The fan above whirred like it was on life support, and the heat of Mumbai night made the walls sweat. Nawaz lay on the floor mat, shirt half off, scrolling aimlessly on his cheap phone. Across the room, Balraj snored like a freight train, one leg on the table, the other dangling off the bed like a half-dead wrestler.
"Snorlax jaise soya hai yeh banda."
(This guy sleeps like Snorlax.)
The phone suddenly buzzed. Unknown Number.
Nawaz's thumb hovered. He glanced at the old clock (11:15) and at Balraj. Still snoring.
"Hello?" he answered, voice low.
A rough, unfamiliar voice spoke, "Tere maa ka raaz tere samajh se bahar hai, Nawaz."
(There's a secret about your mother beyond your understanding, Nawaz.)
Nawaz bolted upright. "Kaun hai tu?"
(Who are you?)
The voice didn't answer directly. "Jisne sab kuch dekha tha, woh abhi bhi zinda hai. Mangaluru mein."
(The one who saw everything is still alive. In Mangaluru.)
Nawaz narrowed his eyes. "Kahaan milna hai?"
(Where should I meet him?)
"Old Bunder Port. Wharf Number 7.Parso subah 3 baje."
(Old Bunder Port. Wharf Number 7. Day after tomorrow at 3 in the morning.)
Click.
Silence.
Balraj snorted and muttered in sleep, "Chole bhature leke aa mummy..."
(Bring chole bhature, mom...)
Nawaz stared at him and whispered, "Mummy ko nahi, Gun leke chal, Sher Punjab."
(Not your mom, bring your gun, Sher Punjab.)
He grabbed a pen, scribbled the location on a page torn from a TV guide, and stuffed it in his back pocket.
Snorlax (Balraj) half asleep shouted,
"Oi, kidhar ja raha hai? Chole bhature khane ja raha hai mujhe chhod ke?"
(Oi, where are you going? Going to eat chole bhature without me?)
Nawaz whispered,
"Oye Sher Punjab, hum Mangaluru ja rahe hain thoda business ka hungama machane! Chole bhature baad mein, pehle kaam!"
(Oye Sher Punjab, we're going to Mangaluru to stir up some business chaos! Chole bhature later, work first!)
Balraj:
"Haan bhai, Mangaluru le chalo! Wahan ke fish fry ke bina business adhoora hai, warna main yahin chole bhature kha ke wait karunga!"
(Yeah bro, take me to Mangaluru! Without the fish fry there, business feels incomplete, otherwise I'll just stay here eating chole bhature and waiting!)
Nawaz (angry):
"Oye, hat baduve! Business hai, tamasha nahi. Mangaluru chal, warna samajh le dushmani pakki!"
(Hey, get lost! This is business, not a joke. Come to Mangaluru, or consider the rivalry sealed!)
Balraj finally rolled over and sat up like a confused panda.
Balraj (sad):
"Thik hai… chalo, shayad."
(Okay... let's go, I guess.)
Mangaluru wasn't just another name anymore.
It was a crack in the truth.