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...
'Oiee, you're still angry with me?' Murali asks sweetly.
Rukmini continues to look away.
'I've reduced smoking. Really!' he says honestly. 'I used to smoke five-six cigarettes everyday. Now it's only two or three. So much I've improved!'
Rukmini involuntarily turns to glare at him. Three cigarettes a day is still injurious!
Murali blinks at her deep, black-hole eyes, trying to look scared. 'Oiee Rukmini, don't look at me like that, yaar. I'll be burnt to ashes because of your killer stare!'
Rukmini hastily looks away, blinking. She closes her eyes; a giggle reaches her lips and dissolves, unnoticed.
'Smile, please?' he pleads.
Rukmini doesn't. The car still faintly smells of cigarettes and she hates it.
Murali clucks his tongue, looks straight ahead and starts singing. 'Dilbar mere, kab tak mujhe ... aise hi tadapaoge ... mein aag dil mein laga doonga woh ... ke pal mein, pighal jaaoge ...'
Rukmini's cheeks flush. She swallows and shifts in her seat, clutching her dupatta with tight fists.
'Oh, sorry, sorry. You are Rajesh Khanna's fan, right?' Murali clears his throat. 'Oo mere dil ke chain ... chain aye mere dil ko dua kijiye ... '
Rukmini can't resist smiling anymore.
'You smiled!' Murali beams and puts his head out of the window. 'Woo hoo!! She smiled!'
Rukmini looks around, startled if anybody is looking. They are on the wide NM Joshi Marg, filled with lots of bicycles, many two-wheelers, a few cars and occasional red double-decker buses.
Rukmini smiles again. She has to accept that she can't help smiling when he's around. Do I really look that good in this dress? She looks down at her salwar kameez.
'We'll go to Marine Drive' Murali says. 'Anyhow your ma'am's gaadi has full tank petrol'
Rukmini shoots an accusing look at him.
'Okay, okay. I'll refuel it later. Don't look at me as if I'm some thief' Murali blinks. 'Have you been to Marine Drive recently?'
Rukmini shakes her head. She hasn't been to that part of Bombay for ages. She is surprised with herself that she suddenly wants to go. She rests her elbow on the car's window sill and looks out. It's been just ten minutes since they left Amarnath's house and it already seems like the best birthday ever.
Murali drives along Lamington Road, reaches Nana Chowk, passes by the CST, and goes around Marina Drive. Rukmini rests her cheek in her palm and looks around with innocent, excited eyes. Bombay looks so vibrant here!
Murali parks the car near the Gateway of India. It stands majestically against the backdrop of the Arabian Sea. Diagonally opposite is the famous Taj hotel building, with its red bulb domes touching the sky. Rukmini looks at the flock of pigeons, flying up into the sky. How free they are, soaring up heights like that.
'What do you want to buy? Murali asks and continues before she can respond. 'Before that, very important, we have to get your photograph taken'
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