Anil: A Son Beyond Tomorrow Chapter 2

 Surya asked, “Anil, why are you heading to Mumbai?” Suddenly, Anil's father, Surya, raised such question. Anil didn't know what to say. He fumbled for a second, and then quickly blurted out the first thing that came to his mind: “Actually, one of my relatives is in Mumbai. I'm going there to look for a job.”

Anil's uncle, Selvan, responded, “You're just like everyone else. Whoever goes from Tamil Nadu to Mumbai, it's always in search of a job.” Anil replied, “Yes, everyone has to work someday.”

Selvan then asked, “Where is your relative in Mumbai?” Anil lied again, “Matunga, near Phool Market.” Selvan responded, “Oh, I see. Your relative must be somewhat well-off. Matunga is where the posh people live. Only they can afford the prices there. By the way, we live in Dharavi.”

Anil nodded in response, and Surya asked, “What about your family?” Anil lied again, “Well, I'm an orphan. I don't have anyone. My parents died when I was one year old. I grew up at my uncle's house.”

Surya said, “Oh, sorry. You grew up all alone.” Anil responded, “Yes, but my uncle's family was always there for me. My cousins took good care of me, so I never really felt alone. Even now, they tell me to find a job nearby, but I’m determined to find work elsewhere. I don’t want to become a burden on them anymore.”

Selvan responded, “That's a great mindset. Our story is similar to yours. Our parents passed away when we were young too. There are a total of 11 children; I’m the 8th, and Surya is the youngest. After our parents passed, we’ve been looking out for each other. One of my brothers was in Mumbai, and I came here a few years ago. Now, it’s Surya’s turn.”

As they were talking, breakfast time arrived. Selvan said, “We lost track of time while talking. Have you had breakfast?” Anil replied, “No, I still need to. There aren’t any pantry people around here. I’ll have to buy it from somewhere.”

Selvan responded, “You’re totally matching our vibes. We had to do the same. Surya, you stay here. We’ll go buy some food for ourselves.” After a while, the three of them had breakfast together.

After breakfast, Anil stood near the train door, gazing outside. He felt completely happy inside, an uncontrollable smile spreading across his face. He had met his father and talked with him. The reasons for his journey, his success have filled him with pride. As the train moved, he kept his gaze fixed on the outside world through the door.

As Anil was gazing out, Surya came up to him and asked, “You’re smiling a lot. What’s going on in your mind?” Anil thought about revealing who he really was but decided to lie again. “Well, I’m excited to see Mumbai. Tomorrow evening, I’ll be landing in the city of dreams,” he answered. Surya responded, “Ah, I see. It’s a bit surprising how similar our stories are, even though we look slightly different.” Anil smiled and replied, “Yeah, the only difference is our hairstyle and body structure.”

As they were talking, Surya said, “I wish I had an uncle like you in my life.” Anil asked, “Why do you say that?” Surya replied, “The hardships I’ve faced, I only truly understood them after my parents passed away.”

Surya looked outside and began to narrate, “My mom passed away when I was in 8th grade. Then, the following year, my father died. At that time, my seven brothers were already married, Selvan was working in Mumbai, and our only sister was engaged. That left just my older brother and me. Neither of us had a permanent place to stay.”

Surya continued, “For daily food and other expenses, our older brothers took care of everything. My eldest brother dropped out of school and moved to Mumbai. I had to stay either at the hostel or at one of my brothers' houses. At the hostel, we had to take care of everything ourselves, and the food they served us was awful. At my brothers' houses, I was more like a servant. I had to do every task they gave me.”

Surya continued, “Whether it was household chores, working in the fields, or helping with the family business, I had to follow their orders. I couldn’t say no to them because I relied on them for food and my education. I even worked on a friend’s family farm as a labourer. After years of pain, hard work, and struggle, I finally earned my degree. But then, another twist awaited me.”

Surya continued, “Our villagers come from the same community, while the people in the opposite village are from a higher caste. We don’t usually bring up caste issues among us because we all depend on each other. But some people still carry caste pride. One of my former classmates, who’s from that opposite village, made a derogatory remark about our village and our caste. In anger, a fight broke out, and I threw a bicycle at him. The police arrived, looked at the situation from both sides, and told us to settle the matter ourselves without going to court. After many discussions, the issue was finally resolved. Selvan witnessed everything and immediately asked me to come to Mumbai.”

Surya continued, “I didn’t know what I was going to do there. All I wanted was to live a peaceful and better life. Life had been difficult for me until then, and I hoped that the coming days would bring some relief. If you happen to know of any job openings, kindly let me know. I don’t want to be a burden to my brother.”

Anil, who already knew his father’s story, became emotional upon hearing it again. He nodded and said, “Sure, I will.”

That night, Anil's mind rewound to what had happened in the past. The reason for his dad's death. The only thing that caused him suffering: people chasing after it to earn it. The world's greatest possession: money.

He remembered the days when his family’s debt outweighed Surya’s monthly income. Surya’s wife was forced to delay payments to some lenders, shuffling money just to keep others at bay. For only two days in a month, they felt a brief sense of relief from the crushing weight of debt. The rest of the time, they lived under constant pressure, negotiating with one lender after another.

The family had reached such state because of a builder's false promises. Like every middle-class family's dream, Anil's parents also dreamed of owning a house in Mumbai. So, they invested 25% of their savings, borrowed 25%, and took out a 50% bank loan. Due to issues with the loan, they weren’t able to buy the house. When they asked for a refund, the builder gave them two cheques: one for 9 lakhs and another for 5 lakhs. The 9 lakh cheque bounced, and the builder’s construction was demolished by the government due to illegal encroachment.

The builder ran away, and it became impossible to catch him. Then another twist came, Surya became unemployed. During his unemployment, the amount he owed doubled. Surya became completely stressed and didn’t know what to do. He became desperate in searching for the builder to get his money back, but nothing happened. The house was lost, the money was gone, and it put Surya at the lowest point in his life.

All of this led to deterioration in Surya's health, with raised blood pressure and a weakening heart. His wife advised him to leave everything behind and focus on the present, but Surya didn’t listen. His continuous overthinking and stress eventually led to his death at the age of 43 due to cardiac arrest.

Anil's eyes were filled with tears. He didn’t want to see this happen again after hearing about his dad’s past. So, he promised to himself, “Dad, don't worry. I will do everything to protect you this time. No matter what the consequences are. You will live a peaceful and wealthy life this time. Dad, I promise.” With that, he went to sleep.

The next day, Anil’s sleep was disturbed by something around his feet. As he opened his eyes, he saw a large number of people lying on the compartment floor. His head was resting on his dad’s shoulder.

He woke up quickly. As he did, Surya said, “Good morning.” Anil saw that the upper seats and the compartment floor were completely packed with people. Everyone on the seats, including Surya and Selvan, had placed their feet on the seats. Half-asleep, Anil responded, “Morning… why is this compartment suddenly so crowded with people?”

Selvan responded, “We have officially crossed the South Indian border.” Anil, confused, asked, “What does that have to do with anything?” Selvan replied, “These people are similar to us. They have boarded the train to travel to their workplaces some to Mumbai, some to Pune, and the rest to Surat. The irony is that none of them have tickets, but they act as if they own the train.”

Anil asked, “So, until we reach Mumbai, we have to stay like this?” Selvan replied, “Of course. It’s an unreserved compartment, we have to adjust. Luckily, we got a window seat. As for breakfast and lunch, we can buy through the window. But we need to control our pee and poo until we cross Pune.”

Anil nodded and decided to adjust. For him, this was not a big deal. Right now, his mind was entirely focused on figuring out how to make his dad, Surya, rich in today’s world.

With great adjustment and by managing through the crowd, Surya, Selvan, and Anil were able to withstand the commotion and finally reached Mumbai. It was nighttime, and they took their first breath of the city.

It was Dadar station. Anil helped Selvan and Surya get their luggage out of the train. Within a minute, they had their entire luggage safely out. Even though the station and train were crowded, they managed without any trouble.

Selvan asked, “Okay, Anil, it was nice meeting you. By the way, you said your relative is in Matunga. So, would you like to come with us? We’re taking the local train.” Anil replied, “No, actually one of my relatives is coming to pick me up.” Selvan said, “Okay, take care.”

Surya approached Anil and handed him a piece of paper, “This contains my brother’s number. Don’t forget the job I mentioned.” Anil responded, “Yes, I remember.” Surya said, “Goodbye, brother.” Surya and Selvan then left for their local train.

As they walked away, Anil watched them disappear into the distance. After confirming they had left, he began traveling through the streets of Dadar. He wandered around, looking for a hotel to stay in. After about 15 minutes, he found one and booked a room. He had roughly 5,000 rupees in hand and nine gold coins left.

That night, after having dinner, he locked his room. From the windows to the door, everything was shut tight, leaving no gaps at all. After checking that there was no way anything could leak out, he took his phone, which he had put on charge. He placed it on the bed, unlocked it, and opened the PA app. As soon as he did, a beam of light appeared, and a girl materialized in it. it was a hologram. The hologram began speaking, “Hello Anil, it is nice to meet you. How may I help you?”

The PA stood for “Personal Artificial Intelligence,” an offline hologram AI specially designed to assist people, another piece of technology from the 2040s. Anil spoke to her, “Hello, Karen. I have some doubts regarding economics, specifically during the early 2000s to 2010.”

Karen responded, “Great! What are your doubts? Please elaborate.” Anil asked, “Hello, Karen. What was the economic condition of India during this period, especially from 2003 to 2007? Was there any economic crisis?”

Karen processed the question and replied, “Hey Anil, between 2003 and 2007, India’s economy was booming, growing at an impressive 8–9% per year, with IT, telecom, and consumer spending leading the way. No major economic crises occurred, only some manageable inflation and deficit concerns. The Sensex soared from 3,000 to over 20,000, making it a golden era for India’s growth!”

Anil asked, “Okay, Karen, can you suggest a business I can start on a small scale in Mumbai?” Karen thought for a moment and replied, “If I were operating during this period, I would prefer three options: a tiffin service, a cybercafe, and mobile accessories. All three have the potential to give high returns.”

Anil thought for a moment. His childhood memories flashed, he remembered how these three businesses had become overpopulated and eventually vanished in the following years. At that moment, an idea sparked in his mind, his dad had worked as a graphic designer. So he asked, “See, Karen, I know graphic designing. I need a long-term business, one that can expand over 30 years. What would you suggest?”

Karen thought for a moment before replying, “Well then, I suggest a marketing consultancy. In 2005, you can start with printing hoardings, designing posters, and even creating bills for small companies. With consistent year-on-year growth, you can expand to work with bigger companies and move into digital marketing as well. The internet is just starting to grow, but it will require a lot of creativity and effort.”

Anil continued asking more questions about feasibility, learning graphic design, PC specifications, and more. Karen answered each question with clear precision. Anil made sure that even if he failed, the consequences would be minimal. After an hour of discussion, he drafted a detailed plan for his business. He switched off his phone and lay on the bed, saying to himself, “Let's hope it works out well.”

It was Sunday; two days after Surya had arrived in Mumbai. He was lying on the floor of the house. The house was not lavish; it was a single room with an attached bathroom for bathing. Bags were stacked in one corner; there were about six of them.

Surya was thinking about what he was going to do here. His mind was spinning with one thought: he didn’t want to become a burden to his brothers, especially Selvan. As he was lost in thought, his seventh brother, Dharma, came inside and said, “Surya, you have a call from someone named Anil.”

Surya quickly got up from the floor, his heart racing with curiosity. “Anil?” he murmured, trying to recall if he knew anyone by that name in Mumbai. Then it hit him, the young man from the train, the one who had seemed so mature and understanding despite his age.

He rushed to where Dharma was holding the phone and grabbed it, “Hello?” “Hello, Surya. It’s Anil, we met on the train two days ago,” came the familiar voice from the other end.

Surya responded, “Yes, Anil. How are you?” Anil said, “I’m fine. Surya, can you come near Kamarajar School? I’ve come here.” Surya felt a little suspicious but replied, “Okay.”

Moments later, Anil was seen waiting outside Kamarajar School. He tapped his foot anxiously as he waited for his dad. Just as his eyes shifted, he saw Selvan and Surya approaching.

The scene unfolded with a mix of anticipation and nervous energy as Anil spotted the two figures approaching. His heart raced this was it, the moment he had been carefully planning for over the past two days?

Surya and Selvan walked up to him, both looking curious and slightly confused. Selvan spoke first, “Anil! What a surprise. We didn’t expect to hear from you so soon. Is everything alright with your relatives?”

Anil shifted his weight, choosing his words carefully, “Actually, there’s been a change of plans. My relative had to leave Mumbai urgently due to a family emergency, so I’m on my own now.” He paused, gauging their reactions before continuing, “But that’s not why I called you here.”

Surya, with curiosity, asked, “What’s that?” Anil replied, “I’m going to start a marketing consultancy business in Dharavi. I’ve already set up everything required; I just need someone to support me throughout the business. I mean, as a manager.”

Surya’s eyes widened in surprise, “A business? But you just arrived in Mumbai two days ago. How did you get so much money? Why should I be the manager…?” He stopped mid-sentence, trying to process what Anil was saying.

Selvan crossed his arms, his expression a mixture of skepticism and intrigue. “Marketing consultancy? In Dharavi? That’s… ambitious. And you want Surya to be your manager?” He glanced at his brother, then back at Anil, “No offense, but you’re what. Twenty? Twenty-one? Starting a business in a city you just arrived in? Surya is new here, and he doesn’t have much experience in what you’re planning. And he doesn’t even know Hindi.”

Anil replied, “I understand what you’re saying. Let me clarify everything, one by one. There was a huge commotion at my relative’s house. They had to leave Mumbai completely because my relative’s parents were in an accident and both were admitted to the ICU. So the entire family left, and I don’t know when they’ll return. I originally came to Mumbai for a job, as you know, but there’s another reason, they owe a large sum of money to my father. I came to collect that as well; it’s around 70,000 rupees.”

Anil took a deep breath and continued, “Thirdly, I’m clear in my mind that I’m not going to Tirunelveli without making a name for myself here. Finding a job is a big task for me, so I thought of using my dad’s money wisely. I have the skills. I know graphic designing, poster creation, and billboard design. Small businesses in Dharavi need these services but can’t afford the big agencies in South Mumbai or BKC(Bandra Kurla Complex). We can fill that gap, so I decided to start this business. Now, why Surya as the manager? Simple I don’t know how heavy the tasks will be, and I don’t want to take risks. I also don’t have enough capital to hire other employees. It will mostly be just me, but there will be some tasks that need someone to step in and take responsibility. Surya also needs a job, so I thought it would be much better with him helping.”

Surya stood there, processing everything Anil had just said. His mind was racing, a job opportunity, yes, but more than that, a chance to be part of a new business venture. It was risky, unconventional, and, honestly, a bit overwhelming. Yet something in Anil’s eyes, a determined spark, reminded him of his own younger self, back before life had beaten him down with disappointments.

Selvan interjected, his protective instincts kicking in, “Anil, I appreciate the offer, but Surya is just starting his life. He can’t afford to take risks with an unstable income. What if this business doesn’t work out? At least with a proper job, there’s a fixed salary every month.”

Anil nodded, acknowledging Selvan’s concern, “I understand completely. That’s why I’m proposing this: I’ll pay Surya a fixed salary of 4,000 rupees per month to start, about the same as most entry-level jobs here. I need someone who can fully commit and work hard for my business. If the business grows and we start making a profit, we’ll split the earnings according to our efforts. If it fails...”

He paused, his voice growing more serious, “If it fails within six months, I’ll personally help Surya find a stable job, and I’ll cover his expenses during that time.”

Surya’s throat tightened. This young man, practically a stranger was offering him not just a job, but dignity. A chance to be part of something from the ground up, not just another cog in someone else’s machine. But Selvan interjected again, “Okay, fine. We need some time to think about it.”

Anil handed over a small piece of paper and said, “Fine, take this. It’s my business address. If you’re okay with it, come on 20th April. Is that okay, Surya?” Surya nodded, and Anil added, “Think it over and make a good decision.” After saying that, Anil left.

Later that evening, Surya was casually watching television. The music channel played in the background, but his mind was elsewhere. He kept thinking, should he accept Anil’s offer or not? Would this lead him into some shady situation? And, above all, why had Anil offered him such a significant position?

Selvan entered the house and said, “Hi.” Surya replied quietly, “Hi.” From his response alone, Selvan could tell that Surya was completely lost in thought. He quickly went to freshen up.

Selvan sat down beside him and asked, “Are you thinking about Anil’s offer?” Surya nodded, “Hmm, I’m thinking about it, but so many thoughts are coming up.” Selvan replied, “I’m thinking about it too. Besides, you made a good move by calling me.”

Selvan took a small breath, “Did you ask him for a job?” Surya nodded, “Yes, he mentioned that his relatives would arrange a job for him. So, I suggested adding my name too, but I never thought he was going to start a business.”

Selvan said, with a look on his face, “Did I ask you to get a job? You just came to Mumbai, enjoy some time here. You’ve got 5 brothers who are here for you. A job can wait.” Surya smiled, “Brother, I know you're saying that out of love for me.”

Surya took a deep breath and said, “You all are only finding hardship here. Honestly, I felt I shouldn’t become a burden to you. So, I asked Anil, and he offered me a great opportunity. But that opportunity is overwhelming, a business where I’d be his manager. It's making me doubt whether I’m capable of handling it all.”

Selvan laughed and said, “You’re asking about capability? You gave a tough time to Vela Pandi, brother, in the plough field. If you can handle that, you’ll slowly get the hang of Hindi too. My only concern is how legitimate that business could be. Anil’s planning to start it within a few days of arriving here. And in Dharavi, there are some people involved in shady businesses. That’s what’s making me think.”

Surya hesitated, then said, “Maybe... I could try his opportunity. I don't think he could be a bad person.” Selvan replied, with a slightly harsh tone, “What if he leads you into something that lands you in trouble with the law? Remember, this is Mumbai.” Surya countered, “What if the business turns out to be genuine?”

Both brothers were at a stalemate now. Each had their point, but what would be the result? Would Surya put an end to his son Anil's mission? Only time would tell.

Two days later, Anil opened up his marketing consultancy business in Dharavi. He rented a small place opposite the Dharavi police station on 90 Feet Road. The room was only 5 x 5 square meters, with a bathroom facility. Anil bought a second-hand PC, a sitting chair, a modem router for internet, and a basic printer for printouts.

Anil checked the PC, he had the software ready. He had already advertised his business in the newspaper, and for large printouts, he made a deal with a nearby printer. Everything was set now, except for one thing. Surya had not yet come.

The main reason Anil started this business was to make his father wealthy. That was the reason he had temporarily set aside his time-travel objective. He was hoping Surya would join him.

Anil anxiously tapped his foot. He had already made a backup plan, in case Surya didn’t show up today. He would build the business on his own and later tempt Surya to join as his manager. But there was no need for a backup plan because, as soon as Anil’s eyes diverted, he saw Surya and Selvan walking toward his place.

Anil welcomed them both. They took their seats, and Selvan looked around the room, scanning the details. He said, “So, this is your business site?” Anil nodded, “Yes, it’s quite small.” Selvan replied, “Actually, it’s bigger than I’d expect for Dharavi.”

Anil smiled at that. Surya asked, “So, no clients yet?” Anil handed him the newspaper. “I only placed the ad today. So, either this evening or tomorrow, we should get some clients. I hope.”

 

Selvan said, “Anil, I’ve agreed to let Surya join your business. But only on one condition: that you provide a way for his future. I don’t want any shady dealings.” Anil replied, “I’m here to do honest business, that’s all. So don’t worry about that.”

Selvan nodded and placed his hand on Surya's shoulder, “Okay, Surya. Take care. We’ll meet in the evening.” Surya nodded, and Selvan left the room.

Once Selvan was gone, Anil turned to Surya, “Do you want to have some tea?” Surya shook his head. “No,” he said, taking a deep breath. “Anil, what kind of work are you expecting from me as a manager?”

Anil smiled, clearly pleased that Surya was taking the conversation seriously, “Now you’re talking real business. As a manager, your first job is to keep track of the accounts. Second, I’ll teach you how the printer works. You’ll need to oversee that, and except for the hoarding stuff, I’ve already spoken to someone nearby. Whenever we get those orders, you’ll have to go and talk to him. Third, you'll handle deliveries to clients when I’m not around. Fourth, you’ll take care of the shop. And last, you’ll have to learn graphic designing.”

Surya raised an eyebrow, “Hold on. Slow down. I need to grasp this, right?” Anil laughed, “Sorry, I get carried away sometimes. I’ll try to explain better.” Surya then asked, “Okay, the first four sound fines. But the last one... seriously, do I have to learn designing too?”

Anil leaned back in his chair, a knowing smile crossing his face, “Yes, you have to learn. Look, I can handle most of the design work for now, but what if I’m not here? What if we get multiple clients at once? We’ll need a backup, Surya. Besides,” he gestured around the small room, “this isn’t just about running errands. I want you to grow with this business.”

Surya rubbed his temples, trying to process everything. “Anil, I barely know how to use a computer. And you're talking about graphic designing?”

Anil smiled reassuringly, “That’s exactly why I’m teaching you. Look, I didn’t start knowing everything either. The software isn’t complicated once you get the basics down. I’ll teach you step by step, simple things first. How to resize images, add text, basic layouts.”

Surya looked uncertain, staring at the second-hand PC humming quietly in the corner, “How long will it take to learn?” “Depends on you,” Anil said honestly, “But I think within two to three weeks, you'll be able to handle basic design work. The more complicated stuff, I'll handle. Fair?”

Surya was silent for a moment, then slowly nodded, “Okay. But you have to be patient with me. I'm not as quick with these things as you are.” “Deal,” Anil said, extending his hand.

Surya shook it, and Anil could see both nervousness and determination in his friend's eyes. “So,” Surya asked, looking around again, “what do we do now? Just wait for clients?” Anil responded, “Hmm, let’s wait and watch. Until then, we can start your designing lessons.” Surya nodded.

For the rest of the day, Anil kept busy teaching Surya the basics of design. Surprisingly, Anil wasn’t proficient with the older versions of Photoshop and CorelDraw either, since he came from the future. But by referring to online tutorials and PDFs, he managed to get the hang of it. Despite the long hours of learning, no clients showed up. By the end of the day, Anil had successfully taught Surya some basic design skills.

As 7 p.m. rolled around, Surya began to leave the shop. Just before stepping out, he asked, “We didn’t get any clients today?” Anil responded, “It’s the first day, so we’ll have to wait.” Surya said, “Let’s hope a client comes tomorrow.” Anil nodded in agreement.

Later that night, Anil lay on the floor of the closed shop, a sheet spread out beneath him. He had turned the shop into a temporary place to stay.

As he stared at the ceiling, he thought to himself, the business has started, and his father has joined as the manager. Now, he just needs a client to walk in and the business to prosper. Let’s hope everything goes well. He closed his eyes and went to sleep.