The ridge point area was a scene of ruin and confusion. Police officers and forensic analysts combed through the wreckage, their faces grim as they documented the destruction. The once-bustling area was now eerily silent, save for the murmurs of investigators and the occasional crackle of radios.
A senior police officer, gray-haired and weathered, stood near a cluster of smashed debris, speaking to a junior officer. "Not a single CCTV camera captured anything," he said, frustration evident in his tone. "We're completely in the dark about what happened here."
As the junior officer nodded, a tall, sharp-looking man approached them. His suit was crisp, his hair neatly combed, and his demeanor exuded quiet confidence. He extended a hand. "Hello. My name is Ajit Kumar. I've been appointed to lead the investigation on this matter."
The senior officer turned, sizing him up before shaking his hand. "Ah, so you're the investigator they sent. Good to have you here. As you can see, the situation is a mess." He gestured to the ruined landscape. "Half of the ridge point is destroyed, and we've recovered numerous bodies. The strangest part? People those who were here in mall road area and surrounding last night—claim they don't remember a thing."
Ajit raised an eyebrow, his expression sharpening. "They don't remember anything? Interesting. What about physical evidence? Anything significant?"
The officer motioned for Ajit to follow him. They walked a short distance to an area cordoned off with tape, where a peculiar set of footprints had been preserved in the dirt. The prints were massive, unlike anything Ajit had ever seen.
"Take a look at this," the officer said. "We can't figure out what kind of creature these belong to. They're too large to be human, but we've never seen animal tracks like these either."
Ajit crouched down, examining the impressions carefully. He traced the edges of one print with a gloved finger, his mind racing. "These are... unusual," he muttered. "Have you ruled out man-made hoaxes?"
"We're still testing," the officer admitted, "but nothing here adds up."
Ajit stood and dusted off his hands. "What about the injured? You mentioned survivors—what's their status?"
The officer's expression darkened. "One of them died this morning. The others are still alive but heavily guarded in the hospital. There are three boys and one older man. Two of the boys are college students, and the other one boy is a local high schooler.
Ajit nodded thoughtfully, piecing the information together. "So, out of all this chaos, we've got amnesia, unexplainable footprints, and survivors who might hold the key to understanding what happened. I'll need access to the hospital
"Understood," the officer said.
Madhav lay motionless in the hospital bed, his chest rising and falling in the rhythm of unconscious sleep. The room was dimly lit, the faint hum of medical equipment the only sound. But within the depths of his mind, a vivid dream began to unfold.
He found himself standing in front of a magnificent castle, its towering spires piercing a blood-red sky. The air was heavy, charged with an unexplainable energy, and a sense of foreboding weighed on his chest. The castle gates loomed before him, intricately carved with images of battles and triumphs.
In a sudden flash, the scene shifted. Now, he was inside the grand hall of the castle. The opulent surroundings—golden pillars, crimson banners, and chandeliers glowing with unnatural light—did little to mask the horror before him.
At the center of the hall, a massive figure lay sprawled on the ground. It was an asur, a demon king, his once-mighty form now crumpled and lifeless, his body drenched in blood. Near the fallen king, a boy stood. He looked human, but there was something unnervingly familiar about him.
Madhav felt his feet moving, as if compelled by an unseen force, taking him closer to the gruesome scene. The boy disappeared as Madhav approached the demon king. He crouched beside the body, his breath shallow as he examined it. The asur king was unmistakably dead.
A glint caught Madhav's eye, and he turned. A tall, ornate mirror stood nearby, its surface glowing faintly. Drawn to it, he stepped closer. When he looked into the mirror, a jolt of terror shot through him.
The reflection staring back wasn't his own—it was a devil, a monstrous figure with glowing red eyes and a twisted, cruel face. The reflection's eyes brimmed with tears, and they rolled down its cheeks, burning like molten lava.
"No!" Madhav shouted, his voice echoing through the dream.
Suddenly, his eyes snapped open. He bolted upright in the bed, gasping for air, his body slick with sweat. His heart raced as he clutched at his chest, his mind struggling to shake the vivid images.
The room was cool, but he felt an intense heat radiating from within. He looked around, disoriented. Sterile white walls, a beeping monitor, and the faint scent of antiseptic filled his senses.
"Where am I?" Madhav muttered, his voice hoarse. He swung his legs over the side of the bed, his head spinning as he tried to make sense of his surroundings.
The dream lingered in his mind, haunting him. Who was that boy ? And why had he seen a devil in the mirror? Questions swirled in his head.
The door to Madhav's hospital room creaked open, and Raj stepped inside, his movements slow and careful, his arm in a cast and his body covered in bandages. He looked weary but managed a small smile as he approached the bed.
"Oh, you're finally awake," Raj said, his voice tinged with relief. "Welcome back to the land of the living. You're in the city hospital in Bhopal. How are you feeling?"
Madhav sat up slightly, still adjusting to his surroundings. "I'm... okay, I think," he said hesitantly, his voice heavy with confusion.
Raj raised an eyebrow as he stepped closer. "Then why are you crying? Tears are streaming down your face."
Startled, Madhav instinctively touched his cheeks and realized they were wet. His fingers trembled slightly as he stared at the tears on them. "I'm not crying," he whispered, confused.
Raj pulled a small cloth from his pocket and handed it to Madhav. "Here," he said gently. "Clean yourself up. Whatever it is, it's okay."
Madhav wiped his face, the warmth of the tears leaving him uneasy. He forced a faint smile as he glanced at Raj. "You... you're okay?" he asked, his concern evident.
Raj chuckled dryly, lifting his cast-bound arm. "Define 'okay.' My hand's broken, my ribs feel like they've been through a grinder, and I'm basically a walking bandage right now. But I'll survive." He smirked. "They patched me up good."
Madhav let out a soft laugh, glancing down at his own bandaged body. "Looks like I'm not much better," he said.
The door to Madhav's room swung open, and Nikki walked in, her eyes glued to her phone. She was watching something intently and didn't even glance up as she entered.
"Hey, you won't believe what I'm watching," Nikki said, still focused on her screen. "It's this channel called JustCode Vlogs. They're talking about what happened at Mall Road after we left Shimla. It's insane."
Both Raj and Madhav perked up at her words. "What are they saying?" Raj asked, his curiosity piqued.
Nikki finally looked up, her expression shifting to surprise when she saw Madhav awake. "Oh, you're up!" she exclaimed. "You finally wake up after four days. I need to tell Vice Principal uncle!"
Raj smirked, leaning back slightly. "She's been here for two days now," he explained to Madhav.
Madhav blinked in confusion. "Wait... when did we even come to Bhopal?"
"Three days ago," Nikki replied, tucking her phone into her pocket. "All the students and teachers came back together. Vice Principal Uncle—Mr. Gaurav—organized everything. He even handled the train, hospital arrangements, and all the treatments."
Madhav frowned slightly. "Treatments? Both of us?"
Nikki shook her head. "Not just you two. There's one more person."
Madhav's brow furrowed. "One more? Who else?"
Raj hesitated before answering, his tone quieter. "It's Aman."
"Aman?" Madhav repeated, recognition dawning. "Oh… him."
Nikki's expression darkened, and she lowered her gaze. "Yeah, but…" She hesitated, her voice heavy with disappointment. I am unable to understand Aman. why said by raj.
Nikki said this morning, Aman misbehaved with Priya."
"What?" Raj asked sharply, sitting up straighter despite his injuries. "Priya came here?
Nikki sighed. "She did come, but after whatever happened with Aman, she left the hospital."
Madhav exchanged a glance with Raj, his jaw tightening. "She didn't even stop to see us?"
Nikki shook her head. "No. She just… left."
Raj's face turned red with anger as he clenched his fists. "I'll talk to Aman personally," he growled.
Madhav, still lying on the hospital bed, raised a hand to stop him. "No, Raj. Not now."
Before Raj could argue further, Nikki stood up. "You both need proper rest," she said. "I'll leave for now." She turned and walked out of the room, leaving an air of tension behind her.
Raj looked at Madhav, frustration evident in his voice. "Why did you stop me?
Before Madhav could respond, the door opened again, and Anika walked in with a cheerful smile. "Hello, guys!"
Raj sighed loudly, throwing up his hands. "Why is everyone coming in here one by one? Is this a parade or what?"
Anika raised an eyebrow, her smile turning playful. "Oh? You don't like that I came to see you?"
Madhav quickly interjected, sitting up slightly. "No, no, we're glad you're here. Thanks for coming, Anika."
Anika pulled up a chair and sat down. "Did you guys know the news is all about what happened at Mall Road? The whole country is talking about it."
Raj nodded. "Yeah, I saw it too. Akash told the police about the blind man."
Anika tilted her head. "But did he say anything about creature Da-Tan?"
Raj shook his head. "I don't think so."
Anika smirked and reached into her bag. "Well, I have something to show you." She pulled her hand out and held it up to them, but both Madhav and Raj stared at her in confusion.
"There's nothing there," Madhav said, frowning.
Anika smiled mysteriously. "Oh, they're my friends. Don't be afraid." She glanced at her hand and whispered, "It's okay. Appear in front of them."
Suddenly, out of nowhere, a small creature materialized in her hand. It was unlike anything they had seen before—tiny, with gray and blue fur, and four ears.
Raj's jaw dropped as he pointed at the creature. "This animal... it was with that blind man!"
Anika nodded, her expression proud. "Yes. But now, it's mine."
Madhav leaned forward slightly, his eyes lighting up as he stared at the small creature in Anika's hand. "Wow… this is amazing. When did you get it? And how?"
Anika smiled, gently stroking Da-Tan's soft fur. "Well, remember when I threw that carrot? Turns out, when he ate it, his loyalty changed—just like the blind man said it would."
Raj frowned, folding his arms. "Mohit told me that blind man's name is Roy."
Madhav nodded thoughtfully. "Roy… okay. But wait—where is Mohit now?"
Anika hesitated before replying, "He went to destroy the golden coin."
Both Raj and Madhav stared at her, their surprise evident.
"What?" Raj exclaimed. "He didn't even tell me!"
Madhav's brow furrowed, and he leaned back against the pillows. "I totally forgot about the golden coin… all of this chaos, and I didn't even think about it."
Anika sighed, shifting in her chair. "There's more to it. Mohit fought with Roy before he left."
Raj raised an eyebrow. "Wait, they fought? And then what?
Anika nodded. " After the fight, they talked. I don't know the full details, but it seemed like Roy told Mohit something important about the coin. Mohit decided he had to act immediately."
Madhav exchanged a glance with Raj. "This keeps getting stranger and stranger."
Raj's frustration bubbled over. "Why didn't he tell us? We could've helped!"
Anika shrugged. "I think Mohit wanted to keep you two safe.