• Possessed Jai...

The flickering light of the ancient lanterns cast long, dancing shadows on the worried faces gathered in the hall. Gauri kept her eyes fixed on Jai, a knot of fear tightening in her stomach. He sat hunched on the edge of a dusty armchair, his usual friendly demeanor replaced by a restless unease. He kept running a hand through his already disheveled hair.

"Jai," Arya began cautiously, taking a step towards him. "Are you… feeling alright?"

Jai flinched at the sound of his name, his head snapping up with a jerky movement. His eyes, usually warm and approachable, seemed distant, almost glazed over.

"Alright? Yeah, I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be?" His voice was rough, a low growl that didn't sound entirely like him.

Isha, clutching Gauri's arm tightly, whispered, "He doesn't look fine, Gauri."

Veda, his gaze sharp and analytical, circled Jai slowly. "Jai, I noticed… those drops on your sleeve. Can you explain them?"

Jai's jaw tightened. "It was nothing. Just… I must have brushed against something downstairs." His hand clenched into a fist.

Suddenly, his gaze locked onto Arya. A flicker of something dark and resentful crossed his eyes. "You think I did something, don't you?" he accused, his voice rising. "You all look at me like I'm some… monster."

"No one thinks that, Jai," Gauri said softly, trying to diffuse the situation. "We're just worried."

But her words seemed to fuel his agitation. He stood up abruptly, his movements stiff and unnatural. He glared at Arya, a raw anger contorting his features. "You always thought you were better than me, Arya. Stronger, braver…"

Before anyone could react, Jai lunged. He moved with a speed and ferocity that surprised them all, grabbing a heavy, ornate candlestick from a nearby table. He swung it wildly, aiming directly for Arya's head.

Arya, though caught off guard, managed to duck just in time. The candlestick whistled through the air, narrowly missing him, and crashed against the stone wall with a sickening thud, sending fragments of plaster raining down.

A collective gasp echoed in the hall. Isha screamed, scrambling behind Gauri. Veda took a step back, his eyes wide with a mixture of shock and grim confirmation of his suspicions.

Jai stood panting, the heavy candlestick still clutched in his hand, his eyes blazing with a terrifying intensity. He looked from Arya to Gauri, then to Isha, a strange, almost predatory smile twisting his lips. "You'll all see," he hissed, his voice now a chilling whisper. "You'll all see what I'm truly capable of."

Suddenly, his gaze locked onto Veda. A flicker of something dark and resentful crossed his eyes. "You think you're so smart, don't you, Doctor?" he sneered, his voice dripping with a newfound malice. "Always analyzing, always knowing better."

Before anyone could react, Jai lunged. He moved with a speed and ferocity that surprised them all, grabbing the heavy, ornate candlestick again. He swung it wildly, this time aiming directly for Veda.

Veda, though caught off guard, reacted quickly, scrambling backward. "He's not himself!" he exclaimed, his eyes wide with alarm. He turned and bolted, running towards the relative safety of the grand court hall.

"Jai, stop it!" Gauri yelled, grabbing his arm. Arya joined her, trying to restrain their suddenly violent friend. Jai was surprisingly strong, his muscles tense and unyielding. He roared, a guttural sound that seemed to come from deep within him, and with a powerful surge, he broke free from their grip, his eyes fixated on Veda's retreating figure.

Veda was nearing the raised platform where the golden throne sat. Just as he was about to step onto it, hoping perhaps the sacred space might offer some protection, his body suddenly jerked violently. An unseen force, seemingly emanating from Jai's outstretched hands, slammed into Veda. He was thrown backward with brutal force, his body colliding with a sickening thud against the stone wall. He crumpled to the floor, groaning in pain.

Arya and Isha rushed to Veda's side, helping him to his feet. He groaned, clutching his arm, his face pale. Meanwhile, Gauri, in a desperate attempt to draw Jai's attention away from the injured Veda and the others, took a step towards the raised platform.

But before she could move further, a hand, seemingly materializing from thin air, grasped her hair from behind, yanking her down to her knees before the golden throne. Tears of pain and fear streamed down her face as she struggled to free herself.

Arya, seeing Gauri in immediate danger, started to rush towards her, but his steps faltered. A figure had appeared on the throne, solidifying from the shadows. It was the king, Dev Karan Rawat, exactly as he was depicted in the painting. He leaned forward, his intense gaze fixed on the kneeling Gauri.

With a jolt, the shadowy presence that had seemed to inhabit Jai's body leaped away, leaving Jai slumped and unconscious on the floor. At the same time, another figure formed behind Gauri, still gripping her hair. This figure was clad in dark, ancient armor – a knight.