"Play it," Rajan whispered.

The whole hostel lost its mind. Boys poured out of their rooms. They formed a circle. Someone grabbed a broom as an air guitar. Another used a steel tiffin box as a bongo.

Father Varghese reached the door. He saw the chaos. He saw Rajan spinning on the dusty floor like a top. He saw the lungis flying.

Panic. Appu fumbled to lower the volume. Unni tried to jump down from the bunk, but his lungi snagged on a nail. He hung there like a startled bat.

"Silence, thendis !" Appu shouted over the rain. "The 'Mallu Hostel Dance Latest' is here. Fresh from Instagram. The trend is Jimmiki Kammal but with a Thallumaala beat drop."