---
The whistle blew — and chaos began.
East Bengal didn't come to play. They came to bully.
From the first minute, it was clear: they were targeting Arjun.
He barely touched the ball before a crunching tackle sent him tumbling near the touchline. No card. Just a glare from the referee and a casual shrug from the East Bengal defender.
The message was loud and clear:
> "You don't belong here, kid."
But Arjun got back up. Again. And again.
---
By the 15th minute, Blasters were already under pressure.
Arjun couldn't find rhythm. His passes went astray. His first touch — usually velvet — felt like stone.
Coach Sameer barked instructions from the sidelines, but Arjun could barely hear them over the East Bengal chants and drums.
> "You've done this before," he reminded himself.
"You've played in front of worse."
Then came the 22nd minute.
An interception. Arjun picked the ball, skipped past one defender, and sent a lofted through ball to Faizan sprinting down the left.
A perfect delivery. Faizan beat his man, crossed — goal.
1–0.
The stadium exploded. Firecrackers, flags, the Yellow Wall erupting like a volcano.
Arjun didn't celebrate.
He just exhaled — as if letting go of something heavy.
---
Kalyani stood up in the corporate box, hands over her mouth. Her heart hammered as the announcer screamed his name.
The cameras panned over the box briefly. Her face was caught on screen — just long enough.
In seconds, Twitter lit up:
> "Kalyani spotted watching Arjun Dev! 👀🔥"
"Are they dating?"
"Tollywood Queen cheering for Kerala Blasters' prince?"
Kalyani didn't notice. Not yet.
---
The game raged on.
East Bengal came back furious. By the 41st minute, they equalized — a looping header from a set piece that left the keeper frozen.
1–1.
Halftime arrived. Arjun walked off with bruises on both legs and dirt across his shirt.
In the tunnel, Aditya came over and whispered, "You're trying too hard to be the hero. Just be the engine."
Arjun looked up.
> "You don't need to change the game every second."
"You just need to keep the game beating."
---
Second half.
Minute 56.
Arjun saw a chance. He broke free, took a heavy touch into the box — too heavy — and the goalkeeper dived on it.
The crowd groaned.
He pounded the turf, furious with himself.
But the next play, he didn't hesitate. He tracked back, won the ball, played simple, clean passes, and dictated the tempo.
He wasn't flashy anymore.
He was efficient.
By the 74th minute, Blasters won a corner.
Arjun lined up outside the box.
The ball curled in, cleared away, fell to him…
And he struck.
Low. Driven. Powerful.
The net bulged.
2–1.
This time, he didn't raise his hands. He didn't slide. He didn't smile.
He just turned and jogged back like it was routine.
But his eyes — his eyes burned.
---
The camera zoomed in.
In the box, Kalyani stood again, this time catching her breath like the air had been knocked out of her.
Her manager whispered, "You've just gone viral."
"What?" she blinked.
He showed her his phone.
Her face, her reaction, all over the internet.
She sat down, suddenly very aware of herself.
> "Is this what it's like for him every day?"
---
After full time, Arjun collapsed onto the pitch.
Blasters 2 – East Bengal 1.
The crowd chanted his name.
Journalists called it the arrival of Arjun Dev.
Inside the dressing room, the energy was electric.
But Arjun just stared at the wall, unwrapping his bandaged ankle, deep in thought.
Faizan sat next to him.
"Nice shot."
"Nice run," Arjun replied.
They both grinned — just a little.
---
Outside, as players were ushered to the media area, Kalyani waited near the VIP exit, hoodie up, sunglasses on.
When Arjun stepped through, sweaty and tired, he nearly walked past her.
"You're trending," she said softly.
He blinked. "What?"
"Me too. Apparently, we're a couple now."
He laughed. For real.
"Should I be worried?"
"No," she said, eyes locking with his. "But you should be ready. Because the world's watching now."
He nodded slowly. "Let them watch."
---
That night, his phone buzzed with interview requests, sponsorship inquiries, and a hundred messages he ignored.
Instead, he opened one from an unknown number.
It was a photo.
Of his father.
Smiling. In an old Blasters jersey. From decades ago.
Below it, one line.
> "He'd be proud of you."
Arjun stared at it for a long time.
Then he opened his journal and wrote:
> Chapter 2 complete.
They know my name.
But they don't know the storm I've survived to carry it.
---