May 23, 2019 – Kochi, Kerala
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The rains hadn't come yet, but the air in Kochi was thick with departure.
Not just of seasons — but of stories. Of names. Of boys who had become more than athletes.
Kerala Blasters had done the impossible: ISL champions, AFC Champions League winners, national pride reborn.
And at the heart of it all, Arjun Dev — 18 years and 10 months old.
And ready to leave.
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✦ One Last Walk
He stood alone on the pitch of the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, boots pressing into turf he knew better than the roads of his own hometown.
This was no longer a stadium to him.
It was memory. Weight. Origin.
He jogged slowly toward the north stand, where the East Block once painted the sky with yellow smoke.
Every fan song echoed in his head.
Every "Chetta!" screamed in his direction now rang softer, deeper.
He stopped at the center circle. Bent down.
And whispered:
> "I'll never forget."
Not this place.
Not these people.
Not the boy he was when it all began.
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✦ The Arrival of Rainer Graf
At the training facility across town, a black SUV pulled in quietly.
No press. No spectacle.
Only a man in a blazer and precise shoes: Rainer Graf, Head Scout for Hannover 96.
Coach Sameer walked out to meet him with the air of a man both proud and protective.
"Mr. Graf," he greeted flatly. "You're a long way from Germany."
Rainer smiled softly. "And you're a long way from football irrelevance."
Sameer chuckled despite himself. "Touché."
Inside, they didn't discuss contracts or numbers. Only development. Culture. Fit. Values.
And at the heart of it — Arjun.
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✦ Arjun and Rainer — Conversation by the Sideline
They met by the corner flag of Pitch 3.
Rainer crossed his arms. "Why haven't you left yet?"
Arjun looked out at the field. "Because we weren't done here."
"Most players your age… they rush. They chase Europe for the lights. You didn't."
"I didn't need the lights," Arjun said quietly. "I had the sun."
Rainer nodded, respecting the answer. Then he pulled out a folder. One photo. One sheet.
Nothing dramatic. Nothing pushy.
"We'll wait. But Hannover's door will open when you're ready to knock."
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✦ Kalyani — Somewhere Between Films and Feelings
Back on a set in Hyderabad, Kalyani Priyadarshan sat in costume while the crew reset for a new scene.
On her phone, a video clip played: Arjun waving at the crowd post-AFC final, confetti stuck to his jersey.
She watched it twice.
Her assistant passed by. "Should I block calls for the next take?"
Kalyani shook her head. "No, it's okay."
But she didn't start filming yet. Instead, she texted:
> "You looked tired. Happy. But tired."
The reply came four minutes later:
> "Not tired. Just full."
Then, another one.
> "They came. Hannover."
> "And?"
> "And I said… not yet."
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✦ Coach Sameer's Final Address
That evening, Coach Sameer gathered the squad at the Blasters dormitory — just players, staff, and silence.
"This season, we did more than win," he said. "We made them believe India could belong on the world stage. That Kerala could shake Asia."
He looked at Arjun.
"You brought something ancient to this modern game. Something proud. Something sacred."
He gestured toward the elephant crest on the banner behind him.
"And now… the elephant prepares to walk a different jungle."
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✦ A Letter from a Fan
Later, Arjun opened an envelope left anonymously on his bunk.
Inside was a letter from Adarsh Krishna, the 14-year-old from Thrissur — the voice behind the now-famous fan song.
> "Chetta, I know you're going abroad.
But I want you to know: you didn't just win matches.
You taught us that even if we're born in Thrissur or Thalassery or anywhere they say 'football doesn't matter,'
— we can still make the world look our way."
> "We'll sing. Even if you're 7000 km away, we'll sing.
'Oru paadam, oru veeran...'"
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✦ Call from the Federation
Arjun's phone rang late that night.
"Mr. Dev? This is Coach Igor Štimac."
He straightened immediately. "Coach."
"You're on the list again — World Cup qualifiers, June camp. Training starts in Delhi next week."
Arjun exhaled. "Understood."
Štimac hesitated. "We know the German scout came. If you need time..."
"No, sir," Arjun interrupted gently. "One more match in blue. Before I carry a new color."
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✦ Final Scene — The Mirror
In the dorm, Arjun stood in front of the mirror.
He wore a black training jersey. On the floor, beside his boots, lay the Hannover brochure, and the India call-up letter.
He wasn't overwhelmed.
He was... aligned.
He whispered to the mirror — to the boy from Thrissur who had died and been reborn through football.
> "This time… I won't fail."
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