4.5 CHAPTER:- THE HARDEST PATH—C
Lewosito opened his eyes. Gasp, gasp.
"Huh? Where am I? Aa—wait, it's my bedroom… Yes. What's the time?"
He glanced at the clock. 1:00 AM. He noticed both his hands were wrapped in bandages.
What's happening…?
Whirrrrr… whirrrrr…
"Huh? A vacuum cleaner?"
He walked toward the hall and saw Atharv, half-asleep, cleaning the floor.
"Atharv, why are you cleaning the home right now? It's 1 AM!" Lewosito asked, confused.
Atharv turned off the vacuum and yawned. "I didn't clean the house yesterday, so I'm doing it now. Anyway, how's your health? You were unconscious in the parking lot."
Lewosito rubbed his head. "Huh… yes, I was unconscious." He thought to himself, What happened to me at that time?
My body felt heavy. All I could feel was the exhaustion from the training, and all I could see was Kavishni's face getting closer. My hands reached for her and found her shoulders, and I hugged her tight. But then, my hands slipped, and the world began to spin. All I felt was her arms catching me before everything went black.
Atharv's voice cut in. "Kavishni really cared for you when you were unconscious. She got scared and even started crying."
Flashback – Few Hours Ago
"Lewosito! Lewosito, what happened to him?" Kavishni cried, her voice trembling.
"Lewosito! Lewosito, hey, get up!" Atharv shouted.
"Carefully, carefully—just lay him in bed," Kavishni said urgently.
She continued, "He got unconscious because of the whole day's training. And his Fire Fist was healing his forearm injury again and again, so that's why he fainted."
Atharv frowned. "How do you know that's why he got unconscious?"
Kavishni replied, "He was continuously training, and when the power heals his injuries, it makes him weak. Because of these two things, he got unconscious."
Atharv nodded. "Okay, thank you. Which Fist do you have?"
Kavishni said softly, "The Green Fist."
Atharv: "Okay, okay."
Kavishni continued, "You both rest now. I'll sit here for 10 minutes, then I will cook food for you both."
Atharv sighed. "Okay."
Back to the Present
"She really took care of you," Atharv said. "She was so worried; her eyes showed the pain she felt when you fell unconscious."
Lewosito muttered, "Huh… I should thank her tomorrow."
Atharv smiled. "Yes. And Yaa, eat your food now. I already served it on the dining table."
Lewosito sat down. "Okay, but what did she cook?"
"Dal Rice," Atharv replied.
Lewosito took a spoonful, chewed, and thought, Hmm, it's delicious… I love it.
Atharv watched. "You don't like it?"
Lewosito shook his head. "It's so delicious. I loved it."
He asked, "What work is remaining? Tell me, I'll do it."
Atharv groaned. "Only the clothes are left. I'm really tired. My legs and forearms are hurting a lot. Please, after eating, help me dry them, okay?"
Lewosito: "Yes, sure."
After a few minutes, Lewosito washed the dishes.
Atharv said, "Okay, in 5 minutes the clothes will be dry in the machine. Then we'll hang them in the hall."
Lewosito: "Okay, then I'll go for a bath and come back. Till then, please hang some clothes, and then you can sleep."
Atharv: "Yes, okay."
Lewosito went to his room and closed the bathroom door. Clack.
"Yes, the bathtub is full, and the water is hot. I can relax for 5 to 10 minutes… It feels so good after a whole day of training."
He removed his crepe bandage and looked at his hand. Clenching his fist, a flame appeared.
"So… I don't get burned by fire," Lewosito whispered. "That day, when I clenched my hand, I was scared… but now I see. Huhhh… the training is going to get harder. I don't know how I'll complete it. My forearm literally healed—no swelling, no bruises. But I'm tired of this training…"
After 10 minutes, he came out of the bathroom and tossed his dirty clothes in the washing machine.
In the hall, Atharv was hanging clothes on a metal rod, swaying tiredly. His eyes were bloodshot, dark circles deep, and his hands and legs shook with fatigue.
"Just… more 4 clothes… then… sleep…" Atharv muttered half-asleep as he climbed the step ladder. Outside, a thunderstorm rumbled with heavy rain. CRACK!
Lewosito watched, worried. From when is he working like this? Because of me, his condition is like this… I have to help him.
Lewosito rushed forward and steadied himself with a pole. "Go, Atharv. Sleep now. Your hands and legs are already paining, and when I got unconscious, you were still working. Go and rest."
Atharv: "Yes… only 2 more clothes. Half are in the washing machine. Please hang them."
Lewosito: "Yes."
But suddenly, Lewosito lost his balance. The pole slipped, the metal rod clattered, and the clothes fell to the ground.
"Aaaaa!" Atharv cried as he tumbled down.
Lewosito panicked. "I'm sorry, Atharv, it was my mistake!"
Silent, Atharv picked up one of the rods. His voice was low and angry. "Lewosito… today you made me angry a lot."
Lewosito stepped back. "Aa—Atharv?"
Atharv shouted, "You bakaaa! Come here!"
Lewosito: "Aaaa, wait, Atharv! I'm sorry, I was trying to help you!"
While running, Lewosito bumped into the sofa and stumbled. His hand accidentally hit a flower vase, and it toppled over with a loud crash.
"Aa!" Lewosito gasped.
Atharv froze. "A Japanese expensive flower vase… Yamazaki Flower Vase, Premium Edition, 1,20,000 Yen I spent for this vase—and you broke it!!"
Lewosito froze too.
"Aaaaaaaaaaa, you BAKKAAAA!" Atharv swung the rod wildly, aiming straight at him.
"Aaa—dodge! What are you doing, idiot?!" Lewosito yelled.
Atharv: "Come here! I'm going to kill you, bakaaa!"
He swung again and again.
Lewosito shouted, "What are you doing?! It will hurt me!"
Atharv screamed, "Baka! Baka! Baka! Baka! Baka! Baka! Baka!"
The elevator dinged. Ding!
A drunk man walked out, humming happily. "Konna koto ii na… dekitara ii na… Anna yume konna yume ippai aru kedo… Minna minna minna—huh? Lollipop."
He spotted a lollipop on the floor. Slurring, he said, "I'll eat this… and my wife won't even know I'm drunk."
He bent down for the lollipop when—THWACK!
Lewosito flung the door open, sprinting.
"Aaaa, my head!" the drunk man screamed.
Behind him, Atharv chased, swinging the rod. "Come here, bakaaa!"
Because of the door's slam, a shovel fell to the ground. Lewosito and Atharv stepped right on it—CRUNCH!
The shovel flew up, smashing straight into the drunk man's groin.
"Yoooooowchhhh! My balls!" the drunk man shrieked.
Before he recovered, Atharv's rod came swinging—WHACK!—smacking his face.
"Aaaaaaaaaa my face!" the man cried, flying backward.
Atharv roared, "Come here, bakaaa! I'm going to kill you!"
Lewosito groaned, "Whenever I try to do the right karma, everything goes wrong…"
Atharv: "Baka! Baka! Baka! Baka! Baka! Baka! Baka!"
Meanwhile, a girl covered her frock and glared at the drunk man. "You were looking at my panties, huh? You idiot! How dare you!"
The man stammered, "No, no, no, no, I was not!"
But she kicked him hard with her heel. "Aaaaa!" he screamed. "Today is my unlucky day!"
And still, Atharv kept chasing. "Baka! Baka! Baka! Baka! Come here, bakaaaaa!"
Lewosito panted, "I'm sorry!"
Day 2 – Training Begins
TO BE CONTINUED 4.5
THE HARDEST PATH II--D