The crowd of children still murmured in awe after Mohith sent Arjun's fiery ball into the clouds. The sun dipped lower, painting the ground with a shade of gold. For a moment, the local kids forgot who was rich and who was poor—every eye was fixed on Mohith.Arjun's hand clenched into a fist. His pride, polished by countless district victories, had never been dented this way. He stormed forward and grabbed the ball rolling back from the distance.Arjun:
"Don't get carried away, Mohith. One lucky shot doesn't make you a champion."Mohith tightened his grip on his cracked bat, sweat dripping down his face, but his glare didn't falter.Mohith:
"It wasn't luck. It was belief. That's the difference between you and me."The children gasped, some shifting uneasily between their idolized Arjun and the boy rebelling against him.From the edge of the ground, Coach Raghavan watched quietly. He had trained Arjun for years, shaping him into the town's star. But deep down, a flicker of curiosity stirred in the coach's eyes as he studied Mohith.The tension snapped when Arjun threw the ball down aggressively.Arjun:
"Then prove it in a real match. My team against yours—tomorrow. If you dare."The challenge sent murmurs rippling through the crowd. Arjun had a trained squad with proper kits and resources. Mohith only had friends who played barefoot with broken bats.Mohith's heart pounded, but there was no hesitation.Mohith:
"I'll be there. Stronger than ever."That night, Mohith sat on the roof of his small home, staring at the ragged bat resting across his knees. His family's lights flickered inside, his parents working late to manage their modest lives. Above him, countless stars spread like a canvas of possibilities.Mohith (inner voice):
"Tomorrow, I step into a battle where everything's against me. But if I back down now, I'll always live under Arjun's shadow. This won't just be a game. It'll be my first real war."Far away, waves thundered against the shore, echoing Mohith's silent vow.Cut to the title card as the background track swells:
"Next Time: The Clash on Dusty Ground"