Raj and Madhav sat silently on a bench in the villa's garden, gazing at the serene landscape before them. The snow-capped peaks in the distance and the lush greenery around them couldn't lift the weight hanging over Madhav's mind.
Raj broke the silence. "You're still thinking about what Mr. Gaurav told us, aren't you?"
Madhav sighed, his expression troubled. "Yes… and about my grandfather. He gave me everything—money, property—but now I know the cost of it. He sold his own daughter's life to that demon. All of this wealth, all this legacy, it's stained with her blood. I don't think I deserve to inherit it."
Raj nodded thoughtfully. "You're right, Madhav. If the foundation is cursed, how can it ever bring peace?"
Madhav looked down at his hands, his voice quieter. "Mr. Gaurav mentioned my aunt had a child. And what about her husband? I don't even know their names. My father never talks about them. He always avoided the subject, and I… I never asked."
Raj frowned. "That's strange. You should know your family history, especially now."
Meanwhile, in one of the villa's rooms, Priya sat cross-legged on her bed, flipping through a book absentmindedly. She glanced at Rupali, who was lying on her side, staring blankly at the wall.
"What do we do now?" Priya asked, setting the book aside. "We're just sitting here doing nothing."
Rupali sighed heavily. "I don't want to do anything. Honestly, I just want to go home. I can't stay in this place any longer."
Before Priya could respond, Anika burst into the room with a cheerful energy that felt completely out of place. "Hey, friends! How about we go outside? Get some fresh air?"
Rupali shook her head firmly. "No, I'm not in the mood."
Priya frowned at her. "Rupali, don't be like this. You're making yourself look weak."
Rupali sat up, glaring. "I'm not weak! I just… I don't feel like going out."
"Exactly why you need to," Priya said, her tone firm. "Sitting here won't make you feel any better. Let's go out, get some fresh air. Even I don't feel comfortable in this villa, but staying cooped up in here isn't helping."
Rupali hesitated, biting her lip as she glanced between Priya and Anika. Finally, she exhaled deeply and said, "Fine. Let's go."
Priya standing up and grabbing her jacket. "Good. You won't regret it."
the garden area, deep in conversation, Rohan approached them with a cheerful wave. "Hello, friends! Are you both planning to go outside?"
Raj looked up at him. "Yes, I could use a change of scenery. What about you, Madhav?"
Madhav hesitated, lost in his thoughts, before finally nodding. "Okay, let's go."
Rohan grinned. "Great! Come with me. The guide is inside the villa, waiting for us. He'll take you wherever you want to go."
The three of them headed inside, where they found the guide standing with another young man by his side. At the same time, Priya, Rupali, and Anika descended the staircase into the hall, their chatter pausing as they noticed the gathering.
Rupali greeted the guide with a friendly smile. "Hello, sir. How are you?"
Before the guide could reply, the three boys joined them, and Raj said, "Hi, sir."
The guide nodded and replied warmly, "I'm doing well, thank you. Hello to all of you."
Rupali's gaze shifted to the young man standing next to the guide. "Who's this?" she asked curiously.
The guide gestured to him. "This is my younger brother, Akash."
Akash offered a shy smile. "Hello, everyone."
"Hello," Madhav replied, offering a polite nod.
Priya, standing quietly to the side, froze when she saw Madhav. The memory of the terrifying incident in the garden flashed in her mind, and fear gripped her. She tried to hide her expression, but Madhav noticed the change in her face.
"Are you okay, Priya?" he asked, his voice filled with concern.
Priya forced a small smile. "I'm fine," she replied quickly, avoiding his gaze.
The guide clapped his hands to get everyone's attention. "Mr. Gaurav told me to organize a small outing for any students who wanted to go. Since only a few of you are interested, I'll take all of you together."
Anika tilted her head. "Only a few students?"
The guide nodded. "Yes. Just you three girls and these three boys."
Rohan shook his head. "Actually, I'm not going."
Raj frowned. "Why not?"
"I promised Nikhil sir I'd help him arrange the books in the villa," Rohan replied. "You all go and enjoy."
The guide gestured toward the door. "Alright then, let's get going. The rest of you, come with me. We'll take my car and head to Mall Road in Shimla."
The group followed him.
The guide's car rolled to a stop at Mall Road, Shimla, and the group stepped out, taking in the vibrant surroundings. The street was alive with activity, lined with quaint shops, historic buildings, and bustling cafes.
"This is Mall Road," the guide said with a smile, gesturing toward the picturesque setting. "You can explore the beautiful architecture and lively shops here."
The group looked around, marveling at the charm of the place.
The guide continued, "I have some work to take care of, so I'll leave you here. My brother Akash will stay with you and guide you around."
With that, the guide walked off, leaving Akash in charge.
Priya turned to the group. "I think we girls should go separately."
Raj raised an eyebrow. "Why? Let's explore together."
Priya shook her head. "I'd feel more comfortable if we went our own way."
Rupali placed a hand on Priya's arm and nodded. "It's fine. If Priya wants that, then we'll go on our own."
Raj looked a little disappointed but shrugged. "Alright then. If that's what you want."
Akash chimed in, addressing the girls, "Just remember, it's 4 PM now. We'll all meet back at The Ridge, the main point area, by 6 PM. Don't be late."
"Got it," Anika said cheerfully, waving as the two groups parted ways.
The boys walked in one direction, casually scanning the shops, while the girls headed the another way, chatting amongst themselves as they admired the vibrant marketplace. Mall Road buzzed with life, and the air was filled with the enticing aroma of freshly baked goods and street food.
Though separated, the two groups were equally immersed in the beauty and liveliness of Shimla.
The boys wandered down the bustling street, marveling at the sights and sounds of Mall Road. Madhav glanced at Akash, walking slightly ahead, and struck up a conversation.
"So, Akash," Madhav said, "what class are you in?"
"I'm in class 9," Akash replied, glancing back at him with a proud smile.
"That's good," Raj chimed in. "And why didn't your big brother stay with us?"
Akash shrugged. "Your vice principal gave him some work to handle. That's why he left me in charge."
Madhav and Raj exchanged a glance and nodded. "Makes sense," Madhav said.
As they continued walking, Akash gestured toward a grand structure in the distance. "Look at that historical building. Most of the buildings around here were constructed during British rule. They have a lot of history behind them."
Meanwhile, on the other side of Mall Road, the girls were equally engrossed in their exploration. Anika admired the architecture, then turned to Priya. "This building is so beautiful! Can you take a picture of me here?"
Priya smiled. "Of course, give me your phone."
Rupali pointed toward a nearby shop. "Once you're done, let's head over to that sweet shop. It looks really nice."
Anika and Priya nodded, agreeing enthusiastically, while Priya fiddled with the phone to get the perfect shot.
Back with the boys, Akash pointed at a small toy shop. "You know, you can buy a model of these buildings as a keepsake. They make for great memories."
"I'll get one," Raj said, "but not right now."
Madhav sighed as they walked. "You know, if Mohit were here, this would have been a lot more fun. It's too bad he couldn't come."
Raj nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I miss him too."
Akash looked curious. "Who's Mohit?"
Madhav smiled. "He's a good friend of ours. He couldn't join the trip this time."
Raj laughed and nudged Madhav. "And that's why I was trying to convince the girls to stick with us. It would have been more fun if we all stayed together. But today, Priya's acting so weird. Normally, she never says no to me, but now…"
Madhav's expression darkened slightly. "Don't worry about it," Raj said, grinning. "At the ridge point, you'll get your chance to talk to her."
Madhav gave a small, resigned smile. "Maybe. For now, let's just enjoy the buildings and shops."
The boys continued their stroll, taking in the lively sights of Mall Road.
The boys strolled along the ridge point, each holding a fluffy ball of cotton candy. Akash pointed toward the distance, his excitement evident. "Look over there! That's our Bharat flag. And on this side, there's a church. If you look carefully, you can even spot Hanuman Ji's statue on the mountain."
Madhav and Raj paused, their eyes scanning the horizon. The view was breathtaking. The sun was setting, painting the sky in shades of gold and orange, while the flag fluttered majestically against the backdrop of the hills.
"It's so peaceful here," Raj said, marveling at the beauty around them.
Madhav nodded, momentarily distracted from the storm of thoughts swirling in his mind.
Meanwhile, the girls had stopped at a quaint little cake shop. Rupali eagerly bit into a slice of pastry while Priya sipped on her coffee.
"We should leave soon," Anika reminded them, glancing at her watch. "It's already 5:50. We need to be at the ridge point for the sunset."
Priya waved her off with a smile. "Relax, Anika. We'll get there on time. No need to rush."
As they lingered, Anika's attention was drawn to an old woman struggling to gather carrots that had fallen from her basket. Without hesitation, she ran over to help.
"Let me help you with those," Anika said, bending down to pick up the scattered carrots.
The old woman straightened slowly, wincing slightly. "Thank you, dear. My back doesn't allow me to bend down anymore."
"It's no trouble," Anika said kindly, handing the carrots back to her.
The woman smiled warmly and, to Anika's surprise, pulled two carrots from her basket. "Take these. They're special carrots. Very healthy. Eat them, and you'll feel strong."
Anika chuckled, taking the carrots hesitantly. "Thank you, but I don't think I need these—"
"Take them," the old woman insisted, her smile.
Anika smiled back as the woman slowly walked away. She turned to adjust her sandal, but as she bent down, a sudden force rippled through the air. The sensation was strange, almost as if the world had shifted around her.
Anika straightened up quickly, an unsettling feeling creeping over her. She headed back into the shop to rejoin her friends, but what she saw froze her in place.
Priya and Rupali were standing completely still, their expressions frozen as if caught mid-conversation. Around her, the rest of the shop's patrons were eerily motionless too, like statues frozen in time.
"Priya? Rupali?" Anika said, her voice trembling. She stepped closer, touching Priya's shoulder. But there was no response. Neither of them moved.
Heart pounding, Anika ran to the shop's window and peered outside. It was the same everywhere. Tourists and locals alike were standing stock-still, as if time itself had come to a halt.
"What's going on?" Anika whispered, panic rising in her chest. She turned back to her friends, shaking Rupali's arm, but it was no use. They wouldn't wake. They wouldn't move.
The silence in the air felt oppressive, as though the world itself was holding its breath. Something was terribly wrong.
As few minutes before the boys admired the sunset from the ridge point, the golden hues washing over the landscape, Raj's phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out and answered, a wide grin spreading across his face as he began speaking.
Madhav noticed and raised an eyebrow. "Who's got you smiling like that?"
Raj covered the receiver with his hand, still grinning. "It's Mohit! He's in Shimla!"
Madhav's face lit up with surprise and excitement. "Seriously? Mohit's here? Tell him to come to the mall road right now!"
Raj nodded. "Already on it." Into the phone, he said, "Mohit, come fast! We're at the ridge point on mall road."
"I'll be there in a few minutes. Hang tight!"
As Raj hung up the call, a sudden stillness blanketed the area. It wasn't the kind of peaceful silence that came with the setting sun—it was unnatural. Eerie.
Madhav scanned the surroundings, his stomach sinking. A vlogger standing nearby, mid-recording, was now completely still. Across the ridge, children who had been running around moments ago were frozen in place. Even the colorful chaos of the bustling marketplace had turned into a still-life painting.
"Something's not right," Madhav muttered.
Raj's voice dropped to a whisper. "It's the same here. Everyone is frozen. Nobody's moving, not even the police officers."
"What the hell is going on?" madhav said .
"We're fine—for now," Raj replied, glancing at Madhav and Akash.
Raj quickly dialed Mohit again. The phone rang twice before Mohit answered, his voice brisk. "Yes, Raj? What's going on now?"
Raj's gaze darted around the ridge, where everyone else was eerily frozen in place. "Mohit, can you check outside your car? Are people moving where you are?"
Mohit glanced out the window and reported, "Yeah, everything's normal here. People are walking, talking, everything is fine. Why?"
Raj swallowed hard. "Here, it's like...time has stopped. Nobody's moving or talking. It's just us."
Mohit hesitated, his tone skeptical. "Are you sure this isn't some kind of prank? Because if it is, you're all going to pay for this later."
Raj's voice grew firm. "I'm telling you, Mohit, this is real. I wouldn't joke about something like this."
Mohit sighed, then said, "Alright, I'm starting a call recording. Don't hang up. If this turns out to be a joke, I'm taking revenge later."
"Fine," Raj replied, his voice steady. "Record it if you want. But you'll see I'm not lying."
As the call continued, an odd sound cut through the heavy silence—a voice, distant and faint. Madhav perked up, glancing around. "Did you hear that?"
Raj nodded, his eyes scanning the surroundings. "Yeah. Someone's speaking. But where's it coming from?"
Akash squinted into the fading light. "I don't see anyone moving. How is someone speaking?"
The three boys turned toward the faint sound. There, a little distance away, stood a figure—motionless but distinct. The crowd around them, which had been eerily frozen, suddenly shifted. As if commanded, they all moved in unison, forming a line and stepping to the side, clearing a path.
The boys stared in disbelief as the figure became clearer—a blind man, his cane planted firmly in the ground.
Madhav's breath caught. "It's him."
Raj turned to Madhav. "Him? Who?"
Madhav's voice dropped, a mix of fear and recognition. "I saw him before. At the bird park."
Akash frowned, looking between Madhav and the figure. "Do you know him?"
Madhav shook his head, his voice trembling slightly. "No. I've just...seen him."
Raj's brow furrowed, his skepticism fading as the scene unfolded. "Then why does it feel like he knows us?"
The blind man stood silently, his presence radiating an unsettling energy that seemed to wrap around them. Mohit's voice came through the phone, sharp and concerned. "Raj? What's happening now? What are you seeing?"
Raj gripped the phone tightly, his eyes never leaving the man.
The blind man stood with an eerie stillness, a faint, knowing smile spreading across his face. His sightless eyes, clouded and pale, seemed to pierce directly through the air toward Madhav. The weight of his presence was suffocating, as if the entire world had tilted in his direction.
Finally, he spoke, his voice low yet powerful, carrying an unsettling certainty. "Finally," he said, a strange calmness lacing his words. "I found you."