"From Rivals to Forever: A Journey of Love"

Chapter 25

Kabir's Perspective

The energy in the locker room was electric, the kind of charged atmosphere that comes with the anticipation of something big. The final match was set to begin in just 15 minutes, and I could feel the weight of the moment settling on my shoulders. This was it—the culmination of all my hard work, hours of training, and the countless sacrifices I'd made. But more than that, this match felt personal. This was about proving something to myself, and maybe even to Aditi.

As I wrapped my hands in the familiar ritual that always helped calm my nerves, my mind drifted to the conversation I'd had with Aditi last night in the library. Her words had been simple, yet they carried a weight that made me feel invincible. "Best of luck for the boxing match tomorrow. I know you will win." Her voice, soft and sure, had stayed with me, echoing in my mind whenever doubt threatened to creep in.

I was focused, my mind honed in on the task at hand, when I heard the locker room door creak open. The footsteps that followed were familiar, and I didn't need to look up to know who it was.

"Well, well, if it isn't lover boy himself," Jai's voice cut through the silence, dripping with a confidence that I recognized all too well. I looked up, meeting his gaze with a calm I didn't quite feel. Jai was leaning casually against the lockers, his eyes gleaming with a mixture of amusement and something darker.

"Jai," I acknowledged him with a nod, keeping my voice steady. I wasn't about to let him rattle me, not now, not when I was so close.

Jai's smirk widened, and he stepped closer, his eyes narrowing slightly as he looked me over. "You know, Kabir, this whole thing has been pretty entertaining. Watching you train, work so hard, and all the while thinking you've got some kind of edge because of... her."

I clenched my jaw but said nothing, keeping my focus on wrapping my hands. I didn't need to engage with whatever mind game he was trying to play.

But Jai wasn't done. He chuckled, a low, mocking sound that grated on my nerves. "Let me tell you something, lover boy. Do you remember back in seventh grade? We were the captains of our cricket teams, and we faced off in the final match."

I glanced at him, memories of that day flashing through my mind. It had been a close game, one of the most intense matches we'd played as kids. I'd given it everything I had, but in the end, Jai's team had won by just two runs. It was a loss that had stayed with me, a reminder that no matter how hard you worked, victory wasn't always guaranteed.

"Yeah, I remember," I replied, my voice guarded. "What about it?"

Jai's smirk grew more pronounced as he leaned in, lowering his voice as if sharing a secret. "Well, that evening, after we won, I went over to Aditi's house. You know, to celebrate the victory. She congratulated me, said she was proud of me." He paused, letting the words sink in before continuing, "I'm just wondering what I'll get today when I beat the shit out of you in the boxing ring, right in front of everyone."

His words hit me like a punch to the gut, and I could feel the anger rising in my chest, hot and suffocating. Jai knew exactly what he was doing, trying to throw me off balance, to get inside my head. But I wasn't going to let him.

I stood up, turning to face him fully. The tension between us crackled in the air, but I forced myself to stay calm, to not let him see how much his words had affected me. "That was a long time ago, Jai," I said evenly. "A lot has changed since then."

Jai raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "Maybe. But some things don't change, Kabir. Like the fact that I've always been better than you."

I took a deep breath, forcing myself to stay focused. Jai's taunts, his attempt to undermine my confidence—it was all just noise, a distraction from what really mattered. I couldn't let him get to me, not now. Not when I was so close to achieving something that meant so much to me.