The memorial service of his mother was only a few days to come. Nearby neighbors had been invited. Of course, no one would refuse because they would be served with many foods and drinks. Some poor people had also been invited. Auntie Neha had been shopping for necessities at the market using the of Praveen's mother savings and also donations from mourners on the day of death. She bought more than enough that she came home with a bajaj almost full of all kinds of groceries. Rice, flour, sugar, chicken meat, eggs, various vegetables, and spices. Enough for a hundred people. They invited only dozens, but just in case there would be more than that. Luckily the money was more than enough and there were a few thousand rupees left. Later it would be the women who cook. Usually in cooking events, they also use it as a gathering for residents. They chatted and joked with each other to increase their intimacy. Praveen had also collected a lot of firewood for cooking. At that time he took a sh
"Dad, I'm really bored at home. I want to start working, dedicating myself to the company as well as practicing the skill I have. Why didn't you ask me to join the company?" Zoya asked Narendra Prasadh that morning at the family dining table.Narendra Prasadh took a sip of his black coffee and put the cup back on the saucer. He looked his eldest daughter straight in the eye. Looks like she really bored at home, without doing any thing productive."Maybe I should look for a job at another company, if you don't give me a position. I'll just apply at the Central Bank then. There is a job vacancy there," Zoya said more like a threat.Narendra smiled hearing that."I sent you to the best campus in the world, how can someone else take advantage of your intelligence? No way!""Then why until now you make me unemployed?""So you feel unemployed now, My Dear?""Exactly! That is what I feel right now!""Don't worry, there's no way I won't give you an honorable position in the Vishaya Group. I'm
Zoya jumped onto the bed. Suddenly the bed shook. She did not accept his father's decision. Dharavi? Why go there? Even though her father had explained why she was sent there, Zoya still didn't accept it. This was a really crazy idea, it didn't make any sense. If it's to galvanize her sense she don't have to go to Dharavi. Asked her to stay there for three months would be like living in hell. She never thought whether she could survive or not. Why bother if only perceive life of the lower classes? After all, she had a high level of sympathy and empathy for the poor. At school, she often involved in social actions. Even while studying in Boston, she also participated in charity activities. She thought her father's idea was too ridiculous. How dare to galvanize his daughter in such a way? Moreover, she was a girl. Sending her to Dharavi could clearly threaten her safety especially if people knew she was Narendra Prasadh's daughter. She can be a target for extortion and even kidnapping
Praveen stared sorrowfully at the small river where his mother's ashes dispersed. It's been ten days since she died and only memories remain in his head. All the memories with his mother from childhood to leaving her three months ago swirled in his head. Like the fragments of a mosaic that broken up and he tried to put them back together, into a whole picture.He knew, the remnants of the ashes that he dispersed, had no trace at all. Only the brownish-colored of water flow not far from he stood.He wanted to say goodbye to his mother because tomorrow he would return to Mumbai. Memorial event had been held and went well. As a child he had fulfilled his responsibilities. Nothing else was left.Praveen also wanted to overcome the sadness he felt. He wanted to be a new person, a better new man. He wished to throw away the dream of becoming a Bollywood star, and live the live according to reality. Never mind to bury that dream here, no need to be realized in Mumbai there.In front of the
The river was shallow, but due to a lot of mud at the bottom the water surface was as high as Ranjana's neck. She seemed to be gasping for air to keep her head above the water but the mud seemed to swallow her feet.Praveen was already in the water alone with Ranjana. He swiftly tried to grab Ranjana's big arm, but he couldn't because it was too big to hold. Finally he grabbed her wrist."Let go! Let go of me! I'd rather die than not be able to marry you!""What are you doing? Don't be a fool to end your life in such a ridiculous way!" Praveen shouted with difficulty dragging Ranjana. But the huge body didn't move at all. Ranjana continued to struggle and the muddy water splashed down her head and Praveen's head.With all his strength Praveen dragged her out and she struggled even more trying to get out of Praveen's grip and desperately threw herself into the water and made her drowning. Praveen was panic. He tried to lift her up, but the body was so heavy. It's like lifting a hippo
"Hey, why do you look like a drowned rat? Did you fall into the river or something?" asked Auntie Neha seeing Praveen coming home bedraggled. Praveen ignored her, just went to the room to get a towel and change of clothes.In the living room the spinster auntie still waiting for him. Ten minutes passed, her nephew had not yet come out of the bathroom behind the house. Actually this afternoon he had taken a shower but the incident earlier, he had to take a bath again."Praveen, I want to talk to you," she said when Praveen had come out of the bathroom.Praveen stopped his steps and looked back at his aunt with a surprised look."Auntie, what do you want to talk about?""Someone was here looking for you this afternoon. A woman named Ranjana. I said you were out.""I've met her," Praveen replied curtly."So then she looked for you all the way to the riverside field?""Yes.""Who's she? Is she your lover?" Aunt Neha asked for an explanation."My lover?" Praveen raised his eyebrows."She
Praveen was out of station with his backpack. The backpack felt heavy on his back because of clothes he was carrying. He brought a lot because he didn't know when he would come back here again. He stepped out of the station while carrying a bag of food containing his meals.In front of the station was quite crowded that afternoon. There were many private vehicles parked carelessly mixed with street vendors selling various food and other necessities. There were also many beggars who raised their hands asking for begging to passers-by.For some reason his eyes fell on an old man in shabby clothes sitting cross-legged on the sidewalk across the street. Although sitting cross-legged but still holding a stick in a standing position. The turban he was wearing also looked shabby. His beard and mustache were left long and unkempt.He was silent when Praveen approached him. Praveen only realized when he looked closely at his white eyeballs. He was blind. What a pity, a blind old man had to beg
The journey back to Mumbai felt so long because Praveen was not calm. He felt troubled. This was all because of the prophecy of an old man named Thakur in Chandrapur. He would get difficulties and troubled days. He tried to dismiss the prophecy, but the oldman's prophecy kept ringing. He knew, it was just a prediction, not necessarily turn into a reality. It could be that the oldman was wrong in predicting his fate, or it could be that he was not a good fortune teller. If he really was a good fortune teller, of course he wouldn't act like a beggar who spent his days in front of the station. He could have had a better life because many people came to him asking for fortune-telling.Ah, why do I keep thinking about it? He thought. So far he didn't really believe what people say, he believed more in himself. When he had lofty dreams of becoming a movie star and people around him laughed at him, he didn't care and kept going to Mumbai for auditions here and there.Until the early hours o