The Girl in the Gym

The Fidget Spinner

Her favourite books were those on science and geography. She couldn't understand them at first, but gradually, after spending hours poring over books, she started to comprehend. Soon, she started reading Kalyani's old school books and was catching up with her class as well. Deep in her heart, she wanted to go to school but knew that it would not be possible. So, she contented herself with self-learning.

Years passed and life in the Kamble household went on, and it didn't escape anyone's notice that Inaya was quite sharp and energetic. She would be on her feet all day, and study in the evenings, and still have more than enough energy left. She loved watching karate shows and gymnastics performances. Mr Kamble observed to his wife that they must make different arrangements for her soon. Kalyani would soon be going to junior college and there would be nothing for Inaya to do. Since she had not received any formal education, she couldn't go to any college. One day, Mr Kamble had an idea. He called Inaya and said, "Child, do you want to do something different? Kalyani will be going to college and you too must find your calling. I run a gym nearby, and I would like you to maintain it."

Inaya thought about it for a few seconds and then said, "I would like that Mr Kamble. Soon I will have no work left in the house, and I would like to keep busy."

So, it was decided, the day Kalyani started college, Inaya would move to the gym and live in the upstairs room there. She was to clean all the equipment and manage the rest of the cleaning staff. The two girls were sad at being separated, but Inaya could see that Kalyani wanted to go to college and build a career. She couldn't ask her to stay back for her sake. With heavy hearts, they disentangled their lives from each other and went on their own separate paths.

For years, she cleaned the place and learned by observing. Whenever she found herself alone in the gym, she would imitate the other gym trainers. She became stronger and fitter, but it didn't occur to her to ask to be on the other side. She still saw herself as the helper girl, not the leader. This went on for four years, she kept the place clean and trained in secret. She researched fitness and training methods until her eyes ached from all the reading. Her hard work, dedication and unmatched thirst to do something unique got her the support of the female trainers who would instruct her whenever they could. Finally, it was they who approached Mr Kamble on her behalf, who was only too happy to promote her from cleaner to trainer. She had never dreamed this was possible. And as happy as she was, with her own savings and money, at last, she had no real family to share it with. Inaya was only nineteen.

She and Kalyani had grown apart. The latter had other friends, who were in the same social circle. Inaya didn't want to embarrass her by claiming any right over her friendship. They rarely met, and even when they did, Kalyani always had plans to go out and meet other people. Inaya accepted all this without too much bitterness, life had taught her unfairness at a very young age. So, when Mr Kamble offered her an elite position at Zero Bulge, even though it was a bit far away, she happily accepted it.

Late at nights, lying alone in a tiny room above the gym, she would gaze at the only remembrance of her parents. The pendant in the shape of a small disc with an engraving in a foreign language. It was exactly like a modern-day fidget spinner. Her parents had told her that it contained all the knowledge of the universe and that exuded radiance that will tell her all she wanted to know about this earth, all the other worlds and the universe itself. Too young and uneducated to realise what it meant, it was a means of comfort to her during her lonely days. It was the fidget spinner that she was always seen with, in the gym.