FF: Bruised Hearts II - Chapter 42, 43.1 pg 39; Updated 4/8/14 - Page 23

Arnav (softly): Inspector Tewari...of course.

RK (grimly): It is just as we thought. Our good Inspector taking bribes to make cases against his patrons go away.

Arjun stares at the Arnav and RK in horror.

Arjun (panicks): So you're not from Inspector Tewari?

RK (shakes his head in the negative): No. But you are going to tell us why he forced you to recant your testimony. Who is he protecting?

Arjun jumps out of the stool with such force that it flies back and hits another customer.

Arjun (shaking): I can't say anything. I don't know anything. (Begging) Please...please...let me live!

The boys also jump up from their seats. Out of the corner of their eyes, they notice the man who was hit by the Arjun's vacant stool. The man threw the stool against the wall in anger. Along with his two cronies, he walks up to Arjun.

Arnav: Dammit! We don't need to deal with a fight right now.

RK (positions himself right in front of Arjun, whispers to Arnav): Come on old chap! We can take down this lot.

The angry man and his cronies are now right in front of RK.

Angry man (snarls at RK): Move out of my way! My fight is with (pointing at Arjun) this idiot who dared to hit me with his stool.

Arjun whimpers in terror as Arnav comes up and stands beside RK.

Arnav (to the angry man): Sorry. We can't move out of the way.

RK (shrugs): We can't let you harm our property. (Inclines his head at Arjun) He owes us. My friend and I decided that he will work for us and pay us back.

Arnav: Once we are done with him though. He's all yours. In fact, we'll deliver him to you personally. But for today...well you and (pointing at angry man's friends) your buddies are just going to have to back off.

RK (looking at his fist): We really don't want to have to hurt you.

Angry man (fists his hands and growls): Saales! You're insulting ME? You two think you can hurt me? My men and I will thrash you so much that you'll never forget this lesson!

The three stooges launch an attack on Arnav and RK. Arnav finish off his attacker with a few well placed blows to his face and stomach. He turns to see RK sparring with the other two. Arnav pulls the second stooge back and slams his fist across the man's jaw. Then still holding his collar, he punches the man's stomach. As the man doubled over with pain, Arnav finishes him off with a punch to his nose. RK had just finished off the leader of the group with a series of well placed punches to his face and a kick to his groin. RK stood back to examine the fallen man when a fourth member of his group entered the scene and started attacking him. As Arnav approaches RK, he slams his fists into the fourth man's stomach. Then RK picks him up and sends him flying over the barkeep. He smirks with satisfaction as he heara the satisfying sound of glasses shattering and knocking the man dead. Once the fight started, the bartender ran out. He would much rather save his hide then try to protect a little shack of a bar that is not even his. Let the absent owner worry about the mess.

RK (turns his smirk on Arnav): Told you we can handle them.

Arnav (wipes the blood from the cut on his lips): Well we didn't need to attract the attention.

RK (visually inspects Arnav): Well your disguise somewhat survived most of the fight. It will do. How about mine?

Arnav (inspects closely): You'll do as well. (Grins) We just simply look like we have been in a good fight.

Arjun (comes out from hiding behind the counter): Who...who...are you? Wh...what...do you want...with me?

RK (grabs Arjun's collar and loudly states for any eavedroppers): You are our property our slave from now on.

Arnav (loudly): Yes you must pay us back! Since you can't pay us, we'll make you work till your every drop of sweat equates what you owe us.

Arjun (whimpers): But I have never seen you two before. So how can I owe you any money when I have never met you before?

RK (whispers roughly): Just pretend dammit! We are trying to save you damned hide.

Arnav (growls): Pretending you don't know us won't do you any good. Now just shut up and walk! You ARE coming with us.

They tow a struggling Arjun out and walk a good distance till a black Escalade pulls up in front of them. RK forces Arjun inside the vehicle and then both he and Arnav get in.

Arnav (glares at Arjun): Start talking. Tell us EVERYTHING you know.

RK (threatens): And if you hold back any details, I will throw you out of this car and then we'll drive over you. Do you understand?

Arjun (nods nervously): You want me to start from the beginning?

Arnav (curtly): Yes. From the beginning.

Arjun: It was about 3 months ago. I was at the club, Prive, with my friends. I stepped outside to clear my head when I heard a faint scream from the back alley. By that time, I had already had a couple of drinks so I thought it was my imagination. But I heard the terrified scream again. I tip toed to the back and hid behind the dumpster and a badly beaten naked girl on the floor. There were 6 men around her and one of them, last one I think, had just...you know...finished raping her. I could tell they were drunk, laughing at what they had done. They forced the girl on her feet and just punched her till she collapsed on the floor. They just kicked her...just kicked and kicked till her screams faded into painful whimpers then into nothing. I couldn't do a thing but just stand there and watched...that poor girl get brutalized. I just couldn't move...I was so terrified.

RK (feeling bile rise in his throat, asks thickly): And then what happened?

Arjun: They gave up...I think they thought the girl was dead. They walked by the dumpster, as I hid in the shadows. I was able to get a good look at all of their faces. Even now it's still imprinted in my brain. I can't and won't ever be able to forget those cruel faces and their evil smiles. A few minutes after they left, I called the police.

Arnav (feeling sick): Then you stuck around to give your testimony?

Arjun: I went to the police station and gave them all the details of what I saw that night. They even got a sketch artist and I gave him descriptions of the men. And he drew somewhat accurate pictures of those devils.

RK: Then what happened?

Arjun: A few weeks ago, I was called back to the police station. The havaldar that told me to come in said the Senior Inspector, Tewari, wanted to meet me. I had not met him previously, because another inspector was handling the case. (Shrugs his shoulders) I thought nothing of it, just that maybe the Senior Inspector wants to handle the case personally, whatever his reasons. The minute I walked into the station, the havaldar that called me dragged me into the interrogation room. He and the other havaldars pushed me into the chair and they tied me up. I was so confused. I kept asking, why are you treating me like a criminal? But the havaldar just punched me to shut me up. But then the Senior Inspector walked in and I had all my answers.

RK (leans forward in his seat): So he told you who he was protecting? That's rather careless of the (sarcastic) good Inspector.

Arjun (bleakly): No...you don't understand. Tewari is one of the rapists. I also recognized his deputy. Both men were there that night.

Arnav and RK stare at Arjun in horrific shock. Neither could utter a word for a few minutes.

RK (hoarsely): It's worse than I thought. He and his...minion are the perpetrators. Damn! He's so bloody disgusting.

Arnav: In each of the rapes that he is involved, he or his deputy tampered with the evidence. Rendering them practically useless. And that was enough to get the cases closed till you Arjun witnessed one of their crimes. The accuracy of your memory and the sketches must have really had them worried. So Tewari threatened you to recant your testimony and keep your mouth shut.

Arjun (nods his head): That's why I have been hiding. They beat me till I screamed and agreed to whatever demands they threw at me. I agreed to take back my testimony and disappear. I was told specifically to not let a Ms. Malik find me or I am dead.

RK (half-smiles): My jungli billi can inspire fear in anyone.

Arjun (panics): You mean...you...know this Ms. Malik? Oh no! You actually work for her?!? (Wails) I am DEAD! I am a dead man! Just kill me now so I won't be tortured to death!

Arnav (authoritatively): Calm down! We will do everything we can to protect you.

RK: We'll protect you and all you will have to do is testify. Arjun you couldn't help Priya that night but you can help her now. Help us. Help Ms. Malik put the perpetrators in jail. She deserves justice.

Arjun (sarcastic): I am sorry. But how are you going to protect me against a whole police force?!?

Arnav (shrugs): We are not without resources. Suffice to say you will be well protected.

RK: Well...are you going to testify?

Arjun (slowly nods his head in agreement): Ok...I will help as long as you can give me safe haven.

RK (to Arjun): Good boy! You won't regret your decision, I promise. (To Arnav) We should take Arjun to the Police Commissioner. Priyanka is already aware of the case. But she needs to know about the depth of the depravity and corruption in Tewari's department and that he is one of the perpetrators. Priyanka's team are re-examining the evidences from this case and the previous ones and see if any are salvageable. (To Arjun) We will take you to the Police Commissioner first so you can give her your testimony and the case can be reopened. It will be done secretly since we don't want Tewari and his minions to know about it.

Arnav (to Arjun): Then we'll send you some place safe, outside the city. You will have 24/7 security. All you have to do is keep a low profile and everything will work out. It has to.

RK (feral smile): Tempted as I am to go and beat the hell out of Tewari and his deputy, we have to keep a level head. (To Arnav) Our wives will scream bloody murder and charge after the men. We would have to stop them of course.

Arnav (shakes his head): We can always tie them up till everthing is solved.

RK (nods his head): We can do that if we survive their attacks first.

It's a night of interesting revelation for the boys. Some where along the line, solving the rape cases and getting justice for the victims, for Trishna, has become just as important to them as it is for the Madhu and Khushi.

Author's Note: Please Like and Comment. 😊