The novel follows the story of Ali, a young boy living in Cairo, Egypt. Ali loves animals, especially dogs, but he lives in a community where dogs are seen as unclean and dangerous. Despite the cultural taboo associated with owning a dog, Ali dreams of having a dog of his own and is constantly looking for a stray he can call his own.
One day, Ali discovers a stray dog on the streets of Cairo and immediately takes it under his wing. He names the dog Rumor and quickly realizes he has a special talent for finding lost objects. Ali decides to turn his talent into a business. With Rumor's help, he begins to offer a lost and found service to the people of Cairo.
Ali and Rumor embark on a series of adventures throughout Cairo as their business grows, meeting several interesting characters and helping people find their lost possessions. However, their success also draws the attention of dangerous people who want to use Rumor's skills for their purposes. Ali must use his wits and courage to protect Rumor and keep their business afloat.
As Ali and Rumor's lost and found service grows more successful, they begin attracting the attention of dangerous criminals who want to use Rumor's special talent for their nefarious purposes. To protect themselves, Ali and Rumor go into hiding and flee Cairo with the help of Ali's friend Ahmed.
After several months of living on the run, the criminals eventually track Ali and Rumor down. A tense confrontation ensues, but Ali and Rumor can outsmart their attackers and escape unharmed.
Eventually, Ali and Rumor return to Cairo and continue their lost and found business. However, they soon face another obstacle when a wealthy businessman tries to buy Rumor from Ali. Despite the tempting offer, Ali refuses to sell Rumor, and instead, the two of them continue to work together and help the people of Cairo.
