Chapter 11
Strong (Part 1)
Ajay sat in the cushioned chair, waiting outside the principal's office. His face was dirty and bruised from the fight on the playground. He had a busted lip and a swollen eye. His fists were bloody and aching from the hard hits he landed on the jerks that picked on him. Ajay looked down at his tattered gym shoes, recalling how he nearly broke one kid's ribs with just one kick. A faint grin appeared on the young boy's face but vanished the moment his mother stepped out the door. He avoided facing her, knowing how upset she was with him. He stayed still as Ishwari kneeled in front of him. She placed a warm hand on her son's knee and sighed. Ajay lifted his head up, catching his mother's saddened eyes. He frowned, ashamed by how much he disappointed the woman in front of him.
"Another fight… you got yourself into another fight." Ishwari muttered. "No matter how many times I've told you not to, you still end up here."
"Mom it wasn't my fault. They wanted a fight. They wouldn't stop picking on me." Ajay argued.
"So fighting like a wild animal solved your problem?" Ishwari retorted. "Fighting is not the way."
"So I should run to the teacher and hide behind her skirt?"
"No, I want you to be the bigger man," Ishwari said, placing her hand on her son's grimy cheek. "I know it's easier giving into violence, but you must try forming peace. Be the better person, my son."
"I'm not saying sorry to them," Ajay stated. "They treated me like crap."
"Oh, but you will. The principal has scheduled a meeting with the other boys and their parents for tomorrow. You and I will be here first thing in the morning and you will apologize."
"That's not fair! Why am I the only one saying sorry?"
"Pointless insults didn't severely injure a child. You're lucky I talked the principal out of giving you a serious punishment. Come on, let's go."
Ajay and Ishwari walked down the hall, heading for the exit. Ajay held onto his sore arm, hissing with pain. There was no way Ajay was saying sorry. He'd rather take a suspension or expulsion. Those jerks weren't getting an apology out of him. They called him weak, so he proved he was strong. They called him soft, so he showed his cruelty. They pushed him around, so he stood his ground. If they didn't want to be attacked, they shouldn't have woke the beast.
. . .
"People of Kyrat, are you hungry for more blood!" The Vice Lord, Noore, shouted. "We have a new combatant. He's been a long way from home, but the son of Mohan Ghale has returned. Let him face his judgment here in Shanta Arena!"
The crowd roared with excitement as Ajay slowly regained consciousness. He saw the Vice Lord standing on the edge of the stone platform. He could hardly make out what she was saying. His head was still foggy from the drug he was shot up with. He did notice he was stripped of his clothing and all his weapons, however.
"Terrific," Ajay thought bitterly.
"Get up, boy," One of Noore's guards said, pointing a rifle at Ajay's face. "Walk."
Ajay obeyed the stern woman's orders and walked out of the shadows. He shielded his eyes from the burning light of the arena. He continued moving forward when the tip of the guard's gun nudged his arm. He was soon standing beside Noore on the edge of the platform.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the golden son, Ajay Ghale!" Noore introduced. "Welcome to the Shanta Arena, Ajay. Down there is where you determine your fate."
"Wait, what? Where am I and who are you?" Ajay asked frantically. "Is this some kind of gladiator thing?"
Noore pulled Ajay closer to her with anxiety written on her face. "There's no time to explain, just... don't die. There will be a kukri by you when you get down there. Good luck," She said before Ajay was shoved off the platform. "Bets have been placed. Let the fight begin!"
Ajay fell and crashed onto the dirt coated surface. He ignored the sharp pain in his legs as he rose from the fall. He looked around for the weapon Noore told him about. When he spotted the kukri, he grabbed it immediately. Ajay stepped over to the half wall when the other fighters emerged from the gates. Half of them were armed with guns while the other half wielded blades.
Fear spread across his body like a virus. Ajay thought about staying out of the way and let the others slaughter one of another, but he looked up to the massive crowd and the pressure had set in. He knew he needed to get out there and fight even if it killed him.
A short man armed with various knives was to Ajay's left, completely unaware of the golden son. Seeing it as an opportunity, Ajay stalked over to the man and drove the kukri into the man's back. Without a moment to reflect, Ajay moved onto his next targets. Using his speed and agility, Ajay knocked off half the men in the arena. Most of them were distracted by trash talk they said or heard.
"The son of Mohan has returned, huh? I'll ship your fucking head back to the Americas after I'm done with you, boy!" A solider of the Royal Army threatened Ajay.
Unlike the other men Ajay dealt with, this one was part of the Royal Army. Ajay was confused as to why he was spouting threats. Maybe things were done differently inside the arena. Everyone was fair game despite all loyalties on the outside. Then again, the Royal Army soliders seem to be on the same team.
Slightly intimidated by the soldier's words and force, Ajay stayed close to the ground and searched for a rifle. He heard heavy footstep not too far.
"Come on, come on he's getting closer" Ajay thought, frantically looking for any gun he could get his hands on.
Ajay spotted a rifle near the eroding staircase. He made a run for it, pressing his luck of not getting shot at by the trash-talking soldier behind him. His heart was pounding feverishly and his breathing reduced to short heaving sighs. Before a bullet could be driven into the back of Ajay's head, he slid onto the ground. He grabbed the gun immediately and took cover behind the half wall. While the rifle bought him some security, Ajay couldn't help feel like he was in serious danger. After all, his life could be easily taken away with just one slip up.
The soldier was no further than a few feet away from Ajay. He shot at the wall, trying to get the boy to come out and face him. The crowd started to boo the golden son, calling him a coward. Irritated, Ajay picked up the kukri and took a deep breath before launching into action.
Ajay peered out from behind the wall and shot at the soldier's shins. The soldier stumbled back a bit just as bullet made contact with his skin through his thick red pants. He hissed, cursing under his breath. As it was clear to make his next move, Ajay held on tight to the kukri, ran over to the distraught soldier, and plunged the blade directly into his neck.
What was once a soldier was now a dying man. He was gasping for air as he slowly descended to the ground. Ajay stared at him, wiping spattered blood off his face. To watch a person tremble in pain and agony wasn't a first for Ajay Ghale nor was seeing them die; however taking another's life was one of the acts he never thought he'd commit in his lifetime.
A/N: This story has been on a hiatus for what seems like forever, but rest assured this story WILL be finished! I wanted to have this whole chapter finished last month, but the Internet was not nice to me... not one bit. Any who, stick around for more and if you're new I hope you're liking it so far.
