Abhimanyu, a runaway who fled the hellish environment his father created, has spent a decade navigating life's uncertainties through a world of gambling. Alone and drifting through the streets of Lucknow, everything changes when he encounters Roop...
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The morning light found Abhimanyu tangled in the sheets, another nameless woman by his side. He wasn't driven by lust. No, this was a calculated exchange, a sacrifice at the altar of financial security. But Abhimanyu's path to acquire it was a twisted one. Unacceptable, really. Yet, there was no one to guide him, no voice to whisper the difference between right and wrong.
Unlike his early start yesterday, Abhimanyu woke up running late. The same dream lingered in his mind – a vision of breath-taking beauty. Though her face remained elusive, he felt her ethereal presence, a celestial being descended from the heavens. Like a heavenly maiden that she was in his eyes.
It was around eleven o'clock in the morning when Abhimanyu crawled out of bed and headed for the shower. Gambling was one reason for his eagerness, of course, but desperation played a bigger role now. He craved not just the game, but also the banter between Roop and Raghav – a taste he wouldn't miss after experiencing it.
Emerging from the shower, he dismissed the woman (though "scram" might have been closer to his actual words). He then set off towards the elementary school. The bustling street buzzed with activity: people working, some casting him curious glances as they gossiped (about Abhimanyu, as was previously mentioned). A tarnished reputation, as we know, invites chatter. Abhimanyu, however, remained unconcerned.
Reaching the school gate, he found a few children playing marbles right by the entrance. Confusion clouded his face as he pulled the gate open. The children stared back, initially frightened. Abhimanyu was a tall, well-built man with a beard (and the scar on his lips was not helping), a combination that could come across as intimidating. Ignoring them, he continued towards his usual gambling spot. There, to his shock, he found everything in disarray and Raghav gone.
As he stared at the truck unloading near the school building in confusion, Abhimanyu noticed few people there: an old lady in a wheelchair, a policeman, and Sakhee, Roop's friend who had come by yesterday to bring Roop back. He wanted to ask what exactly was going on, but he wasn't sure who to ask.
A small voice startled Abhimanyu. "Are you with those bad men from earlier?" he heard, followed by a tug on his track pants. He looked down to see a little girl, probably six or seven years old, staring at him fearlessly. Abhimanyu was surprised by her lack of fear. He had seen fearless eyes before – Roop had them – but it was rare to see such courage in a child so young.
"What happened to those men?" Abhimanyu asked. Before the girl could reply, Roop whisked her away from him. Looking at the person who interrupted their conversation, Abhimanyu realized it was Roop, now protectively shielding the girl.
Amused, Abhimanyu smirked. "Oh, it's the foolish woman from yesterday," he mocked. "What did you do to my friends?"
"Friends, huh?" Roop countered. "Some decent friends you have there, lazy man. I know you're not like them, so why hang out with people like that?"
