The next day, the "khauf" [terror] was absolute. Students flattened themselves against walls as Ekam passed.
"Aise lag raha hai jaise Rudra bhaiya wapas aa gaye hon," [It feels like Rudra brother is back], Raju whispered.
"Nahi," [No], Aarav replied. "Rudra se log pyar karte the. Ekam se log darte hain. Wo ek monster hai." [People loved Rudra. People fear Ekam. He is a monster.]
7:00 PM. The Terrace.
A new figure emerged: Ishaan, the legendary former No. 2. He walked up to Ekam. "Chotu, kaunsi class mein ho?" [Kid, which class are you in?] he asked patronizingly, reaching for Ekam's head.
Instantaneously, Ekam slammed Ishaan into the concrete. The veteran fighter didn't get up for two minutes.
"Tu No. 1 nahi hai," [You aren't No. 1], Ishaan wheezed. "Rudra No. 1 tha. Par underworld mein ek rank upar hota hai. Rank Zero—pure region ka sabse strong. Aaj wo jagah bhar gayi hai." [Rudra was No. 1. But in the underworld, there is a rank above. Rank Zero—the strongest in the region. Today, that spot is filled.]
Ekam announced the revival of the Ravens. He made Karan the 2nd President and Aarav and Raju his Commanders. "Aaj se, Rituals ban hain. Ye meri gang hai, aur hum sport ke liye khoon nahi bahayenge." [From today, Rituals are banned. This is my gang, and we don't bleed for sport.]
Later, Karan asked, "Kyun? Mujhe 2nd President kyun banaya?" [Why? Why make me 2nd President?]
Ekam looked at the city lights. "Kyunki mujhe pata hai ek 'Rudra' naam ke bhai ko khone ka dard kaisa hota hai." [Because I know the pain of losing a brother named Rudra.]
The boys froze. "Mera bada bhai bhi Rudra tha. Wo 2023 mein mara gaya. Wo tumhare Rudra jaisa strong nahi tha. Use un logon ne maara jo mujhse nafrat karte the. Maine tumhe uski parchayi dekhi, Karan." [My elder brother was Rudra too. He died in 2023. He wasn't strong like your Rudra. He was killed by people who hated me. I saw his shadow in you, Karan.]
Karan knelt. "Leader... main aapka 2nd-in-command hoon." [Leader... I am your 2nd-in-command.]
A new era began. But far away, the V Kaisen Gang was watching.