Chapter 4

The firm mattress offered steady support beneath the long frame as cool air circulated through the spacious bedroom. Soft white curtains drifted near the custom high windows, filtering the harsh Malwa sunlight into a soft, golden glow across the marble floor.

A heavy arm reached toward the teak side table, fingers curling around the sleek glass casing of the smartphone. The screen brightened under his touch. Thick, calloused thumbs navigated the application icons, opening the active chat thread with Rajiana.

Typing long sentences proved clumsy for large hands, so the thumb tapped the voice note icon instead, holding it down while a relaxed smile spread across his face.

“Ki haal ae, Harleen? Mama te Mami ji theek-thaak ne? Dss fer aaj kal ki kaarname chalde ne tere Moga Moga?” (How are you, Harleen? Are Aunty and Uncle doing fine? Tell me then, what mischief are you up to these days in Moga?)

The green audio bar sent instantly. The phone shifted in his grip as he scrolled through the contact list, stopping at the international number currently roaming in Southern France. Calculating the three odd hour time difference in his head, a quick text message went out, typed carefully with one broad digit at a time.

“Dass fer Madam, kado free ho ke call karugi? Time difference yaad rakhi, main so na jaawan ethe.” (Tell me then Madam, when will you get free and call? Remember the time difference, so I don’t fall asleep here.)

The phone dropped onto the cotton bedsheet. Swinging his legs over the edge of the mattress, his feet settled onto the cool marble. A wooden drawer in the bedside table slid open with a smooth gliding sound, revealing a thick leather-bound notebook and a brass pen.

Sitting back against the headboard, the notebook rested on his lap. Broad fingers gripped the pen, pressing the nib against the crisp paper. The blue ink began tracing out structured schedules, dividing the weekly blocks into distinct physical domains.

Morning slots received notes for heavy sand-pit wrestling drills, judo leverage throws, and weightlifting cycles designed to maintain upper-body density. Late afternoon blocks were marked for explosive kabaddi agility runs, stamina building, and tactical defensive stoppers. The ink filled two full pages, balancing intense physical output across alternating days to ensure peak conditioning before official college training resumed.