Chapter 8 Practice Start
1056 Words
The next morning unfolds at exactly 4 a.m. A faint blue veil still drapes the sky, and the last silver rays of the moon flicker on the mountain peak. Mukesh, Yash, and Sameer stand shoulder-to-shoulder, staring at the massive black-rock cliff that looks even more mysterious in the icy dawn breeze.
Yash glances at the watch strapped to his wrist. "Guruji said ten laps of this mountain in one day, right?"
Mukesh's lips curl into a grin. "So if we start sprinting now, we'll finish before sunset."
Sameer and Yash shout in unison, "Deal—let's go!" Laughter explodes between them as they bolt forward, their breaths turning to white puffs in the freezing air.
By the end of the second lap, all three are wrecked. The watch reads 6:10 a.m. Legs feel like lead, knees wobble. They collapse onto a boulder. Sameer clutches his lower back and groans, "My spine's snapped, man!"
Yash yanks off his shoes, massaging his feet. "Feels like my soles died."
Mukesh, panting, still manages a laugh. "Already tapped out? Eight laps left!"
Silence falls. Only the rustle of wind and a distant cuckoo. Sameer gulps water and asks, "Mukesh, you've always lived in Raipur?"
Mukesh flops onto his back, eyes on the sky. "Nah, just shifted here. Did all my schooling in Dhamtari. Those narrow lanes, the banyan ground… everything comes rushing back."
He suddenly sits up, voice dropping to a whisper. "Want a secret?"
Two pairs of ears perk.
"I'm not a virgin anymore."
Sameer's eyes go round. "No way!"
Yash chokes mid-sip.
Mukesh laughs and dives in.
"Till Class 8, I knew nothing—boyfriend, girlfriend, zero clue. Just cricket, cycles, and mango pickle. Then Class 9, first love letter. Heart went boom-boom. Class 10, two girlfriends at once. Class 11, double breakup—same day!"
Sameer hollers, "Double blast!"
Mukesh grins. "Class 12, Riya showed up. Her family? Everyone in town knew them—bungalows, cars, bodyguards. Still, we sneaked around: school rooftop, behind the library, last seat of the bus."
"And then?" Yash leans in, breathless.
"Last day of finals. We're in the park. Suddenly her kid brother—twelve years old—storms in, starts cussing me out. I tried reasoning: 'Bro, it's love, not war.' He slapped me. So I slapped back."
Sameer gasps, "You killed him?!"
"Nah, just a couple punches. But the shame—beaten by a kid half my size."
Mukesh's gaze drifts to the mountain.
"As he left, he shoved a scrap of paper into my hand. A phone number. 'You thought you could take my sister with this strength? Build some muscle first. That's an academy. Train there. If my big brother finds out, you're gone.' I pocketed it and walked away."
The wind dies. Silence wraps them tight.
Sameer breaks it with a roaring laugh. "Up, losers! Eight laps left!"
They stagger to their feet and run again. Three more laps down. They collapse for fifteen minutes of pure stillness. Time: 10:20 a.m.
Mukesh finally speaks. "I spilled my story. Your turn—where are you guys really from?"
Sameer exhales. "Born and bred in this city. Only escape: my nani's village once in a blue moon. Otherwise, pure Raipur. And unlike you, no girlfriend luck. Still single, still zero."
Mukesh bursts out laughing. "In Raipur and you never scored? Legend!"
Both turn to Yash. "Your turn, Mr. Perfect—six-pack, fair skin, the works. Spill!"
Yash stammers, "Some other time… not today."
Mukesh teases, "Louder, bro!"
Yash snaps, "I said I can't!"
Sameer calms him. "Easy, man."
Yash softens. "Sorry… just not ready."
Mukesh lightens the air. "Fine, keep your secrets. But we know about the girl who sits beside you—Harshita, right? All sweet talk with her?"
Yash flushes. "It's not like that!"
Sameer grins. "Then what is it?"
Yash sighs. "Harshita already has someone. You never saw her leave college on that guy's bike?"
Both shake their heads. "Never noticed!"
Chatter carries them to 11 a.m. Energy surges. "One more lap!"
But hunger hits like a truck. Food first?
Mukesh stops them. "Wait! We still have juice in the tank. If we quit now, what's the point? Two months—that's all we've got. Break limits!"
Fire reignites. They charge again—two more laps.
Mukesh finally calls it. "Done! Tonight we rest, tomorrow evening we smash three in one go. Room—now."
Cut to their hostel room. They devour dinner, then crash, bodies screaming.
Straight cut to 6:00 p.m. Golden light leaks through the window.
Mukesh stirs, stares at the ceiling. "What a nap!"
Checks his watch—6:00 sharp. "Woke up too early!"
Lightning in his brain: three laps left!
He leaps up, peers out—sun bleeding orange on the horizon. "Six p.m.!"
Shakes Sameer. "Rise, hero! Three laps pending!"
Sameer groans, "Didn't I just sleep…?"
Yash is missing.
They burst outside. On the veranda, Yash sits lotus-style, eyes shut, breathing in perfect rhythm.
Mukesh yells, "Yogi baba! You woke up ages ago and didn't wake us?"
Yash opens his eyes, smiles. "We crashed together, remember? Sleep skipped me. Thought I'd meditate."
Sameer yawns. "Excuses later—mountain first!"
Mukesh fists the air. "Ten out of ten today—let's roll!"
Three pairs of shoes hammer the ground. The mountain glows crimson. Every step stretches their shadows longer.
Cut—Raipur's cramped alleys.
A dusty Scorpio screeches to a halt. Back seat: the gang boss in dark shades, phone glued to ear.
"Still no trace?"
Underling trembles. "Boss, Yash vanished. No college, no home, no bus stand. Like he turned to air."
Boss grinds his teeth. "Two more days. Then I hunt myself. Whoever's hiding him—God help them."
The Scorpio roars off, swallowing the night in a cloud of dust.
We're told that so far, only 10 people have ever ruled this underworld. Out of these 10, Japan's kings have been the most dominant; 4 of them have already become kings. The remaining 6 are from different countries.
But the most shocking part? The 4th king from Japan met with a terrible betrayal. His own crew turned against him, and that incident shook the entire underworld to its core.
Then John Abraham stepped in, took the throne, and started ruling with an iron fist.
And today... he's dead.
- Writer
