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Chapter 1: Which Class?
It was one of the biggest days of my life.
For this moment, I had trained for months — every drop of sweat, every bruise, every late evening under the fading sun — all for today.
Today, I was going to prove who I really was… in front of my family, my friends, and most importantly, him.
Across the field, I spotted my neighbor, Mahesh, warming up with his team. For everyone else, this was just a football match — Class Jupiter versus Class Mars. But for me and Mahesh, it was personal. A silent war. The fire in our eyes said everything our mouths didn’t.
This rivalry didn’t start on the field. It began months ago — on Mahesh’s birthday.
His parents had invited the whole neighborhood. When I arrived, I was laughing with my best friend Sakthi. Mahesh, the birthday boy, loved showing off. His father was the richest man in town, and Mahesh made sure no one ever forgot it.
Without anyone asking, he dragged us into his room to show off his expensive toys. Among them was a sleek, shiny remote-control car. He didn’t even know how to use it — but I did. I’d played with one just like it at my cousin’s house.
When I showed everyone how to drive it, the room filled with cheers. The claps echoed like victory drums.
Mahesh’s smile vanished. His pride cracked in front of everyone. Then, without warning, he shoved me hard. I hit the ground, my palms stinging.
Fury flared up inside me — hot and wild. Before I could stop myself, I punched him straight in the face. Blood trickled from his nose.
The room froze.
His mother rushed to him and glared at me like I was dirt.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBJtGK4dCEL
“What else can you expect from a last-class kid?” she hissed. “No manners. No discipline. Your parents should be ashamed.”
Before I could speak, my father stormed in and slapped me — right there, in front of everyone.
I ran home, tears blurring my vision.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyQMOJPM8Jj
That night, I couldn’t sleep. Not because of the slap… but because of her words.
Last-class kid.
Why did my class rank decide my worth?59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmixw7H3C11
That question took root deep in my heart.
A few days later, my neighbor Miss Neela started a small tuition class for Maths. My father, worried about my grades, made me join.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvVtRzuwUEv
To my relief, Sakthi and Kabil were there too. I grabbed a seat beside them in the front row, ready to prove myself.
But as class began, Miss Neela looked at me and said,59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnwc1XQBcuL
“Jay, which class are you from?”
“Jupiter class,” I replied.
Her expression hardened. “Last-class students should sit at the back. Don’t disturb the others.”
Laughter rippled through the room.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡytDz16j4KR
My heart sank as I walked to the last table, every step heavier than the one before.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz1J2JH1I2l
The question echoed again in my mind — Which class are you?
That Sunday, my relatives came over. While I was playing with my cousin Jaanu, her mother smiled and asked,59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAsSC6x5nzK
“Which class are you in, Jay?”
When I told her, the smile faded. She gently took Jaanu’s hand and whispered,59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl5LVIX79It
“Don’t play too much with him.”
I caught every word.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP0nM7I630N
That’s when I realized — the question wasn’t curiosity. It was judgment wearing a smile.
Weeks passed.
Then one morning, I saw it — a notice pinned to the school board.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1VBDC2MTDw
Annual Football Tournament: Inter-Class Championship.
Something inside me ignited.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpys9ApN2f0
This was it.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXaLkxxqACa
My chance to prove that I was more than just a number on a rank list.
I signed up that very day. Rain or shine, I trained. Every morning before school, every evening after. My body ached, but my will didn’t.
Now, here I was — standing on the field under the roaring sun.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTxuXPH27DZ
The crowd cheered. My teammates shouted my name.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcPoMFOctoT
My heart beat like a drum before battle.
The whistle blew.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD0zSo4WvOH
The match began.
We fought like warriors. Every pass, every tackle, every sprint — pure fire and focus.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRLPRxrss2A
When the final whistle rang out, the scoreboard glowed:
Jupiter 3 – Mars 0.
We’d done it.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9rG9DaqyXb
I’d done it.
They handed me the MVP medal and the microphone. My hands trembled, but my voice didn’t.
“Education is important,” I began, “but everyone has their own kind of talent. One day, I’ll enter the first class — not to prove anyone wrong, but to prove myself right.”
The crowd fell silent.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9sfAvveCGE
Then my father stepped forward, his eyes shining with pride.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXgnNCZa9dy
He hugged me — tight, unashamed, unspoken love in that moment.
Years later, I stand on a similar field.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXexrVAfKQi
Not as a player this time… but as a coach.
When I look at my students, I see a bit of my younger self in each of them.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgMCddURrMR
Not everyone wins the same kind of battle.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOTgFsPrWpy
But when the battlefield changes — the winner changes too.
And that’s how I learned to trust myself.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJoljMOUqSk
To keep fighting.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ22QgBpNMVD
And to never, ever give up.
and then Add to home screen.