The morning sun gently peeked through the window as Rivet's father softly called out to him,
"Son, wake up. It's time for your training."
Rivet rubbed his eyes and stretched. He felt a strange excitement—today wasn't just another day. Today, he was going to change something within himself.
He walked to the school ground where he had promised himself to become stronger. But once he stood there, confusion took over.
"I want to train... but what exactly do I do?"
Just then, a voice came from behind—
"Are you warming up or attending a picnic?"
It was Keshav—the new guy. Tall, lean, ridiculously good-looking, with an air of confidence that turned heads every time he walked by.
"You're training for the school tournament too, right?" Keshav asked.
"Yeah," Rivet replied, quietly.
"Then this light warmup won't cut it. Your weight's too low, man. You need a proper diet and real training."
Rivet scratched his head and smiled nervously. "I honestly have no clue what hard training even looks like…"
Keshav smirked. "So what? You've got me now. From today, we train together."
Rivet blinked as Keshav listed the plan:
> "100 pushups, 100 sit-ups, 100 squats, 50 pullups, and a 15 km run."
Rivet felt his heart pounding.
"How am I supposed to survive that?"
But somehow, he nodded. "Okay…"
A Few Days Later
Every morning came with pain, sweat, and exhaustion… but something within Rivet had awakened.
Where he once collapsed after 10 pushups, he now powered through 50.
His body grew stronger, but more importantly, his spirit did too.
Keshav watched with a mix of surprise and admiration.
"You're picking things up fast…" he said, his usual smirk softening into a rare smile.
When Rivet walked into school now, people noticed. His face carried a quiet confidence.
His frame hadn't drastically changed—but the intensity in his eyes had.
He had become something else. Something more.
Tournament Day
The day had finally come—Shaurya Mahaspardha.
Rivet woke up early, full of energy. As he got ready, his mother gently applied a tilak on his forehead and fed him sweetened curd for good luck.
His sister smiled brightly—"Best of luck, bhaiya!"
His father placed a hand on his shoulder,
"Give it everything you've got. Best of luck, son."
School Ground – Let the Games Begin
The school ground had been transformed into a grand arena—decorated tents, cameras, banners, volunteers everywhere.
Organized by: The School's Sports Department in collaboration with the District Education Committee
Chief Guests: Chief Minister of the State and State Sports Minister
Coverage: The school's official YouTube and Instagram channels
Rivet looked around—100 students, all lined up in their respective spots, wearing numbered bibs.
The tension was real. This wasn't just another school event. This was serious.
A senior teacher stepped up on the stage, mic in hand.
> "Welcome, everyone, to the Shaurya Mahaspardha!
Today, we begin the search for the Top 10 warriors who'll earn free education for a year!
And for the Top 3, exclusive scholarships and a mysterious reward await!"
Stage 1 – The First Test
> "The first stage will test your core attributes. You'll face five tasks:
1. 100m Sprint – Speed Test
2. Max Pushups in 1 Minute – Strength
3. 3km Run with Checkpoints – Endurance
4. Balance Beam Walk – Focus & Coordination
5. Timed Puzzle Challenge – Mental Agility
Each task will be scored out of 100. The Top 50 scorers will move to Stage 2!"
A wave of whispers rippled across the ground as the rules sank in.
> "All participants, please take your positions!"
Rivet stood straight, took a deep breath, and tightened his fists. He looked down at the ground, then up at the sky.
"I'm not who I used to be.
Today, I'll prove it to everyone…
including myself."
[End of Chapter 5]