As long as you are breathing

To be ready for death

“Man, this sure is boring,” said Khalid.

“Yeah man,” added Walid,“ I thought this is going to be a battle between two elite warriors where they will portray their willpower and warrior spirit.”

“All they doing is pretending to initiate a move and disappointing us by not throwing,” said Sajid.

But the three brothers weren’t the only ones bored at this. Even the old man felt tired of Kalil’s lack of action. Thus he initiated the battle with a sudden front kick to the head. Though Kalil back swayed to that, his reaction wasn’t fast enough to totally avoid the kick. The kick grazed his chin causing him to stumble.

The old man took a step forward to follow it up with a roundhouse kick. This time Kalil slipped to the side, bending his waist enough for the kick to pass above him.

As he got himself back into his stance, slight side-to-side sway became apparent along with the rhythmic shifting of weight from one foot to another.

“Hmm,” the old man observed, “That unique style of Muay Thai feels way too familiar to me. Show me what you can do.”

Kalil charged forward, but not in a straight path but rather like a serpent. He threw a rear roundhouse, but it was too telegraphic. The old man easily checked it.

As soon as he retracted his foot from the kick, he threw a lead kick. The old man checked it too. It was too telegraphic.

Another telegraphic lead kick was thrown. The old man checked it too but this time showed a slight discomfort in doing so.

“I don’t get it!” exclaimed Khalid, “He is just repeating the same moves like a child. I thought he was an elite warrior.”

“That what it seems like from far. But Kalil is doing something brilliant,” replied Zahid who has recovered from the pain by then.

“Huh? What?” asked Walid.

“Every time he retracts his leg after kicking, he is shifting his position towards the outside of the old man’s guard. His kicks are a disguise for his angle change. Look, the next one will land,” said Zahid.

Kalil threw another hard kick towards the old man. But it wasn’t possible for the old man to check it anymore. Kalil’s position is already too much towards the old man’s back that the kick seems to be coming from behind.

Just as everyone thought Kalil checkmated him, but the old man surprised them by pivoting on the back foot and countering Kalil’s kick with a spinning back kick.

Kalil was thrown several feet behind where he fell on his butt.

“Impossible!” shouted Zahid, “There is no way one can think of such a clean counter against an attack like this unless they have experienced this tactic beforehand. Just who is this old man?”

“You are not done yet, right?” said the old man as he towards Kalil. He had no stance anymore. He stood tall as if Kalil was no more a danger.

“No way in hell is Kalil done by just this,” said Zahid, “He is fiercer than you think old man.”

But to Zahid’s surprise, Kalil didn’t take an offensive stance. Rather he shelled up more than usual. The old man threw a series of punches which landed on Kalil’s defense. But despite not damaging Kalil seriously, the old man already established him to be his punching bag.

The old man threw another teep kick but Kalil barely dodged it by throwing himself backward. The old man walked towards Kalil again. Kalil took a step back for every step the old man took, till he hit a tree on his back.

“Damn, now it just looks like a cat playing with a mouse!” commented Zahid.

“Is he going to be okay?” asked Khestri.

“I honestly don’t know,” answered Zahid.

The old man threw a jab. Kalil slipped it by bending his waist. But the old man stopped before his knuckles would hit the tree.

He extended his jab again. Kalil raised up his guard too. But the old man grabbed his right arm with his right arm, and forcefully pulled it out of the guard. Then he grabbed Kalil’s shoulder to draw him closer for a knee to the ribs.

Kalil tried to harden his oblique muscle as much as he could, but the attack was still too hard for him. He somehow stood on his ground, anticipating another shot.

But the old man didn’t throw any. He was casually walking away from the battle. Kalil slowly began to notice that the battle was over.

However, Kalil couldn’t waste a chance like that. He jumped at the old man for a flying.

Unfortunately, he couldn’t land the kick. His kick was countered……by Zahid.

“What the hell man?” shouted Kalil.

 “That’s what I was about to ask you,” replied Zahid, “Forget warrior spirit, can’t you even show a tiny bit of sportsmanship?”

“This is a survival situation. Such words are meaningless here,” answered Kalil.

“Listen brat!” the old man stopped to speak, “You are clinging onto your life too much. The will to keep on living is very necessary for a fighter. However, to fight a death battle, one must be ready for his own death before thinking of his opponent’s death. ”

“Wait, but, if keeping your life is the most important, then-” Kalil tried to continue.

“Fix your mindset, child. We will have a rematch. And I want you to be at your best the next time,” said the old man.

Kalil stayed silent as he watched the old man walk away.

“Wait!” Zahid shouted, “You still haven’t given me a try.” He has already taken his stance.

“If you attack me I shall respond in accordance. But I will let you know I am not in the mood to fight anyone other than your coward friend at his best. I hope as a fighter, you understand that.”

Zahid relaxed from his stance. “I understand. But fight me someday.”