A Harsh Reminder

Avni lay on the grass, panting. Every inch of her body ached from the brutal sparring session. Her arms trembled, her legs felt like lead, and her pride was shattered into a thousand pieces.

She had thought she was improving. Thought she was finally catching up.

But in the end, she was still on the ground.

Still losing.

Anirudh stepped back, adjusting the sleeves of his shirt. "That’s enough for today."

Avni glared up at him. "Oh, so now you show mercy?"

He smirked. "Mercy? No. You’re just too tired to learn anything useful right now."

Aryan chuckled. "Translation: You’re useless when you’re exhausted."

Ayush grinned. "Well, at least she lasted longer than before."

Avni groaned. "Shut up, both of you."

Arnav, who had been silently observing, finally spoke. "Get up."

She froze.

Was he seriously not letting her rest?

She turned her head and met his eyes—cold, unyielding, and expecting more from her.

Her fingers dug into the dirt.

She didn’t want to move.

She wanted to stay down. To breathe. To stop.

But Arnav's voice was firm. "If you stay down now, you’ll stay weak forever."

Her heart clenched.

Weak.

That word burned.

Weak people got left behind. Weak people got ignored. Weak people had no voice.

She gritted her teeth and forced herself to her feet.

Arnav’s gaze didn’t soften. But for the first time, there was the slightest flicker of approval.

"Good," he said. "Remember this feeling. The day you stop fighting is the day you lose for real."

She clenched her fists.

She wouldn’t lose again.

Not anymore.

To Be Continued…