On the next day morning.The air was hot, even though it was still early morning.Raj walked across the academy ground, feeling sweat form on his neck under the rising sun. Today was more than just another training day — it was the first time his RajCraft gloves would be worn by someone other than him.
Ten players.Ten pairs of gloves.One match.
And everyone watching.He carried the cotton bag himself. The gloves were packed neatly inside, each rolled carefully, labeled with a small handwritten tag "RC-1" to "RC-10."Simple.Clean.Just the way he built them.But his hands trembled slightly as he walked.Not from fear.From memory.
A month ago, Raj had stitched his first glove in silence, sitting on the floor of an unused storeroom.Now, people were expecting results.Not ideas. Not effort.Results.
"Match starts in 40 minutes," a voice called across the pitch.
It was one of the assistant coaches, clipboard in hand, sunglasses covering his eyes.
"Players who requested RajCraft gloves ,collect them from the main table."
Raj walked over and placed the bag on the table beside him.He didn't speak.Just unrolled the gloves one by one and lined them up.He could already hear murmurs behind him.
"That's the glove guy."
"Looks simple."
"Hope it doesn't tear."
He didn't react.
As the players came up, they picked gloves one at a time.Some smiled and gave a quick nod.Others examined the stitching, flipped the glove, and asked questions.One boy from the Hyderabad group raised an eyebrow.
"No brand tag?".
Raj replied softly, "I stitched it. That's the tag."
The boy smirked but took it anyway.
Raj didn't play in the match.He sat on the sidelines with a notebook, ready to observe everything including a finger movement, grip slippage, dive impact, and field reaction.
His goal wasn't to show off but it was to learn.But when he unzipped his own backup glove to take a quick reference ,his fingers paused.The inside foam was wet.Sticky and Heavy.
His heart skipped.This wasn't sweat.He looked closer.The foam lining had been soaked deliberately, likely during the glove storage period.Not enough to ruin it.But enough to weaken grip.He checked the wristguard next.One strap was nearly torn at the seam.
Someone messed with my gear.
His jaw tightened.But he said nothing.He didn't look around.Didn't accuse anyone.
He simply adjusted the foam, dried it lightly with his handkerchief, and tucked it back into his bag.
[System Alert: Sabotage Detected – Minor Gear Damage]
Stability: -12%
Auto-Reinforce Option Available.
Use now? [YES] / [NO]
Raj clicked [YES].
The glove glowed faintly in his system view as a self-drying process began.The foam reset itself partially.Still not perfect.But useable.
On the field, the match began.It was a practice match, but the pace was fast. No one was playing casual cricket today.
Each team had a mix of top-ranked players and underdogs.
One boy with an RC-3 glove made an early dive at cover to stop a boundary.
The glove scraped along the ground.No tear.Raj noted it down.
"Grip held under slide."
Second over--high catch toward mid-on.
The fielder jumped.Glove stretched.Ball stuck.One-handed.The crowd near the benches clapped."That's clean," someone said.Another coach added, "He's using the stitched glove."Raj kept writing.But his heart felt lighter now.Maybe it was working.Maybe he was working.
Fifth over — the glove worn by the Hyderabad boy tore slightly near the thumb joint after a dive.The boy threw it on the ground.
"Cheap fabric," he muttered.Raj heard it.Didn't reply.Just walked over, picked it up, and examined the tear.His face remained calm.But inside, a storm was starting.
One tear doesn't make the glove weak.
And you didn't catch the ball either.
[System Log: Sabotage Suspected – RC-5 Foam Was Pre-weakened]
Saboteur Identity: Unknown
Warning: Repeated attempts will affect brand trust.
After the match, the players returned the gloves.Most gave quiet nods.Some said "thanks."One boy asked if he could keep his.
Raj smiled. "I'll make you a new one."The coach in charge of equipment gave him a small pat on the shoulder.
"Good build," he said. "We'll discuss a wider trial next week."
Raj bowed slightly and thanked him.He thought that was the end of it.Until someone clapped slowly behind him.He turned.
It was Sandeep ,one of the players who had always worn branded gear and never spoke to Raj directly."You're the glove guy," Sandeep said.Raj nodded.Sandeep held up the torn glove. "This one didn't survive."
Raj didn't say anything.
"I guess hand-stitching can't handle turf, huh?".Still no response.Then Sandeep added, "Maybe next time, add a little more glue. Or luck."Raj finally spoke."Or maybe next time, don't drag the glove across the cement boundary on purpose."
Sandeep smirked.
"I like you," he said. "But don't expect to be the star just because you sew."Raj looked at him calmly.
"I don't sew to be a star. I stitch so people like you stop acting like they invented the game."
Sandeep walked away and Raj exhaled.
That evening, as Raj packed up his tools, he noticed someone sitting on the far edge of the bench line.She wore a yellow shawl. Head down and tied hair.
Just like before.But this time,her head turned.Just a little.Enough to see her eyes.And enough for Raj to feel what he always felt when he saw her:Calm.He didn't speak.He didn't walk toward her.But when he stood and looked again, she was gone.
A note was left where she had been sitting.Folded once. Tucked under a pebble.
He opened it.
"Storms don't stop fires.
They help find the ones that won't go out."
[System Message: Emotional Link Maintained]
Spandana remembers.
Even the failures.
After that Raj wenyto his doemRaj 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....
Note:
I forgot to publish chapter 24 before so I added it in this chapter sorry for that and thanks for supporting me.