CHAPTER 15 THE SAVIOUR
The fight ended. Richard lay unconscious, defeated by the impossible Dempsey move. When he finally rose, his face was pale with desperation. The referee called out, "Opponents, greet each other."
But Richard's pride burned hotter than his wounds. "I would rather be dead than shake hands with a rookie who defeated me," he spat, leaving the stage without a glance back.
Karikalan stood frozen. His fists trembled, not from exhaustion but from disappointment.
"Even though I won… I couldn't receive a greeting from the famous boxer. He left without acknowledging me."
The cheers of victory felt hollow. He walked off the stage, his heart heavy despite triumph.
Later, the incharges announced the next match: Karikalan's opponent would be Rajan. A ripple of anticipation spread through Division E. Karikalan's eyes narrowed. "So… it's him. I must win against Rajan."
Meanwhile, in another division, Elara faced his own opponent — Pragyan, a small adult boy. Elara's smirk was cruel. "Hey, it's you again. It'll be nice to fight against you, brat. I'll win this match like a warmup."
Pragyan's heart sank. He hadn't expected to face Elara so soon. Whispers filled the arena.
"Next fight is Elara versus that rookie. No way he can even touch Elara." "Why do you say that?" "Because Elara is a monster. For two years, no one has been able to touch him." "Then who was the champion before two years? Did Elara defeat him?" "I don't know. I only heard the champion relinquished his belt and left the ring for personal reasons."
Pragyan listened, his face pale. "If my opponent is him… then I'm done."
A hand tapped his shoulder. He turned — and screamed. "Ahhh!"
Karikalan frowned. "Why are you screaming like nothing? Do you think I'm Elara?"
Pragyan stammered, "Sorry, sir. Again, it was my mistake."
Karikalan's voice softened. "Why are you so pathetic, kid? Is there a problem?"
Pragyan's eyes lowered. "Yes, sir. My next opponent is Elara. I'm thinking about how I can survive against him tomorrow."
Karikalan's gaze sharpened, but his tone carried warmth. "I know your struggle. I know the fear of facing Elara. But don't give up your courage or respect for martial arts. If you want to be a true martial artist, you must accept both defeat and victory. It's not right to hide like a coward rather than face the fight."
Pragyan whispered, "But what if I get killed by Elara?"
Karikalan's eyes burned with conviction. "Then you die like a brave man, a warrior. Remember this — if you land even one punch on your opponent, you will gain confidence. After that, defeat or victory doesn't matter.
Defeat and victory are two sides of effort. If you win, you forget your past struggles. But if you lose, the hunger stays within you. That hunger will drive you to train harder, to learn new techniques. Next time, you won't fear defeat. You'll become stronger by facing it. And one day… you will win."
Pragyan's trembling eased. Karikalan's words lit a spark in his heart. For the first time, he felt the courage to step into the ring — even against Elara.
Two days before Karikalan's match with Rajan, the world was shaken by headlines. "A Rookie Defeated a Boxer."
In New York City, newspapers carried the story. Sponsors and contractors who once praised Richard Stellman now branded him a coward. Contracts were torn apart, sponsorships withdrawn.
Richard sat in his hotel room in India, staring at the paper. His fists trembled, not from defeat, but from despair.
"Why are human beings always like this? When a person wins, they celebrate him like a god. But they never see the struggle, the legacy, the pain behind that victory. And when he loses once… they mock him, abandon him, treat him like a nobody. Why is the world always like this?"
Speechless, frustrated, Richard packed his belongings. He cleared his room and left, determined to return to the U.S. He boarded a car to the airport, but fate had other plans.
On a lonely road, a gang of robbers blocked his path. They demanded money. Richard stepped out, fury in his eyes. His fists flew — one robber fell, then another, each knocked out with a boxer's precision.
But the gang regrouped, circling him like hyenas. Their numbers overwhelmed him. Richard's breath grew heavy. "There are too many… I must hurry. I have to leave this place immediately."
He rushed toward the driver's seat, but another robber lunged. Richard countered, striking him down. Yet the gang swarmed, fists and weapons raining upon him. His body faltered. Blood dripped. He fell to his knees.
Desperate, he tried to call his personal contacts one last time. The line went dead. His request was rejected. "Even in the last minute… they didn't come to save me. Do whatever you want. I would rather die than live in this world."
The gang leader raised a gun, aiming at Richard's head. Richard closed his eyes, memories flashing — his family, his career, the roar of the crowd. "So this is my end…"
But suddenly, the gun was stopped. A hand gripped the leader's wrist with unyielding strength.
"Who are you? How dare you interfere?" the leader snarled.
Richard opened his eyes, vision blurred by blood and streetlight. A figure stood before him, defiant, unshaken.
His lips curled into a faint, shocked smile. It was Karikalan.
The morning sun filtered through the cracks of a small house. Richard stirred awake, his body aching, his mind clouded. He blinked at the unfamiliar ceiling.
"Where am I? How did I come here after the fight? Who saved me?"
A voice answered gently. "Hi, sir. How's your health? Is it fine? I'm the one who helped you last night… from the burglars."
Richard turned, stunned. "What? You saved me from the attack? I couldn't believe my eyes that I'm alive after last night. Tell me — how did you save me?"
Karikalan's tone was calm, almost casual. "Well… how can I say it? I beat the robbers with my punches and dodging moves."
Richard's eyes widened. "Are you kidding me? You fought alone against fifty robbers and won? This isn't Indian cinema — don't make up stories. Tell me the reality. How did you handle them alone?"
Karikalan's gaze didn't waver. "As I already said… I used punches and dodging moves to defeat them."
Richard clenched his fists, frustration boiling. "How can I believe this? Even a child wouldn't believe such a stupid storyline. If it's true… then prove it."
His thoughts churned with anger and disbelief. "If he really knocked out fifty men with dodges and punches, then let him show me his strength again. But this time… he won't hold back against me."
Richard rose to his feet, his eyes burning with challenge. The air between them thickened — no longer savior and saved, but two fighters standing on the edge of a test that could redefine their bond.
The forest was silent except for the rustling leaves and the distant roar of a waterfall. Behind the ancient temple, the ground became their arena. Karikalan's small room could not contain the storm that was about to unfold.
Richard stepped forward, his body moving faster than ever before. His fists blurred — punches, flicker jabs, even the Dempsey move he had once mastered. Uppercuts crashed through the air, each strike carrying the weight of his pride. He launched a knockout blow, his strongest weapon.
But Karikalan bent, twisted, and swayed. Every attack slipped past him like wind against stone.
Richard snarled, frustration boiling. "Why are you not fighting against me, brat? Does this mean you're a coward? Come on, give me more fun! I've been waiting for this moment!"
Karikalan's voice was calm, almost pitying. "I don't want to fight seriously anymore, not after the injuries you suffered last night. But… surprisingly, you've recovered fast. Your moves are sharper, faster than they were in our match."
Richard's eyes burned. "Is that so? Then fine. But I want you to give me your full strength. Show me your potential. Fight seriously against me. Do it, kid. I want to see your attacks. Come on!"
The words had barely left his lips when Karikalan vanished. His body blurred, reappearing before Richard with the speed of light. His fist launched forward — not striking Richard directly, but tearing through the air with such force that the world itself seemed to pause.
The punch created a shockwave. The waterfall behind them froze mid-flow, its cascade halted by invisible force. The forest trembled, leaves scattering in the windless silence.
Richard's eyes widened, his breath caught in his throat. "What…? Is this true? Is he holding something behind him? No way… no. He's stronger than anyone in the world. And yet… he doesn't flaunt it. He has no ego, despite all the insults I gave him. It's rare… so rare to see someone like this in the world."
Richard stood stunned, not by defeat, but by revelation. Karikalan's strength was not just physical — it was the quiet, unshakable power of a man who carried no pride, only purpose.
The forest still echoed with the shockwave that had frozen the waterfall. Richard stood silent, his fists lowered, his pride shattered. Slowly, he bowed his head.
"I got defeated for the first time… not only in my heart, but also in my ego and pride. I apologize for the words I spoke against you. You are too strong, kid. I never imagined someone could stop a waterfall with a single punch."
Karikalan's cheeks flushed red. He scratched his head awkwardly. "Yeah… it's okay. But your praise is overwhelming. Honestly, it makes me a little annoyed. Stop saying things like that, sir."
Richard's voice trembled, but his eyes shone with sincerity. "Please… teach me. Show me how to become like you. If you allow me to be your disciple, I'll do your work, anything. Just teach me."
Karikalan sighed, his tone gentle but firm. "Listen, sir. You're a great boxer in the U.S., right? I don't know what happened behind the scenes there. But I can't accept you as my disciple. My houseowner would throw me out if I let you stay in my home."
He turned to walk away.
Richard's voice cracked with desperation. "Please, don't leave me alone like this. If you accept me as your disciple… I'll cook different spicy foods for you every day."
Karikalan froze mid-step. His eyes widened. "What did you just say? Spicy food?"
Richard nodded earnestly. "Yes. Besides boxing, I'm also a cook. I work part-time, and I've cooked chicken, chicken 65, spicy curries, and other dishes."
Karikalan's face lit up with sudden joy. He rushed back toward Richard, gripping his shoulders.
"Wow! That's amazing. From now onwards, you'll be my disciple!"
Richard blinked, stunned. "If I had known earlier that spicy food was the key… I wouldn't have wasted all this energy fighting!"
The two laughed, the tension of battle dissolving into camaraderie. The waterfall resumed its flow, as if nature itself approved of their newfound bond — forged not just by fists, but by food.