Morning in Mumbai began with sound.
Not alarms.
But bats striking leather somewhere nearby.
Aarav woke before his parents, changed quietly, and stepped onto the balcony. From two streets away, the echo of cricket carried through the humid air—someone practicing drives against a concrete wall, the dull thud repeating with devotion.
This was Mumbai.
Cricket didn't wait for permission here.
---
## 🏏 SHIVAJI PARK CRICKET ACADEMY
The academy gates were old, paint chipped, but the ground inside was sacred. Generations had trained here. Futures were shaped on these rough pitches.
Aarav stood among boys older than him—twelve, thirteen, some even fourteen.
Most glanced at him once, then looked away.
Ten-year-olds didn't last long here.
---
## 🧑🏫 FIRST IMPRESSION
Coach **Pradeep Kulkarni** watched silently from the boundary, whistle hanging loose around his neck.
"Net session," he called.
"Everyone bowls, everyone bats."
Aarav was sent to Net Three.
Fast bowlers first.
---
## ⚙️ SYSTEM SYNCHRONIZATION
As Aarav tightened his gloves, the interface flickered faintly.
---
### 🧠 KL RAHUL TEMPLATE – ACTIVE
**Live Adjustment:**
- Footwork Micro-Optimization
- Bat Swing Efficiency +5%
- Balance Correction (Fast Bowling)
**Status:** Stable
---
Aarav exhaled slowly.
He didn't force anything.
---
## 🏏 NET SESSION – FAST BOWLING
**Bowler:** Right-arm medium, around 13 years old
Good pace. Natural outswing.
**Ball 1:**
Good length, outside off.
Leave.
**Ball 2:**
Slightly fuller.
Aarav leaned forward, bat close to pad.
Solid defence.
Coach Kulkarni raised an eyebrow.
---
### Gradual Control
**Ball 4:**
Shorter.
Aarav rocked back.
Punch through cover.
The sound was clean.
Heads turned.
---
**Ball 6:**
Overpitched.
Aarav didn't overhit.
Just extended the drive.
Ball raced along the grass.
---
## 🧠 COACH'S OBSERVATION
Kulkarni scribbled something on his notepad.
Not the runs.
The method.
---
## 🏏 SPIN TEST
Next came spin.
**Bowler:** Left-arm orthodox
Most young batters lunged or swept wildly.
Aarav waited.
---
**Over Simulation:**
- Ball on middle → Soft push to long-on
- Ball outside off → Late cut
- Flighted ball → Step down, drive along the ground
No slogging.
No ego.
---
## 📊 NET SUMMARY (COACH NOTES)
- Balance: Excellent
- Shot Selection: Advanced
- Temperament: Unusual for age
---
## 🏏 PRACTICE MATCH
**Format:** 20 overs
**Teams:** Academy Reds vs Academy Blues
**Venue:** Shivaji Park (Practice Pitch)
Aarav opened again.
Some boys whispered.
"Isn't he too young?"
---
## 🧾 Academy Reds – Batting
### Opening Overs
**Over 1 – Right-arm medium**
- 1.3: Length ball → Checked drive (FOUR)
- 1.6: Short → Pull behind square (FOUR)
No risk.
Just placement.
---
**Over 3 – Left-arm spin**
- Sweep → FOUR
- Step-out push → TWO
The bowler frowned.
---
### Score at 5 Overs:
**Reds: 38/0**
- Aarav: **26 (17 balls)**
---
## ⚡ CONTROLLED ACCELERATION
Aarav sensed it.
The field spread.
The bowlers hesitated.
---
**Over 8 – Medium pace**
- Back-foot punch → FOUR
- Inside edge past keeper → FOUR
Luck favored preparation.
---
## 🧾 Dismissal
**Over 11**
- Tried to loft over extra cover
- Didn't middle it fully
*c point b right-arm medium*
---
### Aarav Malhotra:
**48 runs (29 balls)**
- 7 fours
- Strike Rate: **165.51**
---
## 🏏 ACADEMY REDS – TOTAL
**146/6 (20 overs)**
A competitive score.
---
## 🏏 FIELDING IMPACT
Aarav didn't switch off.
- Took a sharp catch at short cover
- Saved two boundaries with clean stops
Coach noticed that too.
---
## 🧾 MATCH RESULT
**Academy Reds won by 21 runs**
---
## 🧠 POST-MATCH
Coach Kulkarni called Aarav aside.
"You play like someone who already knows where his limits are," he said.
Aarav answered honestly.
"I don't want to find them yet."
The coach smiled faintly.
---
## 🏠 FAMILY DINNER
That evening, Aarav ate quietly.
His father watched him carefully.
"You're serious," Raghav said.
"Yes," Aarav replied.
"Then we adjust everything," his father said.
"School timings. Training. Discipline."
Aarav nodded.
This was the support he hadn't fully used in his first life.
He wouldn't waste it again.
---
As he lay in bed, muscles aching, the system pulsed softly.
Not stronger.
Not louder.
Just steady.
Foundations weren't built by force.
They were built by repetition.
And Aarav had all the time in the world.
--chapter 2 end--