Raj was folding his clothes and someone knocked his dorm door.
It wasn't loud. Just three soft taps on the dorm room door.
He opened it to see one of the assistant coaches standing there.
"You're wanted in Block C," the coach said-"Mentor's room. Now."
Raj asked. "Mentor?"
The man didn't explain.He said "Just go."
Block C was silent.Unlike the usual dorm and ground areas, this side of the academy was for private meetings, visiting coaches, and sponsors.Raj had never stepped inside.
He walked down the hall slowly, the strap of his RajCraft glove showing outside from his back pocket.
Room 6.
He knocked.He heard a voice."Come in".
Inside sat a tall, older man in a navy blue tracksuit. His face was calm. His eyes sharp.
He pointed at the chair.Raj sat down on it.
The man looked at a file. "Pavan Raj from Maibadh,Achievements:Self-made gear,Wild card entry."
He closed the file and came forward."I'll be honest. You impressed me. Not because you are hoing big. But because you stayed calm when your gear failed."
Raj stayed silent.
He said:"You're smart. Focused. And more than anything you build. That's rare."
Raj nodded slowly.
"I want to offer you something," the man continued. "But it's not simple."
He placed a file on the table.Inside it was written, "Trinetra is planning a student brand program. Gear companies run by players. We select only one per year. The academy gives high support in design, material, promotion s. In return, we take 20% of the profit."
Raj opened the file folder.His own name was written in clean print.
RajCraft.
"This is real?" he asked.
The man smiled. "Only if you say yes."
But then came the next line.
"You'll need to pause your school events. No more zonals. No more minor district games. Your name will be tied to the academy brand, not the school."
Raj looked down.
[System Alert: Critical Path Detected]
Choose:
– Accept commercial deal: Fast growth, limited school path
– Decline: Keep control, but slower system progress
Warning: School links will fade with Option 1
"Can I think about it?" Raj asked.
The man replied. "One day."
He stood up.
"Before you go," the man said, "can I ask something?"
"Sure."
"Who taught you how to stitch gear like that?"
Raj thought and said the truth."No one. I just remembered what I needed most."
That night, Raj didn't talk to anyone.He sat on the steps near the training nets.
The night wind blew softly.
His glove placed beside him.He looked at it.Then looked at the empty pitch.
Near the trees, someone stood quietly, half-hidden.Not close. Not watching.Just waiting.
The system flickered once more.
[Hidden Note Unlocked:]
"He's building the brand that failed once before. But this time… he won't forget the grip."
Raj didn't see the message.But someone else did.Someone who once saw him falling down and now watching him rise.
To be Continued....