Veer fell and laughed.
Veer:
"Nice.
But the game has just started.
You're all gonna get destroyed."
Police sirens 🚨 in the distance.
Black Roots pulled back.
While leaving, Veer said:
"This was just a warning, Jay.
Next time… bones will break."
We escaped through different alleys.
Heavy breathing.
But no fear in our eyes.
Rohan:
"Damn… this was next level."
Aarav and the Scholars crew were silent.
Jay:
"Veer doesn't want a fight.
He wants control."
Suddenly—
CLAP… CLAP… CLAP…
A shadow under the streetlight.
A calm voice:
"Looks like a serious discussion is going on?"
Jay:
"Hey… is that you, Rishab bro?"
He stepped forward.
Black hoodie.
Hands in pockets.
Cold walk.
Rishab bro:
"Backyard fight without telling me, Jay?"
Rohan (confused):
"Who is this, Jay?"
Jay:
"He's my backup.
Paltans."
Rishab bro looked at Aarav.
Rishab bro:
"Veer, right?
Former martial arts student.
And yeah…
Former district-level volleyball player too."
Aarav became alert.
Aarav:
"You know him?"
Rishab bro (flat):
"I've dropped him at the hospital before.
Too much anger, zero brains."
Silence.
Atharva:
"Damn…"
Rishab bro:
"Veer just wants control, like Jay said.
Tomorrow after school—
fight at the old storage yard."
Jay:
"You sure, bro?"
Rishab bro:
"Predictable people always make mistakes."
He looked at me.
Rishab bro:
"Hold that badge tight, Jay.
Next time PALTANS grab someone's collar—
hands should break."
And he walked away.
Next Day
School was tense.
Whispers.
Fear.
Storage yard.
Black Roots arrived.
Overconfident.
Veer:
"So, hero showed up?"
Jay:
"Not alone."
RISHAB BRO — ENTRY.
Veer froze.
Veer:
"…You bastard."
Rishab bro:
"Still angry, kid?
Remember the hospital bill,
or should I remind you?"
Veer's ego cracked.
He attacked.
One move.
And—
Veer hit the ground.
Rishab bro (cold):
"This school's backyard isn't your playground, asshole."
Black Roots stepped back.
Their leader was down.
Veer (furious):
"This isn't over. Remember that!"
Jay:
"That's exactly what makes it fun, Veer."
Black Roots ran away.
Silence.
Aarav came up to me.
Aarav:
"Now the matter is confirmed."
I looked at the badge.
Jay (low voice):
"Then we'll write the ending too."
School was no longer just a school.
😈🔥
(We all stood together)
THE END
To be continued… in EPISODE 4 🔥