Cut to:
A few weeks later,
At Vajra Racing Circuit:
(The sun blazed down on the open track as Kiara stood at the starting line, her helmet in one hand and gloves clutched tightly in the other.
Her forehead was damp with sweat, but it wasn't just the heat—it was the crushing weight of expectations.)
Manav: (blows the whistle) Come on, Kiara. Focus. This lap has to be better than the last one. Get your head in the game.
(Kiara nodded silently, slipped on her helmet, and mounted her bike. She revved the engine and shot forward.
The sound of the bike echoed across the track, but her movements were jerky.
She overshot a turn, skidded too wide, and finally came to an abrupt halt mid-track.)
Kiara: (Frustrated, she flings off her helmet) Mujhse nahi ho raha! I can't do this!!!!
(Kiara's chest heaved as she tried to steady her erratic breaths. Her fingers trembled as she pulled off her gloves and helmet, throwing them to the ground with a frustration she couldn't contain.
Her heart pounded loudly, not from the exertion of the race but from the overwhelming fear of failure.
Tears blurred her vision as she ran her hands through her sweat-drenched hair. She began stomping away from the track.)
Manav: (calls out firmly) Kiara!!!!
(But she didn't stop. She kept walking until she reached the edge of the track, where she stood with her back to him, hands clenched into fists.
Manav approached her cautiously, his voice calm but edged with urgency.)
Manav: Look Kiara, I know this isn't easy, but you need to focus. Mistakes happen—it's part of the process. Abhi itna react karne ka time nahi hai!!!
Kiara: (eyes burning with frustration) React karne ka time nahi hai? Aapko pata bhi hai main kya feel kar rahi hoon?? I am just a loser!!!! aur main bas fail ho rahi hoon. Again and again!
Manav: (sighs, trying to keep his composure) Kiara, itna stress mat lo!!! Tum sirf... apna best do. That's all anyone asks.
Kiara: (shakes her head, her voice trembling) Best? Agar mera best yeh hai, toh mujhe nahi lagta hai ki main kabhi jeet paungi?
(Every mistake she'd made on the track replayed in her mind like a relentless loop—each wide turn, each missed mark, each second she fell short. Her inner voice screamed accusations she couldn't escape.)
Manav: (steps closer, his voice softening) Tum zyaada overthinking kar rahi ho, Kiara!!!!
Kiara: Mujhse nahi hoga. This is too much.
(She bent over, hands on her knees, her breath hitching in uneven sobs.
Her body shook as the weight of expectations, both hers and others', bore down on her relentlessly.
She felt like she was drowning, each wave of self-doubt pulling her deeper.)
(Manav opened his mouth to say more but stopped when he saw the despair in her eyes.
He realized his words weren't enough this time. No pep talk could untangle the storm brewing inside her.
With a resigned sigh, he stepped back, giving her the space she seemed to desperately need, but the helplessness in his chest only grew.)
.
.
.
At the stands:
(Purab and Naina watched from the sidelines, their expressions shifting from concern to heartbreak as Kiara crumbled under the weight of her emotions.
Purab's usually composed demeanor faltered as he saw her throw her helmet in frustration and collapse into sobs.
He took a step forward, his instinct to rush to her overwhelming, but he stopped himself, unsure if his words would help or make it worse.
His hands clenched into fists at his sides as he exhaled sharply, feeling helpless.
Naina's eyes filled with unshed tears as she witnessed her daughter's breakdown.
She placed a hand on Purab's arm, her grip firm yet trembling, as if silently telling him to let her process it for a moment. But even she couldn't stand still for long.)
Naina: (her voice thick with worry) She's losing herself out there!!!!
Purab: (sighs, shaking his head) Pressure ka level zyada ho gaya hai. She's not just racing against time; she's racing against expectations—her own, ours, everyone's.
(Purab came a little closer to the track and raised his voice slightly, directing it toward Kiara)
Purab: Kiara! Beta, relax! Track se bhaag kar problem solve nahi hogi. Take a deep breath!!!
Naina: Kiara, calm down. Pressure toh hamesha rahega. It's part of the game.
Purab: and bacche, haar jeet hoti rahegi. But breaking down like this won't help. You've fought tougher battles.
(But Kiara didn't turn back or respond. She stood with her back to them, wiping her face, shoulders tense.
Purab exhaled deeply, feeling helpless. He exchanged a look with Naina, both of them unsure how to handle her anxiety.)
.
.
Just then,
(A calm yet familiar voice spoke behind them. Purab and Naina turned to see Prabhas, standing with his arms loosely folded and a knowing smile on his face.)
Prabhas: Lagta hai, ussay thoda alag tarike se samjhaane ki zaroorat hai....
Purab: aah... Prabhas!!! Tum hi ho, jo Kiara ko samjhaa sakte ho!!!
Prabhas: haan sir. Samjhaana toh padega. Mujhe uss ko yaad dilaana padega, why she wanted to be a racer in the first place!!!!
Naina: (her lips curves into a hopeful smile) Thank you, Prabhas sir. She needs you right now.
(Prabhas gave them a reassuring nod and walked toward Kiara with the quiet confidence of someone who knew exactly what needed to be said.)
.
.
.
At the track:
(Prabhas approached with a calm yet purposeful stride. His gaze was fixed on
Kiara, who stood with her back to everyone, still trying to collect herself. He stopped a few steps away, his voice firm but warm.)
Prabhas: Kiara?
(Kiara turned slowly, her eyes still red from tears, surprised to see him there.)
Kiara: Prabhas Sir??
Prabhas: (nods, his expression gentle) Haan, beta. main hi hoon. Aur mujhe tumse ek baat karni hai.
(Before Kiara could respond, Manav stepped forward with a small smile. He placed a hand on Kiara's shoulder.)
Manav: Jaao, Kiara. Prabhas Sir se baat karo. Shayad woh tumhe, woh perspective de sakein, jo abhi tumhe chahiye.
(Kiara hesitated, glancing between Manav and Prabhas.
For a moment, the weight of her emotions held her back, but Manav's encouraging nod and Prabhas' steady gaze made her relent.
Prabhas gestured toward a quieter spot near the edge of the track.)
Prabhas: Chalo, wahaan baithte hain. Aaram se baat karenge.
(Manav watched them walk away, his smiles, hoping that things get better.
He crossed his arms and glanced toward Purab and Naina, who both looked equally anxious yet relieved.)
.
.
Near the benches:
(Prabhas led Kiara to a quiet bench under the shade of a tree near the edge of the track.
He sat down and patted the space next to him, gesturing for her to join. Kiara hesitated for a moment before sitting, her shoulders still slumped.
For a few moments, Prabhas didn't say anything. He simply looked out at the track, letting the silence settle. Kiara fidgeted with her gloves, waiting for him to speak.)
Prabhas: Kya yeh wahi Kiara hai, jo mujhe hamesha lagta tha ki, woh kisi bhi challenge ke liye ready hai??
Kiara: (blinks, startled by his question) Sir... yeh alag hai... This isn't just any race. It's the national championship. Sab kuch ispe depend karta hai.
Prabhas: (his expression calm but firm) and you think that this one race, will define your entire journey???
(Kiara looked down, her hands twisting nervously.)
Kiara: Main bas... sab ki expectations puri karna chahti hoon. aap ne, Purab Sir ne, Mumma ne, Manav sir ne... sab ne mujh pe itna trust kiya hai. Agar main haar gayi toh??
Prabhas: (sighs) Tumhe pata hai, problem kya hai?
Kiara: (frowns) Kya?
Prabhas: tumhaari problem yeh hai ki you are constantly thinking about the National championship!!!! Tumne saara ka saara burden apne inn nanhe se kandho par utha rakha hai!!!! Tum iss race ko, ek mountain bana rahi ho, jab ki this is just like any other race.... This is just another track!!!
Kiara: (looks away, biting her lip.) Prabhas sir, it is not just another track!!!
Prabhas: (interrupts) Haan, itni importance tab hoti hai, jab tum ussay dogi. Socho, jab tumne apne life ka pehla race kiya tha... dirt track pe, kya tumhe pata tha ki ek din national championship ke liye qualify karogi?
Kiara: (she hesitates, then shakes her head) Nahi.
Prabhas: do you even remember what had happened dying your mock race?
Kiara: (she nods, her lips curving into a faint smile) the entire track was so skiddy ki main slip hi ho gayi.... But then I got up and reached the finish line.
Prabhas: haan.... Us din tumhara goal kya tha??
Kiara: just have fun and see, ki main kar sakti hoon ya nahi.
Prabhas: (smiles knowingly) Aur wahi tumhaari asli strength thi, Kiara!!!! Tum jeetne ke liye race nahi karti thi.... you just fun on the track!!!! Aaj tumhara focus kahin aur shift ho gaya hai. the burden you are carrying, woh tumhaare ride ke balance bigaad raha hai!!!
Kiara: (her throat tightens, and she shakes her head.) Lekin ab stakes zyada hain, Sir. Ab sirf maza lena kaafi nahi hai.
(Prabhas leaned forward, his voice soft but commanding.)
Prabhas: Kiara, maza lena aur apne best effort dena, alag nahi hain. Jab tum apni ride ka maza leti ho, tabhi tum apna best perform karti ho. Tumhe woh simplicity waapas laani hogi. National championship ka sochna chhodo. Issay, bas ek aur ordinary race samjho!!! Do you know why you even started racing in the first place?
Kiara: I liked riding motorcycles. Mujhe woh freedom waala ehsaas pasand hai... jo sirf track par milta hai.
Prabhas: toh, abhi bhi, tum wahi karo—apne liye ride karo, kisi aur ke liye nahi.
Kiara: (smiles faintly, wiping her face) Aap hamesha, sab itna simple kaise bana dete ho?
Prabhas: (chuckles) Simple hi toh hai...... Tumne issay unnecessarily complicated bana diya hai!!! (smiles) Chalo, ek aur try maaro. Iss baar apne liye.... (reassuring her) and tumhe tension lene ki zaroorat nahi hai. tumhaare peeche, ham sab khade hain!!!!
(Kiara stood up with renewed determination. As they walked back toward the track, the heaviness in her chest seemed to lift, replaced by the flicker of the fire she thought she'd lost.)
___________________________________________
Author’s Note:
Hey, dear readers! 👋
This scene was all about pressure, expectations, and self-doubt—things we all struggle with at some point.
But here’s the thing—sometimes, we get so caught up in winning that we forget why we started in the first place. Kiara needed that reminder, and who better than Prabhas Sir to bring her back on track? 🚀💪
I hope this scene resonated with you! Let me know what you think—did you feel Kiara’s frustration? Do you ever feel like you’re carrying too much pressure?
Let me know in the comments box!! And don't forget to vote ⭐️ and follow for regular updates.