MY CRAZIEST ADVENTURE

On a lazy Sunday morning, Veer lounged around in casual clothes, half-listening to the latest political scandal unraveling on the news. The broadcaster's somber tone was laced with drama, and every so often Veer couldn't resist a smirk or internal commentary: *"Another politician tumbles from grace… shocking."* Beside him, Sheena watched intently, absorbing every detail, while Sonia was likely holed up in her room, caught up in some new drama obsession.

As Veer made his way to the door, Sheena glanced over. "Where are you off to today?"

"Oh, just meeting friends," he replied casually, offering a shrug.

"Do you want the car? I can ask the driver to drop you off," she offered, always quick to lend a hand.

"Nah, I'm good, I'll grab a rickshaw," Veer said with a grin, pocketing his allowance. The ride wasn't far, and he preferred his own sense of freedom today. In reality, he had other plans.

For the past three weeks, Veer had spent his Sundays exploring every corner of this alternate Mumbai—a city that, even in his past life, had a reputation for being a "land of dreams." But here, it was grander, more widely recognized; its streets teemed with people, cultures, and luxuries he'd only glimpsed on screens before. *Mumbai,* he thought, *where the rich and famous brush shoulders with the struggling millions.* He observed the high-rise skylines, posh neighborhoods, and sprawling event venues built to impress internationally. This Mumbai was even more polished and ambitious than the one he'd known in his previous world, a city constantly in motion, driven by wealth and prestige.

Veer noticed similarities as he wandered, comparing this version of Mumbai to the city he'd seen in the movie *Monkey Man.* The movie's gritty, stylized portrayal of a city plagued by corruption and the gritty realities of organized crime didn't feel like much of an exaggeration here; in fact, it seemed eerily close. He'd even spotted a familiar face on the news—the actor who had played a corrupt cop in the film, now actually a high-ranking police officer in this alternate world. *And there's another problem, right there,* Veer thought, amused and a bit apprehensive. *It's like *Monkey Man* mapped out this world's dark side.*

Today, Veer ventured deeper into these familiar-yet-strange corners of the city, a mix of curiosity and cautious paranoia driving him. He was convinced that exploring the underbelly would give him a better understanding of this world's real rules—the unspoken, dangerous ones. He took a rickshaw to a quieter, run-down neighborhood, where buildings stood closer together, older and more worn. Each turn presented him with another gritty scene, straight out of the movie: thuggish men, dressed like they'd just stepped off a Bollywood set, lounged against walls, eyeing him with curiosity or indifference. *Looks like I stumbled into "Gangs of Mumbai,"* he thought with a grin, wondering if they'd object to being called *chapri.*

His mental movie reel continued as he wandered further. In the film, underground tournaments, unlicensed weapon sales, and rampant corruption had been exaggerated to create suspense, but here, it was hard to tell where fiction ended and reality began. As he saw posters advertising a "Fight Night" similar to the underground tournament scene in *Monkey Man,* he hesitated, knowing all too well what went down there. *Nope, not yet,* he told himself. Veer wasn't eager to become a pawn in someone else's game.

Despite his casual demeanor, Veer kept his eyes sharp, blending in with his deliberately ordinary look. He'd even rolled his clothes around a dusty construction site to give them a worn, rough appearance. Nothing about him screamed wealth or privilege. In the right outfit, he could pass as a middle-class kid just scraping by; with a little dirt, he might look like he'd been living rough. *I might not be the star here,* he thought with a wry grin, *but I've got the "guy who knows everyone's secrets" role down.*

In a movie they also saw a run down shops basement was selling military-grade weapons—things that should have been impossible to buy off the streets. *Feels like a high-stakes thriller,* he thought, mildly amused, though he kept a wary distance as he did not found the place but he did not gone deep into any shady area.He was focusing on to get overview of this city. *Back in my past life, the biggest thing I worried about was an overdue school project.*

As the sun began to dip beneath the horizon, casting the city in an orange haze, Veer took the long way home, doubling back and watching for any suspicious followers.As remembering the one of the greatest spy (which i believe) Michael westen quote "Always move like you're being watched; if they can't predict you, they can't follow you."This city's underworld had teeth, and he knew it could bite if he wasn't careful. Back in his room, he sank onto his bed after done with his daily routine, recalling the day's journey. *If I want to get ahead,* he thought, *I need to know this place inside out.*

Mumbai, with all its contradictions, was a world in itself, and Veer was only just beginning to peel back the layers.