Chapter 1
The scene unfolds at a bustling paan shop, a common meeting ground for all sorts of men. Here, amidst the clinking of teacups and the aroma of spices, they unwind and discuss the day's affairs.
Two elderly gentlemen sit engrossed in a conversation. One narrates his struggles in finding a suitable match for his working grand daughter. His son, however, insists on marrying her off to his nephew. To add to the chaos, his daughter is throwing tantrums demanding dowry. The other man shakes his head in disbelief, lamenting the growing greed in society.
Suddenly, a curious figure wearing a navy blue t-shirt on backwards interrupts their conversation. He reminds the old man to let bygones be bygones, emphasizing that the engagement has already taken place and his granddaughter will be happy. He encourages them to let the couple live their lives without regrets.
Their conversation is momentarily disrupted by a loud cheer erupting from the television. A cricket match is underway and a man yells "man six!" sending a wave of excitement through the shop. Maaz, enjoying a samosa with his friend Adeel, whistles in appreciation.
The two cricket fanatics then engage in a friendly banter. Maaz, a fervent supporter of RCB, predicts victory for his team, but stops short of guaranteeing the trophy. Adeel counters, confident that his team's winning streak will secure them a spot in the finals. Maaz shrugs, suggesting they settle the debate with a game of carrom.
The stakes escalate quickly as Adeel proposes a carrom match with a hefty two lakh bet. His friend, Chicha, readily accepts the challenge, and the game begins, adding another layer of excitement to the vibrant atmosphere of the paan shop.
Few minutes later:-
The air crackles with competitive energy as four friends - Adeel, Maaz, and two others - huddle around a carrom board. The tense silence is shattered only by the satisfying clicks of the carrom strikers. They're locked in a serious game, each flick of the wrist a strategic maneuver. Just as Maaz prepares to deliver a crucial shot, The carrom board fell silent as Imtiyaz burst in, frantic about his uncle's bike.
Adeel's glare cut through the tension like a knife. "Who will pay for this loss? Your dad, the pimp?" he spat, his anger barely contained.
Imtiyaz, likely on the losing end, paled. "You bastard! Don't you dare bring my father into this!" he yelled back, desperation lacing his voice.
But Maaz stepped in, diffusing the tension. "Hold on, Adeel," he said calmly. "We already agreed on a movie, remember? Win the carrom match, and then we'll talk." With a friendly nudge, he draped his arm around Imtiyaz's neck, guiding them both away from the confrontation and they headed off on Imtiyaz's bike.
Imtiyaz shot Maaz an exasperated look. "Dude, why'd you drag me out of there? I almost had a satisfying punch in on that jerk!" He scrunched his nose in mock disgust. "And seriously, what's with the inside-out shirt? Are you starting some new upside-down trend?" He nudged Maaz playfully.
The wind whipped through their hair as they cut through the streets, carrying the day's heat away with it.
Enjoying the cool breeze, Maaz finally got down to the reason for Imtiyaz's panicked call. "So," he began casually, "what's the big emergency?"
Imtiyaz hesitated, then blurted out, "Saima! She wants to elope with me!"
Maaz choked on a laugh, nearly swerving the bike. "Elope? Are you serious? What is this, a Bollywood movie?" he sputtered, wiping tears from his eyes. "Have you thought this through? What do you plan to do after eloping? Get married? Live happily ever after in a tiny apartment, waiting years for your parents to forgive you? Then have a bunch of kids and use their grandkids as a sentimental entry ticket back home?"
Imtiyaz blushed a fiery red. "Maaz! I was just thinking about marriage, okay? You jump straight to kids! Besides, if things go well, maybe we can even arrange a marriage between our kids someday!" A hopeful glint appeared in his eyes
Maaz, still chuckling, pulled a face. "No way, man! Happy being single here. Besides, an alliance with you? In your dreams."
Undeterred, Imtiyaz countered, "Trust me, Maaz, there's a girl out there who'll turn your whole life upside down. Just wait for her."
Maaz rolled his eyes. "Oh, shut up and focus on the road! They just play you and leave. No girl sticks around forever. They're all just bound by society anyway." He spoke with a cynicism that belied his youthful appearance.
Suddenly, a bike zooms past them. Imtiyaz practically throws himself out of his seat, pointing. "Maaz, look! Jabbar with that fling. Who is she?"
Maaz sighs. "Ugh, not this again. Let the guy be. We're not here for Jabbar's love life, just your uncle's bike."
Imtiyaz hesitates, then leans in conspiratorially. "But she's your neighbor, right? And I have some scores to settle with Jabbar..."
They screech to a halt in front of a deserted building. Imtiyaz hops off his bike, phone in hand, and starts filming something happening inside.
Maaz throws his hands up in exasperation. "Whatever you're up to, I'm not involved. I'm outta here!"
Imtiyaz tries to placate him. "Come on, man! Dinner's on me tomorrow. Don't spoil the mood."
Few minutes later:-
Laughter echoed through the dusty halls of the abandoned building as Imtiyaz burst out, tears streaming down his face. He spotted his friend Maaz waiting by the rusted fire escape and skidded to a halt, panting.
"Maaz, man, run! He caught me capturing his facio !" Imtiyaz exclaimed, clutching his phone.
Maaz rolled his eyes. "Stop being dramatic. What did you capture?" He snatched a peek at the phone screen. "Dude, seriously? In public?" A playful smirk tugged at his lips.
Imtiyaz snatched his phone back. "Who cares? He pretends to be this polite guy, but his actions speak otherwise. Total hypocrite!"
Maaz glanced around,"Whatever, let's get out of here before someone gets the same idea."
Suddenly, just as Imtiyaz began to hide his face behind his fingers in a display of mock fear, another group emerged from the abandoned building. It was Abid and their gang, grins plastered on their faces.
"Man, we're all in the wrong place at the wrong time, I think," Abid chuckled, amusement dancing in his eyes.
Imtiyaz, ever the showman, raised an eyebrow. "But what a show, did you guys enjoy it?"
Abid opened his mouth to reply, but a high-pitched squeal cut him off. Jabbar and his fling burst out of the building on a motorbike, their faces hidden behind helmets.
One of the guys from the group doubled over with laughter. "Hilarious! Couldn't they wait for nightfall? Doing their thing in broad daylight!"
A wave of laughter swept through the group as Maaz nudged Abid. "Whatever, man, let's leave."
With a final round of high-fives and playful banter, the two groups parted ways...
The rumble of the motorbike filled the air as Maaz gripped the handlebars, navigating the traffic with practiced ease. He stole glances at Imtiyaz, his friend perched behind him, a frown etched on maaz's face.
"Lighten up, man," Imtiyaz said with a chuckle. "It's just some random people messing around."
Maaz sighed. "That's exactly why I don't want to get married. You love someone truly, they cheat on you. You marry them, they cheat on you! I just don't get women."
Imtiyaz let out a hearty laugh. "So, what about your mom? Don't you understand her?"
Maaz slammed on the brakes, nearly throwing them both off the bike. He shook his head, his voice laced with mock frustration. "Don't even get me started on Mom! She keeps me in line, alright? There's no winning with her. She's one of the strongest women I know. If I ever get married, I want someone just like her."
A wry smile spread across Imtiyaz's face. "Here's a thought: if you take your mom out of the equation for a second, then the same principle applies to your future wife. The woman you're looking for is out there, somewhere. You just gotta open your heart and let her in."
Maaz scoffed. "Wow, Imtiyaz! Turning poetic on me now? You must be getting hammered by love." He slammed on the brakes, bringing the bike to a screeching halt. Imtiyaz hopped off, surprised.
"Whoa, whoa, what happened?" Imtiyaz asked, stepping back.
Maaz jerked his thumb towards a sputtering motorbike parked nearby. "Looks like our joyride is over."
With a resigned sigh, they approached the broken-down bike. Imtiyaz tinkered with the engine for a moment, shaking his head.
"Looks like we're hoofing it back home."
They started walking, the sound of their footsteps replacing the rumble of the motorbike...
Maaz pulled over to the side of the road.
"So, are you going to blackmail Jabbar with the video?" Maaz asked, a hint of curiosity in his voice.
Imtiyaz chuckled. "Nah, man. I deleted it. I'm not like that, messing with people's lives. This ain't some crime movie. Besides, the whole thing was pretty funny."
A relieved smile spread across Maaz's face. They continued chatting, their conversation shifting back to their interrupted game night, leaving the drama behind.
