Bare-Knuckle

Chapter - 1

Why am I here?

when i walk down these alleys... turning in from the side walk...this question seldom holds back.Why?
Fear was a regular companion in the dark streets back home in India. Here in London the streets are darker and dangers are darker still.
But the fear... is not here ... oh no. not now!!

I could just turn back and go. rignt now... my room is 10 minutes away if i take a cab from this road i am leaving. But no.. I have to walk on.

There are compulsions,chances and desires.. the last being the worst. I know it cause I am bound by it. It s what s dragging me into this darkness.

There they are. the 'caretakers' .. Oh no they aint gonna stop me. what ll they do for bread if they stop people like me? the guy to the right signals with his head and the guy to the left nods and smiles. Love u my man... that s the best thing I ve seen since all morning!

I kept my books aside as i listened to the noise inside the forbidden fortress. The place was so close to the city and its innocent residents. But it was a lot more important for this to be held .. since a lot of important people were involved. Who said all those guy ritchie movies were fake?

The announcer took the stage in the centre of the ring.

"..Ladies and Gentle men!!! ..you should see from my eyes to know how glorious it is to be standing here.."

Oh for heavens sake!! the cliche's!! I pushed in my money into the 'rathole'...ie the counter as in our banks. Some people even called it the arse-hole.. you know it stinks and you still think its worth fuckin' it for anything other than shit.

"number 2....500 pounds... 100 per cent"

the guy at the rathole smiled. It was always number 2 for me.. never cared to see who fights at number 1. I ve never liked number 1 anyway. 2 was luckier.

"...I dont know how many of you are new here.. but what i do know is this.. you WILL be coming back!!..."

This announcer guy is givin' me a god-damn head ache! The entire affair takes no more than 2 minutes. 3 if both fellas are newbies. 1 if just one of them is.

lets look around for chicks. Darn! There s a sweet one at the ring side. Should be able to get a nice glimpse of her soon. My god just look at her.

"Ladies and gentlemen...in case it is necessary,let me remind you one last time... I hope you have placed your bets... the booking will close in a few seconds from now...We wont be listening if you want to bet once the fight starts..." hmmm...courteous laughter! The guy didnt joke now did he?

Here he comes...Fighter Number 1. A short man with massive shoulders, stiches on his left chin,and blond hair. Hmmm. The look on these people's faces..well he is their investment. Lucky them.

"People let me welcome to the ring side ..number 1!!! ..." that s right.. no names ... no identity. only track record and pure instinct. This match could be rigged and turned back as I stand here. There is nothing such as 'calculated risk' here. As I said - Instinct.

This number 1 guy is good. Nice snarl and good face ... must say I am re-considering my bet... its too late anyway.

"And gentlemen.. please help me welcome ......Number 2!!!..."

Nice crowd. And that girl...oh my god!! I just cant take my eyes off her!! Better just concentrate on the fight.... 500 pounds is no easy money.

Here go the rules. Simple. No low-blows,no foul punches,no kicking,no biting, no spitting. Oh come on.. lets start.

"The battle now begins" ... Oh..here comes my head ache as usual. every single fight.. the excitement ...rings inside my head.

Here he comes... number 2!!..my god !!! now why does he look so much like me??? how does he seem so similar to me?? Is it me?....!!! Why is he looking at me now? Don't look at me God Damn-it!!! I think I am gonna faint!!
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The ring is a nice place. Not so nice when you stand in one corner ... Half-naked. The guy punching before me seems quite good. Lets see HOW good.

Number 2. that is who I am. When I stand here at this corner. A dirty business as this is, I've remained bloody unaffected. That s me. Number 2!!

"and there goes number 1 pounding away at 2. This match could well be over as it starts.." I could hear the commentary from behind

Oww!! That hurt. Mr.Announcer don't forget you bet on me. Asshole! That girl at the ring side sure looks familiar...She looks pretty when she s afraid.

"...1 picks him up and oooooH.. WHAT a punch!!!???... as number 2 is recovering..making no effort to save his life, 1 seems in total control barely 20 seconds into the match..."

I can't feel my jaw. its become numb. Cant blame the old fella...he s just fighting for his money.. But he s going to be very sorry quite soon.."

"...as 2 gets up wobbling.. 1 seems quite unimpressed.....here he comes again!!..."

Ouch!!!... My left eye..you are coming closer my boy.. hope you know what you'r doing to me..

"...a bloody eye to 2 as he looks back...erriely energized all of a sudden... I gotta feeling its 2 who is not impressed this time, 1 still going hard...annnnnd.... bang!!! there goes 2 again!!!.."

Ah..yes!! there it is...the tennis-ball cricket bat...hitting out on my shoulder....God will i forget that???

"...2 stands up..again!!! this man s got balls folks!! seems quite nervous..his hands are shaking from the sheer torture he's had at the hands of MR.1 here...and.. wait a minute....Unbeleivable..its 2 who s advancing to 1!!"

Some times people need punishment...

"....Wham!! goes 1!! it is 2 who is moving in , into 1's face!! This is unbelievable stuff folks! "

not just everyone...

".....another!!..."

only people who ve punished me in the past...

"...and another!!!..."

the shoulder that pained for 2 years and put me off cricket for life...MAN!! you ve rubbed me the REAL wrong side buddy

"...2 is on a sheer rampage here...1 is reeling from the three thunderous blows dealt out by 2!!! the knuckle here is getting printed all over 1's face!! as 2 looks on, waiting for his finisher like a wounded animal!!! 2 here is going for the kill... and there goes 1!! ooooowwww !!!! that must ve really hurt!! .. and the count? pardon the count... he s not getting up for days let alone these 10 seconds!!!.."

Pity you had to come to let out my steam!! some steam huh?
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Man!! what a match??? What d'ya know? I won!! that is double the money!! 1000 pounds!! wowie!! Still... that girl s keeping me on my toes...there she is again!!

Look at them...these people. half of them earn more than Indian ministers. ALL of them earn more than what an upper-class Indian does. This is London's elite. Still they need this thrill of gambling! The stakes were cleverly piled against 2 and it was 2 who won! imagine how much they ll make!!

I need to go out now!! time for some nice sleep! its been a long day!!! Wait!! the guard seems surprised as he looks closely and observes.. probably mistook me for number 2. I am sure he s surprised on the fewer wounds all over my face! Oh no..I'm not him! .... I just look like him!! .....