1985. The City of dreams. Red double decker buses, khali-peeli taxis, radios, Doordarshan, video cassettes and rotary dial phones.
DCP Amarnath arrives in Bombay with a mission, straight and clear: To tackle the notorious Crime Syndicates.
As the c...
'It really looks royal,' Murali looks around. 'I never knew this club was like this! Why don't you come here often? Nalayak!'
Amarnath frowns. He is in the Royal Willingdon Club again, on a sunny Saturday morning. It is only the second time he is coming here. Partially because he doesn't have the time for all this and mainly because he might have to meet someone who claims to be a regular visitor here.
Even today, he is here only because the England cricket team is touring India. They are playing a friendly match on the vast cricket ground of Willingdon Club as a warm-up game. The Club has issued passes to its members, allowing them to bring an extra person along for the day. So, Amarnath has Murali along.
She might not be interested in cricket. Maybe he doesn't have to meet her at all, Amarnath tells himself time and again.
'How's the khaana here?' Murali asks.
'Kharab,' Amarnath shudders. 'We have to eat bread, like dogs. That too everyone eats with fork and knife here. Cutting and eating ... like this' he mimics the action.
Murali laughs, rubbing his forehead.
'Are you not well?' Amarnath looks at him.
'Thoda headache hai bhai. I think it's because I haven't smoked since morning.'
'You didn't smoke even once since morning???'
'Haan yaar, I'm thinking about ... reducing smoking.'
Amarnath stares at Murali like he is not real.
'Really. See, one packet costs four rupees. Even if I smoke two cigarettes per day, it is twenty-four rupees per month,' Murali says piously. 'That is so much. You can buy around five kilograms of rice with that money!'
'Are you not mentally feeling well?' Amarnath asks.
Maybe I'm not, Murali thinks inwardly. He isn't his usual self. He isn't able to flirt with anyone at the pub. Heck, he isn't even going to the pub much these days. He tries to talk to any girl and all he sees is Rukmini's face in his mind, looking at him with those blackhole-type eyes. It is irritating he can't see her enough and talk to her properly. Writing letters to her feels nice. Waiting for her letters is an entirely different feeling. Somehow, it makes him feel more ... human.
'Chod. Did you speak to her?' Murali asks vaguely.
Amarnath goes oddly still. 'No.'
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'Hasn't it been almost a month?'
A month since he fought with Gauri, Amarnath realizes with a forlorn pang. the more he replays the entire incident in his mind, the more he realizes the depth of his incorrect actions.
It was he who phoned her so that they could meet for lunch; she did not force him. It was natural for her to get upset when he seemed distracted. She suggested Britannia & Co. Restaurant. She noticed the lecherous man. Amarnath knows he could get a breakthrough in the AK47 case only because of that.
