Chapter 1 - The Mourning Raaga

10:30 AM, 28th February, 2014 - Bedroom, Darshan Heights, Borivali

"Hey champ, its me Pranav, got some disturbing news, can't tell that on the phone, do gimme a call, m putting up at Leela Kempenski, will give you the details, gimme a call on my Delhi number when you reach Leela". Time of the voice message reads 8:45 AM. I say WTF! It is not natural of Pranav to be calling me at 8:45, for god's freaking sake, this is way too early for me to wake up, and for Nav as we call him, its still an hour before he used to go to bed.

I get my lazy ass off the bed, walk towards the mirror. "I know Nav's vanity, he must have had his gazillionth breakup with his new found love, this shit can wait.... What crap! I gotta get a freaking haircut". So what if I am working in the capacity of an account planner in one of the world's leading advertising agencies, you still need to look different from one of those hippie creative guys around or you'll be kicked out of the company. Damn, this thing can wait, its a Sunday after all.

11:45 AM, 28th February, 2014 - Parking Lot, Darshan Heights, Borivali

I can't believe I am doing all this to meet Nav! I mean it isn't like I haven't met him in the past 5 years since our days back at campus, it was a couple of months back that we met up on a similar 'disturbing' news of his, and ended up spending 5 hours at Mondegar, created a barroom brawl, and realized the next day that my Boss played audience to the scene, and had my ass nearly fired from the company. 

I fumble in my pockets and manage to pull out the keys of my Tata Nano. Ok, I don't have a flamboyant lifestyle, but am happy the way I am. Cars are machines meant to facilitate transportation, and my baby does a fabulous job at it. Alright, 18km, should be there by 12:15, and a bit of speeding can get me there by 12:10... cool!

12:45 PM, 28th February, 2014 - Pathanwadi, Malad East

"Arre teri maa ki, tempo road ke beech mein lagake traffic ki kyon maa behen ek kar raha hai mad@#ch%d". All these unruly truckers, cabbies, auto-drivers should be banned in Mumbai, who the hell do they think they are, they drive as if they own this place! And fuck this city man, how will a common man commute amidst this piled up traffic?

1:45 PM, 28th February, 2014 - Chakala, Andheri

"Hey dude, reached Chakala, will be there in another 10 minutes". "Cool hai, am waiting at the lobby". Damn this traffic.

2:20 PM, 28th February, 2014 - Lobby, Leela Kempenski, Andheri

Me: "Damn Andheri man, damn this traffic, you have to own a private jet to commute in this city, but wait, then where will you land? arrrgggggghhhhhhhh"

Pranav: Smiles reluctantly "Dude, sit down, I want you to take this slowly"

Me: "What? What the fuck is wrong bro? Broke up with your current muse? hahaha"

Pranav: "This is not funny dude, Vivek left his job........ he was fired"