Taking a bite from the fruit, he reviewed the plan he had just created. The plan that he had created was simple. He would hit the gym for 19 days straight, applying maximum strain upon his body.

Any injuries that he received could be healed in the dungeon.

He stood up, turned off the heater and all the lights, and locked the apartment after quickly grabbing himself a coat. He greeted the guard while heading towards his car. He quickly wore the coat as the winds struck, quickly leaching off his energy.

He rubbed his hands as he was forced to wait for the engine to warm up. As soon as it did though, he turned the heater to max and started driving. He already had a gym in mind, the one his big brother went to. He always praised the trainer at that gym so he also decided to go there

The car flew across the road, disturbing the serene atmosphere. It took him just 20 minutes to arrive and park the car at the gym.

He stood in front of the squat building, surprised to see a lot of cars were already parked there. He entered the building and went towards the attendant sitting behind the counter.

"Assalamu alaikum. I want to register."

"Walikum assalam. Certainly, sir. Please answer these questions and I will immediately register you."

Azaan quickly filled the registration form and handed over the money.

"Thank you, sir. Your card will be ready by tomorrow and for today you can use this."

He took the card from the attendant and placed it in his pocket.

"Is the trainer available?"

"Yes, you will be able to recognize him immediately."

The attendant smiled when he said that.

"Thank you."

"No problem, sir."

He walked into the actual gym after swiping the card on the scanner. Moving in, he glanced around to see where the coach was.

"One! Two! One! Two!"

A lean-bodied man was shouting at a giant as lifted heavyweights from the floor. He noticed his arms were trembling violently but in the end, he succeeded in lifting the weights.

"Ok! Good, you are good for today!"

The lean man slapped the giant on the back who just kept puffing air in and out. As he walked near the duo, he noticed that the head of the giant was completely red as if he was a tomato.

"Assalamu alaikum, are you the coach?"

"Hmmm, you seem familiar have we met before?"

"No?"

"Nonono, you seem familiar. Quick, what's your name?"

He started circling Azaan noting how lanky he was, almost bordering unhealthy. Serious face no neutral face and dead eyes.

"Humm."

He opened his phone and started doing something. Azaan watched the scene quietly finally understanding why the attendant was smiling. The man had seemingly endless energy flying with every step.

"Ishmael's little brother!"

He started slapping across his back.

"He did tell me that he will be bringing you with him, but where is he?"

The coach started looking around, smiling widely.

"I came here by myself. I do not know what arrangements big brother made but please do not inform him about my visit here."

The coach stopped laughing his eyes narrowed.

"I will tell him anyway, it's not like you can stop me now, can you. Hahahaha. Now stop being so serious and sit on that bench. Start following me."

The coach performed different stretches and Azaan tried to follow. While the coach had an elegance when he moved from one position to another, for Azaan it was hard to even complete a single moment. After just a little while he could not even control his limbs properly.

The coach made a face as if he was going to vomit.

"How can you be that beast's brother ..."

Azaan just looked at the coach silently. Just staying silent. It looked like he was going to continue but he just tried to make his arms move. It was not anything new after all.

Wak

"Don't be so inconsiderate."

A deep voice rumbled beside them. The coach glared at the giant, rubbing his head.

"I didn't say anything wrong but sorry kid.”

Azaan just nodded at the coach remaining silent.

“Well, it will take a lot of effort if you want to get any better so you better be ready for some pain. You can’t just walk out after signing up here, did Ishmael tell you that?”

“No big brother did not inform me of anything like that.”

The coach made an irritated face and turned towards the giant.

“What is wrong with this kid, gives me goosebumps with the way he talks.”

“I am sorry.”

He shivers again.

“Well, I will endure you for Ishmael so tell me what is the end goal.”

“Goal? I want to improve my stamina and explosive power.”

“Humm, I will develop a plan that we can start following. You can come starting tomorrow.”

“Is it all for today, coach?”

“Names Aasir and yes gogo.”

“Allah hafiz, Mr. Aasir, Mr.”

“Khalid.”

“Mr. Khalid and thank you for today.”

Azaan slowly walked out of the gym greeting the attendant who smiled at him. Sun was starting to get up but the wind still struck his face as though there were cold needles. He tried to walk faster but he still was not able to walk properly.

He sat in the car for a while, resting. He opened his mobile and searched for a nearby restaurant for breakfast. He was carving for something spicy. He drove one that was nearby and had breakfast there. For the first time ever he ate three parathas in a single go along sides one whole plate of qeema and choley.

“Worth it.”

A little smile threatening to spring into his face, he quickly controlled it though.

His week passed in this manner, he exercised, ate, worked, and prayed. He had a problem sleeping at night, whenever his mind was free it wandered to those eyes, his body started trembling and tears just flowed from his eye. He kept silent through the whole ordeal though.

After the first time that happened, he started exercising at the night also to make himself so exhausted that he could not think. Most of the time it worked. When it did not, he would have a nightmarish night.

-----

Azaan stood in front of the mirror, checking his clothing. Today had to go meet his family. Even though they did not do anything during this week, if he did not go home today they would start getting actively involved. That he did not want at any cost.

Buzz buzz

He picked up the phone, it was his mother.

“Assalamu alaikum Azaan dear, when will you be arriving I will prepare breakfast for you.”

“Walikum asalam ma. I am just exiting the apartment.”

“Ishmael dear is outside the building waiting for you, please hurry.”

“Yes, ma.”

“Come quickly then dear, Allah hafiz.”

“Allah hafiz, ma.”

His shoulders sagged as he sighed. He had known it would not be so easy but it was still depressing. He just wanted to be free, without any expectations that were thrust upon him. Without any chains, being able to do whatever he wanted.

He exited the building, greeting the guard along the way. A black sedan was parked just outside the building. He opened the door and sat in the front.

"Assalamu alaikum, big brother."

"Walikum assalam. But what a good little brother, running away like that and dragging my image with you across the ground."

"I am sorry."

"Don't be, don't be. I will just have to spend a bit of time correcting it. But little bro, you really don't really appear to be sincere."

Azaan remained silent while Ishmael kept smiling. He started whistling while the car overtook every vehicle with the grace of wind.

Rest of the journey passed in silence as they approached their house. The city gradually got consumed by the vegetation, only the road was spared. The light refracted through the canopy of trees, appearing very dreamy. They quickly exited the canopy and were welcomed by a sprawling red-brick mansion.

Ishmael stopped the car near the main door and motioned Azaan to go inside. As he was exiting the car, Ishmael said in a deep voice causing him to unconsciously turn towards him.

“Go and face your judgment.”

He laughed after saying that and drove the car away as soon as Azaan left. He entered the building, noticing how empty it was. He felt incredibly uneasy, it felt as if he had returned to prison.

He started walking towards the kitchen, his mother was making something. He greeted her and washed his hands and started helping her.

“It has been a long time since we cooked together.”

Azaan nodded focusing on what he was doing.

“Now that I recall it, you started to change since you went to university. Very slowly, so slowly that we all did not notice. How happy I was, my dear little boy had finally made some friends and even went out with them. But.”

Azaan flinched when his mother mentioned his friends. He thanked God that she did not continue and just turned towards him, placing the knife down. She stared at him, hoping he would say something.

“It is no way to just suddenly get up and pack everything. I had been waiting since last year for you to start the conversation.”

“You noticed.”

“You are still too young and naive dear. That mask that you keep wearing, it does not hide everything.”

Suddenly, his stomach made a sound.

“You did not eat breakfast?”

“No, ma.”

“Well then, we can talk after eating the breakfast.”

Both stopped talking and quickly made parathas, tea, and aloo anday ki bhujia. Azaan took the dishes and cups and placed them on the table while his mother brought the remaining things. They ate breakfast in silence. The sun shined through the glass wall and felt very soothing. The chirping of the birds made the silence even more comfortable.

“Now then, why do you not clear this misunderstanding that you have created dear.”

“There is no misunderstanding, ma.”

“Are you implying that you will not be helping your brother?”

“Yes.”

His mother placed the cup down.

“Your brother needs help dear, the business has been growing exponentially seen he has taken over.”

“Does he really, ma?”

She tapped the table with her finger.

“True, that child is exceptional and if he ever needs help Muhammad is already learning the ropes. Ok dear, for now, you can pursue your goal.”

He sighed in relief, he had not thought it would really be this easy.

“But dear, do you know friends say a lot about the kind of person you are and your four friends, peculiar.”

Seeing as his color paled a little, his mother ruffled his hair.

“Azaan dear, you are not broken but if you surround yourself with broken ones you will also start breaking. Now, I will leave it there for now but I expect something positive. The other thing that I expect is you come here every Saturday or Sunday, that I will not compromise.”

“Thank you, ma.”

“Good, now Ishmael dear told me you have already published some games let me see them.”

He went and grabbed a laptop from his room and started showing his work to his mother. They discussed the story and world of the games.

After a while, Ishmael also returned with a lady, his wife.

“Mom you are too lax with him, look at the poor me that he dumped all the work on to go enjoy his holidays.”

The lady at his side slapped him in the back.

“Don’t.”

“Can’t I have some fun, I also want to relax.”

He said smiling while he played with his beard.

Time passed quickly. Azaan felt as if a burden that he had been carrying was taken off.