TRUE LOVE NEVER GIVES UP

Chapter-22: City of Lakes

After a long and eventful day exploring the vibrant streets of Jaipur, they returned to the palace, their bags filled with souvenirs and their hearts full of memories. They had only a few hours to rest before their midnight departure to Udaipur.

In the grand lobby, they bid each other goodnight, heading to their respective rooms for some much-needed rest.

A few hours later, the palace was quiet, bathed in the soft glow of moonlight. They gathered again in the lobby, their bags packed and ready for the next leg of their journey. The excitement of the trip still buzzed in the air, despite the late hour.

Mukti stretched and yawned, looking around at her friends. "Did anyone actually manage to get any sleep?" she asked, her voice tinged with amusement.

Alya chuckled, shaking her head. "Barely. I kept thinking about all the places we'll see in Udaipur."

Dhruv rubbed his eyes, trying to wake up fully. "Same here. Plus, someone was snoring like a chainsaw," he added, shooting a playful glare at Abhimanyu.

Abhimanyu raised an eyebrow in mock offense. "I do not snore! That must have been yours only."

Navya and Nandini exchanged amused glances. "Well, it's a good thing we're all so excited. It'll keep us awake for the journey," Navya said, smiling.

Manik, who had been quietly observing the banter, stepped forward. "Alright, let's get moving. The bus is waiting outside," he said, his authoritative tone bringing everyone into action.

As they moved towards the palace entrance, Nandini walked beside Manik, her hand brushing against his. "You really are the leader of this group, aren't you?" she teased, her eyes sparkling with affection.

Manik smirked, giving her a sideways glance. "Someone has to keep this bunch in line," he replied, his voice softening as he looked at her.

They piled in the car, finding their seats and settling in for the journey. Abhimanyu gave a friendly nod and started the engine, the car rolling smoothly out of the palace gates and onto the road.

As they drove through the quiet streets of Jaipur, the conversation turned to their plans for Udaipur.

"I can't wait to see the Lake Palace," Mukti said, her eyes shining with anticipation. "It looks so beautiful in the pictures."

Alya nodded enthusiastically. "And the City Palace too. I heard the view from there is amazing."

Cabir leaned back in his seat, a mischievous grin on his face. "I'm just looking forward to all the food. Udaipur is supposed to have some incredible cuisine."

Abhimanyu chuckled, shaking his head. "Leave it to Cabir to think about food first."

Dhruv chimed in, "Well, he's not wrong. But I'm excited to see the architecture. The palaces and temples there are supposed to be stunning."

Navya, sitting next to Nandini, leaned over and whispered, "I hope we get to take a boat ride on Lake Pichola. I've heard it's romantic."

Nandini smiled, her mind drifting to thoughts of a quiet moment with Manik on the lake. "That sounds wonderful," she replied softly.

As the journey continued through the night, they gradually fell into a comfortable silence, the hum of the engine and the rhythmic motion lulling them into a peaceful state.

Manik, sitting next to Nandini, reached for her hand, intertwining his fingers with hers. She looked up at him, her eyes meeting his in a moment of silent understanding. No words were needed; the connection between them spoke volumes.