Chapter 67: The Fire Rises

The television flickered in the corner of the room, casting a soft glow over the dimly lit living room where Rohan sat, his eyes fixed on the screen. On the screen, the athletes were lining up for the 1500-meter finals at the International Circuit meet in Zurich—a meet that Rohan would have been a part of if not for his injury. His heart pounded in his chest as he watched his competitors, men he had once raced against, prepare for the start of the race.Among them was Arjun, his long-time rival, standing at the starting line, his gaze focused and determined. Rohan could see the fire in Arjun's eyes, the same hunger that had fueled their rivalry for years. There had always been a deep sense of competition between them—one that pushed both of them to be better, to run faster, to strive for greatness. But now, as Rohan watched from the sidelines, the gap between them felt insurmountable.The gun fired, and the runners shot off the blocks, their strides smooth and powerful as they quickly settled into their pace. Rohan's heart raced as he watched them move, his mind instinctively analyzing their form, their speed, their strategies. He could almost feel the adrenaline coursing through his veins, the familiar rush of competition that had once defined his life.But that rush was now accompanied by a deep ache—a longing that had been growing inside him ever since his injury had taken him off the track. Watching these races, seeing his competitors continue to thrive while he was stuck in recovery, had been a constant reminder of how far he still had to go. The yearning to be out there again, to feel the wind on his face and the burn in his legs, was almost unbearable.Rohan clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white as the runners approached the final lap. Arjun was in the lead, his powerful strides carrying him ahead of the pack. He looked stronger than ever, his movements fluid and controlled. Rohan had always respected Arjun's talent, even if their rivalry had sometimes pushed them to the brink of animosity. But now, seeing Arjun dominate the race while he sat on the couch, Rohan felt a pang of envy.The finish line loomed, and Arjun crossed it with a triumphant burst of speed, leaving his competitors in the dust. The crowd erupted into cheers, and the camera zoomed in on Arjun as he raised his arms in victory, his face flushed with triumph.Rohan's chest tightened as he watched the celebration unfold. He should have been there. He should have been in that race, fighting for the top spot, pushing himself to the limit. But instead, he was stuck in limbo, watching from the outside as the world of competitive running moved on without him.As the post-race interviews began, Rohan turned off the television, unable to watch any longer. The silence that followed was deafening, and for a moment, Rohan just sat there, staring at the blank screen. The longing to return to the track, to compete again, burned brighter than ever, but so did the fear that he might never be able to return to the level he had once reached.He stood up, pacing the room, his thoughts swirling in his mind. The recovery process had been long and grueling, and while he had made significant progress, the doubts still lingered. Would he ever be able to run like he used to? Would he ever be able to compete with the best again? Or was he destined to watch from the sidelines for the rest of his life?A sharp knock on the door pulled Rohan out of his thoughts. He opened it to find Ms. Mehra standing there, her expression calm but concerned."I thought I might find you here, sulking in front of the television," she said, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation.Rohan managed a weak smile. "I wasn't sulking," he said, though the truth was written all over his face. "Just watching the Zurich meet."Ms. Mehra nodded, her sharp eyes scanning him. "Arjun won, didn't he?""Yeah," Rohan replied, his voice tight. "He looked strong."Ms. Mehra crossed her arms, her gaze steady. "And how did that make you feel?"Rohan hesitated, unsure of how to put his feelings into words. "I don't know. Jealous, I guess. Frustrated. I should have been there.""You weren't there because you're recovering from an injury," Ms. Mehra said firmly. "That's not something to be ashamed of. You've come a long way, Rohan. You're not where you used to be, but that doesn't mean you won't get there again.""I know," Rohan muttered, though his voice lacked conviction. "But watching them compete while I'm stuck here… it just makes me feel like I'm falling behind."Ms. Mehra stepped closer, her voice softening. "I understand that. But comparing yourself to others right now isn't going to help you. You're on your own journey, Rohan, and it's going to take time. Yes, Arjun is winning races right now, but your time will come again."Rohan sighed, sinking back onto the couch. "It just feels like I'm missing everything."Ms. Mehra sat down beside him, her tone gentle but firm. "You're not missing everything, Rohan. You're preparing for your comeback. I know it's hard to be patient, especially when you see others achieving what you want. But this recovery isn't just about getting back to where you were—it's about becoming stronger, smarter, and more resilient."Rohan looked at her, the doubt still clouding his mind. "What if I can't get back to where I was?"Ms. Mehra met his gaze, her eyes unwavering. "You will. But you have to believe that."Rohan swallowed hard, the words sinking in. He wanted to believe it. He wanted to believe that he could come back stronger than before. But the fear of failure, the fear of never being the same again, still gnawed at him."Come on," Ms. Mehra said, standing up and pulling him to his feet. "You need to clear your head. Let's go for a walk."Reluctantly, Rohan followed her outside, the cool evening air washing over him. They walked in silence for a while, the city streets quiet around them.Finally, Ms. Mehra spoke. "You've been watching these races, feeling like you're being left behind. But you're not, Rohan. You're on your own path. And right now, your focus should be on getting back to full strength, not on what your competitors are doing."Rohan nodded, though the longing still tugged at him. "I just want to compete again," he admitted. "I want to feel like myself again.""You will," Ms. Mehra said, her voice firm. "But right now, you need to trust the process. Your time will come."As they continued to walk, Rohan felt a small spark of hope reignite inside him. He wasn't where he wanted to be yet, but maybe—just maybe—he could get there again.