Karikalan leaned forward, his eyes narrowing.
Karikalan (curious, teasing):"Yeah! The reason I asked is because usually you won't
practice at this time — even when I scold you to train. But today… I see worry
on your face. Tell me, what happened? Did someone make fun of you? Or did
they…"
He paused dramatically, then burst into laughter.
Karikalan (joking):"MADE…
YOU… PEE? Ahhh!"
He laughed at his own joke, expecting Richard's usual
scolding. But Richard remained silent, his face blank.
Karikalan's smile faded.
Karikalan (thinking to himself):"Hmm… usually he would scold me for this kind of joke. But
today… nothing. Something has happened to him."
He called out.
Karikalan:"Richard…
Richard…"
No response.
Suddenly, Karikalan threw a playful punch at Richard's
cheek. Richard stumbled, falling to the floor.
Richard (angry, shocked):"Aaah!
You idiot! Why did you punch me? It hurts!"
Karikalan leaned forward, his tone serious now.
Karikalan:"I called
you several times, but you didn't respond. That's why I punched you. Now tell
me… who hurt you?".
Richard sat on the floor, his voice trembling as he finally
spoke.
Richard (pained):"It
happened when I went to the shop to buy vegetables. While scrolling reels on my
phone… I saw something that shattered me. My girlfriend… she officially married
a guy who is one of the top boxers in the world."
Karikalan's eyes widened, his humor fading into silence.
Richard (continuing, voice breaking):"I was shocked. I tried to contact her, but she didn't
respond. I called again and again… finally she answered. I asked, 'I saw a reel
of you… is it true?' And she said… 'Yeah, it's true.'"
His hands clenched, tears forming.
Richard:"I asked
her, 'Why did you do this? Why leave me for another?' And she replied… 'We
loved each other, but you're stuck in India. You lost your sponsor contract.
How can I live a happy life with someone who earns nothing?'"
Richard's voice cracked as he remembered his plea.
Richard:"I
begged her… 'Please don't leave me. I'll do anything to make you happy. We can
live a happier life together.'"
The room fell silent. Karikalan stared at his friend,
realizing the depth of Richard's pain. His usual scolding, his humor, his spark
— all buried under heartbreak.
Karikalan leaned closer, his voice sharp with curiosity.
Karikalan:"Who is her
boyfriend now? You told me he's one of the top boxers in the world. What's his
name?"
Richard's face darkened, his voice trembling.
Richard (broken):"Yes…
he's one of the top boxers in the world. And moreover… he's my closest friend.
His name is David Carloz Martinez."
Karikalan's eyes widened, the weight of betrayal sinking
in. The room fell silent. Richard's heartbreak wasn't just about losing his
girlfriend — it was about losing her to someone he trusted most. A friend. A
brother in arms. Now turned rival.
Richard clenched his fists, his voice cracking.
Richard:"I
never thought he would betray me like this. I never thought she would leave me
for him. It feels like the world itself is laughing at me."
Karikalan's gaze hardened.
Karikalan's eyes widened, disbelief in his voice.
Karikalan:"What?
That fighter is your friend? He knew about your love for her, right? Then how
could he accept her marriage?"
Richard's voice trembled as he recalled the moment.
Richard:"I asked him the
same thing. And he said… 'Oh, I apologize for what happened between us. But she
was the one who kept telling me to love her. At first, I rejected… but then I
realized you were no longer in the USA. You lost your contract. You've been stuck
in India for over six months. She felt lonely… and she told me everything about
you. How is it fair for her to love a nobody like you in this situation?'"
Karikalan's fists clenched, his jaw tightening.
Richard (continuing, broken):"And then he added… 'Only the strongest can be acknowledged in
this world. I am stronger and smarter than you. That's why she chose me.'"
Richard's voice cracked, tears streaming down his face.
Richard:"I knew he was
stronger than me… but why? Why didn't he even tell me? I thought he was my best
friend."
The memory burned in his mind.
David (echoing in Richard's thoughts, cold and
arrogant):"Yeah, we were friends in the past.
But after I saw your defeat against that stinky dirt moron, I realized you had
grown weak. I only acknowledge the strong. That's why she came to me. We slept
together that day… and now we've decided to marry."
Karikalan's voice grew calm, yet carried the weight of
wisdom.
Karikalan (serious, empathetic):"I can understand your feelings — the betrayal, the
humiliation, the insult from your closest allies, your friend, and more
importantly… from your girlfriend. That pain hurts more than a heart attack.
She has made a blunder in her life, and it will hurt you more than
anything."
Richard looked down, his fists trembling.
Karikalan (continuing):"Right
now, you cannot make a clear decision. You're searching for a solution to your
problem. And you will choose either a good way or a bad way. But here's the
truth — human beings often choose the wrong way in moments like this. Not
because their mind found the solution… but because their heart did."
Karikalan leaned closer, his tone sharpening.
Karikalan:"Sometimes
it happens not because you loved someone with your heart… but because you
became too dependent on them. The more you depend on someone, the more you bury
yourself into the ground."
Richard's eyes widened, realizing the depth of Karikalan's
words.
Karikalan (resolute):"We
are not the type of men who manipulate people. But we have something greater —
the potential and the hard work to become stronger than anyone in this world.
So turn your anger, your pain, into the fuel of hunger. Use it as your fire… to
become strong."
Richard's eyes lit up, his voice steadier than before.
Richard (confident):"You're
right. The words you said to me were completely true. They both betrayed me…
and I won't forget them. Finally, I've found a path to reach my destiny — just
like you."
Karikalan leaned forward, curious.
Karikalan:"Oh? You found
a dream of yourself? What is it?"
Richard clenched his fists, determination burning in his
eyes.
Richard (resolute):"My
destiny is to become a world champion in boxing. I want everyone to acknowledge
me — including those who ignored and betrayed me. I know it hurts… I know she
had no choice… I know it happened because of the situation. But what makes true
love in this world is patience between couples. The real bond between two
people connected by love is said to be the real love — no matter how far apart,
no matter the hardships, no matter how long you wait. If you love someone, you
wait for them. That's the real bond of love."
His voice cracked, but his spirit soared.
Richard (continuing):"Now
I realize… the bond between us was fake. She didn't even understand the real
love I had. Was she immature? Or did she use me for popularity? I don't know.
But now… I've found something beyond love. My destiny is to become a champion
in the boxing world. I will do it. One day, I will beat him. And after that… I
will change who the strongest in the world really is."
Karikalan smiled faintly, seeing the fire in his friend's
eyes.