As the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink, I sat cross-legged on my bed, my textbooks sprawled around me. I had been trying to focus on my studies, but my mind kept drifting back to the exhilarating moments of the tournament and the electrifying chemistry i shared with Ishaan. Despite my recent successes, a nagging feeling of self-doubt crept in, fueled by Ruthvik's incessant taunts.

Nitya burst into the room, her energy infectious as she flopped down beside me. “You’re not still thinking about that jerk, are you?” she asked, eyeing the open textbooks with skepticism. “You’ve beaten Aadarsh! You’re unstoppable!”

I managed a smile, but my heart wasn't quite in it. “It’s not just Ruthvik. I feel like I have a target on my back now. Everyone expects me to win, and what if I can’t live up to it?”

Nitya rolled her eyes, “Adriti, you’ve got this! You’ve proven yourself time and again. And besides, there’s a surprise tournament coming up next month. You’ll have plenty of chances to show what you can do.”

At the mention of the tournament, my interest piqued. “What do you mean? I thought the next big event was months away?”

Nitya grinned, “Well, the academy is hosting a surprise tournament to scout new talent for the state team. It’s perfect for you, and guess who’s going to be there?”

I raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. “Who?”

“Nitya glanced mischievously at me. “Ishaan. He’s going to be there as a special guest. They want him to help mentor the players.”

The thought of seeing Ishaan again filled me with excitement, but a wave of anxiety washed over me as well. “What if I mess up? What if Ruthvik shows up to taunt me again?”

“Then you prove him wrong,” Nitya replied, her voice steady and encouraging. “Just focus on your game. You’ve come this far, and you can’t let anyone take that away from you.”

I took a deep breath, absorbing Nitya’s words. My determination flared anew. “You’re right. I’ll train harder. I want to be at my best for this tournament.”

The next few weeks flew by in a whirlwind of intense practices, study sessions, and supportive text messages from Ishaan. I felt a budding excitement every time my phone pinged with a message from him, and our conversations often meandered from badminton strategies to personal aspirations. Ishaan shared stories of his corporate life, and I confided in him about my fears and dreams.

One afternoon, as we practiced together, Ishaan threw a playful look at me. “You know, you’re going to have to face off against some tough competition at the tournament. Are you ready for that?”

I smirked, my confidence growing. “Bring it on. I've faced tougher opponents. And if Ruthvik shows up, I’ll just have to show him what I’m made of.”

Ishaan chuckled, “That’s the spirit! Just remember to enjoy the game. It’s not just about winning—it’s about growing as a player.”

As the tournament date approached, my excitement morphed into a mix of anticipation and apprehension. On the day of the tournament, i arrived at the academy, my heart racing. The atmosphere buzzed with energy as players warmed up and supporters gathered. I spotted Ruthvik across the gymnasium, his smirk as irritating as ever.

“Ready to choke again?” he called out, loud enough for others to hear. I felt my cheeks flush with frustration but quickly took a deep breath, channeling me focus into my warm-up.

As the matches commenced, I played fiercely, each point bringing me closer to my ultimate goal. Ishaan watched from the sidelines, his presence a comforting anchor amidst the swirling pressure. The crowd cheered, and I felt invincible.

But as fate would have it, in the semi-finals, I found myself facing Aadarsh once again. The tension was palpable as we took our positions. Memories of our previous match flooded back, and I steeled myself, determined to rise to the challenge.

With each rally, the stakes grew higher, and the crowd’s cheers echoed in my ears. As we exchanged fierce volleys, a sudden twist of fortune struck: I twisted my ankle while lunging for a shot. Pain shot through mine. The pain was sudden and sharp, causing me to cry out in shock. I stumbled, trying to regain my balance, but my weakened ankle gave way, I crushed to the ground, my mind stretching out the fall so long it almost seemed graceful. I heard a voice infused with panic. "Adriti, are you okay? Adriti!"

I wanted to reply but i was so tired and my mind was too jumbled. The only thing I could do was give in to gravity and...there was nothing left except agony and exhaustion and finally, blissfully, oblivion.