KNIGHTS: The legendary fight between mind and manipulation (episode-4).

Next morning.

Sunny- Rise and shine fellas!

Gaurav- Pull that orchestra out of my head.

Ibis- You had 8 beers last night. What do you expect? Bird calls?

Kush- He smells like the entire bar.

Sunny- Go and get yourself together! We have a lot to discuss.

After an hour,

Sunny- I have something to discuss with you guys that I came up with last night.

Gaurav- You wanna quit?

Sunny- Good guess. Wait. How do you know?

Nancy- On what if I may ask?

Tina- Mr. Deduction and Ms. Manipulator are thinking of having a family together.

Gaurav-It’s about time. Everyone saw back there how H was filling all mushy. Sunny was the only blindfolded person dumb enough not to see.

Sunny- Dumb!

Gaurav- Yeah! The heart throbbing beauty queen is asking you to give your heart so she can make an omelet out of it.

Sunny- Omelet out of the heart? Humor me here.

Gaurav- Go with the feelings, not the words you dumb ass.

Sunny- It’s not my decision. It’s ours.

Gaurav- We already told you that we are together to the gates of hell.

Sunny- For the record being, how do you know? Aren’t you sleeping?

Gaurav- I was drunk but not deaf. I heard the sounds you guys made when you were in bed.

Harsha- I am gonna kill you G(smiles).

Gaurav- What? You were, weren’t you?

Sunny- Okay guys, that’s enough.  Let’s make a decision here.

Nancy- I don’t mind.

Gaurav- Bribe me with a case of beer and my vote is yours.

Tina- Last night Gaurav made me realized that love is important. That’s a great idea if you ask me.

Kush- I have enough cash to buy me a home and the things I need for my research.

Ibis- Making a dojo here will cost me a lot. Eventually, I have that ‘lot’ now. I don’t mind.

Harsha- But I do.

Sunny- Wasn’t that your call to call this job of?

Harsha- Yes! But I need the SH that I want not the one I am gonna get. But this job is the last job we pull and then we are off. And get a life for each and every one of us.

Sunny- Ok H. One last job! Everyone out now! Get the supplies and everything else. We meet after 2 hours.

Gaurav- Babe you coming?

Tina- 10 mins! Need to look fabulous.

Gaurav- One hour for that.

Tina- I heard that.

Kush- I need cigarettes. Wanna go out buddy?

Ibis- Yup! Let’s go.

Sunny- Wanna go out?

Harsha- Thought you’ll never ask.

Sunny- These are the keys. Take them with you. And G, find a key maker and make 5 more copies.

Gaurav- Done!

Sunny- Can I have a word with you, T?

Gaurav- You are hitting on her too?

Tina- Shut up!

I gave Tina a letter and asked her to give it to Gaurav when they are completely alone.

Tina- Why not simply text him?

Sunny- Everything happens to have a reason T. We just don’t know it till we know it.

We went out in different groups to explore Delhi and hired a cab to have some privacy to ourselves.

Ibis- What are you planning after we pull this job K?

Kush- I don’t know. I guess settle somewhere. Switzerland maybe! They 
respect a man’s privacy there.

Nancy- Not to mention the view and the ice too.

Kush- You mean snow.

Nancy- Call it what you may but frozen water is what you be getting.

Ibis- I can open up a dojo there and N can finally find a partner who can both chew his nails and brains.

Nancy- Very funny Hulk.

Meanwhile,

Tina- AC cab, 5-star restaurant, and French wine. You sure know how to spoil a girl.

Gaurav- Being me has its own privileges. Being my better half may even have more.

Tina- Speaking of which, Sunny asked me to give you this letter when you are not with anyone.

Gaurav- What’s in this?

Tina- I don’t know. It was meant for you.

Gaurav- Ok. Let me take a look.

Tina- So?

Gaurav- So?

Tina- What’s in it?

Gaurav- Conspiracy theories. Don’t mind him. I am the closest among all to him. He likes sharing things with me.

Tina- Are we having food or conspiracy for lunch?

Gaurav- Definitely food.

Meanwhile,

Harsha-What is this place?

Sunny- It’s a mall. A shopping mall.

Harsha- I know but why we are here?

Sunny- You were saying last night that I never lived up to your expectations while we were teens. Let’s fill that void up.

The next 2 hours we completely acting like two teens on their 1st date. We had ice cream till our brain froze. Went to the haunted house where neither of us was scared. Watched a movie in 3D.

Sunny- Enjoyed the day?

Harsha- Nope. I enjoyed your company.

Sunny- Glad I can be of some use.

After 4 hours.

Ibis- You are late.

Sunny- Sorry. We were caught up in our childhood love.

Nancy- Lucky! All we did was stare at some bookshelves with no girls thanks to our evil genius mastermind.

Gaurav- We had fun.

Tina- I now know what a gentleman G is.

Sunny- Pull yourselves together guys. We plan today and start working tomorrow. Give me a moment.

15 minutes later,

Kush- How exactly a moment is described?

Ibis- Here we go again.

Sunny- Serious guys. We need to hit and run before anyone can notice us.

Gaurav- What’s in your mind S?

Sunny- Remember Rajiv? His son lives a few blocks away from here.

Gaurav- So how we gonna get to him?

Sunny- I, you are up. He is a big fan of martial arts so you can get to him easier than any of us.

Ibis- So I am supposed to walk up to him and say that I know martial arts and want to be friends with you?

Sunny- We plan that. We sent you and Tina in.

Tina- Why me?

Sunny- You will know when the time comes.

Gaurav- What’s you plan S?

Sunny- We see how much his accounts hold. Then through him, we make a 
stair to his father and wait for a big opportunity. We get it. We grab it.

Ibis- Nice plan! Only one problem in it.

Sunny- What’s that?

Ibis- You said 200 crores. That brat and 200 crores don’t add up.

Sunny- Wait and it will sync in. Take the day off. We start tomorrow.

We spent the whole day enjoying and without any worries. Together we were always happy. But something was bugging me. And my instincts were going fire alarm.

12:45 am,

Tina- You coming, babe?

Gaurav-Yeah! Need to have a chat with our leader.

Tina- Ok. Come quickly while I warm the bed up.

Gaurav- You are naughty. I like it.

Harsha- Easy there. We don’t want the bed to be broken.

Sunny- It’s a steel bed. Where is the rest of the gang?

Gaurav- Those three sleep early.

Harsha- You coming?

Sunny- In a minute their Sweetheart. I guess G has something to discuss with me in private.

Harsha- Ok. I shall leave you love birds alone. Spare some juice in him G. I need some for the entire night.

Gaurav- Don’t worry H. I shall make him a Red bull advertising model before he is with you.

Harsha- Haha. Go easy on those curves. Good night all.

Gaurav- Nah. I am fine with T. I have no interests on his butt crack. Good night.

5 mins later,

Gaurav- Why in letter S?

Sunny- Texts don't leave trails. Letters do.

Gaurav- Ok. That’s a fair point. But why through T? Why not me directly?

Sunny- T is curious. She probably had read it.

Gaurav- You mean they are together?

Sunny- No. If they were, you hadn’t received the letter.

Gaurav- Hm. I guess you are smarter than us all.

Sunny- No. I am just not dumb enough to see a deception.

Gaurav- What now? The job is compromised.

Sunny- No it hasn’t. People don’t usually be the game changer unless you have a motive for yourself.

Gaurav- So we wait?

Sunny- Yes. And when the time comes, we turn the tables.

Gaurav- She can’t be alone. She must have someone.

Sunny- I think I know who. But it doesn’t matter. She’s gonna betray him anyways.

Gaurav- Let’s depart before we create a cloud of suspicion.

Sunny- Fair enough. Good night.

Gaurav- Good night.

Next day,

Sunny- Wake up guys. We are not on vacation.

Nancy- We are up. Say what you want to the others. We are morning person.

Sunny- Speak for yourself N.

Gaurav- I’ll take it from here. Grab something to munch on mate. You already are stressed like hell.

Sunny- Thanks, G.

Gaurav- Okay guys. Rise and shine. Everyone meets up here in an hour.

9:30 am,

Sunny- So, everyone here?

Nancy- Guess so.

Sunny- Kush?

Ibis- He will be here. You know his smoking habits.

Sunny- Okay.

T- There he is.

Sunny- Okay guys. Gather around.

Gaurav- What I am about to say is very important to our plan and everyone has their role to play. Rajiv is not an easy target. We need to be very much careful in order to take him down. He is a very cunning individual. Not to mention, infinitely devious. Tina and Harsha will always be staying with his son. So, they need to rent an apartment there. Ibis needs to save him from a situation. Kush and Nancy will always be giving us direct orders and I shall be your team leader this time, not sunny.

Kush- What?

Nancy- Why not Sunny?

Ibis- We are good friends. All of us but we all know that Sunny is the best leader, not you Gaurav. Your decision can cost us the plan, not to mention our lives.

Sunny- It’s my decision. I asked `him to take my place. I have a role to play this time so I can’t be the leader.

Harsha- What role?

Sunny- To be the Sherlock Holmes.

Tina- What? How?

Sunny- You will know when the time comes.

Gaurav- So it’s done. You report directly to me, even you buddy.

Sunny- Sure boss. Lol.

Gaurav- Sarcastic ass.

Sunny- okay guys. Take the rest of the day off. We start planning tomorrow. Can I have a word with you G?

Gaurav- Over beer?

Sunny- How about a cigarette?

Gaurav- Sounds great. N, this is a list of the things we need. H and T. Find a roof near the victim, savvy?

Tina- Easier said than done. Why aren’t you guys doing anything?

Gaurav- We are. S and I are making sure that you guys do not need to look for your ass. Now, quit complaining and go.

Tina- Fair enough.

20 mins later,

Gaurav- Okay love, what’s your deduction say?

Sunny- Harsha came here because T mentioned me, right? What if I tell you that I am not the reason?

Gaurav- No riddles S. Come clean.

Sunny- Harsha is very clever but her problem is her overconfidence. The day she met me, I saw her looking at the tree outside the place we rented. A few minutes later, I went out saying that I need to bring smoke but in reality, I saw a footstep, number 8, most probably Sports shoe with a little-broken edge. 6 ft tall, approx and he left a trail in a riddle. Call me crazy but the day Harsha picked us up, I saw the same shoe print with that mark in the washroom. Not to mention a peculiar guy following us. Later I saw a sim she was hiding in her mobile. Sound suspicious?

Gaurav- Yes. You are crazy. Coincidence is what I feel. Ok. What’s the message?

S-44233 Bargain.

Gaurav- What? It’s a code but I saw Harsha counting words.

Sunny- Exactly. So, if I am correct which I am it means (your turn to end the bargain).

Gaurav- I don’t get it.

Sunny- Remember the day we took down Sunil?

Gaurav- Ya. What about it?

Sunny- We synced our clocks right?

Gaurav- Yes. So?

Sunny- What time is it in your clock?

Gaurav- 8:34 pm

Sunny- And in your mobile?

Gaurav- 8: 27 pm.

Sunny- How much time we waited for the sun to lit his smoke?

Gaurav- 7 minutes.

Sunny- Who was studying Sunil?

Gaurav- Harsha. You mean she studied the time difference between his smoking habits?

Sunny- Exactly. She told us that he was supposed to meet someone for the deal right?

Gaurav- But we shot him and his guys only and there was no one there.

Sunny- Exactly.

Gaurav- So Sunil is planning all the way through Harsha?

Sunny- No G. its H. She is the one who will betray us all and later kill Sunil and take everything. Sunil is just a pawn who is getting manipulated by her.

Gaurav- How come you are so sure that it’s not Sunil?

Sunny- She changed the time of your watch but kept us synced right?

Gaurav- Yes. Yours and other’s clock seems to run fine.

Sunny- She wanted you to get killed in the action because she cannot manipulate me with you around. Single casualty is nothing if the job succeeds, right?

Gaurav- But how?

Sunny- I mentioned to sync our clocks but later during the operation, I used communicators not deadline. The plan was you to strike first and get killed and later we cover the situation and she kills us all and runs away with the cash. I saw a strange look of disappointment when she picked you up. But she improvised later and now she wants that pot of gold, the 200 crores. She will hand it over to Sunil, kill him and then leave. So, neither Sunil nor Rajiv can follow her. She must have kept it a secret so that if she fails to cover everything up, Sunil becomes the suspect but since he will already be dead, there is none to chase.

Gaurav-That son of a bitch. But how do you know?

Sunny- I asked everyone to quit but she refused but if I remember correctly, it was her call. Her manipulation doesn’t work on me.

Gaurav- What now then?

Sunny- We play by her rule and then surprise her in the end. Let her know she is ahead. Never let her understand that she is way behind.

Gaurav- We change the plan?

Sunny- NO! We do that, she understands everything. Let us give her a good run for the money.

Gaurav- Okay S. Thanks for the call. You saved me back there.

KNIGHTS: The legendary fight between mind and manipulation (episode-3).

3 days later,

Sunny- We are on a conference call so no cursing, please.

Gaurav- Where are you guys?

Sunny- Harsha is on her way to pick us up.

Ibis- We are already with her, me and Nancy.

Eventually, Harsha picked us up and brought us to the flat. And after gathering there,

Tina- So?

Sunny- So?

Tina- Are we rich?

Sunny- Nope.

Tina- The planned failed!

Sunny- I didn’t say that. Let us just say we have enough capital to fund our primary plan.

Tina- You pulled it off?

Sunny- You doubt me?

Tina- Never in a million years.

Sunny- 7 crores. 3 lakhs in everyone’s account rest in cash with us. We celebrate today and we start planning tomorrow again. How's that sound?

We spent that day partying and living without a tension after a long and stressful time. And nobody was having a bad day. Why should they? It's not like you get to have a party in your apartment every day, do you?

2:30 am in the apartment,

Gaurav- Brought you a beer.

Sunny- A cigarette would have been better but a beer will do just fine as well.

Gaurav- Drink it up and you get your share of smoke.

Nancy- Everyone in bed. What about you guys?

Gaurav- After this beer in me, I am out.

Nancy- That’s the 7th one.

Gaurav- Yup. I was thirsty.

Sunny- Got light?

Nancy- here you go.

Gaurav- I am off to bed before you guys drag me there.

Nancy - Me too. Good night or shall I say morning.

Sunny- Good night, guys. I shall be there after a few moments to myself.

15 mins later,

Harsha- You alright?

Sunny- Yes. I guess.

Harsha- As usual, you did a fine job SH.

Sunny- We all did. The plan was perfectly executed.

Harsha- What happened to you back there?

Sunny- What do you mean? I pulled it off.

Harsha- You moron. I mean our school days. Everyone knew that I had a serious crush on you yet you never seemed to have any interests. Why is that?

Sunny- I guess I was too chicken.

Harsha- You still are?

Sunny- Why do I get the feeling that my dignity is at stake?

Harsha- You are right. It is.

Sunny- Ok. I am off to bed.

Harsha- Look at me. I am the same girl who was desperate for your attention in school. I still am. You never noticed me.

Sunny- I did. I still do. I know the fact that you came here not for the money but for the reason that Tina mentioned my name.

Harsha- I waited long, very long for you to be with me. We can do it now. We have enough cash to settle somewhere and do something. Open a small store or something. We sell something every day and then we come home at night, turn the music, get us a drink, cook food together, feed each other and sleep hugging each other tightly. You cuddling me like a small teddy bear. Raise a family. Be happy.

Sunny- This is the life you wanted? Why come here in the 1st place?

Harsha- I don’t want this life with someone else but with you. I was in love with you, still am, always will be. Please, S, let’s drop it. We have everything now. We don’t need to risk our lives again. Once was quite enough.

Sunny- Let me show you something.

I grabbed her hand and took her to the room where everyone was sleeping.

Sunny- Look at them. 7 months ago, they were just trying to find a living or a reason to live. Now they have. Are you asking me to take that away from them? Isn’t that selfish?

Harsha- And what about me? I was lost when I was away from you. The guy whom I love never had any interest in me and to make it worse, he is now trying to plan something which can kill us all. I am not afraid to die. I am afraid to the fact that I will never see you again. I love you. Please. I beg you. Be with me for the rest of my life and make me the happiest woman on earth.

Sunny- I can’t H. You are the life I need. But they are the life I want. Thrill and adrenaline rush are part of me. But yes, I do love you. Always have, always will.

Harsha- In that case, I need you to make a promise. If we are alive after we pull this job, it is the end. We go far away and have a life to us.

Sunny- I promise. Although, I can’t help but notice that you rented two apartments. Nancy, Kush and Ibis in one room, Tina and Gaurav in the other, So, a whole apartment to ourselves? Is one room for you and one for me?

Harsha - Or we can share a bed. Save us the room service duties somewhat to ourselves?

I can’t help but see the spark in her eyes. But sometimes, going with the flow is a better option. Who could turn down an offer from her? After all, she is the manipulative genius of the team. And if she is asking me to join her in the same comforter, how can I deny her? 

KNIGHTS: The legendary fight between mind and manipulation (episode-2).

Next day,

Harsha- Success point consultancy, how may we help you?
Tina- How about quitting the job you have, as a start?
Harsha- Not now sweetheart. I have a whole farm to handle.
Tina- You are the in-charge?
Harsha - yes.
Tina- I thought you were a receptionist.
Harsha - 7 months ago.
Tina- Nice to know your skills increased ridiculously. Call me when you get home. It's about knights.
Harsha - Not interested in childhood's play T.
Tina- Not even with sunny being involved?
Harsha- 8 o clock. I shall call. Bye.
8:11 pm,
Harsha - Ok start talking.
Tina- 3 words, Sunny, 200 crores, 28 crores each.
Harsha- where are you guys?
Tina- Bangalore.
Harsha- Tomorrow, receive me.
Tina- Done!
Next day.
Harsha- You enjoy guys checking you out.
Tina- Compliment or insult?
Harsha- A bit of both.
Tina- Welcome H, let’s meet the others.

About an hour later....
Harsha - Whose apartment is this? Kind of small but well maintained.
Tina- Any guesses?
Harsha- Sunny?
Tina- Correct as usual. And here we are.
Harsha- After 6 years, we are here. All of us. Even the stinky hulk.
Gaurav- Yup, stink then too.
Sunny- Coffee?
Harsha- Not here for coffee, love!
Sunny- I insist.
Tina- Ok Sherlock! Stop insisting. The gang is here, what now?
Sunny- We have two jobs. The 1st one to fund the 2nd one.
Kush- Complicated guy.
Gaurav- Says the head scratcher.
Sunny-Enough! One thing must be cleared to all of you, behind every great fortune; there is a risk, a crime and a mystery. We may die doing this job. But if done, we can have different names and lives.
Harsha- What's the plan?
Sunny- Rajiv Khandelwal? Anyone?
Ibis- One of the top smugglers of our nation. Money laundry king, and other illegal things. Does everything in Delhi. But no one knows where he lives. Yes, then?
Sunny- We rob him.
Gaurav- Say what?
Kush- With all combination and permutations combined......
Nancy- Not now buddy. Calculations are not needed for funeral.
Tina- Are you insane?
Harsha- What's the plan?
Gaurav- Hey! Miss peanut brain. You out of your mind?
Sunny- You guys trust me?
Nancy- More than anything mate, but this is suicide.
Sunny- His son is in a college of Delhi. We use him to get to him. For the next 3 months, we do exactly what I say, no questions asked. I shall bring us through, no worries.
Harsha- I quit my job and brought some findings, I had a hunch, something big is coming.
Sunny- Not big. Gigantic. You guys in?
Knights- We are with you even to the gates of hell.

NEXT DAY…
Sunny- Morning everyone.
Ibis – What time is it?
Nancy – 7 am. Most people here don’t get up that early you know.
Sunny- They do now. Freshen up, everyone. We got a lot of things to do.

After an hour.
Sunny -Everyone’s here? I guess so.
Gaurav – It's half passed 8. You better have something important to discuss.
Sunny – For the 1st project, we choose someone who is a money laundry king but on a smaller basis.
Gaurav- I have a suggestion.
Sunny – Go ahead.
Gaurav – Sunil Tiwari. A merchant by fact but runs an almost next to legal, money laundry farm for the businessmen on a small scale.
Sunny – It is perfect.
Harsha- How to rob him?
Sunny- Harsha. You are up. Take a job in his farm and get close to him as much as possible.
We squeeze out every bit of information and then we rob him blindfolded.


We started following Sunil like a shadow with all his informations passed by Harsha. We took small jobs to blend in and avoid any doubts. While we were white collar fellows in the daytime, the night showed the real KNIGHTS.
I started making plans and Gaurav made the backup plans making sure we have a support if something goes wrong. Ibis was training us at shooting and martial arts incase we run into any face-to-face combat. 
Problems arrived occasionally but with Nancy, there is no problem that doesn't have a loophole. And Kush, always providing logic and statistics to the plan with all the online research needed. And Tina came up with a list of thing we need to take away his money.

After 6 months of intense planning with Harsha leaking informations and building up a personal relation to him. Finally, the day came when we proceed with our plans.

6 months later…
Harsha- Today he is going to make a deal of 7 crores. Since it is illegal; it's all cash. He will make the deal at the old abandoned biscuit factory.
Tina- What’s the plan.
Sunny- We take the position on the roof with guns. We shoot him and his associates and take the money. I already talked to someone who can provide us with 2 flats in Delhi on rent. We shift there immediately.
Tina- But we have no bullets and besides killing a money-laundry king will make a big fuss. What happened to 'keep a low profile'?
Ibis- With all due respect, the guns we have are accurate but are tranquilizer guns, not real guns. We cannot kill them.
Gaurav – Unless we don’t want to. Tina is right. Killing them would make a big fuss so we use horse tranqs. Put them to sleep, take their money run away and finally, they can’t do much since it was illegal money not to mention about the authorities not getting involved since they are alive. What’s the probability K?
Kush- 99% chances of success.
Gaurav- Any loopholes?
Nancy- None that I can think off.
Sunny- Grab you communicators and let’s go. And kush. No smoking! We don’t leave any clues behind. Ibis, Nancy, Gaurav. Get ready. Tina and Harsha shall board a flight to Delhi and we shall meet at the apartment at 10 am 3 days from now.

I handed them the apartment's address and went to the location.

Tina- Ok. Let’s go H.

1:30 am at the factory.

Gaurav- Here they come.
Sunny- The meeting is 20 mins from now. Check your positions, everyone.
Ibis- On the rooftop, with gun. Loaded.
Kush- Behind the third rail, approximate distance 100 meters.
Gaurav. Factory bars, behind the glass with binoculars. Check.
Sunny- Gaurav, what’s their status?
Gaurav- 3 bodyguards and the king is inside. How to get him out?
Sunny- He is a chain smoker, wait for it. He will come out eventually.

After 7 minutes…

Gaurav- There he is. Is everyone ready?
Kush- Ready.
Ibis- Ready.
Nancy- Loaded and ready.
Sunny- Call targets.
Ibis- One with the waistcoat.
Nancy- 'Long hairs' is mine.
Sunny. I take the third one. On my mark! Ibis take the king with your 2nd shot.
Ibis- 2nd shot, king! Got it.
Sunny- 1, 2, 3, go.

We fired 3 shots and took the 3 guards down and then Ibis shot Sunil and he was down as well.
Sunny- Kush, You are up. Take the bags and the darts and meet us at the rendezvous point.
We took the bags and moved towards an alley where we had parked our car. We drive us through to our flat. We divided the money into equal parts and went to 5 different destinations. I went to Kolkata and deposited as much money as possible to our accounts and directed everyone else to do the same. Kush and Gaurav went to Guwahati. Ibis and Nancy went to Delhi directly by flights.

About Knights.

The title itself stands for the union of 7 enemies turned friends turned associates turned traitors. A school life union that is a complete picture but if you take one piece out, it becomes and unresolved and incomplete puzzle again.

The story revolves around 5 guys and 2 girls who are unique on their own. They all have one thing in common, ADHD. So, one among the 7 decides to bring all of them together but never he would have imagined that his plan will be the reason for the death of everyone. A combination of mystery, deduction, sarcasm, romance and mind games. 

K- Kush Verma (The logical analyst)

N- Nancy Fernandes (The improviser)

I- Ibis Ahmed (The combat expert)

G- Gaurav Ghosh (The planner)

H- Harsha Singh (The manipulating expert)

T- Tina Gupta (The Manager)

S- Sunny Chaudhary (The Leader)

KNIGHTS: The legendary fight between mind and manipulation (episode-1).

I hate waking up 4 in the morning but today it was a day to be happy, not angry. We are going on an EVS field trip. Not to mention, my enemies are also excited as today is the day we all be outsmarting or at least trying to outsmart each other. Being an 8th grader,  I am a teenager but also blessed with the possibilities of Sherlock Holmes (the deduction and quick thinking part, not the charm and language) but so are the other 6 in their own ways. 

Kush Verma, the mathematical genius, winner of every single quiz and competition his parents and our school threw at him in regards of mathematics, boy genius and also nicknamed as John Nash for both his talents and the head scratching, confused guy attitude he carries with him but he is good in calculating every possibility and probability of a situation, both bad and worse in such a way that they always hit their mark. 

Nancy Fernandez, also known as the destroyer. This guy literally exploits every single loophole in anything; he was once punished for getting late. Later, he wasted three days to put a ban on the carrier of the teacher who punished him, dangerous and determined.

 Ibis Ahmed was the realistic version of hulk but much more destructive. Major anger management issues with devastating circumstances. He nearly killed 5 college students alone in the 8th standard for getting bullied. Black belt in five combat styles and the best athlete in our school.

 Gaurav Ghosh, also known as Mr. I.D (infinitely devious). If America recruited him in their search of Osama, the time would have been like 15 minutes or so before they find him. Improvise, adapt, overcome and put that into one single plan. Specialty? Revenge! 

Harsha Singh, the Barbie doll of our school. What she can't achieve with skill, she demolishes it with her manipulation. You think you are taking her advantage? Not the devil itself can do that. 

Tina Gupta, the beauty with brains, blessed with the most dangerous skill combo. For her, there is no losing. If she wants it, she must get it. 

And of course last but definitely not the least, the narrator so far, Sunny Chaudhary. Considered to be the ‘Sherlock Holmes’ of my time by my batch mates. Logical visualization, superb deduction skills and a set of eyes missing very few things.

Everyone was planning on how to be superior to the other six while I saw the rain clouds and knew what was coming.

Hills are a great spot for EVS trip but what the school committee didn't know was the fact that we are planning to kill each other as we crossed each other’s path in every way (Don't be fooled by our age).

The fact was to win in any way possible (death counted) and after a short trip to hills, everyone returned except for the 7 of us.

While others were busy setting traps for each other, I was tying elastic ropes, 3 in a row to the trees in an alternate way somewhat higher to the ground that I have stolen from the camp.

My predictions, as usual, was correct. The rain came and they were trapped in a slippery way downhill. Thanks to my ropes. They were saved. And finally, we became friends and decided no more killing each other. LITERALLY.

For the next 2 years, we ruled the school. We were on top of everything. Sports, studies, E.C.As. But after 2 years, the school was over. We went to different paths and then even keeping each other connected was a problem with me being the sticky, white substance. Gum! 

August 6, 2015. Bangalore. Coffee shop.

Sunny- One cold coffee, please. Thanks. That will do. No specials needed.

Waiter- I didn't get it, sir.

Sunny- After writing cold coffee, you were about to start a new thread expecting me to order something else. The coffee shop is a big franchise so it is, by all means, correct that the owners would like you to juice the customer as much as possible. And your uniform is a little old, if I am not wrong, which explains the fact that you are working here for quite some time now. So, your training pushes you to tempt me to order something else which you were about to execute by introducing me to the specials and discounts today increasing the bill. Thanks but a coffee will do just great.

Waiter- Ummmm. I definitely didn't see that coming.

Sunny- Yup! I get that a lot.

Ibis- One more for me, cold with extra cream.

Sunny- What's up big guy? Haven't heard from you?

Ibis- Been busy. Need a vacation.

Sunny- You are paying right?

Ibis- Not in a million years. You are paying. Cheap ass.

After an hour,

Sunny- Care for a smoke?

Ibis- Something light?

Sunny - How about something cheap?

We both laugh.

Sunny- How’s life?

Ibis- Well and established. Working for a firm right now. Good salary.

Sunny- Really?

Ibis- Yup. Any doubts?

Sunny- Worn out t-shirt, fresh wounds on knuckles, scars on face and a track suit to wear for a cup of coffee in The coffee house on a Sunday afternoon? Teaching martial arts in the stadium few blocks away from here and street fighting for some extra income is the job that you were talking about?

Ibis- Well, can't lie to Sherlock leaving such obvious clues behind.

Sunny- I m flattered and annoyed.

Ibis- Life is a mess. Dropped out from college, can't complete graduation. Major inferiority complex.

Sunny- Anger management issues you mean?

Kush- Any brand cigarette, please.

Sunny- The great John Nash is here too.

Kush- What great? Need a job. Can't find a way to finance my research.

Sunny- College drop out?

Kush- How do you know?

Sunny- Lucky guess.

Ibis- Let's go to the park, spent some time there if you guys don.t have any other engagements.

Kush and Sunny- Great idea.

Sunny- What brings you here?

Ibis- Classes. Dumbass.

Sunny- Not you moron. Him. Last I heard, you were in IIT-Kharagpur.

Kush- Trying to find a new life. Sick and tired of the education system. Kills the creativity inside.

Sunny- And you left?

Kush- I love maths and machines more than girls but there I was getting forced to learn how to mix cement and measure land with chain. What do expect?

Nancy- Surprise to see you all here.

We greet each other.

Sunny- Blind date?

Nancy - Written on my face, isn't it?

Sunny- Trimmed nails for someone who bites. Formal dress up on a Sunday afternoon in a park, wet hair and combed to its fullest for extra attention. 150 bucks chocolate in the pocket for someone having a taste for chewing gum. Mobile in hand with occasional checking on it and looking at every random girl passing. Here to meet someone but searching with a tensed look and a fluctuating eye contact which concludes that you don't know her yet. Written all over you.

Nancy- Ladies and gentlemen, world's greatest detective.

Sunny- OK. That's annoying.

Kush- Any details about your date?

Nancy- Not much. Friend's marriage, maybe a cousin to him or something. Nothing else.

Kush- The possibility of marriage is low in a situation like this. Although the probability of matching the common factors with so little knowledge to explore is relatively lower than usual.

Nacy- Still confusing, you haven't aged a day.

Tina- Hey fellas! What you guys all doing here?

Ibis- Wasting time.

Tina- Like you have anything else to do.

Sunny - What brings you here?

Tina - Blind date. Supposed to meet someone.

Nancy- Yuck. Not you. Anyone but you. Are you the blind date?

Tina- You were expecting someone with rain dancing here, correct?

Sunny- Okay love birds. Get a room. No romance in the open.

Tina- With him? Never.

Gaurav- The advantage of being devious is that you don't get to seat on the front row seats and so you avoid the throws. I think I am cupid in this case, don't you agree

Nancy -  So, it was you? I knew it. Not funny at all mate.

Sunny- Funny. 6 straight years and the whole gang is here. Almost the whole gang.

Ibis- Speaking of which. Where is miss manipulation these days?

Tina- Last I heard, she was in Calcutta. Doing a job in some job consultancy or something.

Sunny- So how many of us are college dropouts anyway?

Everyone raise a hand.

Sunny- So technically we can’t fit in the society because we are a more evolved class of individuals. Is that it?

Tina- Kind of. Yeah.

Gaurav- The reason for our misfit is not our merits but demerits. And we all have one. At least one to be considered as a negative trait in our society.

Sunny- Complete it, buddy.

Gaurav- Kush can’t think anything besides his research. Ibis and hulk are similar in nature, hulk is less destructive. Nancy is a fluctuating individual. Sodium in water reacts with lesser speed. I always try to find a worthy opponent to compete in brain games but never met anyone after you sunny. Miss picky here has a lot of issues. Picking and wanting the goody-goody things always, no compromise. And Sunny, the most brilliant mind I have ever seen. Perfect in everything but expects the same from every other person he encounters. 

Face it guys. We were invincible once because we were together once. We backed each other up in the past. But now we don't.

Sunny- Why not?

Nancy- What do you mean?

Sunny- Look at us. We are the next stage of human evolution. We are special and we know us better than anyone. Strengths, weaknesses, compatibility. And to prove it logically, we are all dropouts. We all are broke yet we are having a good life. Because we just want our basic needs to be fulfilled. We are not victims of the advertisement community. We are unique.

Kush- The chances of success of a person with the knowledge on that field increase when he is supported by the group of people sharing the same interest but with different skill sets filling the voids to reduce the negative effects it may cause.

Sunny- That's what I am saying, I guess. You are complicated Kush.

Gaurav- I am in. Whatever it is.

Ibis- I don't see any future rather than becoming a martial arts teacher in my 40s. Will that plan of yours gonna get me a dojo?

Sunny- What plan? I haven't said anything.

Gaurav - Save it. You have something in mind and we know it. Whatever it is, we don't care. We are in.

Sunny- Nancy and Kush?

Nancy- Do I have a contributing role?

Sunny- Yup. Bouncer's role.

Nancy- And you are the bartender, right? I am in.

Kush- What are the outcome and the payout?

Sunny- Let’s just say, it will be enough to pay for a luxurious life for each and every one of us with a high chance of fulfilling all of our dreams.

Kush- I am in.

Tina- Is it worth it? I have a bloody feeling that the way to success with him will be full of risks.

Sunny- Hope for the best and get even more. That's our plan.

Kush- What's the payout, if I may ask? You know I am a number's guy.

Sunny- 200 crores. 28 crores each.

Tina- I am in.

Ibis- That was fast.

Nancy- What about Harsha?

Sunny- Tina?

Tina- 3 days from now, she will be with us.

Gaurav- Ladies and gentlemen, KNIGHTS is back in action.