*****************

Lush green fields. Colorful Street displaying the diverse culture of the area.

A big mansion is seen with name Prakash Khanna engraved on the name plate.

A boy is seen standing in front of his father who is sitting on the sofa looking intently at him while he drew random patterns on the marbled floor.

Boy: maine aapse kaha na ki mujhe sirf ek baar mumbai jana hai... let me go...

He whined trying to convince his adamant father to let him go.

Prakash: waah Neil beta ji tujhe ghar mein intrest hota nahi hai office tujhse aaya nahi jata... aur Mumbai jana hai...

Neil pouts and looked down.

Prakash: dekh Neil...

A lady came from the kitchen wiping her hands on the towel.

Lady: app dekho khanna sahab... Jab dekho mere bete ko daant te rehte ho.... Chal tillu mere saath. Bhej denge tujhe Mumbai hmm...

Neil smiles widely at her and walked away looking at prakash for once. Prakash made faces at them and facepalmed himself.

Prakash: haan haan le jao isko... Cartoon laga ke dikhao kaam dhandha to hota nahi hai is se...

He shouted at their back.

Shweta and Neil went to the kitchen. Shweta resumed her work while Neil sat on the slab popping almonds into his mouth one bye one.

Shweta: kyu tang karte ho apne papa ko Neil?

Neil: main kaha tang karta hoon maa... Main to bas ek baar ladkiyaan dekhna chahta hoon Mumbai ki...

He said stretching his arms.

Shweta was shocked at his statement.

Shweta: Neil... Tujhe pata hai na tere rishte ki baat Mandana didi ke jeth ki choti beti Naina ke saath chal rahi hai... Phir tu?

Neil jumped down the slab and went behind her. He hugged from back placing his chin on her shoulder.

Neil: mujhe sab pata hai maa... Main to bas dekhna chahta hoon... Aap hi batao is mein kya galat hai?

Shweta shook her head in disbelief.

Shweta: kuch nahi ho sakta tera... Lekin yaad rakhna tillu... Kabhi kisi ladki ke saath kuch galat nahi karna... Samjha?

Neil seperated and saluted her.

Neil: nahi hoga maa... Bas aap na kuch bhi karke hitler ko is baat ke liye mana lena (pouts)

Shweta: hatt! Apne baap ko hitler bolte hai... Woh Mogambo hai...

They both giggled at this and hi fived each other.

Some times later.

Neil descended stairs setting his hair. He called out for shweta.

Neil: maa... Main Ali ke saath bahar jaa raha hoon shaam tak aata hoon...

As he reched the door he stops seeing a young lady of about 22-23 years entering the main gate.

Both stops at the entrance and looked at each other. Neil gave a smile to her while she returned it blushing.

Neil: aaj waqt nahi baad mein milte hai Naina ji...

He said each and every word in flirty tone. The poor girl's cheeks heated up immediately. Neil winked at her walked away.

As the sun was about to set Neil and his friend Ali sat on the local tea shop sipping hot teas.

Neil: main to jaa raha hoon  Mumbai.

He said proudly raising his collar.

Ali: sach bol bhai? Jagga daaku maan gya kya?

Neil chuckles as he understands that Ali is referring to Prakash.

Neil: Arrey jagga daaku nahi... Apna Mogambo hai woh to...

Both laughed.

Neil: aur tension nahi lene ka... Maa unse baat kar lengi... Apni baat set hai.

The noodle haired fellow nodded his head.

Ali: sahi hai tera to bhai... Lekin Tu waha kya karega? Matlab kaam to tujhse yaha nahi hota... Waha jaa ke kya jhande gaadhne wala hai?

Neil: Arrey chill na noodles... Kaam to idhar bhi kar hi sakta hoon na main... Suna hai waha ki female population badi set rehti hai.... Main to udhar ladkiya dekhne jaa raha hoon...

Ali choked on his tea listening this. He looked at him in disbelief.

Ali: Tu pagal hai kya? Uncle ko pata hai?

Neil: Arrey nahi nahi nahi... Daaku mangal singh ko nahi batana yaar.

He said all this with a panicked expression. Ali giggled seeing his face.

Neil saw the time on his watch.

Neil: accha chal bohut der ho gyi hai main nikalta hoon...

Ali: ruk main bhi chal raha hoon.

They returned the glasses and walked towards their respective houses.

*******************

Next morning.

Cars and busses are rushing here and there making the narrow street even more narrow. A young boy is seen getting down from the train. He dragged his bag behind him out of the railway station. All this while his face was lit with a bright smile.

He stood on a step out side the railway station and put on his shades. He looks around.

Neil's POV
Yaha ki duniya kitni alag hai... Dekh ke hi lagta hai ki kisi ke paas kisi ke liye waqt nahi hai.

He sighed and got into a rickshaw.

On his way he was looking at the passing areas very keenly.

Driver: waise bhaiya ji yaha hero ban ne aaye ho kya?

Neil hit his head lightly.

Neil: abhey hero to main pehle se hi hoon... Yaha to duniyadari dekhne aaye hai.

His eyes went to a group of girls taking selfies in the garden. Then pursing his lip in disapproval. The driver chuckles at him.

Driver: haan haan dekho... Hum bhi yahi dekhne aaye... Rickshaw aive hi thode mil jata hai.

Neil narrowed his eyebrows at him.

Neil: Abey oh... Baap mat ban samjha... Waise bhi abhi tak koi meri wali ban ne ke laayak nahi mili.

He rolled his eyes in disappointment.

The driver nodded fearing him and went on driving. Some times later he was standing in a colony with lines of houses on either side. He looked around nodding his head in liking the area.

His eyes were caught by a young girl of about his age standing next to the scooty. She wore a long red kurta with jeans. He was at once smitten by her.

Neil: yeh 311 konsa hai? Left wala ke right wala?

He asked her in a desperate attempt to strike a conversation with the girl but she glared at him.

Driver: Arrey bhaiya ji likha to hai daaye wala

Neil looked at him with a visible twitch in the corner of his lips. He cursed him in heart and looked at the girl.

She made faces and entered the house.

Neil: (turning to the driver) tujhe sach mein lagta hai ki mujhe padhna nahi aata.

The driver blinked eyes at him innocently.

Neil: yeh pakad... Aur jaa...

He placed the made rent on his hand visibly irritated and walked to the number 311 to the right.

The girl enters her room and threw herself on the bed hugging her pillow.

Her mother, Neela, who had seen her coming with hurtful eyes came up to her room. She panicked seeing her crying hysterically in the bed.

Neela: avni... Baccha... Kya hua?

She sat on the bed next to her trying to make her sit.

Avni kept on crying.

Neela: baccha... Avni... Utho to sahi... Batao to sahi kya hua?

Avni lifted her head up from the pillow and looked at her. Neela cupped her face gently and wiped her tears. She lifted her chin and asked her about the reason of her breakdown.

Avni could not say anything. She just engulfed her in tight hug. The tears fountain started again from her eyes.

***************