CHAPTER 5

Arjun met up with his friends Raj and Kavin as usual at the roadside shop. He narrated everything to them and they were very happy for him because they knew how much badminton meant to Arjun. Arjun told them to play along if his father called them any day to check whether he was really a part of some important project. When Arjun got to his office he was already half drained out and he knew it was going to get worse as he would start training on a daily basis.

“Good evening coach.” Arjun said, as he reached the court that evening.

“Hey Arjun. Hope you are ready to start, so can we?”

“Sure,” he said, but secretly wanting to just go home and sleep.

“First have this.” Ira said, handing over a bottle of protein shake. “You will feel a little energised.”

After he was done with the protein shake which was something he wanted very badly, Ira asked him to start with warm ups.

Arjun kicked off with stretching his arms and legs. Then he jogged on spot, followed by arm circles, side jumps, and wrist circles and lastly winding up with walking lunge. These were all very simple and basic warm ups yet he was utterly spent as he sat down.

“Up Mr. Arjun. Ten carioca, ten high knee jumps, twenty half squats.”

“What! Coach, I'm dog tired. Please.”

“Listen, I really wish I could be kind but my kindness might kill the chances of your victory. There will be no point regretting in the end. I want you to make it straight into the state level without getting into the main draws.”

“But what’s the issue if I get through the main draw?” Arjun questioned, breathing heavily.

“It will take a longer time and I think you are better than being a participant in the main draw. Now start with carioca fast.”

“Ah!” Arjun said, rolling his eyes, whining.

Just as he was done with all of it, Ira called out and told him that they will have to practice drop and lift rally.

“Okay but can I breathe for just five minutes?”

“Fine!”

After five minutes Arjun himself came up to Ira asking what drop and lift rally was.

“Player 1 will do a high serve, the other has to return a drop shot followed by net shot by player 1 and then a lift by player 2 then a drop and lastly a net shot. Works?” Ira asked.

They both took their positions and Ira did the service. Arjun couldn’t give his full power in the shots as he was dead on his feet.

“Come on Arjun. Where is the power? Focus Arjun, you can’t get this easily spent. Fight the tiredness with your passion. Let’s try again.”

They began again but yet Arjun couldn’t give his best.

“Am so sorry. I honestly tried but I couldn’t. Maybe because it is the first day, my body can’t pull itself together. I think I will be better tomorrow.” Arjun said, trying to make the words come out of his mouth while he gasped for air.

“Arjun I do understand that you are wiped. Maybe because it is your first day you are unable to fight your tiredness, it’s normal. But thinking you would become better tomorrow is foolishness. If you didn’t work today, how can you succeed tomorrow? And tomorrow is an uncertain word, who knows if we can even get hold of another day? Right?”

“Yes coach, you are right but I did try with all I could.” Arjun said, dismayed with himself.

“Come on, let us just relax for some time.” she said, signalling him to sit on the ground next to her.

As they both sat on the ground, Ira gaped at Arjun and said, “Arjun, just recall the reason you wanted to play badminton, the thing that sparked this passion in you. Whenever you feel like giving up, remember, your hopes lie in that thing.”

Arjun closed his eyes for a few moments and said,” Can we try one more time, coach?” The smile on his face spoke his confidence.

“Let’s do it.” Ira replied.

And this time, Arjun rocked it. He was at his best. Ira was damn impressed. But she wondered what he thought about which got him totally on fire.

“Coach, can I go home now? It’s already eight. I am freaking out about the situation at home.”

“Yes Arjun. Get home safely and take good rest. You did a great job today. And please let me know if the situation is all okay at home and if I can help by any chance, don’t hesitate to ask.”

“Sure coach. Thanks a lot.”

“Arjun, please see if you could stay till 9 pm from tomorrow. We just get four hours. I am not sure if it is sufficient.”

“I’ll try my best and let you know. Bye coach”

“Bye.”

Arjun got home thinking of all the possible outbursts he had to hear from his dad. He removed his shoes and stepped inside the house whose front door was already wide open.

“Hey Aju, come on in.” his father called out.

“Ah dad, yeah.” he fumbled with words.

“I know everything. Your sister already told me.”

“Dad..” he said, not sure on what his sister exactly told his dad.

“Why are you still standing? Come, have a seat. You must be dragged out working all day. Your sister told me that you are a part of an important foreign project. Do it with perfection son. Getting the job permanently is crucial.”

“Sure dad. Office hours are for twelve to thirteen hours now. It is a project for a multinational company.” Arjun would be a good liar but he always chose not to lie. He considered lying to the loved ones as a foolish act because whatever it was, the person who loves you truly would never give up on you even if the truth angered them. Arjun believed if someone did something that they knew should be lied about to their close ones, they were doing a wrong thing. He felt this belief of his being tested as he lied to his dad about the tournament, yet he didn’t budge because deep down inside Arjun knew he wasn’t doing a wrong thing. He knew one day his dad would understand him and forgive him for lying.

“Okay, no issues. Now go and have dinner. And Aju, I believe you gave up on that tournament.”

“Yes dad.” Arjun said, in a very low voice unwilling to lie straight to his dad’s face.

Kavya was waiting for her brother’s arrival to know how his day was. So once he got to the dining table, even before serving the food, she started questioning Arjun.

“My dear sister, food first please. I am famished.”

“Oh sorry” she said, starting to serve dinner.

While eating dinner, Arjun narrated everything that happened.

“Wow! So the famous badminton player ‘Ira Varadharajan’ is your coach?” his sister asked, with full astonishment.

“Yes Kavi. Even I can’t believe it. “

“She is very pretty, isn’t she? “ Kavya asked, smirking.

“Yeah, very pretty. But whatever you are thinking is not going to happen. She is just my coach. We are not even at a ‘friends-level comfort zone’ yet. She is profoundly sweet and doesn’t seem to be big-headed. Maybe because I always fancied her or idolized her, it makes me feel awkward and nervous around her.”

“So, do you mean to say you do like her?”

“Why not, she is one hell of a girl. But I am definitely not dreaming about any romance blossoming between us. I am very happy with however we are.”

“Okaaay. Please don’t forget to invite me to your wedding then.”

“God, you are too much.” Aju said, chuckling.

Later Arjun went to his bed and so did the others. Arjun was on top of the world as he thought about his day but he was also worn out. So he just dozed off to sleep after texting Ira that everything was well at his home.

The next day Arjun reached the court at the right time and started warming up under Ira’s instructions. As he expected he could push himself a little more than the last day.

“Arjun, shall we try smash today?” Ira asked.

“Sure.” Arjun agreed

“So, this is how it works. I’ll start with the high serve, you counter it with a smash, then me with a low defence, you with lift, then again smash, low, lift again to get the drill back to start. This is called smash and lift rally.”

“Got it coach. But I don’t get smashes right.”

“I’ll see to it. No issues.”

They started the drill and Arjun could do the smash but his accuracy in angling the shuttle and the force were a little less than what was needed.

“Arjun, your footwork is really good. And your smash was not as bad as you think it is. Just try to raise your non-racket arm to aim for the shuttle before you execute the smash.

When you extend your arm to reach out for the smash, make sure you fully utilise your thumb, wrist, forearm and shoulders. And hit the shuttlecock when it is at the highest point, this creates a steep angle for your smash.”

Arjun engulfed his coach’s instructions and tried the smash just as she said. He, himself, was surprised how those techniques instantly made his smash better.

“Coach, it worked. I did it the right way, didn't I?” Arjun said, literally jumping like a small kid who had won a chocolate-bar which Ira regarded as adorable.

“Yes. You did a good job.” Ira said, chuckling.

“Arjun, while holding the racket when you are about to smash, arch your thumb a little bit instead of stretching it out. The main things you need to check before smashing is whether you are using the full strength of your forearm and if you are at a right distance behind the shuttle.”

“Okay coach.”

“Come on. Let us try today’s and yesterday’s drill again once more.”

They practiced those drills till near perfection. And then Arjun excelled in service in which he was already good but lacked power. With Ira’s experience and knowledge on techniques of badminton, she managed to teach Arjun how to give his full power in service.

It was time for Arjun to leave for his office. He changed back to his formals and greeted goodbye to his coach as he got onto his bike to leave.

His work at the office was slowly reducing in efficiency. But not to the extent that his boss would notice. As far as his boss was unaware of Arjun’s lack of full hearted input in work, Arjun’s job was safe.

His working hours were finally over and he headed to the court after grabbing himself some light food. Just as he reached, Ira too reached the same moment. They greeted each other and entered the court together. Arjun carried out his general pre-match warm ups.

“Arjun, let’s practice the net rally and drive rally. In them we will be…...”

“I know this one. You don’t have to struggle to explain it to me.” he said, cutting her off, laughing.

They then practiced the drills and as Ira expected Arjun was good at them because he knew his net shots very well.

“Arjun, we have completed the basic shots. You seem pretty ace in them now. Next we must concentrate on the advanced tricks in those shots. That we will see tomorrow. For today, we must check if whatever we learnt in the past two days are well practiced. So what do you think of a full match?”

“Ultimate coach, I am getting the first service this time. Deal?”

“Deal.” Ira said, smiling.

They played a full on energy match and Ira won again.

“I am waiting for a day to win over you. You are too good at this game.”

“Ha-ha. Don’t worry you will definitely win over me and I will be a proud coach.” she said, throwing a bottle of protein shake towards him.

Arjun sat down drinking his protein shake as Ira pulled out a sheet of paper.

“Arjun, check this out. This has to be the diet you must follow from today.”

Arjun took the diet plan from Ira’s hand and read it.

“Coach, if I suddenly start eating these foods, won’t my father doubt on me?” he questioned, peering at her.

“Of course, he will. So make your whole family eat it. Tell your father that you came across this diet plan on the internet and thought you all should follow it as it will keep the body more fit. I am sure your dad won’t research about it to check if it is a normal person’s diet plan or some sportsman’s”

“You are a genius, coach. That will be exemplary. My dad anyways is a fitness freak.” Arjun said, giggling.

“But make sure your dad and your sister eat a lesser quantity of these foods. You must eat as per mentioned in the diet plan.”

“Sure. But don’t you think having chicken every day is a little too much?”

“Ha-ha. Maybe. So you alternate it with an egg. At any cost 12 almonds every day is must, no compromise in that. Keep yourself very hydrated.”

“Okay coach. So basically I have to follow a less fat, more carbs and fiber rich and protein enriched diet with a lot of water is what you expect.”

“Exactly.” she said.