Arjun Sharma navigated his Maruti 800 through Andheri's morning gridlock, the Mumbai monsoon's 38°C heat thick with honks and dosa stall aromas. His daily Ola hustle—10 to 15 rides averaging ₹200, doubled by the Midlife Mastery System—had swept him from Bandra's trendy cafes to Juhu's beachfront hotels, earning ₹3,700. His 2 km run along Juhu Beach, dodging kite-flying kids and bhel puri carts, added ₹2,000, the sea breeze cooling his sweat. At 45, 1.85 meters, and ~100 kg, Arjun felt a spark Meera's "psycho" chaos—chai-fueled rants and TV bans—had long extinguished. The Midlife Mastery System fueled his reboot: sharper gut, steadier steps, a grin that stuck.
His phone pinged: "SBI: ₹3,700 credited for rides. ₹2,000 credited for run. Balance: ₹37,550." Climbing FitZone Gym's stairs on Linking Road, his ₹5,000 Nike sneakers gripped tightly, bhajiya scents wafting from street vendors below. A third gym check-in would add ₹1,000, pushing his balance from ₹31,850 to ₹38,550. Meera's extravagant splurges never built this, he mused, envisioning a pension for Priya's future or a sleek scooter. His hustle—₹3,700 Ola, ₹2,000 run, ₹1,000 gym—could surpass ₹1,00,000 monthly, dwarfing his old ₹50,000 IT peak.
FitZone thrummed with Bollywood beats, dumbbells clanking, and protein shake blenders whirring. Shalini Patel, in black yoga pants and a tank top, greeted him near a biceps curl machine, her 1.7-meter frame radiating hustle. "Arjun sir, ready for day three? Let's build those biceps," she said, her smile genuine despite Neha and Riya's smirks from the desk. Unlike them, Shalini's coaching was sharp, her new-trainer grit shining through.
The gym's equipment sprawled like a Mumbai market—hundreds of machines, from leg presses to cable towers. For a rookie like Arjun, they blurred together, but Shalini's plan was clear: target large muscle groups first. "This seated biceps curl machine is perfect for you," she said, adjusting the seat. "At 1.85 meters, strong arms will make you look sharp." She demonstrated, sitting upright, arms on the cushions. "Adjust the seat so your forearms are parallel to the ground."
Arjun watched, focusing on her form, not her figure. Meera would've banned this as a 'fancy waste,' he chuckled, recalling her money rants. Shalini guided: "Grip the handles, bend your arms slowly, feel the biceps work. Don't swing your body—control it." Her hands corrected his posture, her touch professional despite their closeness. His face warmed, but he stayed focused, completing a set. No chaos here, just gains.
Halfway through, Shalini stepped back. "Practice, Arjun bhai. I'll grab water." A gym bro, Vikram Joshi, in his thirties, sidled up, wiping sweat. "Bhai, you're killing it with Shalini! Three days, and you're still focused?" His grin carried gym gossip.
"You know her?" Arjun asked, curious.
"Everyone does," Vikram said. "Shalini's top-notch, but her fees are steep. I wanted her as my trainer, but she's strict—no nonsense, no flirting. Unlike Neha, who'll chat you up for a sale." He lowered his voice. "She's all about the workout, not the cash."
Arjun nodded, respecting Shalini's hustle. She's like me—building from scratch. Shalini returned, glaring at Vikram, who winked and left. "Ignore him, Arjun sir," she said. "Let's try the shoulder press next." She guided him through machines—shoulder press, lat pulldown, leg curl—her instructions clear: "Feel the muscle work, keep it slow." Each rep burned, but her encouragement echoed the system's push.
His phone buzzed—Priya: "Dad, group study done. Grabbing vada pav at Juhu. Home by 9." He typed: "Proud of you, kid. Bring me a bite." Her heart emoji warmed him more than the workout. Another buzz—Mrs. Desai: "Arjun bhai, Sanjay's still moaning about his layoff. And Radhika's sulking over her Colaba date flop." He replied: "Just lifting, aunty. Tell Sanjay to join me!" Her laughing emoji sparked a grin.
As the hour neared its end, Shalini pitched: "Arjun sir, you're committed. Want a private training plan? I'll tailor it—six days a week, cardio, strength, one rest day." She scribbled a schedule:
Monday: Upper body (biceps, chest, shoulders) + brisk walking.Tuesday: Core (planks, bridges) + stretching.Wednesday: Lower body (legs, glutes) + spinning bike.Thursday: Rest/yoga.Friday: Full body + high-intensity cardio.Saturday: Long cardio (60 min walk) + stretching.Sunday: Rest, diet control (less biryani, more protein).
"Private lessons are ₹2,000 per week," she said, nervous. "An annual plan—52 sessions—is ₹90,000 with a discount. I'll supervise every rep, guarantee results. Not satisfied? I'll refund you." Her hustle reminded Arjun of his Ola days, scraping by.
His phone pinged: "Midlife Mastery System: Task—Sign annual private training with Shalini. Reward: ₹90,000 cashback." Worth it, he thought. "Let's do the annual plan," he said. "Can I pay ₹30,000 now and ₹60,000 tomorrow?" Shalini nodded. "No problem, Arjun sir. You can even pay the rest next month if needed." He tapped ₹30,000 via SBI UPI. His phone confirmed: "SBI: ₹30,000 debited. Balance: ₹8,550." Shalini received the payment and confirmed, smiling. Another ping: "SBI: ₹90,000 credited for task. Balance: ₹98,550." The gym check-in added ₹1,000: "Daily gym check-in complete! ₹1,000 credited. Balance: ₹99,550. Earned: 1 knowledge scroll."
Arjun paused, then transferred the remaining ₹60,000. "Paid in full," he told her, his balance now ₹39,550. Shalini's eyes lit up, her smartwatch showing her heart rate jump from 50 to 90. "Thank you, Arjun sir! We'll hit that 90 kg goal." She shared a tidbit: saving for her family's shop, she worked hard despite rich clients snubbing her. She's got my respect, Arjun thought.
Outside, Linking Road buzzed—chaiwalas shouting, rickshaws honking, neon glowing. A pav bhaji vendor called, but Arjun waved, "Not today, bhai." With Priya's college fund growing and the Midlife Mastery System fueling his hustle, Meera's chaos—chai rants, TV bans, splurges—was a distant hum. Arjun was building new strength, one rep at a time.
Attribute Panel:
Height: 185 cm (+)Physical Age: 48 (-)Wealth: ₹39,550Strength: 60 (+)Spirit: 40 (+)Props: NoneDaily Tasks: Run 2 km, gym check-in