Chapter 91: Olympic Village

This was his moment, and no matter what happened next, he was determined to seize it. Rohan took one last deep breath, letting the enormity of the stage settle in before narrowing his focus. He had worked for years to be here. He had fought through injuries, setbacks, and the weight of expectations. Now it was time to trust the work he had put in, to let go of the pressure and run his race.

Rohan jogged onto the track, beginning his warm-up routine. He felt his muscles loosen with each stretch, his body falling into a familiar rhythm. As he ran a few easy laps around the stadium, his gaze kept drifting back to the Olympic rings—those five interlocking circles that symbolized so much more than just a sports event. They represented the coming together of the best athletes in the world, the culmination of dreams, hopes, and sacrifices.

But this time, as he looked at the rings, he didn't feel intimidated. He felt inspired.

With each stride, Rohan reminded himself why he had started running in the first place. It wasn't for medals or fame—it was for the sheer joy of movement, for the challenge of pushing himself to the limit. The Olympics were the ultimate challenge, the greatest opportunity to see just how far he could go.

By the time he finished his warm-up, a calm resolve had settled over him. He knew his father was still in the hospital, and he knew that the worry would never completely leave him. But he also knew that he was doing exactly what his father would want him to do. He was here, competing on the world's greatest stage, and he would give it everything he had.

"Ready to head back?" Ms. Mehra asked, approaching him as he wrapped up his cool-down. "You need to rest up before the heats tomorrow."

Rohan nodded, wiping the sweat from his brow. "Yeah, I'm ready."

They walked back to the Village in companionable silence, the hum of the city around them contrasting sharply with the stillness in Rohan's mind. He felt more focused than he had in weeks, his mind cleared of the noise and distractions that had weighed him down.

When they reached the Indian dormitory, a small crowd of athletes and support staff had gathered. Rohan's heart skipped a beat as he saw who was waiting for him—Dr. Kapoor, standing slightly apart from the group, his face breaking into a smile as Rohan approached.

"I thought you could use a little extra support," Dr. Kapoor said, stepping forward to shake Rohan's hand. "You've come a long way, Rohan. I'm proud of you."

Rohan felt a rush of emotion at the sight of the man who had helped him through so much. He had leaned on Dr. Kapoor during his injury, during his darkest moments, and now, here he was, standing by his side at the Olympics.

"Thank you, Dr. Kapoor," Rohan said sincerely. "It means a lot that you're here."

Dr. Kapoor's smile widened. "I wouldn't miss it for the world. I know how much this moment means to you."

Rohan nodded, feeling a lump in his throat. "Yeah. It's everything."

"And you're ready for it," Dr. Kapoor said firmly. "All those hours of mental training, all the work you put in to build your resilience—it's all led to this. Remember, the key is to stay present. Don't think about the result, don't think about the expectations. Just focus on each step, each breath, each moment."

"I will," Rohan promised. "I'm going to run for myself, for my family, and for everything we've been through."

"That's the spirit," Dr. Kapoor said, his eyes shining with pride. "And no matter what happens, know that you've already won by being here. You've overcome more than most people ever will, and you've done it with grace and determination. Now, go out there and show the world what you're made of."

Rohan took a deep breath, letting Dr. Kapoor's words wash over him. He felt a sense of peace settle in his chest—a calm confidence that steadied him, anchored him. He knew there were no guarantees, no way of predicting how the race would go. But that didn't matter. All that mattered was that he gave it his all.

"Thank you," he said softly. "For everything."

Dr. Kapoor nodded, his smile gentle. "Now go rest up. Tomorrow is the start of something incredible."

---

That night, Rohan lay in his bed, staring up at the ceiling of his small room in the Olympic Village. The dormitory was quiet now, the lights dimmed as athletes turned in for the night, each one preparing for the battles they would face in the days to come.

The events of the day swirled in his mind, but his thoughts kept drifting back to one thing—his father's message. He had read it over and over, the words etched into his heart: *"No matter what happens, I'm so proud of you. Go make us all proud. Run like the wind."*

Rohan closed his eyes, picturing his father's face, the warmth and encouragement that had been there every step of the way. He wished he could hear his father's voice one more time, could feel his strong, reassuring presence beside him. But even though his father wasn't here physically, Rohan could feel him in spirit.

"I'm going to do it, Papa," Rohan whispered into the darkness. "I'm going to run my best race, for you."

With that promise in his heart, he turned over and let sleep take him, his mind quiet, his body ready.

---

The next morning, Rohan woke early, his nerves tingling with anticipation. Today was the first day of the athletics events, and he would be competing in the 1500-meter heats. It was the beginning of the journey—the race that would determine whether he advanced to the semifinals and, ultimately, the finals.

He dressed quickly, pulling on his racing kit, the tricolor of the Indian flag displayed proudly on his chest. As he looked at himself in the mirror, he took a deep breath, feeling a rush of emotion. This was what he had worked for. All the pain, the setbacks, the sacrifices—they had all led to this.

Rohan made his way to the dining hall for a light breakfast, his movements quick and efficient. The other athletes greeted him with smiles and nods, but there was a shared sense of focus in the room. Everyone was in their own headspace, mentally preparing for their events.

After breakfast, Rohan met up with Ms. Mehra and Dr. Kapoor in the common area. They exchanged a few words, going over last-minute details, but Rohan's mind was already shifting into race mode. He could feel the familiar buzz of adrenaline starting to build, his senses sharpening as he prepared to step onto the track.

"Remember what we talked about," Dr. Kapoor said quietly as they walked toward the shuttle that would take them to the stadium. "Breathe. Stay present. You've got this."

"I know," Rohan replied, his voice steady. "I'm ready."

When they arrived at the stadium, the atmosphere was electric. The stands were starting to fill up, the hum of excitement growing louder as spectators took their seats, eager to witness the start of the athletics events. The sun was high in the sky, casting a golden glow over the track, and Rohan felt a surge of energy as he looked out at the iconic Olympic rings painted on the infield.

This was it. This was where dreams were made.

He went through his warm-up routine with practiced precision, his mind clearing of all distractions. He didn't think about his father, about the expectations, or the pressure. He didn't let the noise of the stadium or the roar of the crowd get to him. All that existed in this moment was the track in front of him, the feel of his muscles coiling and releasing, the rhythm of his breath.

When the officials called the athletes to the starting line, Rohan stepped forward, his heart pounding in his chest. He glanced around, taking in the sight of the other runners—some familiar faces, some new. They were all here for the same reason: to compete, to push themselves to the limit, to see who would emerge victorious.

The official's voice echoed over the loudspeaker, the final instructions blurring into the background as Rohan settled into his lane. He crouched down, his fingers brushing the track, his body tense and ready.

"On your marks."

Rohan's pulse quickened, his gaze narrowing on the track ahead. The world seemed to slow, the noise of the crowd fading into a distant hum.

"Set."

Every muscle in his body coiled like a spring, poised for action.

The gun fired, and Rohan exploded off the blocks, his legs churning with power as he surged forward. The race had begun.

He was here. He was ready.

And he was going to run like the wind.

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