Rockford

Plot
The camera pans over the rolling hills of a rural Indian town before zooming in on a group of rough-looking boys in the distance. They're part of the St. Stephen's College Preparatory School, an all-boys Christian boarding school that's notorious for its strict rules and harsh discipline. It's a place where boys are molded into perfect Christians, and any hint of individuality is squashed mercilessly. We're introduced to our protagonist, Ravi, a bright and inquisitive Hindu student from a nearby village. Ravi's arrival at St. Stephen's is marked with caution and suspicion by the other boys, who eye him with a mix of disdain and curiosity. The school's headmaster, Mr. Martin, a stern-looking man with a thick white beard, welcomes Ravi with a patronizing smile, warning him that "we'll make a good Christian out of him yet." As Ravi navigates the labyrinthine corridors of the school, he's confronted with a world that's starkly different from his own. The boys here are rowdy, aggressive, and prone to violence, and Ravi struggles to keep up with their rough-hewn ways. The school's rules are oppressive, with boys being punished for even the slightest infraction - missing a button on a shirt, a torn page in a book, or even just speaking in a raised tone. At first, Ravi tries to conform, donning the obligatory Christian crucifix and participating in prayers that feel hollow and alien to him. But as he becomes more comfortable with his surroundings, he starts to push back against the strictures of the school. He begins to challenge the boys who bully him, stands up to the teachers who wield their authority like whips, and starts to explore the school's hidden corners - the abandoned chapel, the secret garden, and the old, decaying library. As Ravi becomes more confident in his own skin, he starts to attract the attention of the school's most notorious bully, a towering boy named Kumar. Kumar is a giant of a boy, with a cruel smile and a talent for physical intimidation. He's the king of the school's playground, and anyone who crosses him is swiftly punished. Ravi and Kumar are locked in a series of escalating confrontations, with the two boys trading blows and taunts like boxers in a ring. But beneath the bravado, Ravi can sense a deep sadness in Kumar - a boy who's been broken and belittled by the school's cruel system. As they clash, Ravi starts to see Kumar as a fellow outcast, a boy who's trapped in a prison of his own making. The school's teachers, particularly Mr. Martin, are watching Ravi's growing defiance with a mixture of horror and fascination. They see him as a challenge to their authority, a boy who refuses to be molded into the perfect Christian they've created. Mr. Martin summons Ravi to his office, where he delivers a stern warning - "If you don't behave, we'll make an example of you. You'll regret the day you ever set foot in this school." Ravi's defiance only grows stronger, and he becomes determined to expose the school's secrets - the hidden punishments, the secret beatings, and the cruel games played on the weaker boys. He starts to make allies among the school's more sympathetic teachers, like a quiet, introspective girl named Sofia who becomes his confidante. As the school year wears on, Ravi's rebellion reaches a boiling point. He's suspended, then expelled, but not before delivering a scathing speech to the entire school - a speech that lambasts the school's cruel system and demands justice for the victims. The aftermath is explosive, with the school administration scrambling to cover up Ravi's revelations and silence the dissenters. But Ravi's story sparks a wave of protests and outrage, with local activists and human rights groups descending on the school like a storm. In the end, Ravi emerges as a hero - a boy who dared to challenge a system that's designed to break him. He leaves the school with his head held high, his spirit unbroken and his heart full of hope.
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