Veda looked at them.
They stood in a loose circle around him. Veer in the front, arms crossed, grinning like he had already won. The fat one to the left, cracking his knuckles. The two hyenas on the right, bouncing on their heels, hungry for a show.
Veer opened his mouth. Started talking. Something about bookworms. Something about cowards. Something about how Veda should kneel and beg.
Veda didn't hear the words.
He heard the tone. The mockery. The confidence of a boy who had never been hit back.
His eyes narrowed.
Then he smiled.
Not a small smile. Not a gentle smile. A big smile. Wide. All teeth showing. The kind of smile that belonged in nightmares. The kind of smile that had stared down terrorists in dark caves and watched them beg.
Veer stopped talking.
For one second, something flickered across his face. Confusion. Maybe fear.
Then Veda moved.
His fist connected with Veer's face. Clean. Hard. Perfect. The sound was wet and sharp, like a rock hitting meat. Veer's head snapped back. His feet left the ground. He flew backward and slammed into the concrete, hands grabbing his face.
"AAAAHHHH! MY NOSE!"
Blood poured between his fingers. His voice was high, broken, screaming.
The three friends froze. Stared at Veer. Then at Veda.
The fat one swung first. His fist was the size of a small melon, aimed at Veda's head.
Veda ducked. Stepped inside the swing. His leg shot up, foot connecting with the fat man's chin. The head snapped back. The face swelled like a balloon, cheeks puffing out, lips splitting. The fat man stumbled backward, hands clutching his jaw, making sounds like a dying animal.
The two hyenas rushed him together.
Veda opened his bag. His hand went inside. Came out with a pen and a pencil.
The first hyena threw a punch. Veda sidestepped. His left hand moved. The pencil went into the boy's left eye. Not deep. Just enough. The boy screamed, staggered back, hands flying to his face. Blood ran down his cheek.
The second hyena tried to kick. Veda caught his leg. The pen went into his right eye. The boy howled, dropped to his knees, clawing at his face.
Veda turned to the fat one.
The fat man was still stumbling, still holding his jaw, still making those animal sounds.
Veda walked to him. Calm. Slow. The pen and pencil in his hands, both wet now.
He grabbed the fat man's collar. Pulled him down.
Then he started stabbing.
The pen went into the left eye. The pencil went into the right eye. The fat man screamed. Veda pulled them out. Stabbed again. The mouth this time. Through the cheek. Out the other side. Blood sprayed.
The fat man tried to run. Veda grabbed his arm. Pulled him back.
The pen went into the chest. Once. Twice. Three times. The pencil went into the belly. Then the leg. Then the foot.
One hand. Then the other. Stabbing upper to lower. Methodical. Like he was sewing a pattern. Like he was painting.
The fat man's screams turned into gurgles. His body went limp. Veda kept stabbing.
Then he cut the throat.
The pen dragged across the fat man's neck. The skin split. Blood poured out in a hot, dark wave. The fat man dropped. His body hit the ground and did not move.
Veda turned.
Veer was still on the ground, still holding his face, still screaming. He hadn't seen what happened to his friends. He was lost in his own pain.
Veda walked to him.
Kicked him in the belly.
Veer's body folded. The air left his lungs in a wet gasp. His hands dropped from his face, reaching for his stomach.
Veda's knee came up. Hit Veer's chin. The head snapped back. Teeth clicked together. Blood flew from his broken nose.
Veda knelt beside him.
The pen went into the left ear. The pencil went into the right ear. Halfway in. Veer's body jerked. His mouth opened but no sound came out.
Veda slapped them. Deeper. Then pulled them out.
Blood sprayed from both ears like water from a hose.
Veer's body went slack. His eyes rolled back. His chest still moved, shallow and fast, but he was done.
Veda stood over him.
And laughed.
Loud. Crazy. His head thrown back, his mouth open, his teeth red. The sound bounced off the walls and climbed into the sky. It was not the laugh of a man. It was the laugh of something that had crawled out of hell and decided to stay.
He dropped to his knees. Stabbed again. And again. And again. The pen went into Veer's shoulder. The pencil into his arm. The pen into his thigh. The pencil into his side.
He stabbed and stabbed and stabbed.
Blood covered his hands. His shirt. His face.
He was still laughing.
The background people turned dark. Shadows. Their faces blurred, their bodies frozen. They watched the scene with wide, empty eyes. Mouths open. Hands over mouths. No one moved. No one screamed. No one ran.
They just watched.
Veda kept stabbing.
The world turned red.
Then dark.
"BOOKWORM!"
Veda jerked.
His eyes snapped open.
The sun was still shining. The concrete was still beneath his feet. The crowd was still watching.
Veer stood in front of him. Arms crossed. Grinning. His nose was fine. His face was clean. No blood. No wounds.
His three friends stood behind him, laughing.
"Did you see his face?" one of them said. "He looked so scared he couldn't even speak."
The other hyena laughed. "Look at him. Standing there like a statue. Like a deer in headlights."
The fat one slapped his thigh. "Bookworm shit. All talk. No walk."
The crowd laughed. Not everyone. Some just watched. Some whispered. But enough laughed to make the sound carry.
Veda stood perfectly still.
His hands were empty. His shirt was clean. No blood. No pen. No pencil.
He looked at Veer. At his face. At his grin. At the confidence of a boy who had never been hit back.
He stepped forward.
The laughing stopped.
Veer's grin faltered. Just a little.
Veda raised his hand.
Veer tensed. His friends tensed. The crowd held its breath.
Veda opened his mouth.
"Give me money."
Silence.
Veer blinked. "What?"
"Give me money." Veda's voice was flat. Calm. "I am feeling hungry."
The two hyenas looked at each other.
"Is he... is he really gone crazy, bro?"
Veer's face twisted. Anger replaced confusion. "Why the fuck are you asking me for money? You said you wanted to fight me. You challenged me. And now you are acting like this?"
Veda didn't flinch. Didn't blink. Didn't change his expression.
"You ruined my meal when I was eating. Now I am feeling hungry. Give me money."
Veer stared at him. His mouth opened. Closed. Opened again.
"You motherfuck..."
He swung.
The punch hit Veda square in the face. His head snapped back. His body flew. He hit the ground, rolled, and slammed into the trunk of a tree. Pain exploded through his back. His vision blurred.
Veer spit on the ground next to him.
"This bastard has gone crazy. Let's go."
He turned. Walked away. His three friends followed, still laughing, still shaking their heads.
The crowd slowly dispersed. Some whispered. Some pointed. Some just walked away, already bored.
Veda lay against the tree.
He looked up at the sky. Blue. Clear. Two suns hanging above. Clouds drifting slow.
His face was blank. No anger. No pain. No shame.
He got up. Brushed the dust from his shirt. Shook the dirt from his jacket. Adjusted his collar.
Then he walked to his motorcycle. Got on. Started the engine.
And left.
The crowd watched him go. Niha stood at the edge of the parking lot, her arms crossed, her light blue eyes following the black bike as it disappeared through the gate.
Her friends laughed beside her.
"Look at him. Running away with his tail between his legs."
"What a loser."
Niha didn't say anything.
She just watched.
Veda drove through the city.
The wind hit his face. His long hair flew behind him like a dark flag. Cars moved beside him. Some with wheels, some without. Buildings rose on both sides, tall and gleaming. People flew above on creatures and machines.
He didn't look at any of it.
Young Veda appeared beside him. Flying. Keeping pace with the bike. His ancient smile was soft, almost kind.
"Are you feeling hungry child?"
Veda glanced at him. The corner of his mouth lifted. Just a little. Not a smile. Not quite. Something smaller.
"Yeah. Let's eat something before we go home."
Young Veda laughed. Bright. Cheerful. Like bells.
They drove into the afternoon light.