The courtyard was a surreal sight-bodies strewn across the ground, the vibrant colors of Holi now a stark contrast to the unnatural stillness. Only a handful remained standing, their eyes wide with shock as they took in the scene.
**Mihir** blinked rapidly, looking around. **"Damn! Did someone slip *sleeping pills* into the *bhaang*?"**
**Sahir**, ever the professor, adjusted his glasses with a frown. **"Unlikely. This isn't just drowsiness-observe their breathing patterns. Too controlled. More like an induced trance and I can sense traces of dark aura."**
**Teju** shot him a look. **"You're *not* a doctor. are you hubby?."**
**Sahir** shrugged. **"But I *am* observant."**
**Maira** knelt beside **Tia**, shaking her gently. **"Tia! Wake up!"** No response. She turned to the others. **"None of us drank the *bhaang*-that's why we're still standing."**
**Rahi crossed her arms. **"Okay, but *why* didn't we drink it? I mean, I *love* *bhaang*!"**
**Rishank** sighed. **"Because we were too busy dancing, fighting, or-in my case-trying to stop *you* from jumping into the pool of colored water."**
**Armaan** smirked. **"And *I* was too busy dodging Chandni's threats after I threw that water balloon at Sahir."**
**Chandni** gave him a look. **"You deserved worse."**
**Rikki** tapped her chin. **"So, someone spiked the drinks, but only the ones who drank it are out cold. Meaning..."**
**Rainaksh** finished her thought. **"It was targeted. And whoever did it wants to harm everyone here."**
A heavy silence fell.
The unconscious bodies began to stir-first **Moti Baa**, then **Sapna**, **Uma**, **Akhil**, and **Tia**, their movements eerily synchronized. Their eyes opened, but instead of their usual warmth, there was only a vacant, glassy stare.
**Maira** gasped, grabbing **Mihir's** arm. **"They're waking up-but something's wrong!"**
The risen family and guests moved with unnatural precision, forming a tight circle around the unaffected couples.
The moment the mind-controlled horde lunged forward, the men reacted instantly-their magic flaring in unison.
**Mihir** threw his hands out, his voice sharp with command. **"Samay ko tham do!"** A wave of blue energy erupted from his palms, crashing over the advancing figures.
Beside him, **Rishank** and **Armaan** mirrored the motion, their own magic reinforcing the spell. **"Ruko!"**
The effect was immediate.
The entire courtyard froze-literally.
**Moti Baa** was caught mid-snarl, her fingers curled like claws just inches from **Maira's** face. **Tia** hovered unnaturally mid-leap, her *pichkari* frozen in a spray of colored water. The guests, the family-every single one of the mind-controlled attackers stood immobilized, trapped in a pocket of stopped time.
A heavy silence followed.
**Teju** exhaled sharply. **"Okay. That's... terrifyingly effective."**
**Sahir** adjusted his glasses, studying the frozen figures with scientific fascination. **"Fascinating. Their neural impulses are still active, but their physical forms are locked in temporal stasis."**
**Rahi** poked **Rishank's** shoulder. **"Show-off."**
**Rikki**, however, wasn't celebrating. She turned in a slow circle, eyes narrowed. **"This isn't over. Something-or someone-is controlling them. And they're still here."**
The moment the mysterious figure snapped their fingers, the frozen zombies **jerked back to life**-ignoring the shattered remnants of the time spell. Their hollow eyes locked onto the couples, moving with eerie, unnatural precision.
**Chandni** reacted first. With a graceful spin, she flung her hands forward, chanting, **"Sim Sim Samara!"** Silver lunar shards-razor-sharp and glowing-sliced through the air, striking the zombies directly in their chests.
But the attackers **didn't even flinch.**
The shards **passed straight through them**, dissolving into mist.
**Armaan's** smirk vanished. **"What the-? That should've at least *stung*!"**
**Maira** paled. **"Magic isn't working on them!"**
The zombies closed in, arms outstretched, their silence more terrifying than any snarl.
**Rikki** growled, flames erupting from her palms-but when she hurled a fireball, it **phased right through them**, leaving no mark.
**Rainaksh** cursed. **"They're not just mind-controlled-they're *untouchable*."**
**Sahir**, ever the strategist, grabbed **Teju's** wrist. **"Retreat. Now."**
But as they turned to run, the mansion gates **slammed shut on their own**, sealing them inside with the advancing horde.
As the unstoppable zombies closed in, **Teju** suddenly raised her hand-the star mark on her palm **flaring to life** with a brilliant golden glow. A shimmering dome of light erupted around the group, **slamming into the advancing horde** and forcing them back with a pulse of raw energy.
The zombies **screeched**, recoiling as if burned, their hollow eyes flickering with something almost like... **fear.**
**Saiyaara**, standing frozen beside **Shaurya**, stared in shock. **"What... what was *that*? Since when does Teju have... *magic*?"** She turned to the others, her voice rising in disbelief. **"And since when do *zombies* exist?! What is even happening right now?!"**
**Shaurya** pulled her close, his grip firm but reassuring. **"I know this is a lot. But right now, just *breathe*. I'll explain everything later-**
**"Later?!"** Saiyaara hissed, eyes wide. **"People are *literally* trying to kill us with their *minds* and you want me to wait for-**
**"Saiyaara."** Shaurya's voice was calm but edged with steel. **"Do you trust me?"**
She faltered, then exhaled sharply. **"...Fine. But you *owe* me the longest explanation in history after this."**
Meanwhile, **Teju** gritted her teeth, her hand trembling as the shield flickered under the zombies' renewed assault. **"This won't hold forever!"**
**Mihir** turned to **Maira**, urgency in his eyes. **"We need to find whoever's controlling them-**
Maira clenched her fists, her mind racing. **"This isn't fine-we don't know who's controlling them, but we *need* to find the cause and a cure!"** She turned toward the looming Kashyap mansion, its darkened windows like hollow eyes watching them. **"If we can get inside, we might find answers."**
Rahi nodded sharply. **"Then you and Mihir go in. The rest of us will cover you."**
Mihir smirked, though tension lined his voice. **"Ah, so I *do* get to be the hero."**
Teju reinforced the shield with a grunt, the zombies pressing against its glowing surface. **"Hurry! I can't hold this forever!"**
Sahir adjusted his glasses, already strategizing. **"Rishank, Armaan-distract the horde. Rainaksh, Rikki, keep them off-balance. Chandni and I will reinforce Teju's barrier."**
Shaurya turned to Saiyaara, squeezing her hand. **"Stay close to me."**
Saiyaara exhaled, still wide-eyed but determined. **"I'm officially in the weirdest nightmare of my life."**