After a modest breakfast the following morning, Arjun entered the virtual training dome, which was now a well-known battleground. Clad in immaculate white test match attire, he silently resolved to start his warm-up exercises at the bowler's end.
Shortly after, Sania appeared wearing her trademark training attire, which included a fitted sportswear, a blue top, and her molten red hair tied back behind her ears. With a sly smile and mischievous sparkle in her eyes, she blew the whistle.
"Good morning, Trainee. We pick up where we left off today," she smiled. "And if I laugh at you bowling like a five-year-old, don't get upset."
The air shimmered as she flicked her wrist.
The serene hologram of Glenn McGrath materialized next to the stumps. With a steady, commanding presence, he gave a slight nod.
"We worked on improving your bowling motion yesterday. You've made good progress because of this enhanced training space and your own effort," McGrath said. "You've discovered your rhythm. But keep in mind that this is only the beginning.
Arjun turned to Sania, looking perplexed, before McGrath could say anything more.
"Hold on," he said. "You mentioned that this area enhanced my training. What precisely do you mean by that?
Sania's smile got bigger. "Your learning curve is accelerated in this area. You increase your training speed by 200%. You understand methods more thoroughly and pick up skills more quickly. Consider it a field of learning that has been accelerated."
Arjun furrowed his brows. "Shouldn't I have realized this sooner? When did you intend to inform me?
Sania's face became stern. "You are supposed to investigate the functions independently, as I informed you on the first day. You should be grateful if I do reveal anything. Arjun, I'm not your maid. My mood determines everything."
Lips hardly moving, she whispered to herself: "Did I really tell him that? In any case, he lacks evidence. I also reserve the right to be irrational because I'm a girl.
She was irritated, and Arjun saw it. His voice instantly became softer.
"Sania, I apologize. I wasn't pointing the finger at you. I'm just... curious. Perhaps it's simply the mental strain of being cooped up and training constantly. I didn't intend to offend you.
He thought that she might have said that on the first day, but she most certainly didn't. But whatever. It's futile to argue logic with someone like her.
Sania sighed and disappeared into thin air.
Arjun was left alone and turned to face Glenn McGrath, who spoke again without showing any signs of interruption.
"Line and length are the main topics today. Your assignment is straightforward: repeatedly strike the fourth stump corridor. You will pass the line and length basic training once your accuracy reaches 70%.
"We'll split the session into three progressive phases," McGrath said, lifting a finger.
Phase 1: Zone Training : For Mastering the line
Phase 2: Static Cone Targeting: This step integrates length and line.
Phase 3: Cone Removal Challenge: For bowlers who don't have visual cues
He paused. "You must maintain at least 70% accuracy by the end of the day in order to pass each phase."
Glenn changed the pitch with a wave of his hand. A luminous grid with zones and color coding emerged.
Zone Red: Off-stump to fourth-stump wicket-taking corridor.
Zone Blue: Middle to leg stump defensive line.
Zone Yellow: Deliveries that are too wide are wasted.
McGrath gestured toward the red area. "Every ball that lands outside this corridor will cause a buzz for the next hour. Don't let it leave the red zone.
Training started.
Arjun worked ball after ball. The dome buzzed sharply every time he veered too far, a harsh reminder of his mistakes. After every set, McGrath's voice could be heard:
"Too eager."
"You're letting go of your fingers too late."
"You're aiming instinctively rather than precisely."
A neon arc followed the route of each delivery. The system examined impact, trajectory, and release angle. Arjun's shirt was soaked in sweat, but the accuracy was still depressing.
The system revealed a harsh reality at the end of the exhausting day: 41% accuracy
Something strange struck Arjun as he sagged to catch his breath: there was no whistle, no final sarcasm, and no goodbye from Sania. Her dramatic exits had become oddly familiar to him.
Have I gone too far? He pondered. I apologized, but perhaps my tone wasn't appropriate.
As he walked out of the dome, he whispered to himself, "She'll be back tomorrow." I apologized already. However, perhaps I should have handled it better. Additionally, I do need to learn more about how this training ground operates.
Behind him, the lights in the dome dimmed. The day's training was over, but the real battle had just begun.