After everyone had spoken, all eyes turned to Vihaan.

He looked down at the chit still resting in his hands.

"What are you most afraid of losing?"

He smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes.

"My place on the basketball court."

The room grew quiet.

"Basketball isn't just a game to me. It's the one thing I've always been good at. Ever since I was a kid, I've dreamed of wearing my state's jersey."

He glanced at his knee.

"When I got injured, the doctor said it might take months before I could play properly again."

He paused.

"For the first few days, I wasn't scared of the pain."

"I was scared that people would forget me if I couldn't play."

Akruti looked at him.

"We didn't."

Ayaan nodded.

"We came to your house because you're Vihaan."

"Not because you're an athlete," Yash added quietly.

Vihaan lowered his head, trying to hide the tears gathering in his eyes.

For the first time since his injury, he understood something he had never questioned before.

The people who truly cared about him had never loved him for his achievements.

They loved him for who he was when the game was over.