Avir Shah

Jonny followed Mr. Shah through the gym; the air was wet and stale. Skipping ropes whipped the ground and gloves hit bags in violent polyrhythm. They walked to the farthest corner of the space, past the vacant ring, and approached Avir. He faced away from them, rattling the devil out of a speedbag. He alternated fists, bobbed and weaved, then switched foot positions in regimented sets. His upper body moved as a unit, disarmingly swift, anchored and steadfast. He didn’t acknowledge their arrival. 

-Avir in the gym, Book II

Avir is Charlie's older brother who presents as a stone-cold fighter. He looks like he spends most of his time in his uncle’s gym, as he does. But, Avir handles everything with a diligent professionalism whether he's inside the ring or not. He struggles deeply with the loss of his brother and the fallout within his family as he tries to continue his life and routines, battling the existential reasoning for Charlie’s death, if things even do happen for a reason as they say. Avir is a proud man who loves his family and friends with a tough and uncoated love. He’s straightforward, and won’t beat around the bush no matter who he’s talking to. Avir is autistic, which sometimes allows him to see through the clouds when others are mired up in their own thoughts or desires. 

“I lost my motivation, Charvik was what made it fun. The fights I had after he died just felt like training but with added pressure. He used to tell me jokes when he gave me water between rounds.” 

Avir maintained speed and precision while keeping his breath metered. 

“I realized I was never competing for myself when I won and couldn’t hear his cheers.”

-Avir to Jonny, Book II