The grandeur of the mall hadn’t even settled into their senses when silence dropped over the group like a blanket. It wasn’t reverence—it was shock. The kind of stunned silence that only a group of desi kids could have when confronted with something so absurdly massive that their collective processing power short-circuited.

Varun was the first to break. His jaw practically hit the marble floor as he spun in place like a confused compass. “Bhai… ye mall hi hai na? Kahin kisi mahal mein toh nahi aa gaye?” His voice was hushed, as though speaking too loudly would alert the royal guards.