The sky was still dark when Arjun opened his eyes.
For a moment, he simply lay there, staring at the ceiling. The small fan above him rotated slowly, making a faint ticking sound every few seconds.
Tick.
Tick.
Tick.
Sleep had barely touched him that night.
Not because of fear.
But because of the weight of the decision he had made.
Yesterday… he had resigned.
Three simple words.
"I quit, sir."
Just like that, the job that had once felt like security had disappeared from his life.
The machines.
The factory noise.
The endless routine.
All gone.
Now there was only one path ahead.
Cricket.
Arjun slowly sat up on the thin mattress. The cool morning air brushed against his face. Outside the window, the first faint sounds of birds could already be heard.
He looked at the time.
5:02 AM.
Karn had told him to come to the ground at six.
But Arjun couldn't stay still anymore.
He quietly stood up and walked toward the small table near the wall. His cricket bag rested there.
Old.
Faded.
But precious.
He slowly unzipped it.
Inside lay his bat.
The handle grip was worn out. The wood carried marks from countless matches played on rough grounds.
But to Arjun… it wasn't just a bat.
It was the only weapon he had.
He picked it up carefully.
For a moment, he simply held it in his hands.
Then a small smile appeared on his face.
"From today… it's just you and me."
He placed it back in the bag.
In the next room, his parents were still asleep. The house was quiet.
They didn't know the full truth yet.
Arjun had only told them that he was taking some time off from work.
The real truth?
He had thrown himself into uncertainty.
For a dream that might never come true.
Arjun quietly wore his shoes and lifted the bag over his shoulder.
Before leaving, he paused at the door and looked once more at the house.
This house had seen his struggles.
His failures.
His silent nights.
Now it would also witness his gamble.
Without making a sound, he stepped outside.
The streets were still wrapped in early morning calm.
A few streetlights flickered lazily.
Some tea stalls were beginning to open. The smell of boiling milk and ginger tea slowly filled the air.
Morning walkers passed by with slow, steady steps.
But Arjun noticed none of it.
His mind was racing.
What if I fail?
The question suddenly appeared in his head.
His steps slowed.
What if Karn only said those encouraging words to motivate him?
What if he wasn't truly good enough?
What if this entire decision turned out to be the biggest mistake of his life?
The fear tightened around his chest.
For a moment… Arjun stopped walking.
The road ahead suddenly felt heavy.
Then Karn's voice echoed in his mind.
"I like your confidence."
Those words struck him like a spark.
Arjun clenched his fists.
"No," he muttered under his breath.
"I didn't come this far to doubt now."
His steps became firm again.
He started walking faster.
Within twenty minutes, the cricket ground appeared ahead.
The gates were half open.
A few players had already arrived.
Some were stretching.
Some were jogging slowly around the field.
Others practiced shadow batting, imagining invisible bowlers.
The ground carried the fresh smell of wet grass.
But Arjun's eyes searched for only one person.
Karn.
And then he saw him.
Standing near the pitch.
Arms folded.
Watching everything silently.
Even from a distance, Karn had a powerful presence. Calm… observant… almost intimidating.
It felt like nothing escaped his eyes.
Arjun walked toward him.
Karn noticed him instantly.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"You came early."
Arjun nodded.
"You told me six… so I came."
Karn looked at his watch.
5:38 AM.
He chuckled softly.
"Good."
Then his expression changed slightly.
He looked directly into Arjun's eyes.
"So…"
"Did you resign?"
Arjun answered without hesitation.
"Yes."
For a few seconds, Karn remained silent.
He studied Arjun's face carefully.
Many people speak about dreams.
Very few sacrifice their safety for them.
Finally, Karn nodded.
"Good."
But then his tone became serious.
"Listen carefully, Arjun."
"This is not a movie."
"There is no hero entry here."
"No crowd cheering for you."
"No shortcuts."
His eyes became sharper.
"Your body will break."
"Your mind will doubt."
"You will fail again and again."
Then Karn leaned slightly closer.
"And if you survive all of that…"
"Then maybe… just maybe… you will become a cricketer."
Arjun felt his heartbeat rise.
But his gaze remained steady.
"I am ready."
Karn smiled.
"I like that answer."
Suddenly, he tossed a red cricket ball toward Arjun.
Arjun caught it instinctively.
Karn raised one finger.
"First lesson."
"You think cricket is batting."
He shook his head.
"It is not."
Then he pointed toward the boundary.
"Run."
Arjun blinked.
"How many rounds?"
Karn replied immediately.
"Until I tell you to stop."
Arjun didn't question it.
He simply nodded.
Then he began running.
One round.
Two rounds.
Five rounds.
The morning sky slowly turned golden as the sun began rising.
Sweat started forming on Arjun's forehead.
Ten rounds.
His breathing became heavier.
Fifteen rounds.
His legs began to burn.
The other players finished their warm-ups and started watching him.
One of them whispered to another.
"Who is that guy?"
"No idea."
"Coach making him run like punishment."
Arjun couldn't hear them clearly.
His ears were filled with the pounding rhythm of his own heartbeat.
Twenty rounds.
His chest burned like fire.
Every breath felt heavy.
But something strange began to happen.
His thoughts disappeared.
No fear.
No doubt.
Only movement.
Step.
Step.
Step.
Finally, Karn raised his hand.
"Stop."
Arjun slowed down and walked toward him, breathing hard.
His shirt was completely soaked in sweat.
Karn handed him a bottle of water.
Arjun drank it like a man who had crossed a desert.
Then Karn asked calmly.
"How do you feel?"
Arjun wiped his face.
"Tired."
Karn shook his head.
"Wrong answer."
Arjun looked confused.
Karn pointed toward Arjun's chest.
"You feel alive."
Arjun froze.
And slowly… he realized Karn was right.
This exhaustion felt different.
This wasn't the lifeless fatigue from factory work.
This pain had purpose.
Karn then picked up a bat and handed it to him.
"Now…"
"Show me what made you leave your job."
Arjun walked toward the nets.
A bowler stood ready.
Karn turned to him.
"Full pace."
The bowler nodded.
Arjun took his stance.
The first ball came fast.
Arjun tried to defend.
But the ball slipped past his bat.
THUD!
The stumps exploded.
The sound echoed across the nets.
Some players chuckled.
"First ball duck."
Arjun stood still.
His ears burned.
But Karn remained expressionless.
"Again."
The bowler ran in again.
Second ball.
Faster.
Arjun swung his bat.
Edge.
The ball flew behind him.
Caught.
Out again.
More whispers followed.
But Karn simply watched silently.
Third ball.
Arjun inhaled deeply.
The bowler delivered a short ball.
This time something changed.
Arjun's instincts took over.
His bat moved like lightning.
CRACK!
The sound of the shot echoed across the entire ground.
The ball flew high over mid-wicket.
Even players outside the nets turned their heads.
The ball landed near the boundary rope.
Silence spread across the ground.
Karn's eyes narrowed slightly.
Interesting.
He folded his arms.
"Continue."
Arjun lifted his bat again.
The next ball was already coming.
And the real test…
Had just begun.