GRANT ROAD
To Narak and Back
This is a story of an innocent young adult named Kunal. He studies in a famous engineering college and is doing his BE project in a reputed company. His project partner is a guy called Emraan.
One day, they need to purchase a few electronic components. So, the two decide to go to Lamington Road: a place in Mumbai famous for the availability of electronic products and many other services. The two purchase the required items and Emraan suggests that they also get the switch board from the same area on which to mount the electronic components. Kunal unsuspectingly agrees to this and to get the box drilled follows Emraan who leads the way.
Kunal is fond of travelling and hence is looking at the buildings, shops, restaurants and the people around. Slowly a pattern starts emerging. He can’t read the sign boards on the shops-the script is unknown to him. Then, he notices that the people around don’t look the same as he is used to see in his 20 year sojourn on earth. He doesn’t care much though. He moves ahead behind Emraan. But, soon enough he realises that he is in a foreign land equipped only with his tongue which can make compliant noises. He is completely at the mercy of Emraan and the latter behaves as if he is well aware of this. Emraan is a changed person and he is no longer the sombre, good natured, humble person. Kunal tries hard not to get frightened and least of all to show it on his face. He knows that behaving like a dumb dog is his only chance of ret urning to his family-dead or alive.
Kunal is lucky; this is just a trailer shown by Emraan to him. They get the work of drilling the plastic box done from a slightly familiar looking man. Kunal is relieved to see a familiar face though he is not reassured on seeing him-only the face is like the others-everything else might be the same. After returning home, Kunal is disturbed but, he has learnt his lessons and immediately goes to the community gathering, for the first time, held in his locality by some elders.