The floor of Raj's room was covered in cloth, thread, sponge pieces, and old cuttings.It looks messy.But to Raj, it was familiar and safe.This was where he started. On the floor, with scraps.
No machines. No labels. Just hands, patience, and focus.Raj wiped his palms and concentrated over the glove he was building.He had recorded every step so far using Uday's phone.The stitching, the shaping, the folding. He even recorded his voice explaining each step.
"This isn't perfect," he said into the mic, "but it's mine. And it works."
By midnight, he had finished most of the body.Only the fingers were left.They were the hardest part.One wrong angle and the glove wouldn't bend right.But he took his time.Slowly,carefully, be stiched one finger at a time.He tied off the last thread and held it up.It wasn't clean. It wasn't factory-made.
But it looked good.And more importantly ,itfelt right.
Uday clapped from the side. "Bro,it's done."Zayed smiled and said"You stitched that in one night. That's insane man."Raj looked at the glove and nodded once.
A system notification popoed out.
[System Alert: Proof Glove Complete]
•All materials checked.
•Build Verified.
•You may now submit this as official evidence.
On thehe next morning, Coach Arvind stood with his arms folded at the front of the training hall.Next to him stood two assistant coaches, one academy scout, and the head gear sponsor from the training partner company.About twenty players had gathered inside.All of them had heard the rumor.Some believed it.Some didn't.But all of them were waiting to see if Raj would actually prove it.
Coach spoke first:"We don't run on gossip here. We run on facts."Then he looked at Raj and asked: "You have something to show us?"
Raj stepped forward.His bag was in one hand. The new glove in the other.He spoke quietly:"I didn't start RajCraft to sell gear. I started it because I didn't have any. I had to build it. And now, people are saying I never made anything myself."He paused."I want to show you the truth."
He placed the glove on the table.Then connected the phone to the projector.The screen lit up.And the video began.
It was nothing fancy.Just Raj, sitting on the floor.His voice soft. His hands steady.He explained every part.
He explained:"I use sponge here because it protects better than cardboard, this is an old handle strap from a helmet, this edge holds best if you stitch it twice"The room was silent.No music. No flashy cuts.Just real work.When the video ended, Raj placed the glove on his hand.He flexed it.Caught a ball from Zayed.Then held it up.Still strong.Still good.
Coach walked forward and picked up the glove,checked the seams, pulled the straps and then looked at the others and said:
"He made this last night. With help from no one."The room didn't clap.But people whispered.
"He really did it."
"This kid's for real."
"That's next level man"
Then, someone spoke from the back.It was Sandeep.His voice calm, but sharp."Even if he built one, how do we know he made the first glove?".The room got tensed.
Coach looked at Raj.Raj turned toward Sandeep.Then walked to his bag.Pulled out an old glove ,the first one which was torn,dirty and stitched badly.But still his handmade one.
"I kept this," Raj said. "Not because it works. But because it reminded me where I started."He handed it to the coach.Coach held it up."This isn't something you buy. This is something you build. Mistakes and all."
The room stayed quiet.Until the head gear sponsor stepped forward.He looked at Raj.Then said, "We'd like to test RajCraft gear for our youth catalog."
Raj asked:"You mean… sell it?"
The man smiled. "We'll talk."
A system notification popoed out:
[System Alert: Major Milestone Reached]
RajCraft Reputation Restored
Fake rumor cleared.
Bonus Unlocked:
• Crafting Trust Level: Tier 2
– Brand Popularity: 600+ views
– Sponsor Request Received
That night, Raj walked to the nets alone.He sat down and took out the old glove again.He ran his fingers along the bad stitching.The fearful first try.The loose grip.But it meant something.It was the proof.
That even the best things start in messy.
Near the edge of the practice wall, a girl stood quietly.She didn't wave.But she didn't walk away either.Raj looked up and saw her.They just stared at each other for a few seconds.Then she smiled.Just a little and Raj smiled back to her.
To be continued....