"So you want to move tomorrow?" asked Aunt Raju when Praveen had reached the house."Yes, Auntie. I've got a new rent," Praveen replied curtly."Where is it?""In rental flats.""Rental flats? Where?" asked Aunt Raju curiously."Still in this Dharavi area too, Aunty! On Dharavi Main Road to be precise!""You mean the six-story, cream-painted Bharat Building?""Yes!" Praveen replied curtly.The woman's eyes widened and there was a look of disbelief."Over there? That's pretty expensive, isn't it, Praveen?" she said."I've been looking around all day looking for a rental but nothing can be found. Only there are empty units.""How much a month?""10 thousand rupees, Auntie!""It's very expensive. Can you afford it?""I'll try my best.""Well, I hope you feel at home there. My advice is, take good care of yourself. Work diligently. And don't forget, please come by here if you have spare time. Don't be arrogant, when you're already famous," she said at length. Praveen just nodded. Of cours
The AMA (Adore Models Agency) office was located in Andheri West, in a row of buildings that resemble shophouses. Praveen didn't have much trouble finding it because he had already seen it on maps.The office had three floors, and the entire facade was made of black glass so that no activity could be seen from the outside. When he opened the door, only then did he know that there was someone inside, even beyond his expectation. There's a receptionist behind the desk and the AMA logo and stainless steel sign is shiny, just behind the reception girl. In the guest chair there were five people waiting. Praveen looked at them. All of them looked beautiful and handsome. Were they models too?"Good morning! I am here for Mr. Deepak Rajapaksha's invitation for a photo shoot casting. My name is Praveen."The girl with shoulder-length hair smiled kindly."Good morning, too!" she replied . "You brought your own portfolio?""Portfolio, what is it?" asked Praveen innocently.The girl's brows furro
Praveen just got out five minutes from the agency office happily. He had gone through the photo shot . He was told to wait within the next three days for the results. He had done his best in front of the camera, trying to be as relaxed as possible. Passing or not, didn't distress him too much even though he hoped for the best.He was waiting for a taxi to take him home. He would stop for a while to the housewares store to buy home stuff. Of course small and cheap items f so as not to drain his pockets, such as a dipper, a broom, a set of utensils. Later, when he had more money, he would buy rather expensive items such as fans, irons, mattresses and others.A taxi stopped right in front of him and offered his services. The driver looked over and questioned him."Want to take a taxi?"Praveen nodded. Without a word he opened the the door, got in and sank into the passenger seat."Take me to Dharavi," he said."Where to be exact?" asked the driver. He wore a baseball cap. But the way he
He tried to stand up. His vision dimmed. The intensity of the pain in his temples and epigastrum was getting worse. He touched his right temple which had been hit. It was swollen and sore. was it bleeding? But his palms were not stained with blood.He cursed in silent. The pain was nothing compared to his anger.Praveen was confused. Why did this suddenly happen? Just now he felt happy, had good luck, but now he had the misfortune of being beaten up by strangers.Who were they? Why did the driver know his identity? How come he knew Praveen was related to Ashita and forbad their relationship? It seemed this was planned, not a coincidence. The taxi driver must had been after him so far that he found out that Praveen was cast at Andheri West and orchestrated this assault! Many questions hung in his mind.But the point was only one. Ashita Agrawal! He was forced to stay away from her for no apparent reason. If he did, his life would be in danger.Still feeling dizzy, he sat back down on t
Zoya repeatedly tried to call Praveen. The only sound that could be heard was a dial tone but didn't pick up. Surprisingly, why not picked up? Was he still busy with the photo shoot casting?She also tried to send a message via WA, asking how the casting was today. She was curious and couldn't wait to hear from him. She was sure that he coud get through well. But it's almost dusk, Zoya had yet to receive a response from him.She wondered why her curiosity was so great this time? She smiled to herself. Her curiosity was actually nothing more than a form of her attention to him. She liked Praveen even more. The love in her heart was blooming with time. Whenever she was with him, she felt comfortable. She didn't even feel lonely in this Dharavi.She couldn't imagine what it would be like without Praveen. The days will certainly be monotonous and bored. Going teaching and then returning to the rented house every day for three months. As her father had told her, she couldn't go home when s
"How can you slip, Prav?" Zoya asked after treating Praveen's bruised temple."I wasn't careful. When I got home, I was going to the bathroom. and my foot was wet and I slipped," Praveen lied. He hoped that the girl would believe and not asking again."You have to be careful. Yesterday I reminded you to buy houseware. You should have bought a doormat to put in front of the bathroom ," said Zoya."I was planning earlier to buy the equipment, but this happened to me."Zoya looked at Praveen with concern. There was a look of pity on her face."Tomorrow I'll help you buy the house stuff you need," said Zoya, looking around. The view of the room had not changed much from yesterday when it was empty."There's a lot to buy," she muttered to herself."Oh yeah, how was your casting earlier? Zoya asked changing the subject. Praveen nodded weakly."When will the announcement?""Within three days," said Praveen, fixing his position. His stomach felt hurt again, but not so intensely, but still ma
Zoya closed her eyes, but when closed, it was no different than opening her eyes. Equally dark. It's totally black out. Every now and then the light appeared a bit dim because there was lightning out there. Sometimes followed by thunder.She laid down with legs folded.In the dark, she could not sleep. Her mind drifted off. Didn't expect to stay here with condition like this with a man she just met. But she believed, Praveen would not take the opportunity.It was the first time in her life to sleep on a man's thigh-padded in the floor in an almost empty room. And she smiled to herself when she realized she was sleeping in this condition.A Zoya Bipasha, daughter of Narendra Prasadh and future leader of Vishaya Group, slept in the lap of a man she had just met in Dharavi. And that man was nobody! Didn't it sound awful?No! This actually looked fun and enjoyable. She was free to be herself without any frills attached to her. Praveen liked her not because of her status, not because she w
All night he tried to take care Ashita in the dark. Cold, lonely and sleepy assailed him. He didn't know what time it was. Maybe three or four in the morning, he just guessing. The watch on his wrist seemed useless because of the dark.He tried to get rid of the drowsiness by occasionally biting his lower lip. It helped a little, but soon the drowsiness came again. In fact he could have slept, but he didn't want to.In the darkness, his thoughts drifted again. Twenty-two years of his life, only now did he see the future. He hoped his life on the right track. He had to take advantage of the opportunities that lay before him. May Lord Krishna grant him good fortune, by making his dreams come true.In the future he must focus on the goal. Only by becoming a movie star could he change fate. Turn things around.He did not have money to trade. It was not his passion, either. Nor did he wish to leave India like Raju to change his destiny. Meanwhile, back to study, it was no longer possible.