CHAPTER 4

Arjun registered his name for the tournament and he was over the moon. He thought that was the happiest he had ever been. He was so excited to do something he liked after a long time because he hated desk jobs and he had been doing one for the past two years, first in a small company and now in a big one yet he found nothing better except the free snacks he got which raised his spirits.

As soon as the registration was done he rang Ira with a lot of excitation to let her know he was going to live his life’s biggest dream.

“Hello, I am Arjun and guess what.”

“Please tell me you are in for the tournament.”

“I am so in.” Arjun said, screaming into the phone.

“Oh my god, I am so happy for you, Arjun.”

“Thanks to you.”

“No thanks to you, now I am going to see my dream play out in front of my eyes. By the way how did you manage to convince your dad?”

Arjun felt people’s expectations on him pressurizing and he stressed about fulfilling them. For the first time, he didn’t feel Ira’s expectations burdening because both Ira and Arjun wanted the same thing.

“I couldn’t convince him, he is very stubborn on not wanting me to participate.”

“Then? You are playing against your dad’s words?” Ira asked, surprised.

“Yeah kind of. I thought of sticking by my dad’s words but my sister told me to go for it and that she will help me in keeping it a secret from dad.”

“Wow, so is your sister your partner in crimes?”

“Ha-ha, I would like to think so. Hey, but I don’t think I will be able to win it. I have just played at club level and I don’t even have a proper coach. Worse, we have just forty five more days left.” Arjun said, with his excitement turning into disappointment.

“Don’t brood about all of that. From this moment I am your coach. I know we have less time but the pressure is not only on you, I am with you in this. We can do it together.”

“But what about your health? No, I don’t think you should strain yourself.”

“Excuse me, why am I going to strain? The hard work part is yours. The guidance part is mine.” Ira said, giggling.

“Okay done. So when are we starting?”

“Monday at six in the morning, the same court?”

“Then see you on Monday, coach.” Arjun said, stressing the last word.

“Sure. Bye”

With that both of them went off to bed. Arjun was over cloud nine. But Arjun had to think of a lie to tell his dad in order to spend extra time out, practicing. So he came up with the idea of being a part of an important project so he had to do overtime work for the next two months.

Arjun woke up sharp at 5:00am as his alarm went off on Monday. He took a quick shower and got dressed in his office wear because his dad would get a doubt if he went out wearing a sports track. He packed his sportswear in his laptop bag which he usually took to the office. This was Arjun’s safe trick for years to fool his dad whenever he wanted to play badminton without his dad’s knowledge. He went downstairs to the dining table around 5:30 am. Arjun’s and Kavya’s rooms were on the first floor. His dad’s room, living room and the kitchen were downstairs. His sister had prepared the breakfast already and it was all laid out on the dining table. Just as Arjun sat down to have food, his sister told him that their dad would be waking up in another half an hour so it would be better if he leaves before that so that she could manage telling something. Arjun told his sister that he will definitely leave before their dad woke up and he also asked his sister to tell their father that he left early to the office as he was a part of an important foreign project. Kavya responded with an okay sure.

Arjun arrived at the court at 6 am sharp. He was a punctuality freak. Even Ira was, when it came to badminton.

“Hey Arjun.” Ira said, waving at him from a distance.

“Hey coach.” Arjun greeted back.

“I like that! So let’s start then.” she said, raising her eyebrows.

She was already in track pants and a t-shirt. Arjun went and got changed in the changing room. He picked up two rackets and the shuttle from his locker.

“Arjun, today we will concentrate on different shots. Tell me the various shots.”

“Okay, so there are four basic types of shots. They are..”

“Okay. If I will tell a type, you tell me when to use it. If I describe a type, then you will have to give the name. Got it?”

“Yeah”

“Clear shot” Ira said

“It is strategic to use when your opponent is near to the fore-court, forcing him to retract to the back to retrieve the shuttle. If the clear shot sends the shuttle right to your opponent’s baseline, it’s considered a good defensive clear.” Arjun replied, clearing knowing his shots.

“This shot is best used when the shuttle is high in the air so that it can be angled downwards.”

“The Smash”

“Alright, name the remaining shots.” Ira demanded.

“Net kill and Drop shot. In drop shot there is slow and fast drop”

This coach and student environment was being awkward to both Ira and Arjun but then both of them handled it well so that their full concentration would be on the game than their whole bonding-weirdness.

Ira asked if he was aware of his weak points in badminton as it would take her some time to find it out herself to which Arjun replied he wasn’t strong enough in smash as far as only shots were taken into consideration.

Ira thought it was really brave of him to accept his flaws which many people tried to hide.

“Fine, Arjun get to position. Let’s have a face off.” she said.

Arjun got to his position and it felt like a fantasy to play against ‘The Ira Varadharajan’ whom he had always admired. Ira took the first serve and that skill and spirit was still lit. As the shuttle crossed the net, Arjun swung his racket to hit the shuttle with all passion. They both played a proper complete match and Ira won the match which was obvious. But what surprised Ira was, how close the scores were. She did know Arjun was naturally a great player but she didn’t expect it to be of such heights.

“Arjun, mate. You just blew my mind away. That was a very healthy match.” Ira said, her happiness was evident in her voice and expression.

“Thank you. But I think your health has to take the credit in making me seem like a good player.” Arjun responded trying to be polite.

“I am neither used to blaming nor giving credit to other factors apart from one’s own talent and hard work.”

Arjun smiled and asked if he messed up at some places because he was pretty sure that he might be a good player but not a flawless one yet.

Ira was very impressed on how real, modest and open to becoming better he was.

“Yes Arjun, we definitely have to work on smashes, forehand and backhand underarm, and the power of your service. But I have to say, your clear shots and overheads were brilliant. In fact they were faultless.”

“Thanks coach. But how long will it take to perfect the others?” he asked, uncomfortable to move very freely with Ira as she was still a big star in his head.

“Well I believe you are a quick gasper. So it won’t take longer than the time we have. After that we will see some smart techniques that would fit in your playing style.”

“Okay coach. I’ll follow as per your instructions.”

“Thanks.” Ira said smiling.

It was already 7:30 am. And Ira knew she had to let Arjun leave by 8:00 am at least so that he could catch up with his friends around 8:30 am. She was sure that Arjun himself wouldn't ask if he could leave as he was still a little star struck around her and she could feel the ice in between them.

“Arjun, you can leave by eight. Until then, just acknowledge me on some of the exercises you do particularly for badminton.”

“Sure coach.”

Arjun started naming a few of the exercises like dumbbell wrist curls, squats, lat pull-down, ball push-away reps, jogging, skipping, and normal warm ups.

“Okay Arjun but we need to focus on specialized exercise for specific body parts like the forearm, backhand and mainly footwork.”

“Right. If you name me the workouts, I'll take a peer at them for an idea from the internet or even I can ask my gym trainer to help me with it.”

“No, the gym trainers won’t have a great accuracy in checking if you are doing it the right way. I’ll help you with that. In case you want to just check it out on the internet, I’ll text you. Is that okay?”

“Yeah, but I feel like it would be better if you instruct just once. In case you don’t mind.”

“Sure. As per your comfort.”

Arjun beamed, feeling grateful for such a sweet coach.

“By the way, when is the next training hour?”

“After your working hours?” Ira asked, waiting for approval.

“Ugh I think that will be fine. I’ll ask my sister to manage at home.”

“Arjun I know it is going to be very hard for you to balance your work life, family and badminton. But trust me, when you hear your name being called out as the winner, it will all be worth it. Ira assured him.

“You are right and I can’t wait for that day.”

“It’s not that far away. And I think now you have to leave. See you in the evening at six here.”

“Done. See you coach. Bye.”

Ira called up her coach and told him everything that happened and her coach was totally pleased with it. She asked her coach to be available at times for her to take his help in coaching Arjun. Mr. Selvan said that he was too busy those days but he will try his best to be available.