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Prologue

Fiza was spending her 11th-standard summer vacation at their resort in Thekady with her parents, her twin sister Farzana, and her father's best friend, along with his wife and son, Fahad.

While Fiza perched on a tree branch overlooking the serene lake, engrossed in her Harry Potter book, Farzana was knee-deep in the water, splashing about like a carefree mermaid.

"What are you doing?" Fiza heard Fahad call out to her sister.

"Catching fish," Farzana replied, laughing as she splashed water around.

"With your skirt?" he asked, chuckling at the absurdity.

"What else should I do with my skirt?" she teased back.

"I can think of some things," he replied with a mischievous grin.

Fiza tuned them out, returning to the world of Hogwarts and magic.

After a while, she noticed Fahad lingering by the water's edge, his gaze fixed on the horizon. Her sister had disappeared, and it suddenly struck her that it was lunchtime.

"Hi!" she called out, climbing down from her perch and smiling at him. He responded with a blank stare, and confusion washed over her. Why was he so friendly and even flirtatious with Farzana, yet treated her like she was the dirt under his shoe?

"I texted you last week," she said cautiously, hoping to break the ice.

He nodded but turned to walk away, leaving her feeling deflated.

"Dude, what is your problem? I just wanted to know what materials you used to get into AIIMS," she asked, frustration bubbling over. He was a first-year medical student at the prestigious All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Delhi, and his advice could help her.

"I don't want you there," he replied, avoiding her gaze as he walked away, leaving her feeling both bewildered and rejected.

When they returned from their vacation, Fiza's father called her to sit down. Her mother sat quietly at the table. Farzana joined them.

"There is something we wanted to tell you," her father began, drawing a deep breath as if bracing himself for impact.

Fiza's heart raced; why did it sound like she was in trouble? She had always obeyed them, excelled in school, and stayed out of trouble.

"Your mother and I think it's time to tell you that..." he paused, clearing his throat, "you are promised to Fahad."

"What?" The words spilled from both Fiza and Farzana's lips in unison.

Then Fiza laughed, a nervous giggle escaping her. This had to be a joke. Their families often teased them about marrying one another, but they never took it seriously.

Her father had been a staunch advocate for women's rights among Muslims in Kerala. Hearing him say something like this felt utterly absurd.

She glanced at her parents, searching their faces for signs of jest, but their expressions were grim. Her gaze shifted to Farzana, whose face bore a hint of hurt.

"And if I don't want to?" Fiza asked, her voice trembling with disbelief.

"You will marry him. You will make it work, and that is final," her father asserted, rising to his feet.

Tears stung Fiza's eyes. Her parents had always been reasonable, granting her freedom within limits. They had given her wings—did they now expect her not to fly?

And Fahad, he obviously despised her. How could they possibly think this was a good idea?

Her head spun, and the room felt disorienting as her father's words sank in.