"Hey, why do you look like a drowned rat? Did you fall into the river or something?" asked Auntie Neha seeing Praveen coming home bedraggled. Praveen ignored her, just went to the room to get a towel and change of clothes.In the living room the spinster auntie still waiting for him. Ten minutes passed, her nephew had not yet come out of the bathroom behind the house. Actually this afternoon he had taken a shower but the incident earlier, he had to take a bath again."Praveen, I want to talk to you," she said when Praveen had come out of the bathroom.Praveen stopped his steps and looked back at his aunt with a surprised look."Auntie, what do you want to talk about?""Someone was here looking for you this afternoon. A woman named Ranjana. I said you were out.""I've met her," Praveen replied curtly."So then she looked for you all the way to the riverside field?""Yes.""Who's she? Is she your lover?" Aunt Neha asked for an explanation."My lover?" Praveen raised his eyebrows."She
Praveen was out of station with his backpack. The backpack felt heavy on his back because of clothes he was carrying. He brought a lot because he didn't know when he would come back here again. He stepped out of the station while carrying a bag of food containing his meals.In front of the station was quite crowded that afternoon. There were many private vehicles parked carelessly mixed with street vendors selling various food and other necessities. There were also many beggars who raised their hands asking for begging to passers-by.For some reason his eyes fell on an old man in shabby clothes sitting cross-legged on the sidewalk across the street. Although sitting cross-legged but still holding a stick in a standing position. The turban he was wearing also looked shabby. His beard and mustache were left long and unkempt.He was silent when Praveen approached him. Praveen only realized when he looked closely at his white eyeballs. He was blind. What a pity, a blind old man had to beg
The journey back to Mumbai felt so long because Praveen was not calm. He felt troubled. This was all because of the prophecy of an old man named Thakur in Chandrapur. He would get difficulties and troubled days. He tried to dismiss the prophecy, but the oldman's prophecy kept ringing. He knew, it was just a prediction, not necessarily turn into a reality. It could be that the oldman was wrong in predicting his fate, or it could be that he was not a good fortune teller. If he really was a good fortune teller, of course he wouldn't act like a beggar who spent his days in front of the station. He could have had a better life because many people came to him asking for fortune-telling.Ah, why do I keep thinking about it? He thought. So far he didn't really believe what people say, he believed more in himself. When he had lofty dreams of becoming a movie star and people around him laughed at him, he didn't care and kept going to Mumbai for auditions here and there.Until the early hours o
Praveen stepped unsteadily. He didn't expect to be like this, being an expelled at Uncle Mahindra's house. But he admitted, it was his fault. What Auntie Jana said was true. It's only natural she was angry. Anyone will be offended if they were not considered. Ah, why did he forget to tell them at that time? After receiving the news, he immediately decided to go to Chandrapure without thinking.He did feel nervous at the time. To the extent that he also forgot about the audition he participated in. Passed or not, he felt no longer important. All he could think about was how he could go back to Chandrapur and saw his mother for the last time. And that was too late.Now he doesn't know where to go. He had no friends or relatives in Mumbai. Of the twenty million inhabitants of Mumbai, he only knew Uncle Mahindra's family.Praveen didn't want to beg the woman to stay. It was no for him to beg like a beggar. He already knew Auntie Jana didn't like him staying there even if it was just a pla
"My life is not as beautiful as people imagine! They only saw that I was a rich businessman with endless treasures for seven generations. They didn't see how I worked hard from the start, starting from scratch. I experienced all the sufferings in life. In fact I once did not eat for a week because I did not have a penny. When I was young, I did everything to survive. Becoming food vendor, manual laborer at ports, barber, dyer worker in textile factory, I've done everything," Narendra Prasadh told his eldest daughter, Zoya.Zoya reverently listened to her father without interrupting a bit. She let her father talked about his past. It was the first time in her life that she had heard the story of her father's life, and she did not expect it at all. In her entire life she had never heard her father talk about his struggling for life.Even though she was the daughter of Narendra Prasadh, she was the same as everyone else. Only know that her father was rich. When she was born, her father
It was very lively that afternoon at the Gateway of India. Many come to spend time relaxing on the sea side waiting for the sunset. The gateway of India is one of Mumbai's most famous icons. Every tourist who comes here both local and foreign, do not forget to take pictures in front of the gate overlooking the Arabian sea.Praveen was already here feeding the seagulls with the bread crumbs he bought earlier. Dozens of birds swarmed in front of him while pecking at the crumbs he had scattered. They looked tame. He didn't get tired of feeding them until he ran out of bread. More fun than just taking selfies. For a moment the mind was distracted. He didn't remember that he had just been kicked out by Auntie Jana.A group of teenage girls passed in front of him. He was busy feeding the birds. They whispered to each other and then smiled to him, perhaps surprisingly a young man with a charming face looked attentively feeding the birds.Praveen looked indifferent and didn't care about the g
At 9.30 pm, he arrived in front of the PN Shelter. The building looked more as a large warehouse than a shelter. For a moment he hesitated to move on, but he had no other choice but to stay here instead of sleeping in front of the shops. It's probably safer here, at least free from police raids that come to pick up homeless. Indeed, it was not every day that the police raid poor people, but recently had often been carried out due to the security situation not so conducive.Praveen dragged his steps towards the entrance of the shelter towards a table near the door. A man in his fifties with a gray mustache and beard sat there like a watchdog."Good night, Uncle." Praveen greeted him. "Can I stay here for a night or two?"The man looked at Praveen probingly. Maybe he didn't expect a young man in neat clothes to come to sleep in the shelter. His appearance was far from shabby like most homeless people"Why do you want to sleep here?""Because I have no place to stay. I just got kicked ou
"Make sure everything goes according to the plan. Don't let it go wrong. Wherever she is, make sure someone is stalking her unnoticed. Is that clear?" Narendra Prasadh said to Rajesh."Yes sir! Everyone is ready. I have clearly instructed them.""Is it clear where she placed in Dharavi?""Yes! Even our people are already there.""Good. But don't make it flashy or even revealed. It might all fall apart. If she finds out that everything had been set, it's still better. What I'm worried about is... if the people find out that she's my daughter. Her safety could be in danger." There was still a hint of worry in Narendra Prasadh's words.He knew that placing Zoya in Dharavi was indeed a high risk, especially in terms of safety and security. However, he would not reverse the decision. His daughter needs to get some mental training before taking the CEO seat. In Dharavi her sensitivity would be honed. At least she was more concerned with the working class so that later she would not be arbit
Praveen was still lying in bed that morning. Even though the hotel room was so comfortable, he had not been able to sleep at all since last night.This was a very decisive moment in his life, preparing himself to carry out the plan he had made as best he could.He had thought about it down to the smallest detail so that this plan would succeed. There should be no gaps or opportunities for him to fail.If he failed, he could end up in prison.Taking away the prospective bride who is none other than the daughter of a prominent conglomerate and the prospective daughter-in-law of the number one person in the Mumbai police?It would definitely create a scene and become national news. More sensational than the kidnapping that Zoya experienced before!If he failed, his face would adorn the front pages of newspapers and even television, not as an actor or model, but as a criminal. The career he had built with great difficulty would end tragically.No, that couldn't happen!He immediately got
It was late afternoon when they returned from Dharavi, but nothing happened. Praveen's room was empty just like when Sunil visited earlier. There was no sign of him coming here. Nothing had changed at all.It was just that Zoya felt a different atmosphere when she saw the room. There was a longing that enveloped her, imagining when she and Praveen were alone in the room.She remembered the time she slept over during the heavy rain that caused flooding due to the moonson. Even though the lights were out and it was raining outside, she felt at peace in Praveen's arms all night. The man really took good care of her.There were indeed many memories in Dharavi. If not with Sunil, she would have gone to school to meet the teachers there, Mrs. Fateema and her two other friends, Harshida and Shanti. Or if necessary she would go to her rented house.Had everything remained the same or changed? She really didn't know."Where have you been? Why are you home at this hour?" Mrs. Pratyusha asked wh
A surprise for Zoya, but not for Sunil as they headed to the AMA office. A large billboard on the side of the road caught the attention of passersby.An advertising billboard starring Praveen. Apparently the advertisement had spread to several strategic places.Zoya was happy to see the billboard. She wanted to take out her cellphone and take a picture of it as memorials. But she didn't because didn't want to offend the man beside her. She didn't say a word, even trying to divert attention by pretending not to see it."Damn it! I don't want to see that billboard!" said Sunil."Isn't he the person you want to meet now?""Right, but not with his poster!""Okay! Just look away!" said Zoya indifferently. She tried not to look at the billboard as if it wasn't important.Sunil's gut feeling told him that she deliberately pretended unwilling to see the billboard. He was sure, deep down in her heart, she was happy to see it. It made Sunil even more annoyed.If only he could find him, he woul
Sunil still stared at Zoya with an uncertain look in his eyes. His intuition said otherwise. The girl still had a secret that she kept tightly.Sunil was sure that Zoya knew where Praveen was. They were still in touch until now.Even though their wedding day was getting closer, he felt that something was going to happen.He had to make sure that it didn't happen. He had to find that man right now!"I have to meet him, Zoya!" said Sunil.The beautiful girl frowned, but said nothing."Help me find him!" he said in a deep, commanding voice.Zoya took a deep breath."I told you, since I was kidnapped, we've only been in touch by phone, only a few times. I don't know where he is now. All I know is that he lives in Dharavi. Isn't it clear what I said?""I know you're lying!""I don't know how to convince you anymore! Rather than keep talking, I'd rather go home! I don't want us to fight, Sunil! I don't want to spoil my mood before our wedding day. That's much more important than finding him
Sunil had tried various ways to find Praveen, but to no avail. The man could no longer be contacted. Although he contacted him via Zoya's cellphone, it never connected.He was sure that Praveen already knew everything.***The next day.He had appeared at Narendra Prasadh's residence."I'll take you out, Zoya!" said Sunil when asked the purpose of his visit."I don't feel like going anywhere today!""Come on! I'll take you again to see the preparations for our wedding party!""For what? Didn't we see it yesterday? Just let the hotel and WO finish it! Don't bother them again!""No. We're just looking around! I promise not to bother them even if it's just to give input! Besides, there's something I want to talk to you about," replied Sunil."Why don't we talk about it here?""I want to talk outside.""About what?""You'll find out later!"“There’s no one here! You’re free to talk about anything, don’t worry!” said Zoya.There was indeed no one at home except the servants. Her two younge
Sunil drive his car at above average speed. He felt like a hunter chasing prey, and he didn't want to lose that prey.I have to get him now! He hissed and checked again for the firearm slung at his waist.'Get ready, Praveen! Maybe this is your last day to breathe the air. You escaped death before, but not this time!' He muttered.He accelerated his car. Coincidentally, that afternoon the street was not very busy. Maybe it's not time for people to get home from work so he drive without a hitch.Forty-five minutes later he was on the edge of northern Mumbai. He checked Praveen's hiding location again. It turned out not far away.Without much difficulty he finally arrived. With a faster heartbeat, he got out of the car he had parked three hundred meters from the house where Praveen was thought to be hiding.He wore a baseball cap and covered his face with a face mask. Several people passing by seemed to stare intently at him, but he didn't care. He just kept walking.Then he arrived a
Sunil gestured to Sania to end the call. The girl frowned.That fast?"Prav, I'll call later when it's safe!" she said, still covering her mouth so her voice was still unclear."What?" asked Praveen. Before he got an answer, the phone had already been turned off.“Zoya! Zoya!” he called, of course, he was in vain.His feelings immediately turned bad. Was it really Zoya just called? Why did her voice sound weird?"Who did call?" Rajesh asked.“Zoya! But her behavior was so strange. She doesn't usually act like that.""Didn't you promise not to receive calls from anyone?"“How could I refuse her call?”"This is for your own safety!”Praveen was silent. He had already decided not to receive calls from anyone, but not from Zoya.He tried to contact the girl again but couldn't connect. He tried several times but in vain.Ah, what's wrong with her? Hopefully, she's okay. He put his phone in his pocket.Meanwhile, Sunil has kept the device again. His feelings were filled with joy. He succeed
Of course the target was Zoya's phone. The phone was next to the wallet in the bag.He immediately took it out in the hope that the phone was unlocked.Sure enough, after he pressed the side button and the screen turned on, he swiped the screen and went straight to the menu display.He didn't want to think about why Zoya didn't lock her phone. It makes it very easy.He immediately pressed the gallery icon and checked the photo collection stored there.He was shocked to see several photos of Praveen. It looked like the photo was taken while she was at a fashion show. There were also several other videos.What surprised him was that the photos were actually taken a few days ago!Sunil tried to remember what happened at that time. Weren't the photos taken when Zoya was out with her bodyguard?That means she's lying! She came out to watch the man perform! They were still in touch!Sunil tried again to check the WA messages, but he didn't find anything suspicious.He then switched to call
Sunil called Praveen several times but to no avail. The call continued to be rejected."God damn it! Come on, answer the phone!” Sunil cursed as he looked at the tracking device. Everything had been installed properly but it didn't work because the number he dialed hadn't been connected.Did that damn guy know his number? Impossible! How could he know because he never once tried to contact him?Or could it be the wrong number? Could it be that the receptionist gave the wrong number?He tried to remember. No way! He copied the number from the man's portfolio.What could he do? Did he have a number other than the one he got?Finally Sunil changed his number. He also had several other numbers, and again tried to contact Praveen.But whatever the effort, it still didn't work. He became increasingly annoyed and cursed again.That's all he could do!He had been trying to contact him for more than an hour and a half, but to no avail.***After lunch, Praveen tried to check his phone. He was