The sun was high.
The streets were crowded.
Noise filled the air—
Voices, arguments, coins clinking.
Karna walked beside Ram.
Small steps.
Sharp eyes.
"…Where are we going?" Karna asked.
"The market," Ram replied calmly.
Karna looked confused.
"…To earn money?"
Ram nodded.
"Yes."
"…But not the way you think."
They entered the marketplace.
Rows of shops.
People rushing.
Everyone busy.
Karna observed everything.
Carefully.
Some people smiled.
Some looked worried.
Some avoided eye contact.
Ram suddenly stopped.
An old shopkeeper stood nearby.
Hands shaking slightly.
"Are there any troublemakers here?" Ram asked.
The old man froze.
His eyes moved around nervously.
"…Yes," he said slowly.
Karna leaned closer.
Listening.
"But they don't trouble us directly," the old man added quickly.
Ram smiled faintly.
"That means they do."
The old man stayed silent.
Ram walked away.
Karna followed.
"What do you think?" Ram asked.
Karna thought.
"…I think they are good people."
Ram shook his head.
"No."
He pointed at the shopkeeper.
"He is afraid."
Karna looked back.
Now he noticed—
The man's hands were still shaking.
"Fear hides truth," Ram said.
"People lie… to stay safe."
Karna's expression changed.
Ram turned into a narrow street.
Dark.
Quiet.
At the end—
A group of men stood.
Watching everything.
Karna felt it immediately.
Danger.
"…Them?" Karna asked.
Ram nodded.
"Yes."
The men noticed them.
"Who are you?" one of them said.
Ram didn't answer.
He walked forward.
Step by step.
The air became heavy.
Then—
Without warning—
Ram attacked.
Fast.
Precise.
Merciless.
One man fell.
Then another.
The rest tried to fight back—
But it was useless.
Within seconds—
All of them were on the ground.
The market fell silent.
People watched from a distance.
Afraid.
Karna stood still.
His eyes wide.
Ram turned toward him.
"If someone controls an area…"
"…they control the money."
Karna walked closer.
Looking at the defeated men.
"…But if we do this…"
"…aren't we the bad ones?" he asked.
Ram looked at him.
No hesitation.
"In this world…"
"…there is no empty space."
He pointed around.
"If we don't take control…"
"…someone worse will."
Karna stayed silent.
Ram continued.
"These men were already controlling people."
"They just hid it."
Karna looked around again.
Now he noticed—
People slowly coming out.
Watching.
Relieved.
"…They were scared," Karna whispered.
Ram nodded.
"If too many fight for control…"
"…war begins."
A pause.
"And war destroys everything."
Karna clenched his fist.
Ram stepped closer.
"We don't control to destroy."
"We control…"
"…to maintain order."
Silence.
One small boy from the market came forward.
Looking at Ram.
"…Are they gone?" he asked.
Ram didn't answer.
But the boy smiled.
Relieved.
And ran back.
Karna watched that moment.
Carefully.
Something changed inside him.
"…I understand," Karna said quietly.
Ram looked at him.
"Good."
He turned and started walking.
"Come," he said.
"This is just the beginning."
Karna followed.
This time—
Not as a child.
But as someone learning the real world.