They say talent finds a way. But in Pavan Raj's world, talent was chained by poverty.
The rain had been falling for hours.
Thick droplets slammed against the tin roof of their modest house in Maibadh village, echoing through every broken wall. It wasn't a peaceful rain. It was the kind of rain that made everything feel heavier — like the sky itself shared the weight in Raj's chest.
Seventeen-year-old Pavan Raj, known to everyone as simply "Raj," sat alone on the edge of their stone step. His cricket bat rested beside him, worn at the handle, taped at the base. It had once been a gift from a senior who moved away — and since then, it had become the most important thing in Raj's life.
Not a tool. Not just gear. It was a piece of him.
And now, it was all he had left.
Inside the house, raised voices clashed.
"I'm telling you, this cricket nonsense is ruining him!" his father shouted. "What does he think he is? A Tendulkar?"
"He's just a boy chasing his dream," his mother, Meenakshi, replied gently.
"Dreams don't fill stomachs! We barely have money for rice, and he wants gloves and pads?"
Raj shut his eyes. The words stabbed deeper than any wound. He was used to it. But that didn't make it easier.
He looked down at his feet, soaked from the muddy runoff. His slippers were torn. His uniform was faded. But his bat—though chipped and cracked—was clean. Polished. He cleaned it every evening like a ritual.
Because it was all he had.
Cricket wasn't just a game to Raj. It was his escape. His identity. The only place where the world seemed fair. Where effort mattered more than money. Where his instincts — sharp, natural — gave him an edge even without training or coaching.
When he stepped onto a field, he wasn't the son of a struggling clerk. He wasn't the boy who skipped lunch so his younger sister could eat. He was just a player. A good one. Maybe even a great one — if given a real chance.
But chances were luxuries. And in his world, luxuries came at a price.
Earlier that day, Raj had been selected for the school's zonal team shortlist. A real opportunity. One step closer to the state selection committee's eyes. One match away from exposure. But there was a condition: every player needed full gear. Helmet, pads, proper shoes, gloves. No exceptions.
The list was handed to him by Coach Murali Krishna, who liked Raj but didn't show favoritism.
"You've got the skill, Raj," he said. "But this is a standard rule. Either come in full kit... or don't come at all."
Raj had nodded without reply.
He knew better than to ask his father.
As the storm raged above, Raj stepped out into the open yard, his shirt clinging to his body. The mud squelched under his feet. Thunder rolled in the distance.
He stood under the sky and did something he hadn't done in a long time.
He prayed.
Not to any specific god. Just… to the universe. To fate. To whatever power was out there.
"If you're listening… please," he whispered. "Give me a real chance. Just once. Not a handout. Just a shot. I'll do the rest."
His voice cracked, but he didn't cry. He was too tired for tears.
"I don't want to be famous. I just don't want to be forgotten."
A flash of lightning lit up the sky, followed by a violent crack of thunder that made the trees tremble.
Then everything went still.
No wind. No noise. No sound but Raj's own breath.
And then—
[System Synchronization Detected...]
Raj blinked.
[Candidate Identified: PAVAN RAJ]
Talent Profile: High Instinct + Untapped Growth Potential
Regression Eligibility: Approved
Initializing system… please stand by.
Raj stumbled back. "What… is this?"
The rain stopped.
Literally stopped. Mid-fall. Droplets hung frozen in the air around him.
[Welcome, Raj.]
You've been chosen for the Cricket System.
You wished for a chance. We give you time.
Regression will begin in 3... 2... 1...
Before he could scream, the world shattered into light.
Raj woke up gasping.
He sat upright, heart pounding, forehead drenched in sweat.
But the fan above him wasn't broken anymore.
The room looked... different.
He turned toward the wall and saw a calendar.
"July 2017."
Raj's eyes widened. "What?! That's... four years ago!"
His hands trembled as he ran to the cracked mirror in the corner.
Staring back at him was a younger version of himself. Fresher. Leaner. Brighter eyes. No facial hair.
"What the hell is happening?!"
[System Activated.]
Regression Complete.
Current Age: 13 Years, 11 Months
Location: Maibadh Govt School Dormitory
Welcome to your second chance, Pavan Raj.
Raj sank to the floor, shaking.
This wasn't a dream. It was real.
He had gone back in time.
Outside, morning birds chirped. The world hadn't changed.
But inside Raj?
Everything had.