The ISL table looked like a ticking time bomb.
Kerala Blasters – 33 pts
Mumbai City – 32 pts
Hyderabad FC – 31 pts
Goa – 30 pts
Three matches left.
Arjun sat quietly in the team hotel, headphones on but no music playing. He stared out at the twinkling Hyderabad skyline, the streets humming below with life, unaware of the weight he carried.
---
✦ Coach Sameer – Pre-Match Meeting
In the team room, Coach Sameer stood beside a whiteboard. Arjun, Faizan, and the rest of the squad sat with notebooks open, though they all knew the numbers by heart.
"Mumbai's breathing down our necks. Hyderabad's chasing us. Goa's sniffing blood," Sameer said.
He turned to the squad, eyes blazing.
"You want to win the league? It starts here. This isn't just another game — this is the battle for destiny."
He looked at Arjun.
"Still feel heavy?"
Arjun replied, voice even, "No. I feel ready."
---
✦ Hyderabad Stadium – Matchday
The air in the stadium was thick with smoke and chants. Hyderabad fans waved flares, drums thundered through the stands. Blasters' yellow clashed against the orange storm of the home crowd.
> 🎙️ Commentator 1 (English):
"Here we go, folks! Title hopes on the line tonight in the City of Pearls. Kerala Blasters versus Hyderabad FC — a clash that could shake up the top four."
> 🎙️ Commentator 2 (Malayalam):
"Ini oru porattam aakum! (This will be a war!) Arjun Dev — the elephant in yellow — steps onto the battlefield once again."
In the tunnel, Faizan nudged Arjun. "You nervous?"
Arjun smirked. "Just awake."
---
✦ Kickoff
Hyderabad wasted no time. Their Nigerian striker was a bulldozer, smashing into Blasters' backline. In just the 7th minute, a curling shot forced Dheeraj into a full-stretch save.
> 🎙️ Commentator 1:
"Early warning signs for Blasters! Hyderabad are flying out of the gates!"
> 🎙️ Commentator 2:
"Arjun hasn't touched the ball yet. But you can see him scanning, calculating... waiting."
In the 30th minute, chaos. Hyderabad's winger cut in, slipped through midfield, and launched a blistering shot from the edge of the box.
GOAL.
Hyderabad 1 – 0 Kerala
The stadium exploded.
> 🎙️ Commentator 1:
"That's a thunderbolt! Hyderabad strike first blood!"
> 🎙️ Commentator 2:
"Blasters' defense caught dreaming! Ithanu pressure. (This is pressure.)"
---
✦ Halftime — Inside the Locker Room
The locker room was tense. Silence hung in the air.
Coach Sameer didn't shout.
He stepped into the middle of the room. "You all know the feeling. This right here — this is pressure."
He looked at Arjun. "And pressure doesn't break leaders. It reveals them."
Then he pointed to the yellow elephant crest on their shirts.
"Let's show them how elephants march."
---
✦ Second Half
Blasters returned transformed. Arjun dropped deeper, commanding midfield like a general. Faizan pulled defenders wide. Sahal found pockets of space.
Then — the 62nd minute.
Arjun received a pass under pressure in midfield. He turned smoothly, feinted left, and threaded an impossible pass between three Hyderabad players.
> 🎙️ Commentator 1:
"Oh, my word! That's a laser from Arjun Dev! He's sliced open Hyderabad like a surgeon!"
> 🎙️ Commentator 2:
"Sahal aanu nadakkunnathu! (Sahal's through!) One-on-one!"
Sahal cut inside, steadied himself, and curled it past the keeper.
GOAL!
Hyderabad 1 – 1 Kerala
> 🎙️ Commentator 1:
"It's in! Equalizer! The Blasters are BACK!"
> 🎙️ Commentator 2:
"Ethu Arjunillu ninnulla indrajaalam aanu! (This is wizardry from Arjun!)"
Arjun didn't celebrate wildly. Just one clenched fist and a nod. They weren't done.
---
✦ 84th Minute — Corner Kick
Kerala earned a corner. Faizan jogged over, but Arjun stopped him.
"I'll take it."
> 🎙️ Commentator 1:
"Interesting! Arjun rarely takes set-pieces… What's this?"
He lined up. Focused. Wind blowing. The fans buzzing.
He whipped a low, venomous ball to the near post.
Abdul Hakku launched himself forward.
Header.
GOAL!!!
Hyderabad 1 – 2 Kerala
> 🎙️ Commentator 1:
"HAKKU! The big man rises! But give all the credit to Arjun Dev — that delivery was dripping with precision!"
> 🎙️ Commentator 2:
"Adipoli! (Fantastic!) Arjun is pulling the strings like a maestro!"
---
✦ Full-Time
The whistle blew. Arjun sank to his knees.
Blasters had done it.
They were top of the table again.
> 🎙️ Commentator 1:
"A comeback for the ages! This team has belief, grit, and a conductor in Arjun Dev."
> 🎙️ Commentator 2:
"Arohanam aanu nadakkunnathu. (This is a rise to glory.) What a performance!"
---
✦ Post-Match – Rainer Graf's Report (Germany)
Player: Arjun Dev
Match: vs Hyderabad FC
Rating: 9.5/10
Summary: Dictated tempo, decisive in key moments, elite mentality.
Status: Priority target. Agent consultation recommended.
---
✦ Final Scene – A Voice from Home
That night, Arjun's phone buzzed.
It was a voice message.
His mother, whispering gently:
> "Your Appa used to say — 'The elephant walks slow. But when it charges… the jungle listens.' They're listening now, monu."
He looked out at the night sky.
And smiled.
Because the jungle wasn't just listening.
It was singing.
---