As the blind man had vanished into thin air. Letting out a frustrated sigh, Mohit turned back toward Anika, who was still crouched near the small, now docile creature, Da-Tan.
"Anika, are you okay?" Mohit asked, his voice laced with concern.
She looked up, her face pale but determined. "Yes, I'm fine," she said softly, brushing dust off her hands.
Mohit nodded, then glanced toward the destruction around them. "Anika, go check on Raj. See if he's okay. I'll check on Madhav."
Without hesitation, Anika sprinted over to where Raj lay sprawled on the ground. She knelt beside him, her hands trembling as she lightly shook him. But his eyes remained closed, his breathing shallow. "He's unconscious," she called out to Mohit, panic creeping into her voice.
Meanwhile, Mohit crouched beside Madhav, who was lying in a similar state. His shirt was torn, and his face bore marks of the brutal battle. Mohit gently patted his cheek. "Madhav, can you hear me? Wake up, man." But Madhav didn't stir.
As Mohit checked Madhav's pulse, a strange shift seemed to ripple through the air. He looked up and realized the otherworldly stillness that had frozen the tourists and locals was gone. Slowly, people began to stir, shaking their heads and blinking as if waking from a deep trance.
Then the collective realization hit. Gasps and murmurs erupted as everyone took in the devastation. The once-bustling ridge point was unrecognizable—half the area was in ruins, with debris littering the ground. The famous building that had stood tall for decades was now a heap of rubble.
People began gathering, pointing and whispering in shock. "What happened here?" "Is this some kind of terrorist attack?" "How did this even happen?"
The scene grew more chaotic as a group of police officers rushed onto the ridge point. They stopped in their tracks, stunned into silence by the level of destruction before them. The lead officer removed his hat, rubbing his forehead as he surveyed the wreckage.
"What the hell happened here?" he muttered under his breath. His eyes landed on the injured boys lying on the ground, and he quickly barked orders into his radio.
"We've got injured civilians! Call for an ambulance and backup immediately!"
The officers approached cautiously, wary of what might have caused the disaster. When they reached Mohit and Anika, one of them asked, "What's going on here? Are you two okay?"
Mohit stood up slowly, his face grim. "I'm fine, but my friends need medical attention. They've been hurt badly."
The officer nodded, signaling to his team. Paramedics arrived shortly after, their sirens wailing as they pulled up to the chaotic scene. Stretchers were brought out, and Raj, Madhav, and Akash were carefully lifted onto them.
Inside the shop, Priya and Rupali sat frozen in their chairs, their minds still hazy from the strange paralysis they had just experienced. As the shopkeeper tidied up nervously, Rupali looked around and asked, "Is something happening outside? Why are people shouting?"
The shopkeeper, peeking out cautiously, shook his head. "I have no idea. Something doesn't feel right, though."
Priya glanced at her watch and gasped. "Look at the time—it's 9:52 p.m.!"
Everyone in the shop instinctively checked their watches, their faces filling with confusion. "How did time move so fast?" someone muttered, breaking the silence.
Priya stood abruptly. "We need to leave. The boys said they'd meet us at the ridge point at 6 p.m. to watch the sunset. What if something's wrong?"
Rupali blinked in realization. "Oh my God, yes! Where's Anika? She was with us earlier."
"She's probably already gone there," Priya replied hurriedly. "Come on, let's go!"
The two of them rushed out of the shop, stepping into the chaotic streets. The scene outside was shocking—roads were cracked, buildings were damaged, and debris littered the area. The eerie silence of destruction was broken only by distant sirens and murmurs of panicked locals.
As they approached the ridge point, the extent of the devastation became clear. Half the ridge point was obliterated, leaving jagged edges of concrete and steel jutting out like broken bones. Smoke and dust hung thick in the air.
Rupali suddenly stopped and pointed. "Look! That's Raj!"
Priya followed her gaze and saw paramedics loading Raj onto a stretcher and into an ambulance. Rupali shouted, "Raj! What happened to you?"
Her voice carried across the chaos, causing Priya to freeze. "What? Where?" Priya asked, her voice trembling.
Rupali gestured frantically toward the ambulance. Without hesitation, the two of them sprinted toward it, weaving through the debris and scattered crowd.
When they reached the scene, they found Mohit and Anika standing nearby, their faces grim. Mohit was leaning against the ambulance, sweat and dust streaking his face, while Anika held her bag tightly, her knuckles white.
"What's going on?" Priya demanded, her voice a mixture of fear and anger. "What happened to Raj? And other? Where are they?"
Before Mohit could answer, their tour guide, the elder brotherly figure who had been with them throughout the trip, arrived. His face turned pale as he took in the destruction. "What happened here?" he yelled, rushing toward Anika. "What happened to you all? Are you all okay? Suddenly, he saw Akash, Raj, and Madhav inside the ambulance. Why are they hurt?
A nearby police officer intervened, holding up his hand. "Sir, this area is not safe. Please clear the scene immediately."
The guide turned to Anika .What's going on?"
Anika voice was steady but heavy. "Madhav, Raj, and Akash are injured. Here Mohit said I'm going with them to the hospital."
The guide stepped forward. "No, I'll go. Someone has to be with them."
One of the paramedics interrupted. "Only one person can accompany the patients in the ambulance. There's limited space."
The guide hesitated, torn. Finally, he nodded and stepped back. "Fine, you go. Take care of them."
Mohit nodded solemnly. "I will."
As the ambulance doors closed, Priya and Rupali stood rooted to the spot, watching the vehicle drive away. Priya's hands trembled as she whispered, "What's happening to us? What's happening to raj and other ?"
Rupali put a hand on her shoulder, her own expression a mixture of fear and determination. the police began clearing the area.
the guide and the girls gathered near the car, the tension in the air was palpable. The guide, his face pale and drawn, glanced at Anika and asked, "Do you know that boy who went with them in the ambulance?"
"Yes," Anika replied, her voice steady despite the chaos still buzzing in her mind.
Rupali added, "He's Mohit, one of our college students."
Priya, standing a little apart, noticed more police officers arriving at the scene, heading toward the ridge point. Her heart pounded as she watched the flashing lights and the hurried movements of the authorities.
The guide frowned, running a hand through his hair. "I remember coming here at exactly 5:36 p.m. and going to the ridge point. But after that...I can't recall anything. It's all a blank."
Rupali and Priya exchanged glances, nodding in agreement. "Same for us," Rupali admitted, her voice uneasy. "It's like time just disappeared."
Priya turned toward Anika, her eyes wide with worry. "What happened to Raj, Madhav, and Akash? Why were they so badly hurt?"
Anika hesitated, her gaze shifting toward the ridge point as if trying to gather her thoughts. "I'll explain everything when we get back to the villa," she said quietly, avoiding their eyes.
The guide looked at her skeptically but nodded. "I'll need to inform the others as well. We'll head there now."
As they prepared to get into the car, Anika suddenly paused, her eyes fixating on something in her hand. "Rupali," she said, her tone curious, "do you see this? Look closely—a unique animal, right here."
Rupali frowned, staring at Anika's empty hands. "What are you talking about? There's nothing there," she said, her voice edged with concern. "Are you in shock from what happened earlier?"
Anika blinked, her expression faltering. "No, I'm fine," she said quickly, trying to cover her thoughts. How can she not see it? she wondered.
She had hoped Rupali might help her smuggle the small creature—Da-Tan—into the villa unnoticed. But if Rupali couldn't see it, there was no point in explaining further. "Never mind," Anika murmured, brushing it off.
The group climbed into the car, the tension between them unspoken but heavy. As the vehicle pulled away from the ridge point, Anika glanced down at her hand, where the small, mythical creature rested calmly.
When the guide and the girls finally reached the villa, the atmosphere was heavy with unease. The grand structure, usually a place of warmth and comfort, now felt cold and unwelcoming under the weight of their revelations.
Inside, the vice principal paced the hall, his face lined with worry, while Mr. Gaurav, the elderly owner of the villa, sat in his usual chair, his piercing gaze fixed on the group as they entered.
The guide and Anika exchanged uncertain glances before stepping forward. "Sir," the guide began, his voice hesitant but firm, "something terrible happened at the mall road near the ridge point area. There's widespread destruction, injured people, and—"
"And three of our students," Anika interjected, her tone strained, "are severely hurt. Raj, Madhav, and Akash have been taken to the hospital."
The vice principal stopped pacing, his brows knitting together. "What are you talking about?" he demanded. "What kind of destruction? How did this happen?"
The guide swallowed hard. "We don't fully know, but...it was something unexplainable.
unexplainable?" the vice principal echoed, his voice laced with disbelief. "You can't be serious. What are you trying to say?"
Before either of them could respond, Mr. Gaurav raised a hand, silencing the room. His expression remained unreadable, his eyes narrowing as he leaned forward. "Enough," he said, his voice calm but commanding. "I've heard enough."
"But, sir," Anika began, only for Mr. Gaurav to cut her off with a sharp wave of his hand.
"All students and staff will return to the college immediately," Mr. Gaurav declared, his voice like thunder. "This excursion is over. I won't have anyone else staying here after what has happened. This is my final decision."
The vice principal turned toward him, his face pale. "But, Uncle—"
"No," Mr. Gaurav interrupted, his tone leaving no room for argument. "I've spoken, and my decision is final. This place is no longer safe."
The room fell into a tense silence, the weight of Mr. Gaurav's words pressing down on everyone. The guide nodded reluctantly, while Anika clenched her fists, her mind racing. She hadn't mentioned Da-Tan—the mythical creature hidden away in her possession—but she knew she had to protect it, no matter what.
The vice principal finally sighed, his shoulders slumping in defeat. "Very well," he said, his voice quiet. "I'll inform the students and staff. We'll leave first thing in the morning."
As the group dispersed to prepare for the sudden departure, Anika lingered near the stairs, her heart heavy with the weight of everything left unsaid. She glanced down at her bag, where Da-Tan was hidden.
Next day morning, the mall road in Shimla was a scene of chaos and heavy police presence. The ridge point area was completely blocked off, and officers sternly denied entry to anyone attempting to get closer. The area swarmed with media personnel, cameras flashing and reporters shouting questions at the police, but the officers refused to provide clear answers, only issuing curt statements to maintain order.
Among the bustling crowd, a young vlogger named Luv maneuvered his way through the throng, holding his camera aloft. With his casual charm and energy, he began addressing his audience.
"Hello, guys! My name is Luv, and you're watching JustCode Vlogs," he said, his voice bright despite the grim atmosphere. "As you probably already know, last night something mysterious and tragic happened here at the ridge point area. You've seen the headlines on TV—198 people dead, 5 injured, and extensive damage to the buildings around here. But I'm here to dig deeper and find out what really went down."
Luv adjusted his camera, panning to capture the blocked-off area. The yellow police tape fluttered in the cold morning breeze, and uniformed officers stood like sentinels, their expressions grim. He paused, spotting a local woman walking briskly along the road, and jogged up to her.
"Hello, ma'am!" Luv greeted her with a friendly wave. "How are you? Are you from here?"
The woman stopped, her expression cautious as she eyed the camera. "I'm fine," she replied hesitantly. "Yes, I'm a local."
Luv flashed a charming smile, sensing her unease. "I'm a vlogger," he explained, "and I'm trying to uncover what really happened here last night. I know the news is reporting about the deaths, injuries, and the damage, but I'd love to hear anything more you can share. Just a little insight for my audience, please?"
The woman crossed her arms, shaking her head. "I don't want to say much. Reporters have already been all over this, and the news is everywhere on TV. I've said enough to them."
"Please, ma'am," Luv urged gently. "I promise, just a little detail. Anything at all that isn't on the news yet. My viewers really want to know the truth."
The woman sighed, glancing around as if making sure no one was listening. Finally, she leaned in slightly, lowering her voice. "Last night, I was near the ridge point area. I saw it with my own eyes. There was... something strange."
Luv tilted the camera closer to capture her words. "Strange? What do you mean?"
"There were footprints," the woman whispered, her tone almost conspiratorial. "Massive ones. Like an animal's, but much, much bigger. People who saw them are talking, but the police haven't said a word about it to the media."
Luv's eyebrows shot up, excitement gleaming in his eyes. "Big footprints? Like an animal's? That's incredible—thank you so much for sharing this with me!"
The woman gave him a wary nod before hurrying off, clearly eager to distance herself from the subject.
Turning back to his camera, Luv addressed his audience, his voice tinged with thrill. "Well, folks, you heard it here first. Last night, not only did something catastrophic happen, but eyewitnesses are reporting animal-like footprints—giant ones—at the scene. The police aren't talking about this, but it's clear there's more to this mystery than what's being shown on the news. Stay tuned as I dig deeper into this strange and terrifying event!"