บท 69: Chapter 69: Back on Track

The early morning fog clung to the track as Rohan Singh took his place at the starting line. The cool air wrapped around him, the kind that left a bite on the skin but was perfect for running. This was no grand event—no international meet with roaring crowds or flashing cameras. It was a small, local race, part of a minor national event that most elite runners wouldn't have bothered with. But for Rohan, it marked something much bigger.

It was the first race he'd run since the injury.

He inhaled deeply, feeling the familiar burn of anticipation settle in his chest. He could hear the other runners warming up around him, their movements quick and efficient. The starting line stretched out before him like an old friend he hadn't seen in far too long. For months, he had been stuck on the sidelines, fighting his way through endless therapy sessions and slow recovery days. Now, standing at the line again, everything felt different—and yet, the same.

Rohan's body hummed with nervous energy, but his mind was clear. He was back where he belonged, on the track, preparing to run. No matter how small this race was, it meant everything to him. It was his chance to prove to himself, and maybe to others, that he could still do it. That the injury hadn't taken everything from him.

Ms. Mehra stood near the edge of the track, watching him intently. She had been there through every step of his recovery, pushing him harder when he needed it and pulling him back when his frustration threatened to get the better of him. She hadn't let him rush his return, reminding him at every turn that this was a process. Today wasn't about winning. It was about showing himself that he could still compete.

The officials signaled for the runners to get ready, and Rohan crouched into his starting stance, his fingers brushing the cool surface of the track. His heart pounded in his chest, but there was a calmness beneath it—an acceptance that no matter what happened in this race, he had made it back here. That was a victory in itself.

The gun fired, and Rohan exploded off the blocks.

The first few strides felt strange—almost foreign, as if his body had forgotten how to move at full speed. His muscles tensed, his strides a little too tight, a little too cautious. But as he settled into his rhythm, the familiar sensation of running began to return. The wind rushed past his face, and the sound of his feet hitting the track filled his ears. For a brief moment, it was like he had never left.

The race wasn't long—a short 800 meters. Rohan paced himself carefully, staying near the middle of the pack. The other runners weren't world-class athletes, but they were fit, determined, and quick. He wasn't concerned about them, though. His focus was on his own body, feeling out how it responded to the pressure of the race.

His hamstring tightened slightly, a reminder of the months spent rehabilitating it, but there was no sharp pain—just a dull, manageable sensation. He pressed on, his strides growing more fluid as his confidence built with each step.

By the halfway point, Rohan found himself inching toward the front. His breathing was steady, his legs strong. The cautious, measured pace he had started with began to fall away as the adrenaline kicked in. The competitors ahead of him started to fade, their early burst of energy faltering. But Rohan had trained for this—he knew how to hold back, how to wait for the right moment to strike.

As they rounded the final bend, Rohan surged forward. His body responded, not with the effortless grace it once had, but with enough power to push him ahead of the pack. His heart pounded, and his legs burned with effort, but he was running. Really running.

In the final stretch, Rohan found himself neck and neck with another runner, a young athlete who had led most of the race. But Rohan's years of experience kicked in. He knew how to finish strong. Digging deep, he found an extra burst of speed, pushing himself past the young runner and crossing the finish line just ahead.

The crowd cheered—not a massive roar like the international events, but enough to send a wave of satisfaction through Rohan's chest. He slowed to a jog, then a walk, his lungs burning from the effort, but his mind was alight with victory.

He had won.

It wasn't a major race. It wasn't a record-breaking performance. But it was a win. His first since the injury. And to Rohan, it meant everything.

As he made his way off the track, Ms. Mehra met him with a rare smile, her eyes gleaming with pride. "Not bad for your first race back," she said, her voice calm but with a hint of satisfaction.

Rohan grinned, his chest still heaving from the run. "It wasn't perfect," he admitted, the competitive side of him already picking apart his performance.

"No," Ms. Mehra agreed, "but it was the first step. You did what you needed to do. You're back on the track, and you won. That's what matters today."

Rohan nodded, his heart swelling with pride. The road ahead was still long, and he knew he wasn't fully back to his old form yet. But this race had proven one thing—he could still compete. He could still win.

As the sun began to set over the track, casting long shadows across the field, Rohan stood there, feeling the weight of the past months lift off his shoulders. He wasn't done yet—not by a long shot.

This was only the beginning.The days after the race passed in a blur of renewed energy. Winning that small national event had reignited something in Rohan—a confidence that had been missing ever since his injury. The doubts that had plagued him, the fear that he would never be the same runner again, began to fade. He knew now that he could compete, that he still had what it took to push himself beyond his limits.