Combat

Trouble

Aadi's pov:

I heard the sound of an alarm going off. Groaning, I got up from my bed. I am starting to hate the number 5. Why can't the timings could be a little late? Who the hell keep the timings such early.
I am feeling really nervous and anxious. Tomorrow is going to be the day I am preparing for the last few days. But I have 1 more thing to worry about. What if the coach or dad found out about me participating in the school tournament? Dad seems to hate Rickie Singhal for some reason and I think the coach would never allow me to participate with so little practice. Please god! Help me in this.

Narrator's POV
Aadi got ready and went to the ground. But he was confused to see the setup of the ground. There were few pieces of equipment like tyres, ladder, cones etc, kept in a particular pattern kept on the ground. He went to the coach and wished him Good morning.

Then the coach instructed him to start stretching.
After 10 minutes of stretching, the coach asked him to go to the starting line and started explaining.

Coach:
You see, you will start running from this point. First, there are tyres in a zig-zag pattern. Sprint through these tyres. Lift your knee up high after stepping out of each tyre to avoid tripping.
Then you see those boxes? You have to jump over them.
After that is agility ladder. Stand on the one side of the ladder. Start sprinting laterally. Keep your one foot in the 1st box as quickly as you can, then immediately followed by your other foot, moving diagonally forward one step until you reach the end.
At last are the cones. You have to run from one cone to another, touching each one. After that run till the starting point again.
10 rounds of this circuit. Your timing should not decrease from the previous round or you start from one.
Now start.

Aadi gulped, took a deep breath and said, "Yes sir."

Aado started with full energy. He knew he can't afford to start from zero. But after three rounds, Aadi understood that it was going to be extremely difficult. The only break he was allowed is 20 seconds he gets after completing a round.
He was on his seventh round, completely out of breath. He was trying his best to maintain his speed. But in doing so, he slipped while going from one tyre to another. He fell and cringed in pain.

Coach ran by his side. He helped Aadi in sitting on the ground. Then he started checking his leg for any serious injury.

Aadi was horrified. He was not afraid of pain but had fear about the tournament the next day. He was praying with all of his heart, to not have any serious injury.

The coach treated his foot with full precaution. He rotated his foot clockwise and then anti-clockwise. Then he stretched his toes one by one. After that, he massaged his foot. He asked him to stand up slowly.

Aadi tried to stand up. He was feeling less pain now.

Coach:
How are you feeling? Is it hurting? Can you endure the pain or is it too much?

Aadi:
No sir. It's fine. It's not paining that much.

Coach:
Good. It's just a little injury, nothing serious. You will get better but you need proper rest.
We will continue the training tomorrow. There's no point to continue as it may further injure your leg.

Aadi:
Yes sir. But sir, are you sure that I will be okay by tomorrow?

Coach:
Why so much hurry? Is there anything you are hiding?

Aadi:
N..No sir. I just don't want to miss the training. That's it.
Then Aadi tried smiling, to make him believe.

Coach:
Hmm... Now call your dad so that he can take you home. I am not allowing you to go by cycle.

Aadi knew there was no point in arguing. It may cause trouble for him.

Aadi:
Yes sir.

He called his dad and asked him to come.
When the car was visible, the coach left the ground.

Arjun ran towards his son with a worried look.
Arjun:
Aadi, how are you? How did you got injured? Were you not paying attention? Is it hurting too much? I think we should go to a doctor. Would you be able to walk?

And the string of questions continued.

Aadi interrupted him in between and said:
Dad.. dad.. relax. I am ok. It's not that bad. In fact, the coach treated it and now it's not paining that much. I just slipped while sprinting from one tyre to another. I am fine. Relax.

Arjun:
You must not have lifted you knee high.

Aadi:
Yes, dad. Now can we please go home?

Arjun nodded and helped him to sit in the car.
He again asked if he needs to visit a doctor. But Aadi declined.

He went to his room to rest. He messaged his friends that he would not be able to come to school today.

His troubles were not over yet. He still had to find a way to go to the gym. But as he had time for that, so he decided to rest for some.

His mother had rubbed medicine on his foot and he prayed that it works and he became good enough to fight.

Now let's see what he would do to reach the gym. Would he be able to practice with injured foot? Would he be able to get well by tomorrow?