Mumbaistan Read Online Free

of an empty local train. Tanvir realized that his silent captors were two unsmiling well-built men, whose manner and clothing screamed 'plain clothes policemen'. He did not say anything but sat still, deciding to preserve his energy. He had a feeling he was going to need a lot of it that day.
    The train lurched forward and rolled out of CST, heading to the repair yard. At the last minute, a man jumped on. Tanvir shook his head and sighed as the man, ACP Hani, walked towards him and sat down on the empty seat opposite his. The two plain clothes men let Tanvir go and receded in the distance. As soon as they were out of earshot, Tanvir blurted out the details of what the man on the mobile phone had asked him to do.
    A crowded local train screamed past, on its way to CST. The ACP listened to Tanvir and kept nodding, poker-faced, while the rhythmic clank-clank of the passing local train filled their compartment. As soon as the train had passed them, the ACP looked straight into his eyes and said, 'Do it.'
    Tanvir stared at him, aghast. ACP Hani didn't him give a chance to speak. 'This is war,' he said. 'Any measure for the greater common good is okay in a war.'
    Tanvir set his jaw firmly. 'I won't. I will be labelled for life.'
    'Aalamzeb will kill you, and a few thousand other people. How would you like to be labelled as the man who let that happen?' asked the ACP.
    Tanvir's protests continued. But ACP Hani was past caring. He stood up and pulled the stop-chain. The train trundled to a stop near the Masjid Bunder station. The two plain clothes men grabbed Tanvir. Without warning, they pushed him out of the local train and jumped out behind him. To his luck, Tanvir landed on his feet. The men then dragged him through a break in the wall next to the train tracks. Before any passer by could react, he was bundled into a waiting police jeep and whisked away towards Chira Bazaar.
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    Chira Bazaar's narrow lanes comprise mainly old three-storey buildings with jewellery shops and wedding-invitation-card shops in front. However, over time, these buildings have begun to get 'modernized'. That is, to accommodate the ubiquitous new-fangled 'ready-made garment' shops at the street level, and the seedier 'massage parlours' on the darker floors above.
    Tanvir was marched up the stairs of one of these old buildings. On the rooftop stood ACP Hani who, without a word of greeting, pointed at places along the rooftops of the surrounding buildings. Tanvir's eyes strained hard to notice that a man, with what seemed to him a powerful long-range rifle, was positioned at each of these points. These men had their eyes trained on the shifting sea of humanity on the streets below.
    'These sharpshooters will protect you,' the ACP said, his manner terse but reassuring. Tanvir looked unconvinced. In a flash, the ACP's tone changed to his favourite cold one, 'And if you don't do Aalamzeb's bidding, they will shoot at you. They won't kill you, just maim you. But in such a way that, I promise, these wounds will stay with you for long.'
    Tanvir snarled back this time, 'ACP saab, don't push me too far. Remember, I'm the one who's charged with three attempted murders'
    ACP Hani smiled, 'Arre, shabash! That's the way! Channelize all your energy into hatred for my kind. You will not falter. Go now. Meet me at the saloon later.'
    Tanvir turned away from the ACP. Seething with rage but managing to control himself, he walked down the dark wooden stairs into the street.
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    At that very moment, inside a Chira Bazaar jewellery shop, Rabia's keen eyes were inspecting an exquisite green crystal floral motif crafted into the heart-shaped centrepiece of an exquisite kundan jhumar, one of the most coveted ornaments for a Muslim bride. Pinned on one side of the bride's hair, the flowing jhumar, with its special gem setting, lends her a dignified communal identity.
    This particular jhumar was on display at Popular Jewels, one of the smallest but oldest jewellery shops in Chira