Chapter 55: The Thrill of the Track

Next day:

In the early morning,

At a hotel room in Chennai:

(The early morning light filtered through the heavy curtains of the hotel room.

It casted a warm, golden hue across the bed where Kiara lay, her head resting in Naina's lap.

The soft hum of the ceiling fan mixed with the distant sounds of the city waking up.

Naina's fingers moved gently through Kiara's thick hair, her touch slow and deliberate, as if willing her daughter's nerves to settle.

Kiara's eyes were shut, her breathing uneven, her usually confident demeanor replaced by the weight of anticipation.)

Kiara: (murmured, anxious) It's the biggest race of my life, mumma!!! It is the National championship!!! Ek galti.... ek second ka farak... aur sab khatam!!!

(Naina sighed, pressing a soft kiss to her daughter's forehead.)

Naina: Beta, jeetne wale aur haarne wale mein sirf ek hi farak hota hai-jo jeetne wala hota hai, woh haar ke bhi seekhta hai... and you have had your share of your lessons!!!

(Kiara opened her eyes, turning slightly to look up at her mother.)

Kiara: (whispers) Mujhe darr lag raha hai, Mumma!!!

(Naina smiled, brushing a stray strand of hair from her daughter's face.)

Naina: Darr acchi cheez hai, Kiara.... woh yeh bataata hai, ki jo tum karne jaa rahi ho, wooh tumhaare liyenkitna important hai!!!

(She tapped Kiara's forehead gently.)

Naina: But don't let it control you!! Jaise tum apne motorcycle ko control karti ho, waise hi apne emotions ko control karna seekho.

(Kiara took a deep breath, letting the words sink in.)

Kiara: You make it sound so easy!!!

Naina: (chuckled) yehi toh ek maa ka kaam hota hai.... and also, I have the experience with the race. Even i was tensed, and mere saath toh koi bhi nahi tha!!! You have a lot of people with you, maari dikri!!!

(A comfortable silence stretched between them.

Kiara's body relaxed slightly, the tension in her muscles easing as Naina continued to run her fingers through her hair.

Kiara stretched her arms and exhaled deeply before looking at Naina.)

Kiara: Mumma, aap mere saath chal rahi ho na?

(Naina gently squeezed Kiara's hand.)

Naina: Nahi, beta.... Tum apni team ke saath jaao.... Main baad mein aaungi, sab ke saath.

(Kiara frowned for a micro second before it lit up with a wide smile.)

Kiara: chalo, koi nahi!!! I'm so happy ki atleast, aaj meri family mere saath hai!!!

Naina: Toh.... are you ready to show everyone what Kiara Sabharwal is made of?

(Kiara exhaled deeply before sitting up. Her hands clenched into fists for a moment before she stretched them out, determination flickering in her eyes.)

Kiara: (smiling confidently) Haan mumma, ab ready hoon!!!

(Naina cupped her face, pride shining in her gaze.)

Naina: No matter what happens out there, beta, main hamesha tumhaare saath hoon.

Kiara: (nodded) I know, Mumma.

(The city outside was coming alive, but inside that quiet hotel room, a mother and daughter sat, sharing a moment of strength, love, and unspoken promises... ready to take on whatever the day had in store.)

.

.

.

Later,

At The Madras Motor Race Track (MMRT)

(The race track was alive with energy. Engines roared in the background, and the air carried the scent of burning rubber mixed with the salty sea breeze.

Purab, Naina, Vikram, Kiaan, Abhir and Paarth walked through the bustling crowd with their special ID card tags hanging around their necks, each of them taking in the atmosphere with wide smiles.)

Abhir: (excitedly) Bhai, yeh toh bilkul alag duniya hai!

Paarth: (nods) Haan, pura vibe hi alag hai yaar!!!!

Kiaan: just standing here gives you the rush of adrenaline!!!!

Purab: (grins) Yeh sirf shuruaat hai, guys!!!! Jab race shuru hogi na, tab asli maza aayega.

..

..

..

(Naina stood at the entrance, her eyes scanning the surroundings-the towering stands, the pit lanes bustling with mechanics, the electrifying energy of the roaring crowd.

The scent of burning rubber and gasoline filled the air, mingling with the distant echoes of engines revving.

A wave of nostalgia hit her, almost knocking the breath out of her chest.

Eighteen years... It had been eighteen years since she was last here. Back then, she had been an 18-year-old racer-a fearless young woman with dreams as fast as the motorcycles she rode.

Every corner of this track held memories-of triumph, of struggle, of the unshakable passion that once defined her life.)

(Tears welled up in her eyes as flashes of the past raced through her mind.

The moment she won her first championship. The camaraderie with her team, their laughter echoing through the pit after long, exhausting days.

The deafening cheers from the crowd. And then-the silence. The silence after she had walked away from it all.

A familiar presence lingered behind her.

Vikram.

He had been watching her, noticing the subtle shift in her demeanor. Naina, always so composed, so guarded-now stood there, exposed.

Her lips trembled, her fingers curled slightly, as if grasping at something long lost.

A single tear broke free, tracing a path down her cheek.)

Vikram: (gently) Naina... tum theek ho?

(She turned to him, trying to summon a smile, but it faltered before it could form.

She shook her head slightly, her voice barely above a whisper.)

Naina: (voice trembles) Itna time ho gaya, Jaan.... Pata nahi tha, ki yahaan aake, itna kuch yaad aayega.

(Vikram stepped closer, instinctively reaching for her hand.

His fingers found hers, his thumb brushing lightly over her knuckles-a silent reassurance.

A tether grounding her to the present.)

Vikram: (softly) Kya yaad aa raha hai?

(Naina sucked in a breath, her eyes drifting back to the track.)

Naina: Har ek moment yaad aa raha hai... yeh track... yeh jagah... yahaan maine apna teesra... aur aakhri national championship jeeta tha! I celebrated my 18th birthday just weeks after that... Aur uske baad sab khatam ho gaya...

(Her voice cracked, the weight of unfinished dreams pressing against her chest.

Vikram's grip on her hand tightened slightly, grounding her once more.

Naina turned to look at him, her lips curving into a weak, bittersweet smile.)

Naina: (softly) Main khud toh kabhi race nahi kar paayi... lekin, I'm so thrilled to see Kiara get to do this today. Ussay dekh kar lagta hai jaise woh sirf apne liye nahi, hum dono ke liye race kar rahi hai. Woh sapna jo maine dekha tha... woh ussay jee rahi hai.

(A gust of wind carried the sound of an engine roaring to life in the distance.

Naina's eyes flickered toward the track, noticing the superbikes there)

Naina: (proudly, eyes shining) Jab main usse track par dekhti hoon, uska junoon, uska focus... lagta hai, jaise meri har ek khushi, uske chehre pe chamak rahi hai.

(Vikram's gaze followed hers, his expression softening.

He had seen Raftaar's videos... He had seen the passion and the fire, that Naina had.... and he saw the same in their daughter.

His admiration for both women deepened, an unspoken promise settling in his heart.

He gave Naina's hand a reassuring squeeze.)

Vikram: (gently, with quiet conviction) Woh tumhari hi beti hai, Naina. Of course, she was born to race.

(Naina let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding, a tear slipping down her cheek-not of sorrow, but of pride.

The past might have been left behind, but through Kiara, her dreams were still alive.)

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Author's Note

Hey, amazing readers! ❤️🏁

What a chapter, right? The rush, the emotions, the nostalgia-this one was a rollercoaster! 🎢 From Kiara's pre-race jitters to Naina's heart-wrenching moment on the track, I LOVED writing this scene. It felt so raw, so real, and so full of passion. ✨

But now, I NEED YOU! 🙌

🔹 Drop a comment-Tell me what you felt! Did Kiara's nerves remind you of a moment in your life? Did Naina's past hit you in the feels? 😭❤️

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Your love and support mean everything! 🥰 So let's keep this journey going together. Tell me-are you ready for Kiara's race? Because things are about to get INTENSE! 🚀🏍️🔥