Chapter 54: Chasing the Championship Dream

A few weeks later,

At home,

In Anuradha's room:

(Anuradha’s room was quiet, save for the soft rustling of fabric.

The afternoon sun streamed in through the sheer curtains, casting warm patches of light on the floor.

Tanvi sat cross-legged on the rug, neatly folding a pastel saree and placing it atop a growing pile of carefully arranged clothes.

Anuradha, perched on the edge of her bed, adjusted her saree pallu and straightened her posture.

Her eyes followed her daughter’s movements, the silence stretching between them until she finally broke it, her voice laced with disapproval.)

Anuradha: (sternly) Tum yahaan kyun aayi ho, Tanvi? Kabir ka bhi school chal raha hai. Wahaan kaun dekh raha hai sab kuch?

(Tanvi didn’t look up, her hands working methodically as she folded a blouse.)

Tanvi: (calmly, but firmly) Agar main yahaan aapke paas nahi aati, toh bhaiya Chennai kaise jaate? Kiara ka itna bada race hai, unka wahaan hona zaroori hai, Ma.

(Anuradha scoffed, her face twisting with disdain.

She grabbed a petticoat from the pile and shoved it aside with unnecessary force.)

Anuradha: (mockingly) Pata nahi Kiara kyun iss stupidity ke peeche padi hai. Motorcycle racing? Yeh koi ladkiyon ke karne ki cheez hai kya?

(Tanvi’s hands stilled mid-fold, her grip tightening around the neatly ironed blouse. She bit her lip, willing herself to stay calm.)

Anuradha: (with growing irritation) Aur Vikram ko kya ho gaya hai? Usay kya apne hospital mein kaam nahi hai? Aur Kiaan? Ek stupid si race ke chakkar mein, school se chhutti le rakhi hai. (grumbling) Baap-bete dono paagal ho gaye hain.

(Tanvi exhaled slowly, setting the blouse down with careful precision before turning to face her mother.

Her voice, though measured, carried an undeniable edge of frustration.)

Tanvi: (firmly) Ma, Kiara ke liye yeh sirf ek race nahi hai. Yeh uska sapna hai, uska passion hai. Bhaiya aur Kiaan uska support system hain. Unka wahaan hona uske liye zaroori hai.

(Anuradha waved a dismissive hand, her expression set in stone.)

Anuradha: (shaking her head) Sapne aur passion ki baat mat karo, Tanvi. Yeh sab sirf filmon mein acha lagta hai. Real life mein aakhir ek ladki ko ghar sambhalna hi hota hai.

(A heavy silence settled between them. Tanvi opened her mouth as if to argue but stopped herself.

She knew—no matter what she said today, her mother’s mindset wouldn’t shift overnight. Instead, she let her actions speak for her.

She picked up another saree and resumed folding, her movements deliberate.

The quiet between them was thick, but in that silence, Tanvi’s defiance was clear.

Some battles weren’t fought with words. Some were fought by simply standing firm.)

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.

.

Later,

In Kiara's room:

(Tanvi sat cross-legged on Kiara’s bed, carefully folding and stacking her niece’s riding gear.

The protective padding of the jacket felt solid under her hands as she placed it neatly beside the gloves and knee guards.

Every item held a story, a testament to Kiara’s dedication.)

..

..

..

Meanwhile,

(Kiara sat at her desk, flipping through a thick folder of paperwork, her brow furrowed in concentration.

The faint sound of pages rustling mixed with the occasional beep of her phone, but she remained focused, double-checking each document.)

Tanvi: (glances at Kiara) Tum pehle apni team ke saath jaa rahi ho naa

Kiara: haan bhua. I travel with my team.

Tanvi: your travel expense is taken care by the sponsors, right?

Kiara: haan bhua.... woh meri aur meri team ki take care kaarte hain. Mere sponsors mere riding gear ke alawa, travel expenses bhi handle karte hain.

Tanvi: (curious) Kaise?

Kiara: (setting her pen down and explaining patiently) Sponsors sirf meri nahi, meri puri team ki travel aur stay ka dhyaan rakhte hain—mera manager, mechanic, aur support staff sab included hote hain. Travel, hotel accommodation, aur meals, sab kuch arranged hota hai. Mujhe ek strict diet follow karni hoti hai, toh khaana aur snacks bhi unhi ke taraf se provide hote hain.

(Tanvi paused, visibly impressed. She folded a T-shirt, placing it neatly in Kiara’s duffle bag.)

Tanvi: (smiling) Wah, Kiara! Sponsors hone ka faayda toh hai... But what about your motorcycle?

(Kiara’s face lit up as she held up a set of documents.)

Kiara: Woh bhi sponsors hi manage karte hain. Meri motorcycle already Chennai bhej di gayi hai. Main abhi, apni motorcycle ke insurance aur clearance ke documents hi check kar rahi hoon.

(Tanvi zipped up the duffle bag, her tone warm and admiring.)

Tanvi: Kaam pehle se kaafi aasan ho gaya hoga, hai na?

Kiara: (nodding) Haan, ab kaafi systematic ho gaya hai. Pehle toh majority kaam hum khud hi karte the—basically, Mumma aur Purab Chachu manage karte the. But now, sponsors handle everything, jo kaafi relief hai.

(Tanvi placed the packed bag aside and turned to Kiara, her eyes filled with affection.)

Tanvi: Itni kam umar mein tumne itna kuch achieve kar liya hai, Kiara. Mujhe tum par kitna garv ho raha hai, pata hai?

(Kiara looked up from her documents, a small but genuine smile playing on her lips.)

Kiara: Thank you, Bua.

(Tanvi leaned forward and gently patted Kiara’s cheek, her heart swelling with pride as she saw the determination in her niece’s eyes.)

Tanvi: (teasingly) Tumhe aise professional baatein karta dekh accha lag raha hai.

Kiara: (chuckling) Professional banna padta hai, Bua. Yeh duniya waise hi tough hai, aur racing toh aur bhi zyada competitive hai.

Tanvi: (smiles) Haan… aur Vikram Bhaiya aur Naina Bhabhi ko bhi kitna proud feel ho raha hoga, naa?

(Kiara’s expression softened at the mention of her parents.)

Kiara: (gratefully) Mumma aur Papa hamesha mere saath khade rahe hain. Mumma toh shuru se hi sab kuch manage karti thi. Aur iss baar Papa bhi mujhe pehli baar live race karte hue dekhne waale hain.

(Tanvi smiled, patting Kiara’s back.)

Tanvi: Aur Naina Bhabhi? Woh bhi jaa rahi hain?

(Kiara adjusted her hair into a loose ponytail before responding.)

Kiara: (smiling) Officially, she’s not part of my entourage… but haan, she’s traveling with me. Unhe separate ticket lena pada, aur shayad seats bhi alag-alag hain.

Tanvi: (shrugs) Arrey, unn sab baaton se kya farak padta hai? Bas yahi important hai ki woh wahaan tumhare saath hain.

Kiara: (nodding, smiling) Haan. Kal tak Papa aur Kiaan bhi aa jaayenge… I’m so happy that hum sab saath honge!

Tanvi: (smiling warmly) Achha, ab jaldi se documents finalize karo aur thoda relax kar lo. Kal ka din kaafi important hai.

(Kiara nodded, her face now a mix of excitement and determination.

She turned back to her desk, her hands moving with a newfound purpose as Tanvi quietly admired the strong, focused young woman Kiara had become.)

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Cut to:

A while later,

(Kiara stepped out of her room, a duffel bag slung over her shoulder.

Her gaze landed on Kiaan, who was leaning casually against the doorframe, his arms crossed.

As soon as he noticed her, he straightened up and reached for the bag.)

Kiaan: Oye, superstar. Yeh bag mujhe de, main lekar chalta hoon.

(Before Kiara could protest, Kiaan had already taken the duffel bag from her, slinging it over his shoulder effortlessly.)

Kiara: (teases him) Aww.... Bade gentleman ban rahe ho? Kya baat hai! Is this your way of saying you'll miss me?? (She raises an eyebrow) I am only gone for a day... Relax!!!

Kiaan: (rolls his eyes) tum apni bakloli, apne paas hi rakho!!! It's just a bag, Kiara. Don't overthink it.

Kiara: (laughs) Haan... haan. Tum toh kabhi apne emotions accept nahi karne waale.... Khair chhodo, carry on, gentleman.

(She winked as she followed him out of the room. They descended the stairs together, the soft clinking of Kiara's sneakers on the marble steps filling the air.)

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Cut to:

Downstairs:

(At the bottom of the staircase, Tanvi stood waiting, a warm smile on her face, holding an aarti ki thaali.

The soft glow of the diya illuminated her face, and the fragrance of incense filled the air, adding a sense of serenity to the moment.)

Tanvi: Kiara, pehle aarti le lo, aur phir mandir mein jaake bhagwaan ka aashirwaad le lena.

(She extended the thaali toward Kiara, who closed her eyes momentarily before taking the aarti.

The diya’s gentle flicker reflected in her eyes as she absorbed the warmth of the moment.)

..

..

..

Then,

(Once the ritual was complete, Tanvi broke off a small piece of prasaad and handed it to Kiara.

Kiara took it with both hands before popping it into her mouth, savoring the familiar sweetness.)

Kiara: Thank you, bhua.

Tanvi: (affectionately hugging her) All the best, beta..... Sabse zaroori baat yeh hai ki tum apna best do. Baaki toh sab tumhaare talent aur hard work ka kamaal hai.

(Kiara smiled and nodded her head. Just then, Vikram walked over, gently patting her back.

She turned to see her father with the car keys in hand, his expression as stern as ever.)

Vikram: Kiara, get in the car. Time ho raha hai.

Kiara: haan papa.... Let's go.

(She grabbed her jacket from the side table and stepped outside, where the chilly air greeted her.

Kiaan was already placing her duffel bag in the backseat with practiced ease. She smiled, watching his careful movements.)

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On the other side

Inside the house,

(Anuradha stood near the corner of the room.

Her arms were folded, and her face was unreadable—as though the entire moment was nothing more than an ordinary sight to her.

Her eyes followed Kiara as she stepped out, but her lips remained sealed.

No words of farewell, no blessing, no acknowledgment.

Her silence was as cold as the winter air outside.)

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Author’s Note ✨

Hey, amazing readers! ❤️

What a chapter, right? We had family drama, silent battles, sibling banter, and Kiara chasing her dream—all in one go! 🏍️🔥

Anuradha’s resistance vs. Kiara’s passion… Tanvi’s quiet strength… Kiaan’s effortless big-brother energy… There’s so much happening! And let’s not forget Vikram—finally stepping up as the supportive dad. 🙌

But the real question is—Will Anuradha ever accept Kiara’s dream? Or will Kiara have to keep proving herself? 🤔💭

Now, it’s YOUR turn! ⬇️

💬 COMMENT your thoughts! Do you think Kiara will change Anuradha’s mindset? What was your favorite moment in this chapter? I love reading your insights! 🤍

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