Chapter 4: A New Path

The cluttered 1BHK flat in Nala Sopara buzzed with the hum of Ravi’s computers as Ishaan sat on the cleared sofa, the samosa plate balanced on his knee. The reunion with his old coworker had rekindled a flicker of hope, and now, with a purpose in mind, he leaned forward. “Ravi, I can do martial arts,” he began, his voice steady. “I can fight, pick up moves fast. I know a number of spoken languages—English, Hindi, Marathi, Sanskrit, and bits of Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam, Odia. I’ve got experience as a manager and have done all sorts of odd jobs over the years, so I’m a fast learner, adaptable. Oh, and I’ve got savings of around 3-4 lakhs tucked away.”

Ravi hummed, stroking his chin as he chewed. “Martial arts, huh? And you look good too—tall, fit. Show me some moves, will ya?” His eyes sparkled with curiosity.

Ishaan nodded, a cautious excitement bubbling up. “Alright, let’s go to the terrace.” They climbed the stairs, the afternoon  air hitting them as they stepped onto the open space. Ishaan took a deep breath, then launched into action—flipping mid-air with grace, landing a spinning kick, and flowing through a series of punches and blocks. Each move was fluid, precise, a testament to his newfound mastery.

Ravi’s jaw dropped. “Amazing!” he exclaimed, clapping. “You’re a legitimate martial artist! How did you learn it?”

“By watching TV,” Ishaan answered simply, brushing off the praise.

“No way!” Ravi protested, eyes wide. “Your moves are totally professional-looking! I have an idea—why don’t you start a YouTube channel showing martial arts moves and become an influencer? All we need is a room, a camera, and some lights. I can do the editing part for now. What do you say?”

Ishaan frowned, hesitation creeping in. “No, we can’t do that. If I get recognized by Ari’s relatives, they’ll mock her—call her married to a circus performer or worse. ‘They will never let it go?’ ‘Her family already hates me enough.’”

“No problem, wear a mask then,” Ravi countered, grinning. “Believe me, you look good—fit, strong. The mask will create a mystery, draw people in. It’ll work! I’ll even boost your views by promoting your videos on forums and girls’ shopping websites. Just try it, I promise you it’ll be a hit!”

“But…” Ishaan started, doubt lacing his voice. “I don’t have a place to shoot. ‘Where would I even start?’ I wonder. ‘This could expose me, and then what?’”

“No problem!” Ravi waved off the concern. “The flat beside mine, I’ve rented it as a storeroom for my work. It’s full now, but if I arrange some stuff, we can empty the bedroom or the hall. And I’ve got an old DSLR—we’ll use it to shoot. You come back tomorrow, and I’ll have it set up for you. ‘What do you think?’ “could this be my chance?” Ishaan thought to himself.

Ishaan paused, his mind racing. “A mask, huh? ‘Will it really hide me?’ ‘And what if Ari finds out? Will she be angry or proud?’” He thought to himself. He looked at Ravi, the enthusiasm infectious. “Okay, but let’s keep it secret for now. ‘I know I can trust him with this?’ I am  sure. If it works, maybe I can earn enough to stand on my own.”

“Deal!” Ravi clapped him on the shoulder. “Tomorrow, we start. Bring your A-game, bro!”

No “Ravi, let me help,” he said, determination in his voice. “We’ll clean the room today. I want to pick Ari up from the office and then go home, so I’ve got time left. ‘Together we will get it done faster?’.

Ravi’s eyes lit up. “Great idea, bro! Let’s do it.” They headed to the adjacent flat, a cramped storeroom Ravi used for his work. The bedroom, a modest 10 x 12 ft with a 10-ft ceiling, was mostly empty compared to the living room, which overflowed with computer parts and repair units. “This’ll work,” Ravi said, surveying the space. “Let’s shift the stuff from the bedroom to the kitchen and living room.”

“Sounds good,” Ishaan replied, rolling up his sleeves. “But will it all fit? ‘This place is a mess,” ‘it Sure is.’ Ravi Chuckled, Together, they moved boxes and cables, their movements swift and coordinated. In just half an hour, the room was completely empty. “Wow, that was fast!” Ishaan exclaimed. “Did my strength help, or are we just that good?”

“Definitely your strength,” Ravi laughed. “You’re a beast now! Let’s clean it up.” They grabbed a broom and swept the dust away, the room slowly transforming. With time still on their hands, Ravi grinned. “Hey, let’s paint the room green. What do you say?”

Ishaan tilted his head. “Why green?”

“In editing, it will work as a green screen where I can add any background,” Ravi explained. “Green screen magic—makes it versatile.

“Alright, let’s try it,” Ishaan agreed, intrigued. “But where do we get paint?”

“Hop on the bike,” Ravi said. “We’ll hit the market.” They rode off, weaving through the streets. At a hardware store, Ishaan bought 3 liters of green paint, 2 brushes, then, at Ravi’s suggestion, added 2 powerful ceiling lights, some tripods, lights, and extension cables. “This is getting pricey,” Ishaan muttered. “But if it works, it’s an investment.

Back at the flat, they dove into painting. “Start on that wall,” Ravi directed, dipping a brush. “Keep it even!”

“Got it,” Ishaan replied, spreading paint with steady strokes. “This is harder than I thought. ‘Can I keep up?’” The hours ticked by, the green coating the walls in vibrant waves. “Looking good!” Ravi cheered. “Almost done—keep going!”

Three hours later, the room glowed a fresh green, the air thick with paint fumes. Ishaan checked the time. “I need to leave to pick up Ari,” he said, wiping sweat from his brow. “This turned out well, though.

“Awesome job,” Ravi said, clapping him on the back. “Come back tomorrow—we’ll set up the lights and camera.”

“Deal,” Ishaan nodded. “Thanks, Ravi. See you tomorrow.” He bid farewell, the bike roaring to life as he headed to Ari’s office, a mix of pride and anticipation swelling in his chest.

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