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SAJNI PATELAJNI PATEL
S
My breaths escaped hard, roaring in my chest. My skin tingled
with excitement and anticipation. I bounced on the balls of my
feet. My nails dug deep into the leather of my gloves.
I was fit from years of training, but parts of me would
always be skinny. Peers ridiculed my tiny wrists with sharp,
jutting bones. I had chicken calves and bony ankles. But the
good thing about possessing all of that? I also had sharp, strong-
as-hell elbows and those were fan-freaking-tastic for Sok Ngad.
The Uppercut Elbow. In I went. Striking my opponent and
bringing her to her knees.
Most people didn’t get this, this whole Muay Thai business.
Too much violence. Too much hatred. It was the sort of stuff
left for boys. Cuz what? Boys would be boys? Boys could act
rough and girls had to sit with ankles crossed in pristine dresses
and keep their opinions to themselves?
Society said girls shouldn’t be fighting. Indian girls especially
shouldn’t do these things, yaar! But right now? Whatever anyone
else said or thought didn’t matter. This was a sport of passion,
of skill, of years and tears in the making.
I had a way of wiggling into my opponents’ heads, knowing
their fighting patterns and logic. The equally strong blonde had
managed to kick me in the ribs in the first round and stepped
in to go after my injured side. With moves faster than anyone
in my local weight/age range, I shifted toward Jenny and went
uppercut, slicing through the marginal space between her gloves
and knocking her back. But ah nah, I wasn’t done with her,
following with a quick rear cut and taking. Her. Out.
Jenny hadn’t even hit the floor when the crowd exploded,
screaming, applauding, and chanting, “K.O.-K.O.! K.O.-K.O.!”
Lyrical music to my pounding ears.
Yeah, she wasn’t going to last an entire three rounds with
me. I stepped back into my corner, bouncing and shaking off

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