5

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/One mistake and we loose./

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The next day, Godbole and Tiwari split from Shaaney and Shinde, each pair heading to the homes of the deceased. Godbole and Tiwari arrive at Ramprasad's house. The air is thick with grief, Ramprasad's wife looking hollow-eyed, her hands trembling as she clutches a frayed edge of her saree. Godbole speaks gently, trying to peel away the layers of shock. "Who came to your home that night?" he asks.

She hesitates, her voice barely a whisper. "I... I was asleep when I heard the knock. My husband woke up and left to open the door. I asked him, 'Who was there?' he didn't reply me. I got up in a panic, but he was nowhere to be found." Her breath catches, and her eyes well up. "I saw a black van pass by, quickly, down the street. I shouted, but it was too late. I went to the station, they said they'd search, so I waited... I waited until the next evening when I heard he was... he was dead."

Meanwhile, Shaaney and Shinde step into Kantilal's house. The mother is there, eyes red and swollen, her voice raw. Shaaney doesn't waste time. "What happened that night?" he presses.

She stares at him, her lips trembling. "Three of them. They came in, slapped me, pushed me aside. Took what they wanted. They had a van outside, a black one... with a symbol, a raised fist."

"Did you see a number plate?" Shinde asks, his voice tight with urgency.

She shook her head, looking a bit lost. "No... no, I didn't see," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Shaaney nodded, trying to stay calm even though his mind was racing. "Okay," he replied quietly. He stepped outside, the sunlight warming his face, and quickly pulled out his phone to call Godbole.

As soon as Godbole picked up, Shaaney said, "She mentioned a van."

There was a moment of silence, then Godbole asked, "Anything else?"

Shaaney turned back to Kantilal's mother, gently asking, "Can you remember what they looked like?"

She paused, taking a deep breath. Her hands were still shaking, but she nodded, a bit more sure now. "Yes, I can."

Shaaney felt a bit of hope and spoke into the phone again. "She can identify them."

Godbole's voice came through, firm but with a sense of urgency. "Bring her to the station."

"Okay, sir. Right away," Shaaney answered. He turned to Kantilal's mother with a soft smile and said, "Please come with us. We need you to help us find them."

They started to leave, and Shaaney could feel his heart beating faster. He knew they had to act quickly. Every second mattered now, and they were running against time, hoping to find the truth before it slipped away.

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