Golden Bhai's SUV rolled slowly through the narrow lanes leading toward one of Mumbai's largest slums. The afternoon heat had driven most people indoors, leaving only a few children playing cricket in the alleys and shopkeepers chatting outside their stalls.
Inside the vehicle, the atmosphere was serious.
Golden Bhai looked at the man sitting beside him.
"Our informer confirmed it this morning."
He unfolded a rough map of the slum.
"The bastard has been hiding here for almost a week."
One of the gang members frowned.
"Why would he stay inside the city? He should've run."
Golden Bhai snorted.
"Because nobody looks for a snake in a pit full of snakes."
He tapped a small circle drawn on the map.
"He's living in a rented shack near the old water tank. He comes out every afternoon to collect food and meet his contact."
Radhe quietly memorized the surroundings.
Narrow lanes.Crowded rooftops.Too many witnesses.Too many escape routes.
Golden Bhai continued giving instructions.
"We don't create a scene."
He pointed toward Radhe.
"You, me, and four others will wait near the lane."
Another man asked, "And if he runs?"
Golden Bhai smiled coldly.
"He won't."
"We grab him when he's alone."
"No shooting unless absolutely necessary."
"We need him alive."
Radhe understood why.
The gangster wasn't important.
The information inside his head was.
He supposedly knew who had stolen Gani Bhai's shipment and where the remaining goods had been hidden.
If they could make him talk, Gani Bhai's anger would disappear.
The convoy stopped two streets away from the slum.
Everyone got out separately to avoid attracting attention.
For nearly thirty minutes they waited.
Finally, one of the lookouts whispered into his phone.
"Target is moving."
The gangster stepped out of a small shack carrying a cloth bag filled with groceries.
He looked around nervously before walking toward the main road.
Golden Bhai nodded.
"Now."
The men surrounded him from different directions.
The gangster froze.
Before he could react, Radhe grabbed him by the collar and dragged him into a deserted corner between two abandoned buildings.
Golden Bhai slammed him against the wall.
"Who stole Gani Bhai's shipment?"
"I... I don't know."
A hard punch landed across the gangster's face.
"Lying already?"
"I swear!"
Dilip Topi kicked him in the stomach.
"Talk!"
The frightened gangster looked from one face to another.
"I only arranged the meeting!"
"Who?"
"I don't know his real name!"
Golden Bhai grabbed his shirt.
"What does he look like?"
The gangster hesitated.
That single moment was enough.Helost his patience.
"You think we're fools?"
He struck the man again.
The gangster stumbled backward and shouted for help.
People nearby turned toward the commotion.
Radhe immediately frowned.But deep down he was happy.As he found that inside the gang of dilip topi ,there were lots of corruption and he just led them towards one of the target to avoid radhe and his team being found.
"This is getting messy."
Golden Bhai ignored him.
"Tell me the name!"
"I don't know!"
Another slap.
Another shove.
The gangster suddenly pulled out a hidden knife.
Instinctively, Radhe kicked it away.
But the movement startled everyone.one of the member felt the gangster was trying to escape.
He rushed forward.
The gangster picked up a loose brick from the ground.
Within seconds, both men crashed into each other.
The brick struck golden bhai head.
Almost at the same time, the gangster lost his balance and slammed the back of his head against the edge of a concrete platform.
Silence followed.Neither man moved.
Radhe rushed over first.
"idiot"
Golden Bhai checked the gangster.
"Damn it..."
Blood slowly spread beneath his head.
"He isn't breathing."
One of the gang members cursed under his breath.
"Our lead is gone."
Before anyone could react further, the distant sound of a police siren echoed through the slum.
Someone had already called the police after hearing the shouting.
Golden Bhai looked around.
"Everyone split up!"
The men immediately scattered through different lanes.
Radhe stayed behind for a brief second.
A police jeep turned into the street.
"Perfect timing," he muttered before walking calmly toward the approaching officers, already preparing to distract them long enough for the others to disappear.
..........
The police jeep came to a stop at the entrance of the lane.
Two constables stepped out first, followed by Inspector Talpade. He looked around, noticing frightened residents peeking through half-open doors and windows.
"What happened here?" he asked loudly.
An elderly shopkeeper pointed toward the narrow alley.
"There was a fight, sahib. We heard shouting."
Talpade nodded and began walking in that direction.
Before he could enter the alley, a man wearing a faded black shirt accidentally bumped into him.
"Sorry, officer."
Talpade frowned.
"Watch where you're going."
The man raised both hands apologetically.
"My mistake."
It was Radhe.
He had already tucked his pistol inside the back of his waistband, leaving only a faint outline beneath his shirt.
Talpade studied him for a moment.
"You from around here?"
Radhe smiled casually.
"No. I came to collect money from a friend."
"What friend?"
"He repairs motorcycles."
Talpade narrowed his eyes.
"And where does he live?"
Radhe scratched his head as if trying to remember.
"I don't know the exact house."
"You don't know?"
"He told me to meet him near the tea stall."
Talpade glanced around.
"There isn't any tea stall here."
Radhe laughed awkwardly.
"Then I must have taken the wrong turn."
One of the constables looked impatient.
"Sir, let's check the alley."
Talpade raised a hand.
"In a minute."
Radhe knew every second mattered.
Golden Bhai and the others needed time to disappear through the maze of narrow lanes.
At that moment, a young woman walked toward the intersection, holding a folder filled with documents.
She slowed when she noticed the police.
Talpade turned his attention toward her.
"You."
She stopped.
"Yes?"
"Did you see anyone running?"
She looked confused.
"I just arrived."
"Where are you coming from?"
"A job interview."
He looked at the folder in her hands.
"Show me."
Without arguing, she handed it over.
Talpade flipped through the papers.
"Jahnavi Verma?"
"Yes."
"You live nearby?"
"My aunt does."
One of the constables quietly searched the surroundings while Talpade continued asking questions.
At that moment another figure approached from the opposite side carrying a DSLR camera around his neck. A press card hung from a blue lanyard.
He looked barely old enough to be in college.
Veer adjusted the camera before smiling politely.
"Excuse me, Inspector."
Talpade looked at him.
"Who are you?"
Veer immediately showed the press card.
"I'm an intern with City Mirror News."
Talpade looked at the card for a few seconds before handing it back.
"So young?"
Veer laughed.
"Everyone starts somewhere, sir."
He lifted the camera slightly.
"I heard there was some disturbance. My editor asked me to check if anything happened."
Talpade sighed.
"The media always arrives before the ambulance."
Veer smiled apologetically.
"Bad habit of the profession."
He took a photograph of the street.
Then another of the police jeep.
Nothing dramatic.
Just ordinary pictures that looked routine.
Jahnavi quietly stood to one side, waiting for Talpade to finish.
Veer glanced at her before speaking again.
"If she has already answered your questions, sir, she's probably getting late."
Talpade looked at Jahnavi.
"You've told me everything?"
"Yes."
He handed her folder back.
"Fine. Don't leave the city for a few days."
She nodded.
"I won't."
Without wasting another second, she thanked him and walked away.
Talpade turned back toward Radhe.
"You."
Radhe looked up.
"Still here?"
"I didn't say you could leave."
Before Radhe could answer, a loud voice echoed from inside the alley.
"Sir!"
One constable came running.
"We found a body!"
Talpade's expression changed instantly.
"What?"
"Looks like someone died during the fight."
He immediately pushed past both Radhe and Veer.
"Nobody moves!"
The constables hurried after him.
Within seconds, everyone except Radhe and Veer had disappeared into the alley.
Radhe let out a slow breath.
He looked sideways at the young reporter.
"You picked an interesting day to work."
Veer smiled lightly.
"Mumbai never disappoints."
Radhe chuckled.
"True."
The two exchanged a brief nod before walking away in different directions.
Neither revealed more than necessary.
Neither asked unnecessary questions.
Sometimes silence was more useful than conversation.
A few minutes later, Veer spotted Jahnavi waiting at a bus stop while checking her phone.
He walked over.
"Excuse me."
She looked up.
"Oh... the journalist."
He laughed.
"Intern."
"Right. Sorry."
She smiled.
"I've never seen an intern carrying such a big camera."
"My editor believes bigger cameras make us look more professional."
She laughed.
"I'll remember that."
"I'm Veer."
"Jahnavi."
"I know."
She raised an eyebrow.
"You heard the inspector say my name."
"Guilty."
She folded her arms.
"So, how old are you?"
"Nineteen."
Her eyes widened.
"I honestly thought you were still in school."
"I get that a lot."
"And you're already working?"
"Trying to."
"It's just an internship for now."
"What about you?"
"I just finished another interview."
"How did it go?"
She shrugged.
"I think it was okay."
"You don't sound convinced."
"I've attended six interviews this month."
Veer nodded sympathetically.
"Finding the first job is always the hardest."
"You sound like someone with years of experience."
"I read too many newspapers."
She laughed again.
"You really are different from most reporters."
"I'm not a reporter yet."
"Fair point."
The bus finally arrived.
Jahnavi looked toward the door before turning back.
"It was nice meeting you, Veer."
"You too."
She climbed aboard and found a seat near the window.
As the bus pulled away, she waved once.
Veer returned the gesture with a smile.
He adjusted the camera on his shoulder and began walking toward the railway station.
Behind him, police sirens continued to echo through the slum as officers searched for witnesses and collected evidence.
Veer, it had unexpectedly brought a new acquaintance into his life.