The orange glow of dusk bathed the quiet village paths as Aki walked home, cricket shoes slung over one shoulder, his kit bag resting against his back. The echoes of the stadium—the cheers, the adrenaline, the thrill—still pulsed through his blood, but the countryside around him was calm, almost reverent. Insects chirped in the distance. A faint scent of jasmine drifted from a neighbor's garden. This was home. Not the thunderous stadium, not the adrenaline-soaked pitch, but this modest village tucked into the folds of rural India.
He turned onto the familiar gravel lane that led to his house, a simple two-story structure with a slanted tiled roof and a wide verandah. Light spilled warmly from the kitchen window, and the sound of a sizzling tadka reached his ears.
Aki paused at the threshold for a moment. After everything—after the innings, the pressure, the last-over victory—this was the moment he had looked forward to. Peace. Simplicity. Family.
"Ma, I'm home," he called, stepping inside.
From the kitchen, his mother's voice floated out, cheerful and unaware. "Aki? You're early today!"
Inside the living room, his father Vikas was glued to the old television set, watching a news debate about water scarcity and local governance. His greying hair was slightly ruffled, his expression focused but tired. In the far corner, Aki's little sister Sonu sat on a straw mat, humming to herself as she dressed her cloth dolls with tiny hand-stitched sarees and ribbons.
"Look who's here!" Rohini emerged from the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron. She beamed at the sight of her son and opened her arms. Aki walked straight into the embrace, resting his forehead briefly on her shoulder.
"You smell like burnt garlic," he muttered playfully.
"And you smell like three hours of sun and mud," she retorted, patting his back.
Vikas looked over from the TV. "Back already?" he asked without turning down the volume. "Training finished early today?"
Aki smiled, dropping his kit bag by the door. "Something like that."
Sonu looked up, her eyes widening. "Bhaiya! You came back!" She dropped her doll and ran up, grabbing his hand. "Look, I gave Babbu a new bindi! And she's getting married to Dabbu today."
Aki knelt beside her, examining the mismatched cloth dolls she held out proudly. "You're quite the matchmaker," he said with a grin.
Sonu giggled and ran back to continue her game. Rohini called from the kitchen, "Dinner's almost ready. Wash up, Aki."
He obeyed, stepping into the small side bathroom to splash cold water over his face. The mirror reflected a young man who looked physically exhausted, yes—but also something else. Calmer. Anchored.
They sat down to eat a few minutes later. The meal was simple: hot rotis, potato curry, steamed rice, dal, and a pickle jar that had probably been refilled a dozen times over. They sat cross-legged on the floor, as they always had.
"So what did you do today?" Vikas asked between mouthfuls.
"Played," Aki replied.
"Same old group from the village?"
"Something like that."
Rohini added, "You've been coming home really late this week. What kind of match lasts that long?"
Aki shrugged. "Long innings. Needed the runs."
They didn't ask much else, and Aki didn't volunteer details. Not out of secrecy, but because he knew that, for them, cricket was just a game. Not a calling. Not a mission.
He glanced at Sonu, who was feeding her doll with imaginary food. Rohini served Vikas more dal, scolding him softly for not drinking enough water. The old ceiling fan hummed above them. The world was ordinary and whole.
And in its ordinariness—it was perfect.
That night, Aki lay on the thin cotton mattress in his small room. Outside the open window, the night pulsed with the songs of crickets and the occasional bark of a distant dog. His hands rested behind his head as he stared at the ceiling. The match replayed in his mind like a dream: the roar of the crowd, the crack of the bat, the final run that sealed it.
"This is your story now."
Nikhil's words echoed in his thoughts.
Then—without warning—a soft, chime-like tone rang in his ears.
He blinked.
A familiar glowing window materialized in the air above him, its edges shimmering like moonlight:
[New Training Mission: Rise and Grind]
Objectives:
Run 10 km
50 Push-ups
50 Pull-ups
50 Squats
Rewards:
+1 Stat Point
🎁 Mystery Box (Random Skill Unlocked)
Aki's eyes narrowed with purpose. Another step forward. He closed his eyes and let sleep take him.
5:00 AM – The Next Morning
The first rooster hadn't even crowed when Aki's internal clock woke him. The world outside was draped in silver mist. He sat up, the air crisp and cool against his skin.
He quietly laced up his shoes, threw on a worn hoodie, and slipped outside. The house slept peacefully behind him.
The 5-kilometer stretch to the park lay ahead, winding through quiet fields and low-rise hills. Aki began to jog. The earth beneath his feet was damp with dew, and each breath of morning air filled his lungs with chill and clarity.
By the time he reached the park, his body was warm, muscles loose, breath controlled. The park itself was small—barely more than an open field bordered by trees—but it had enough: a stone bench for push-ups, a bar fashioned from rusting metal for pull-ups, and open space for squats.
He began his routine.
Push-ups:
The first thirty were easy. The next ten slowed. The final ten were a battle—but he powered through, gritting his teeth.
Pull-ups:
He leapt to the bar. Each lift stretched his arms like rope under strain. His core burned. He hit 50 with one final pull and dropped down, breathing hard.
Squats:
Controlled, focused. Quads burning. Sweat dripping. He hit 50, then collapsed onto the grass, chest heaving.
A few minutes later, he stood again and began the final 5 km run back home.
Birds chirped in the banyan trees. Farmers led their cattle along narrow mud paths. Women swept doorsteps with neem branches. Life had begun to stir.
Aki's feet hit the dirt with rhythm, the world passing in slow motion. His body ached, but his heart was full.
As he reached the house again, another chime echoed—and the mission window reappeared.
[Mission Complete ✅]
🎉 Congratulations!
🏅 +1 Stat Point
🎁 Mystery Box Unlocked