Akash pushed open Dhruv's office door with his shoulder, balancing two steaming cups of Coffee in one hand and a thick medical file in the other. "Special delivery for Mr. Grumpy," he announced, setting down one cup with a clatter. "Made it extra strong, just like your personality."

Dhruv didn't look up from his paperwork. "You're late."

"And you're still as cheerful as a Monday morning," Akash shot back, collapsing into the chair opposite. "Just spent six hours saving lives at hospital, do you even know the meaning of saving actual life, but sure, let's talk about your murderous dermatologist." He said all this in one breath and took a loud slurp of his overly-sweetened coffee. "Ah! Hospital canteen special. Tastes like nostalgia and bad decisions."

Dhruv finally glanced up. "Varjesh Kishore?"

Akash flipped open the file with a flourish. "Your man is cleaner than my bua's white sofa during Diwali. No complaints, no lawsuits - the guy even volunteers at an animal shelter." He tapped a page. "But here's the masala - all twelve missing women had identical blood work before disappearing. Full genetic panels, rare protein markers - the kind of tests we only do for serious conditions at AIIMS."

Dhruv's jaw tightened. "We're visiting his clinic tonight."

Akash groaned like he'd been shot. "Arre yaar! Can't we just order butter chicken and watch cricket like normal people? I already did my good deed today by not strangling that intern who can't tell a stethoscope from a blood pressure cuff."

That evening, Dhruv walked through AIIMS' bustling corridors walking towards Akash’s cabin when an unmistakable sound made him stop - the full-throated fury of a Delhi aunty in mid-rant.

Rounding the corner, he found Akash cornered near the nurses' station by a formidable aunty in a bright pink salwar kameez, her gold bangles clanging like warning bells.

"TUMHARA BAAP KA HOSPITAL HAI KYA?!" Pink Aunty bellowed, shaking Akash by his collar. "Three hours my husband is waiting! And you were doing romance with my daughter!"

The daughter was standing there lowering her head partly embarrassed and partly flattered , Four other aunties formed a semicircle of judgment behind Pink Aunty, their expressions ranging from outrage to gleeful anticipation.

Akash held up his hands in surrender. "Auntyji, just a little misunderstanding"

"SHUT UP!" Backup Aunty #2 (giant red bindi, lethal handbag) cut in. "My niece told me everything! 'You said her heartbeat was music to your ears'!" She turned to the other aunties. "Such cheap dialogue even Salman Khan wouldn't use it!"

The nurses station erupted in giggles. Akash's ears turned red as he spotted Dhruv and mouthed "Help me!" with desperate eyes.

Pink Aunty followed his gaze. "OYE! Are you his friend?"

Dhruv kept his face perfectly blank. "Never seen this man before in my life."

Akash's look of betrayal could power a small village. "Yaar Dharamveer....."

"He is lying" Aunty #3 (queen of nose piercings) shrieked. "He just called you by name! 100% partners in crime, I am telling you, all men are same."

"Last week also he told my daughter 'You have beautiful veins'!" Then turn to nurses "Who says such things haan? Vampires?"

A young nurse whispering to aunties "He did say my ECG was 'a work of art'..." 

Backup Aunty #4 immediately bombarded her knowledge." Show your Medical degree. I think it's fake!" 

"Please stop it. I'll check Uncle ji right now. My stethoscope. "  Akash cried loudly at pink salwar aunty's face.

As the chaos peaked with threats to call "MLA cousin brother" and demands for Akash's 12th grade marksheet "for verification," Dhruv quietly slipped into Akash's office, shutting the door on the madness. He could still hear muffled shouts of "All doctors are Romeos!" and "I'll call Aaj Tak!" through the walls.

Forty minutes later, a thoroughly defeated Akash stumbled into his office looking like he'd gone ten rounds with a tornado. His usually perfect hair stuck up in odd directions, his white coat was missing three buttons, and there was suspiciously vermilion-colored powder on his shoulder.

"Youuu.." he rasped, pointing a shaking finger at Dhruv.

Dhruv smirked. "I thought you were 'Delhi's Most Charming Cardiologist'?"

Akash collapsed into his chair like a deflated balloon. "Bhai, those aunties would scare Khali the wrestler. Uncle ji had gas - normal, everyday gas! But try explaining that to five women who think I'm the Shahrukh khan from DDLJ."

He reached for his water bottle with trembling hands. "That Pink Aunty made me check her husband's BP three times. Three times! And when I said it was normal, she accused me of not 'checking properly'!" Akash mimed the aunty's voice making faces and and talking in high pitch voice. "My husband never has normal BP! You're not pressing hard enough"

Dhruv finally lost it laughing. "Best part was when she demanded to see your 12th certificate."

"Shut up," Akash groaned, attempting to fix his hair in a glass reflection. "I swear that one aunty took a selfie with me while I was checking pulses. Probably going on Shaadi.com right now with 'Doctor groom available'."

After drinking the whole water bottle Akash stood up with a dramatic sigh. "Let's go before they remember where my office is."

As they sneaked out the back exit past curious interns, Dhruv asked, "Clinic plan still on?"

Akash sighed dramatically. "Yes, but first promise you will take me home, I know sister in law makes great food." He paused. "And I'm not driving. No way I'm getting sindoor on my BMW seats."

Akash adjusted the stolen lab coat for the tenth time as they approached Dr. Kishore's clinic. "I look like a first-year intern," he grumbled. "Do you know how many years it took me to become a senior consultant at AIIMS?" 

Dhruv ignored him, scanning the building's exits. "Stick to the plan. We're here for equipment inspection." 

"Right, because nothing says 'legitimate doctors' like two guys sneaking around in borrowed coats," Akash muttered. He brightened as they entered. "And if we get caught, I will say you have kidnapped me."  They entered the clinic.

Akash flashed his AIIMS ID at the receptionist with a charming smile. "Morning, beautiful. Inspection team here to ruin everyone's day." 

The young woman blinked. "We weren't informed....." 

"Surprise inspection," Akash winked. "New Health Ministry policy - keep the murderous doctors on their toes." He leaned on the counter. "You single, by the way? Asking for a friend." 

Dhruv cleared his throat loudly. 

"Right, work first." Akash gave the receptionist his number anyway. "Call me if you are free this Sunday, I have heard there is a good romantic movie releasing on that day. "

The supply room was too clean. Akash ran a finger along the medication shelves, leaving a visible trail in the dust-free surface. "Propofol in a dermatology clinic?" He whistled. "Either he's doing full-face transplants or someone's getting very relaxed facials." 

Dhruv was examining patient files. "These records are too perfect. No notes on follow-ups for the missing women." 

A noise outside made them freeze. Akash smoothly stepped in front of Dhruv as a nurse entered. 

"Can I help you doctors?" she asked suspiciously. 

Akash gave her his best smile. "Just admiring your supply setup. You know, most clinics don't stock this much surgical-grade anesthetic." He picked up a vial. "Mind if I ask what procedures you're running here?" 

The nurse hesitated. "Special cases." 

"Special indeed." Akash's smile didn't reach his eyes.

"Why in a clinic of gynaecologist , the large portion for dermatology. " Dhruv asked looking at the sections of hospital.

" Partly for business any partly, what you think my friend. " Akash said wiggling his eyebrows at dhruv.

The back alley stank of rotting garbage. Akash wrinkled his nose. "Charming. Really sets the mood for criminal investigations." 

That's when they saw it - an unmarked ambulance, engine running, lights off. 

Dhruv's grip tightened on Akash's arm. "We're following it." 

"Of course we are," Akash sighed.

"Because when you see a shady ambulance, the logical thing is to chase it into the wilderness like idiots in a horror movie." 

They started following the ambulance, after hours of driving the ambulance stopped in middle of woods, probably far away from city.

There was a two story building in middle of woods and guards in black uniform surrounding and patrolling the building while the ritual happens in front of them.

Finally, watching armed guards unloading an unconscious woman at a remote compound, Akash's humor faded. "Well... shit." 

Dhruv didn't speak, his grip tight on the steering wheel. 

Akash took out his phone and snapped pictures. "For the record, when we die horribly tonight, I want it known I objected to this plan." 

As they pulled away, Akash glanced at Dhruv. "We're coming back with the ent

ire Delhi Police, right? Not just your usual 'two guys against an army' approach?" 

Dhruv's silence was answer enough.