Inside the dimly lit cave, the air grew tense as the group realized they couldn't simply leave. The ritual had to be completed before the bandits returned, but time was running out. Sudeep, Nandita, Guruji, Dr. Mehra, and Dr. Ravi huddled together, their voices hushed.

"We can't perform the ritual in such a short time," Nandita said, her brow furrowed. "They'll be back before we're ready."

"We need to defend ourselves," Sudeep added. "If we delay them, we might just buy enough time."

Dr. Mehra nodded in agreement. "We should set traps. It won't stop them entirely, but it will slow them down. We need every second."

They immediately set to work. Sudeep and Dr. Ravi examined the cave's natural features, finding narrow pathways, uneven ground, and rocky ledges that could be useful for traps. Nandita, meanwhile, searched their supplies for anything they could use to reinforce their defenses.

"We'll start with a tripwire," Sudeep said, tying some thin cord he had found between two rocks at the entrance. "When they step through, this will pull down a pile of rocks."

Dr. Mehra and Guruji gathered sticks and rocks, placing them strategically at the top of the cave entrance. Once the tripwire was triggered, the rocks would come tumbling down, potentially knocking a few of the intruders off balance.

"Here's another idea," Nandita said. She pointed towards a narrow crevice that led deeper into the cave. "If we create a fire here and fan the smoke, it might force them into one of the dead-end passages."

Sudeep and Dr. Ravi quickly gathered dry wood, arranging it in the crevice. "It won't burn long, but it should confuse them enough to split their forces," Sudeep noted.

They also sharpened some sticks into rudimentary spears, tying them together with rope and using them to block certain paths. Guruji, always resourceful, found a few sharp stones and suggested using them to create slingshots.

As they continued searching the cave for more materials, Sudeep stumbled upon Dr. Ravi's bag. Curiosity got the better of him, and as he opened it, his hand touched something metallic and cold—a gun.

Sudeep's heart skipped a beat. "Ravi, why do you have a gun?"

Dr. Ravi, who had been crouching near the fire, stood up quickly. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes flickered with surprise. "It's for protection," he said, a little too casually. "I thought it might come in handy in case something like this happened."

Sudeep narrowed his eyes. "You never mentioned it before."

Before Ravi could respond, Nandita stepped in. "Sudeep, this is a good thing," she said, trying to diffuse the tension. "It means we're not completely defenseless. Let's be glad we have a gun on our side."

Sudeep shot her a disbelieving look. "Are you serious? You trust him with a gun just like that?"

Nandita crossed her arms. "We're in a cave, surrounded by bandits. We need all the help we can get."

Ravi stood there, arms crossed, a smug smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "See, even Nandita gets it. We're in a dangerous situation, Sudeep."

But Sudeep couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. Ravi's behavior, the smugness, the secretive nature of the gun—it all felt off. He caught Dr. Mehra's eye, and the older man gave him a reassuring nod, as if to say Ravi was trustworthy. But Sudeep wasn't convinced.

Later, as the group continued setting up defenses, Sudeep approached Dr. Mehra. "There's something strange about Ravi," Sudeep said, lowering his voice. "Why would he bring a gun and not tell us? There's something he's not saying."

Dr. Mehra looked surprised but shook his head. "I've known Ravi for years, Sudeep. He's eccentric, sure, but he's not dangerous. I trust him."

"But do you trust him with a gun? This whole situation feels wrong," Sudeep pressed.

Dr. Mehra placed a hand on Sudeep's shoulder. "I understand your concerns, but we need to focus on the bigger picture. Ravi's been part of the team for a long time. You're just under stress."

Sudeep wasn't fully convinced, but he nodded, not wanting to argue with Dr. Mehra at that moment.

Later that evening, as the last of their traps were set and the group prepared for the inevitable return of the bandits, Sudeep noticed something strange. Ravi and Dr. Mehra were standing off to the side, speaking in hushed tones. Their body language was animated—Ravi gesturing forcefully, while Dr. Mehra seemed to be trying to calm him down.

Sudeep watched them closely from a distance, his suspicion deepening. What could they be talking about? Was Dr. Mehra covering for Ravi, or was there more to the story than he realized?

As the firelight flickered in the cave, casting long shadows on the stone walls, Sudeep felt a growing sense of unease. He glanced at Nandita, who was sharpening one of the spears near the fire, seemingly unaware of the tension brewing around them.

Something was wrong, and Sudeep knew he couldn't ignore it.