I was exhausted by the time I stepped off the plane at Delhi airport. The gold medal hanging around my neck felt like it weighed a ton, not from the metal but from the whirlwind of emotions and fatigue that had been with me ever since I left the court. Yet, as soon as I saw the crowd gathered at the airport, cheering my name, my fatigue seemed to melt away. People waved flags, held up signs, and shouted with pride. My heart swelled in my chest. It was overwhelming, but in the best possible way.
I caught sight of my manager, Abhimanyu Verma, standing at the edge of the crowd, waving me over. He had that familiar look on his face—half-smile, half-business. It was a big day, and he had things planned down to the last minute. I shook hands with as many people as I could, waved, and smiled as flashes from cameras went off around me. But soon, I was ushered into the car, and we made our way to the Hyatt Grand, where I would be staying.
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As we drove through Delhi’s streets, Abhimanyu filled me in on the plan for the day. The evening would be the highlight—a meeting with the Prime Minister and the Indian Army regiment. I was particularly excited about this. I'd always admired the military and the discipline they embodied, and today, I was getting the chance to meet them up close.
"Get some rest," Abhimanyu advised as we pulled up to the hotel. "You’ve got a long night ahead."
I nodded, though I doubted I’d be able to sleep. My mind was still buzzing from the victory and the adrenaline that came with it. As I entered my room, I collapsed onto the bed for a moment, staring up at the ceiling. My muscles ached, but my excitement was too strong to ignore. I had won gold, and now, I was about to meet the leaders of my country. It was surreal.
The evening arrived faster than I expected. I slipped into my suit, glancing at myself in the mirror. It had been a while since I’d dressed up like this, but tonight called for something special. I adjusted the tie, checked the shine on my shoes, and finally draped the gold medal around my neck. It felt heavier now, but in a good way. The weight of accomplishment. I smiled at my reflection, feeling more confident than I had in a long time.
When I arrived at the venue, the atmosphere was electric. The Prime Minister was there, and being introduced to him was like stepping into a dream. I shook his hand, exchanged a few words, and he congratulated me on my victory. The pride in his voice, knowing I had made India proud, was a moment I would never forget.
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But what I wasn’t prepared for was what came next. After the meeting with the PM, I was introduced to several army personnel, each more impressive than the last. And then, the Rajputana Rifles entered the room. The legendary Nari Shakti—India's woman power in the armed forces. I had heard stories of their bravery, their discipline, and their courage. But seeing them in person was something else entirely.
As I greeted the officers, I shook hands with Lt. Meera Yadav first. She extended her hand eagerly, her face glowing with admiration.
“It’s an honor to meet you, Sir. I’ve been following your career for years. Your match at the Olympics—it was beyond inspiring,” she said, her voice filled with sincerity.
I smiled and shook her hand warmly. “Thank you. I’m glad I could inspire people back home. It’s the support from fans like you that keeps us going.”
But it was the next introduction that threw me off balance. I turned to greet Lt. Sia Joshi. She stood tall, her posture perfect, and her eyes met mine with a sense of pride that caught me completely off guard. Her hair was tightly bunned, a testament to her discipline, but it was her eyes—those deep, dark eyes—that captivated me. They were filled with pride, self-respect, and something else I couldn’t quite place. There was a strength in her gaze that made me feel... small. Not in a bad way, but in awe.
She extended her hand and said, “Congratulations on your victory, Mr. Dixit.” Her voice was steady, but there was a warmth to it that made the moment feel personal. “You’ve made the entire nation proud, and it’s an honor to meet you.”
Her handshake was firm, confident. The moment her hand touched mine, something shifted inside me. It was strange—how quickly a single moment can change everything. Her touch made me feel like the most important person in the world, but at the same time, I was aware of how out of place I felt. Her presence was intoxicating in a way I hadn’t expected. The more I tried to speak, the more her calm composure shut me up.
Finally, I managed to reply, though it felt like a weak attempt compared to her confident demeanor. “Thank you, Lieutenant. The feeling is mutual. You and your regiment represent the best of India, just as we try to do on the court.”
I was trying to make her feel special, but I wasn’t sure it had the effect I intended. She nodded graciously, her face remaining unreadable, and before I could say anything more, I was pulled away to greet the next group of officers.
The rest of the evening was a blur. I met more army personnel, all of whom were impressive in their own right. But no one stood out to me the way Lt. Sia Joshi did. There was something about her that stayed with me long after the evening ended.
Back at the hotel, I got a call from my sister. It was nice to hear her voice, and I told her all about the day—about meeting the Prime Minister, the army personnel, and how I was planning to return to Mumbai in a few days. But before I could even finish, she and the rest of the family surprised me with the news that they were coming to Delhi to see me.
After the call ended, I lay back on my bed, staring at the ceiling once again. My thoughts drifted to Sia. I wasn’t sure why she had left such a lasting impression on me, but I couldn’t stop thinking about her. Maybe it was her eyes. Maybe it was the quiet strength she radiated. Maybe it was just that she was different. Whatever it was, I found myself wishing I could see her again.
But that seemed unlikely. She was an officer in the army, stationed who knows where, and I was just a badminton player, traveling all the time. Still, the thought of her wouldn’t leave my mind. Before I knew it, I picked up my phone and dialed Abhimanyu, my manager and close friend.
“Abhimanyu,” I said, trying to sound casual. “Do you happen to know if we’ll be interacting with the Rajputana Rifles again?”
There was a pause on the other end of the line before Abhimanyu chuckled. “Why do you ask?”
“I just… I don’t know, man. I felt like there were some good connections there. It’d be nice to follow up.”
Abhimanyu laughed. “Neeraj, if I didn’t know any better, I’d say you’re smitten. Is it the Lt Sia Joshi ”
I could feel my face heat up. “What? No, it’s not like that. I’m just… curious.”
“Well,” he said, still amused, “we’ll see. I’ll keep you posted.”
As I hung up, I lay back on the bed, shaking my head. Maybe I was just overthinking things. Maybe it was just the fatigue. But even as I tried to convince myself of that, I couldn’t shake the feeling that meeting Lt. Sia Joshi had changed something. And I wasn’t sure what that meant yet.
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