Chapter 16: The New Coach

The days following Mr. Kumar's heart attack were some of the most difficult Rohan had ever faced. He spent much of his time at the hospital, sitting by Mr. Kumar's bedside, hoping for the best but fearing the worst. The doctors had been clear: while Mr. Kumar had survived the initial attack, his heart was severely weakened, and the road to recovery would be long and uncertain.

Rohan couldn't shake the fear that his mentor—the man who had guided him, believed in him, and shaped him into the runner he was today—might never fully recover. The thought of continuing his training without Mr. Kumar's steady hand was almost too much to bear. But Rohan knew that he couldn't afford to stop now. Mr. Kumar had made it clear that he wanted Rohan to keep going, to continue pursuing his dreams no matter what.

One day, as Rohan sat with Mr. Kumar, the older man spoke in a voice that was still weak but filled with the quiet authority that Rohan had always respected. "Rohan, you can't keep spending all your time here," Mr. Kumar said, his eyes fixed on Rohan. "You need to get back to your training."

Rohan shook his head, his throat tight with emotion. "I can't just leave you here, sir. You're the one who got me this far. I don't know how to do this without you."

Mr. Kumar smiled faintly, a sad but understanding expression on his face. "You're stronger than you think, Rohan. But I also know that you're not ready to do this alone yet. That's why I've made arrangements for you to work with a new coach."

Rohan's heart sank at the thought of working with someone else. The bond he shared with Mr. Kumar was unique, forged through years of training, triumphs, and setbacks. He couldn't imagine anyone else understanding him the way Mr. Kumar did.

"Who is it?" Rohan asked, his voice tinged with reluctance.

"Her name is Ms. Mehra," Mr. Kumar replied. "She's a former national champion and one of the best coaches I know. She's agreed to take you under her wing while I recover."

Rohan frowned. "Ms. Mehra? I've heard of her… isn't she known for being really tough?"

Mr. Kumar chuckled, though the effort seemed to tire him. "Yes, she's strict, and her methods are… unconventional. But she gets results. I wouldn't trust you with anyone else."

Rohan wasn't sure how to feel. The idea of training with someone so different from Mr. Kumar was daunting, but he knew he had to trust his mentor's judgment. If Mr. Kumar believed that Ms. Mehra could help him, then Rohan had to give it a chance.

"When do I start?" Rohan asked, trying to keep his voice steady.

"Tomorrow," Mr. Kumar replied. "She's expecting you at the sports complex in the morning. Remember, Rohan, this is just another part of your journey. You'll learn a lot from her, and it will make you stronger. But don't forget everything we've worked on. Keep that with you, always."

Rohan nodded, a lump forming in his throat. "I won't forget, sir. I promise."

The next morning, Rohan arrived at the sports complex feeling a mix of apprehension and determination. He had met Ms. Mehra briefly a few years ago, when she had visited the complex for a training camp. She was a tall, imposing woman with a no-nonsense attitude and a reputation for pushing her athletes to their limits. Rohan knew that this was going to be a challenging transition, but he was determined to make the most of it.

As he approached the track, Rohan saw Ms. Mehra waiting for him. She was dressed in a sleek, black tracksuit, her hair pulled back in a tight ponytail. Her expression was stern, and there was an air of authority about her that made Rohan stand a little straighter as he approached.

"Rohan Singh," she said, her voice clipped and professional. "I've heard a lot about you."

"Yes, ma'am," Rohan replied, trying to keep his tone respectful. "Mr. Kumar told me that you would be my new coach."

"That's right," Ms. Mehra said, studying him with a critical eye. "Mr. Kumar has done an excellent job with you so far, but there's still a lot of work to be done if you want to compete at the national level. My methods are different from what you're used to, and I expect full commitment from you. Is that understood?"

Rohan nodded, feeling a pang of nervousness. "Yes, ma'am."

"Good," Ms. Mehra said briskly. "Let's get started."

The first training session with Ms. Mehra was a stark contrast to what Rohan was used to with Mr. Kumar. While Mr. Kumar had always emphasized discipline and hard work, his approach was patient and encouraging. He had a way of pushing Rohan to his limits while also making him feel supported and valued.

Ms. Mehra, on the other hand, was all business. She drilled Rohan on his form, his speed, his endurance—every aspect of his running was scrutinized and critiqued. There was no small talk, no words of encouragement, only cold, hard analysis. When Rohan made a mistake, Ms. Mehra pointed it out immediately, her tone sharp and unforgiving.

"Your stride is too short," she said during one of their sprints. "You're losing power with every step. Fix it."

Rohan tried to adjust his stride, but the pressure of Ms. Mehra's scrutiny made it difficult to concentrate. He stumbled slightly, and she immediately called him out.

"That's not good enough," Ms. Mehra snapped. "If you want to compete at the national level, you need to be better than this. Focus, Rohan!"

By the end of the session, Rohan was physically and mentally exhausted. He had never been pushed so hard in such a short amount of time, and the intensity of Ms. Mehra's training was overwhelming. But despite the grueling session, Rohan couldn't deny that he had learned a lot. Ms. Mehra's methods were harsh, but they were effective.

As Rohan walked off the track, drenched in sweat and barely able to stand, Ms. Mehra approached him.

"You did well today," she said, her tone still stern but with a hint of approval. "But this is just the beginning. If you want to achieve your goals, you're going to have to push yourself harder than you ever have before. I won't go easy on you, Rohan, but if you trust in the process, you'll see results."

Rohan nodded, too tired to say much. "I understand, ma'am. I'm ready."

Ms. Mehra studied him for a moment, then gave a curt nod. "Good. I'll see you tomorrow. And get some rest—you'll need it."

As Rohan made his way home, his mind was a whirlwind of thoughts. The transition to working with Ms. Mehra was going to be difficult, but he knew that this was a crucial step in his journey. If he wanted to compete at the national level, if he wanted to honor Mr. Kumar's faith in him, he had to embrace this new challenge.

It wouldn't be easy, but Rohan was determined to rise to the occasion. He had come too far to turn back now.