FF: Bruised Hearts II - Chapter 42, 43.1 pg 39; Updated 4/8/14 - Page 20

Two Days Later

House of Hope

It's a good thing they hired bodyguards for their wives. Or how else would they get to know what their willfully stubborn spouses are upto? Armed with information, the boys storm into House of Hope. They are determined to keep the girls from doing anything foolish.

Arnav and RK stride through the vacant hall and enter into the office the girls set up for Padminiji. Madhu and Khushi jump in shock as the door slams against the wall.

Madhu (whelps in surprise): What are you two doing here?

Khushi (grimaces): Did you really need to slam the door?

Arnav (glares): You left us no choice.

RK (equally ferocious glare): We have been cursed with stubborn, pea brained wives.

Khushi (gapes): Excuse me?

Madhu (fumes): How dare you Mr. Rishab Kundra?!?

RK (snarls): What else would explain the ill-advised venture you two are planning?

Khushi (frowns): What the hell is that supposed to mean?

Arnav (growls): We know that you plan to pursue a key witness who rescinded his words.

RK (glares): And that would mean that you would be going into an unsavory, dangerous part of the city.

Madhu (snaps): So we are just supposed to sit on our behinds?!?

Khushi (hands on her hips): Of course we will pursue the witness to change his mind! He's our only hope to get the case reopened.

RK (raises his brow): So for that you are willing to put your lives in danger?

Madhu (sarcastic): Patidev...I think you forgot, so let me remind you. You two numbskulls HIRED BODYGUARDS FOR US! Whether we like it or not, they would have followed us on what you are calling our foolhardy venture!

Khushi (snaps): We made a promise and if that means taking some risks, then so be it! We take the victims to help them regain back their lives. And that includes getting justice for them and putting their perpetrators behind bars. We will do whatever it takes to see justice served!

Arnav (takes a deep breath to calm down): Didn't you say the witness was blackmailed, bullied into rescinding his testimony?

Madhu (cautiously): Yes and he went into hiding.

Khushi: And we were finally able to locate him. That's why we need to act fast before we loose him again.

RK (calming down too): The party that bullied him, I am sure they know that the two of you are persuing this case.

Arnav: They could also be a large criminal network and they could have spies all around the city.

RK: Also they may know where he's "hiding". If you ladies can find him, then so can his blackmailer. Your witness is a person of interest to them. So I am absolutely certain he is being watched.

Arnav: So if you two show up to convince him, they will kill him off.

Madhu (argues): Even if he is being watched, we will offer him protection.

RK (raises his brow): You may not even get the chance to offer him protection. They will kill him off and you will be collateral damage.

Khushi (raises her chin): We have our bodyguards.

Arnav: A dead give away. They won't be a match if an army of underworld thugs decide to attack.

Madhu (glares): And how do you know the blackmailer is part of a criminal organization? He could be a single entity by himself.

RK (shrugs): It has to be a large, powerful criminal organization. That's why they have been so successful in getting the cases to drop and bullying witnesses.

Khushi (taunts): Then why are they all rape cases? As a criminal organization, you would think they would find more profit in drugs, trafficking, money laundering, murder, etc.

Arnav: Maybe those cases are being dropped too. So far you have only focused on the rape cases. I wouldn't be surprised if they don't even become official cases.

Madhu (sighs): Of course bribe. Some of the police officers would be ecstatic to not file a case for a substantial amount. (Frowns) But that would involve corruption at the top level. (Smiles at RK) You would know about it RK. Since you tried to bribe your arresting officer. Too bad he was one of the good ones.

RK (ignores the last comment): All the more reason why you need to be very careful in how you persue your cases.

Khushi (stomps her feet): So what are we supposed to do? We can't just sit around and do nothing. We NEED the witness because we have NOTHING else!

Arnav (grins): You have us. We'll deal with your witness.

RK (grins in agreement): And we will be very persuasive!

Khushi (gapes): What the...!

Madhu (glares): YOU can't go RK!

RK (folds his arms across his chest and widens his stance): Why not?

Arnav (imitating RK's stance): Yeah...why not? As far as anyone knows, we have no link to your case.

Madhu (stomps her feet): RK you're famous. (Glares at Arnav) You both are!

Khushi (glares): RK you will attract attention!

Madhu (continues): You won't get to do security clearance before going there! You will be hounded by your fans.

Arnav (rolls his eyes): Unbelievable.

RK (shrugs his shoulders): Disguise ladies...disguise.

Arnav (grins): Yeah...let us take advantage of RK's excellent make up and costume team.

Madhu (throws her arms up in the air): If that was the case, we can do the same too.

Khushi (hands on her hips): That way we can actually get the job done because you two clowns think it's all for fun!

Arnav (in anger): What the...!

RK (raises his brow): Excuse me ladies but we are very serious. We offered you our assistance and you accepted it.

Arnav: And a deal is a deal.

Khushi (gapes): We didn't accept your assistance!

Arnav (shakes his head and mutters): Short-term memory.

RK: We offered you our assistance a few days ago and you graciously accepted.

Arnav: Now we are obligated to fulfill our part of the deal.

Madhu (glares): Fine! We free you from the obligation. You are no longer needed to assist us!

RK (to Arnav): Were they always this obtuse?

Arnav (sighs): It's an affliction that grows with age in the female population.

RK: We can't break our word. It's a matter of honor.

Arnav: We are going. So you might as well stop dawdling and give us all the details regarding the witness and his exact whereabouts.

Khushi (stubbornly): If you guys can go in disguise, well so can we!

Madhu: WE know what needs to be said and done to get him to cooperate!

RK (sighs): Just damned stubborn...

Arnav (shakes his head): Sorry ladies. But we won't allow you to put yourselves in danger.

Khushi (silkily): ALLOW? And who are you to say what we are ALLOWED to do?

RK (quips): Your husbands.

Madhu (threateningly): Who will be six feet under if they tell us what we are ALLOWED to do or not do again.

Khushi (argues): If we are in disguise, no one will recognize us. And we would still have the men in black with us.

RK (taunts): You are going to put them in disguises too?

Arnav: And with that many people in a group, bound to attract attention.

Madhu (taunts): So you two are going to go a dangerous part of town on your own?

RK (grins): We can take care of ourselves.

Khushi (snaps): We can take care of ourselves too!

Arnav (to RK): They are stubborn as mules and will keep going around in circles.

RK (walks over to the desk): Well...we will just have to take matters into our own hands.

RK rummages through the papers on the desk as Arnav joins him. Madhu and Khushi run over to them.

Madhu (snaps): What are you doing?!?

Arnav: Searching for the information so we can get going.

Khushi (slams her hands down on the desk): Alright you stubborn asses! I'll text you all the details that you need to know. Now stop going through all these papers right this instance!

Madhu (groans): You've made a mess! Now it will take forever to get it back in order.

RK (straightens and leans his hips against the desk): Well... (quirks his brow) Are you sending us the information?

Khushi glares at the boys as she pulls out her phone and forwards them the witness's information. Arnav and RK each pull out their phones to confirm that they received it.

RK (pulls away from the desk and grins): See now hard was that?

Arnav (walks towards the door): All we needed was your cooperation ladies.

Madhu (glares): Try not to have too much fun.

Khushi (scowls): I better see some positive results!

RK (to Arnav): Maybe we should tie them up just to make sure they don't follow us?

They walk out just in the nick of time as they hear a loud crash against the closed door.

Few Hours Later - Near Witness Hideout

Arnav and RK are well disguised in rough workmen clothes and scraggly beard. They position themselves strategically right outside the little bar the witness reportedly visits on the dot. As they pretend to work, they are on the lookout for the witness.

The witness casts furtive glances here and there as he comes closer to the little shack. Arnav and RK stiffen with anticipation, as they see him enter. After a few minutes, they too go in and casually sit down next to the witness, flanking him on both sides. They each order large pint size beer.

RK (pretending to sip): You've been quite difficult to find.

Arnav (plays with his glass): How long did you think you can hide...Arjun?

Arjun's pales and he looks around, searching for a quick exit.

RK (growls in a low voice): Don't even think about it. You're not going anywhere buddy.

Arnav (whispers): You are going to be a good boy, listen and do as we say. Do you understand?

Arjun (trembles): Please...please...don't...don't kill...kill me. I did...diddd...whhaat..your boss wanted. I...I...took...took...back what I saw. I didn't...didn't...witness anything! I...I won't tell anyone. I...I...promise. Just let...let...me live...please!

RK (speaks carefully): And who do you think sent us?

Arjun (confused expression): Inspector Tiwari. I thought you two came from him to make sure I stay quiet?

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