Mumbai Noir

2

The day had been long, the weight of my job pressing down on me like a suffocating blanket. But as the evening descended, I found solace in the simple pleasure of spending time with my girlfriend, Shruti. We decided to escape the confines of our daily routine and indulge in a night out. The movie theater offered refuge from the chaos of the city, the dim lights and the soft hum of the projector creating a cocoon of tranquility. We settled into our seats, the anticipation of the film ahead tingling in the air. As the opening credits rolled, we lost ourselves in the world on the screen, swept away by the magic of cinema.

We spent the rest of the evening lost in the world of the movie, laughing, gasping, and occasionally resorting to hushed whispers to avoid disturbing the other moviegoers. As the credits rolled, a comfortable silence settled between us. Stepping out into the cool night air, the warmth of Shruti's hand slipped into mine. My hear skipped a beat.

After the movie, we emerged from the theater, the cool night air a welcome relief from the stuffiness of the cinema. The streets were alive with activity, the neon lights casting an ethereal glow over the bustling crowds. We strolled down the bustling street, the aroma of street vendors vying for our attention. The tangy smell of chaat and the sweet scent of jalebis tickled our noses. Unable to resist the temptation, we stopped at a stall, indulging in a delicious feast of spicy samosas and crispy pakoras.

Belly full and laughter lingering in the air, we turned to head back home. As we approached the apartment building, a flicker of movement in the window of my home caught my eye. The light, which had been off when we left, was now switched on.

My blood ran cold. An icy fist of dread clenched around my heart. Someone had been in my office. Fear clawed at my throat. "Shruti," I whispered urgently, my voice barely above a breath.

"What's wrong?" she asked, her brow furrowing in concern.

"The light… it was on before. Now it's off," I stammered, my gaze glued to the darkened window.

"Maybe you just forgot to turn it off when we left,"

I shook my head, the possibility too thin for comfort. "No, I'm sure I didn't." My mind raced with possibilities, each one more unsettling than the last.

"Maybe we should just take another walk around, clear your head," Shruti suggested.

But the thought of walking away was unbearable. This wasn't just some misplaced file anymore. Ignoring her protests, I quickened my pace, my heart pounding in my chest with each step. As we reached the door, I hesitated, my hand trembling as I reached for the handle. With a deep breath, I pushed the door open and stepped inside, my senses on high alert.

The room was dark and silent, the air heavy with the scent of uncertainty. I flicked on the light switch, the sudden brightness illuminating the room in stark relief. And that's when I saw him - Dev, the man whose case Anjali had filed with me.

"Dev?" I exclaimed, surprised beyond words.

He whipped around, a startled gasp escaping his lips. In his hand, he held a familiar file – the one with Anjali Verma's name on it.

"Stop!" I barked, adrenaline surging through me.

Before I could react further, Shruti entered the room, her eyes wide with alarm.  "Vikram, what's going on?" she demanded.

Dev scrambled to his feet, his gaze darting between me and Shruti "Shruti," he stammered, "Don't come closer, this man seems dangerous."

As the pieces of the puzzle fell into place, my heart sank with the weight of betrayal. Dev was the cheater, and Shruti was the one he was involved with. Anger simmered beneath the surface as I confronted them, my words tinged with disappointment and sadness.

"Let me explain—" Shruti began, but I cut her off.

The realization was a bitter pill to swallow. "Just give Anjali a divorce," I spat, my voice thick with emotion. "Don't drag her through this charade any longer. Move on with… Shruti,"

Disappointment hung heavy in the air. Shamefaced, I clasped my hands together in a silent plea. "Please, just leave."

The room remained in a tense silence for a beat too long. The weight of the situation was too heavy to bear.  With a defeated sigh, I turned away, my dream of escape from the shadows of my job turning into a cruel twist of fate. Maybe a normal life with  Shruti as it turned out, was never meant to be.

Alone and adrift, I found myself wandering the streets, the neon lights of the city a cruel reminder of the fragility of trust. I sought solace in the dimly lit confines of a nearby hotel bar, drowning my sorrows in the bitter taste of whiskey and regret.

"Happy birthday to you..." I heard a crowd cheerfully say this words. I looked at them they were the kapoors, the rich business family of Bombay.