The First Spark
788 Words
Ananya Raman had never understood why people voluntarily stepped into gyms. The smell of cold steel, sweat, and rubber... none of it matched her soft world of vibrant colors, delicate brushstrokes, and her love for food. But after months of feeling breathless climbing the stairs and her mother’s persistent, gentle nagging, she finally decided to try.
Even though the judgmental looks of others occasionally stung, she was a carefree spirit at heart. She didn’t mind the opinions of strangers, but when criticism came from those closest to her, it hurt like hell. She decided now was the time, swearing to herself that she didn’t need to lose weight; she just wanted to be healthy.
So here she was, standing in front of a row of machines that looked like medieval t*****e devices. She felt like a freshman at a massive university, unsure where to start. Choosing a treadmill, she began reading the manual as seriously as if it were a history textbook.
She nervously adjusted her shirt, tugging it over her plus-size frame. It was her first time wearing gym clothes, and the fabric felt unfamiliar. “Just get through the first day,” she whispered to herself.
She climbed onto the belt and hit the start button, unaware that a previous user had left a high-intensity program active. The machine beeped as if it were offended. Suddenly, the incline shot up, tilting her backward.
“Oh no—no—NO!” she cried. Her whole body trembled as she prayed for the impact to be slow. Thankfully, she was wearing the emergency stop clip; when she stumbled backward, the machine jerked to a halt, but she still began to slip.
A firm hand grabbed the railing beside her, while another caught her by the waist. She could feel the intense heat of his palm through the thin fabric of her shirt. A deep voice spoke right next to her ear, so close she felt his breath on her cheek.
“Hey, relax… I’ve got you.”
She turned and nearly lost her balance all over again.
He was… wow. Ananya felt an entire jungle of butterflies erupt in her stomach. Standing there was a gorgeous man tall, broad-shouldered, with a black T-shirt stretched over muscles she didn’t know existed on normal human beings. Sweat glistened along his jawline, and his eyes were a warm, amused brown.
Arjun Malhotra. The gym’s resident legend.
“This machine hates me,” she muttered.
His lips curved—not into a full smile, but into something deeper, a look that suggested he found her accidentally charming. She’s cute, he thought to himself.
“Or…” he said softly, “maybe it just likes you too much.”
Ananya’s cheeks burned. He extended a hand. “I’m Arjun.”
She took it. His grip was firm and warm almost too warm. A tiny shock ran up her arm. She tried to play it cool as she gave her name.
“Ananya,” she said, praying her voice didn’t sound as breathless as she felt.
He tilted his head slightly. “First day?”
“Is it that obvious?”
“Only because you’re standing there like you’re about to negotiate a peace treaty with the treadmill.”
She laughed, and the tension finally began to slip away. But he didn’t step back. He stayed close, the heat of his body enveloping her, drawing her into his gravity.
“You’ll be fine,” he said, his eyes lingering on her face a second too long. “I’ll keep an eye on you.”
Ananya blinked. “Why?”
He shrugged lightly. “Because you look like you’ll run away the second I turn around.”
He wasn’t wrong. But the teasing glint in his eyes was new to her. Men rarely looked at her with genuine interest or curiosity; usually, it was just judgment because of her size.
She glanced away, her pulse fluttering. “I won’t run.”
His voice dropped to a near murmur. “Good. I’d hate to miss seeing you again.”
Ananya’s heart shot into her throat.
He walked away, a towel slung over his shoulder, his muscles shifting effortlessly under his shirt. Halfway across the gym, he turned back.
And he smirked.
It wasn't a "gym instructor" smirk. It was the smirk of a man who had definitely noticed her.
Ananya gripped the treadmill handle, suddenly unable to breathe for a completely different reason. Her first day at the gym had just become… very interesting.
- Writer
