THE STORY OF LIFE | A 21ST CENTURY RAMAYANA

A SET UP

Lakshman waited anxiously in the living room of his house and kept looking at the clock again and again.

"Its 1:00 am, where is he?"

Lakshman just wanted to get out of the place as fast as he could. He had been hiding such a big secret from his family for a whole day, and it was becoming unbearable to him anymore. He had planned that he ould do something like this only once, and this was the first and last time.

"Why are you here Lakshman? And whats in that bag?"asked Urmila pointing to the bag Lakshman had wrapped around his arm.

Lakshman looked up at the sleepy Urmila and felt guilty hiding any secret from her.

"Umm... uh... Im going to the coffee stall."

"NOW?!"

"Ye...Yes... I just love that place you know. and the guy told me he'll be there."

"Lakshman, you're getting obsessed. And whats in that bag?"

Lakshman pulled the bag with his boxing gloves and headgear closer to him.

"Nothing.. Just a jacket if I feel cold in the way."

"So why dont you just wear it?"

Suddenly his phone rang and lakshman thanked God for Indranil finally calling him.

"See, that guy is calling me. I'll go." 

Saying so, he walked out. As he closed the door behind him, he took a deep breath.He hated to do this, but then, he was doing it for them.

He saw Indraneil standing thee next to his car.

"where were you?" he asked sitting inside next to him.

"Sorry Sir, I was caught up on some other work. Don't worry, the venue is near, we'll reach in some time."

"Ok. But how do you know so much about this?"

"Sir, I had been there once, like I said."

"Oh yes. Did you fight?"

"Just in the initial stage."

"How is it?"

"Its hard. But worth an experience."

Within a few minutes they reached a remote, lone and dark dome like structure.

"Do you remember this place Sir?"

Lakshman tried to make out the structure, and when it struck him he fell back on his seat.

"Don't tell me its that Love dome!!!!!!"

Indraneil laughed and put the hand brake.

"Once in a year, the love here is wiped out with blood."

Lakshman got down from the car after him and followed him. Inside, he saw a different scene.

Crowds of people gathered around a run and cheering for one of the contenders who was fighting with the other to fight with the Iron Man.

"After this match is over, you can get into the ring. They won't even question you, I've given your picture and here your name is Rocky."

"Rocky??"

"Its your fake identity."

"Oh ok." Maybe Lakshman could have chosen a better name for himself.

He saw the 2 men fighting hard, with blood falling from both their heads. With a hard blow, a red shirted man knocked the other down. Everyone cheered while two other men came and took the unconscious fellow away.

Lakshman gulped and wore his guards, hiding his face and put on his gloves. He felt a new energy, and looked at his opponent. He was about Lakshmans size, and they were at par. The bell rang, and Lakshman walked in. He circled his opponent and to his amusement, was hit in the face in the first few seconds. Lakshman didnt take much time to respond and with a single blow threw him down. Every cheered for Lakshman. He felt a shock of ecstasy run through him. He felt he was being successful now.

He sat there for two minutes, and then some boy walked up to him.

He said,

"Bhaiyya, get ready, Iron Man is coming."

Lakshman was about to spit the water in his mouth. He drank it somehow and asked,

"But wont I have to fight with anyone else?"

"Bhaiyya, Iron Man was watching you from somewhere and he said he wants to fight with you only."

The boy walked away slowly leaving a devastated Lakshman behind.

Within no time, he looked behind hearing the whole arena cheering for someone who just walked in.

"He's come!" he heard two people taking behind. 

Lakshman took a deep breath and checked his guards again. With the popularity the person had, Lakshman knew it won't be easy. But he kept his calm and prepped himself. As the cheers became louder, someone pushed him into he ring, where he jumped and warmed up. As he stood there, he saw his opponent slowly coming up.

The man wore a silk robe, and his face was covered with helmet, showing only his nose and eyes. Two men took off his robe, showing his high build and strong muscles.

lakshman fumbled for a moment but later gained his confidence. The bell rang and he slowly started circling the ring as did his opponent. The man said to him from the other side,

"I saw you fighting. You're good, but beat me and show."

Saying so, he punched Lakshman in the stomach hard. lakshman went back to the ropes and hit hard. The yellow lights in the arena hurt him in the eye, but the looked straight at his opponent who was now coming to hit him. Lakshman gathered his energy and moved from there, making the man hit on the rope steel edges. The whole crowd gaped. lakshman took the opportunity and kicked him on his back. The opponent groaned.

Lakshman moved back. His opponent got up and started circling him again.

"Show me what you got." he said. Lakshman felt he heard his voice before, but in the meantime was hit on the head. He fell back and yelled. Not losing himself, he pushed himself up and caught his opponent by the neck. A furious fight ensued between the both of them. Pulling, pushing scratching. The crowd stood in awe. A newcomer was taking down the champion.

Lakshman and his opponent stood panting. His opponent came closer to him and said,

"Don't try, Lakshman Suryavanshi. Hide from everyone else, not from me."

Lakshman was taken aback.

IT WAS A SET-UP !!!!  

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