"We cannot stay here." One of the women in the assembly got up suddenly. Probably, it was the presence of Krishna or the fact that the two young boys were willing to fight against two seasoned wrestlers – whatever, the reasons, the people were now openly defying Kamsa.

"This is a wrestling assembly, meant for adults." The woman continued as she got up and walked towards the centre. "Just look at the two boys." The woman sneered angrily pointing at Krishna and Balarama. "They are not even grown up and you wish to accept a match where one of your trained monsters fights these two boys." The woman looked angrily at Kamsa and then turned to Chanur and Mushtika. "This is unfair and I will not accept it." The woman looked at the small crowd of people around her and then pointed at the exit of the arena. "It is said that any person who watches a horrendous deed being done in front of him and keeps quiet commits a sin." The woman turned with a huff. "I cannot accept your fighters fighting two little boys."

Kamsa was shocked. In the past many years, he had never had anyone defy him. Not one person. And suddenly with the coming of the eighth son of Devaki, the people whom he had thought as docile were just turning on him. Openly.

He was getting furious and was about to open his mouth when someone else spoke.

"You want a fight, Chanur?" The melodious words came from the dark boy. Though the tone was melodious, it conveyed a degree of confidence.

Krishna looked at the woman who was followed by a group of people and was walking towards the exit and nodded at her.

The woman looked hesitant but then Krishna's confidence won her over.

Krishna turned his attention to Chanur as the woman walked towards Krishna. "I am willing to fight you."

Krishna just did not waste any more time as he jumped on top of the stage.

The woman was just speechless, as she saw Balarama jump on the stage, after his brother.

Krishna punched Chanur straight in the gut, the second he stepped on the stage.

Chanur fell back reeling under the blow. But he was a fighter. He quickly collected himself and punched back. The blow caught Krishna on the chest as he fell back. But then Krishna caught himself and swallowed the pain his chest as he kicked Chanur.

Beside him, Balarama and Mushtika were having an uneven fight. Uneven, because in that fight, there was no doubt. Balarama was winning – right from the first punch. The great wrestler, Mushtika was reduced to whimpering as Balarama repeatedly thudded Mushtika with his powerful blows.

Chanur ignored that fight, as he was focusing on Krishna.

But then Krishna found the chink in Chanur's armour – though Chanur was strong – phenomenally so – Chanur's girth did not let him be fast. The trick was stay away from Chanur's immediate grasp. Krishna tripped Chanur, trying to stay away from Chanur's hands. Chanur was fumbling and trying to catch himself, when Krishna, hit Chanur hard on the ears.

The blow to the ear was deafening as Chanur gasped, falling back. Krishna did not pause as he punched Chanur again on the stomach.

But then Chanur swallowed his pain and dealt a painful blow to Krishna's head.

The arena gasped as Krishna fell reeling on the ground.

But Krishna pulled himself up, as he eyed Chanur and bent down and tripped Chanur.

The fight between the two people went for a few more seconds – but Krishna was younger and what Chanur had with his experience, Krishna could counter it with his strength.

In five minutes, Chanur was on his back, as Krishna was strangling him, after pining Chanur's hands behind his back.

Mushtika was already downed by Balarama and looked like their fight was going to end in a few minutes.

Chanur and Mushtika met their end at just about the same time.

Krishna and Balarama were both gasping for breath and stood back and back studying the crowd, who were cheering them blindly.

For a second, there was a silence. All the people knew that the two boys were special. But none of them expected that Chanur and Mushtika would be dead.

Suddenly, the realization sunk in their head as they all loudly cheered beating drums and screaming their heart out at their new champions.

But Kamsa was furious. He was so furious that he nodded at three of his wrestlers – Kutha, Sala and Tosala. "Kill those boys." Kamsa sneered angrily. "I don't care what you do. But kill those boys painfully. And quick."

The three wrestlers needed no further encouragement because they wanted revenge for the death of their own as they jumped on the stage.

The two boys had barely recovered from their fight, when they saw the three wrestlers surround them.

There was another terrified silence in the arena.

Agreed, the boys were strong – but repeated attacks?

The people in the arena watched with baited breath as the two boys recovered almost in an instant.

In an almost quick fight, Balarama killed Kutha effortlessly.

Both Kutha and Sala attacked Krishna at the same time. But then Krishna kicked Kutha first and as Kutha fell back, Krishna caught Sala and punched him real hard. His kick and punch nearly incapacitating the two men.

A few minutes later, the Gopas and the people of Mathura were almost dancing in joy when they saw the three seasoned wrestlers breathe their last.

That was when the people in the arena heard a cold voice. "Arrest Nanda and that fool Vasudeva!" Kamsa yelled. "Grab all their wealth and kill Nanda, Ugrasena and Vasudeva. Immediate...."

Kamsa never completed his words. He just did not know what hit him when he felt a sharp blow to his ears. He saw a dark hue in front of him as he saw Krishna reach for his neck.

(Kamsa's father was Ugrasena. Kamsa had usurped the throne of Mathura from Ugrasena. It may be presumed that Kamsa had kept the old king captive all these years.)

Effortlessly, Krishna pulled Kamsa by the neck and threw him on the stage.

Kamsa groaned and fell with a thud, unable to believe what was happening. But then Krishna gave no respite to Kamsa as he pulled Kamsa by his hair and before Kamsa could recover, Krishna started strangling the king.

Kamsa's had eight brothers and all of them attacked Krishna and tried to pull Krishna away from the king.

They tried to.

But then then Kamsa's brothers knew exactly what the elder son of Vasudeva was called Balarama.

Balarama pulled up a club lying on the ground and twirled it high around his head, pushing the eight brothers back.

Balarama could hold on his own as none of Kamsa's brother could even come forward to help Kamsa.

*******

All Kamsa could see was a dark hue as he was struggling to breathe. He tried to push the boy back, but he found the boy phenomenally powerful. The boy pounded him and for a brief second, Kamsa thought he saw a beautiful glowing dark body with a conch and discus whirling around him.

Kamsa tried to focus, but then he just felt too feeble. That was the time Kamsa knew. He just knew that his time had come and he was being killed by the eighth son of Devaki, who was not just a mere boy...

That was the last thought which Kamsa had, as he breathed his last.