Chapter 1
A cold night, in the beautiful city of Barcelona, near La Masia, the heart of FC Barcelona, the academy where dreams come true. Out of the shadow, from 5km apart from El Prat airport, emerged a tall figure, a boy with dreams from West Bengal, India. His name glistening on his silver embedded nameplate on the top of his pocket on his chest, Debjit Mondal.
The first day in La Masia, I tiptoed on the pitch. For my training, I came across several Indian recruits, male, women, boys, girls. I play a right back. I was doing my training, passing, shooting and defending, and coach Gonzalez and Alvarez barking instructions at me. I saw Marco make a forward run and the team was counterattacking. I went upfront and personal with the striker, the no. 9. I blocked him in a 1v1 and I won the ball. I dashed to the halfway, overlooking cries of passes. After a cheeky body feint, I launched a long ball in the box square on Marco’s head. Goal!!! I shouted and celebrated. It was an all-mixed boys x girls team.
As I jogged back, my shoulder grazed a hard shoulder. I turned to apologise and I saw her, the woman of my dreams, Adrita. I whispered under my breath. She poked me and said, "Oi out of your mind, go to your position dumbass." I forgot the apology. Her training kit hugging her curves perfectly, veins all over her hand, eyes blue, muscles toned, also flexed, wavy hair glistening with sweat. There’s no part of her body which can’t be ignored.
After my first training session, I was tired. I saw her, laughing, joking with her comrades. I missed my Indian friends mainly Anupam, Anvit, Tapojyoti, Shaurya, Spandan a lot in Spain. I dashed towards the locker room, took a clean bath and then I plucked my earbuds in and I tuned in 'Ready to Run' by One Direction. I went to my room, I pulled out my Maths book and started solving equations. But I was deeply engulfed in her thoughts, as if the maths equations were teasing me.
Next day, after La Masia 'teaching' was over at 5 a.m., training was going on. I was at RB when she took a shot. She played a midfielder and was like Dembele, both legs, no weak foot. I stared like a dumbass at her goal. The curve was sensational. Later, I got the possession, and then from 32 metres, I shot it diagonally at the last minute. Goal!!! I screamed. I was awestruck when Adrita came and hugged me. She’s taller than me so my face got buried on her chest. She didn't mind but pulled back. She’s a year senior than me.
After training, we chatted, joking. I was even surprised when I got to know she’s a One Direction fan. We listened to 'Ready to Run' by 1D. That’s when I realized we think the same things, our personalities matched. I caught feelings so hard I flustered when she threw her hand on my shoulder. She said to me, "You are really good and cute lil hero." I blushed. I can't hide my feelings. I confessed: "Adrita, I can't stop thinking about you, I think the sun doesn't shine, the moon loses its beauty when you are not on field."
"I love you, I can't hide it, you're my queen since day 1."
Silence. That tension building up. After 5 full mins, she spoke up: "I love you too, my lil king. I dreamt about you but I showed myself hard but your words melted me." She yanked me and kissed me. I was clueless for some secs, later I closed my eyes. I felt it, she felt it, that tension now so thick it can be cut by knife.
Next day, matchday. We were up against Villarreal CF academy. We won the match. We launched counters. Enry, my new friend, scored the opener after I slide-tackled their winger, then pinged the ball, he volleyed it in. We were upfront by 1 goal. Then from a corner kick, Adrita tried her luck by heading it, but the defender headed it away like Dani Olmo vs England in the final 2024. The ball rebounded to me without any second thought. I took a touch and curled it in the bottom corner. Goal! We were 2-0 in front.
After halftime, their no. 11 slided on my ankle. I was injured, but before I woke up, Adrita dealt with her and she assisted me to get me up and I mischievously kissed her neck, though no one saw it. She threw a death glare at me and then smiled and kissed my forehead. It felt like heaven. Then I slipped a cheeky ball to her and she slotted it home. We won 3-0.
We went on winning matches, we went unbeaten. My defending improved each day. We were on a victory course. Now, the time for final vs Real Madrid. We were trailing by 2 goals in the 1st half. We came back and we scored 4 goals and we won the tournament.
Then we had a late-night confession in the camp. Now under the moon, in the moonlit night, the reminiscence of our campaign still lingering in our mind. "I was literally astounded when I saw you on Day 1," I said, gripping my trousers tight out of nervousness. "I didn't know I fell for you bro, I realized it when I instinctively hugged you after you scored," said Adrita. The environment was quiet and still. "Maybe fate has us here in Spain," I said. Adrita replied, "If not fate, I would have you anyways."
Those were the words I longed to hear from her mouth. I rested my head on her shoulder. She threw her arm around my neck, I threw my arm around her waist. We were gazing the stars. At that beautiful moment, two hearts, unknown to each other for years, reunited to form a single heart. That academy not only nurtured us, but by God's order, brought our hearts together. Even fate wanted us to be together. This love was inevitable for sure.
