The Mystery Girl

Chapter 16: The Letter

Surprise update!!🎉
Reason?
My birthday!!🤧

My heart raced but I was forced to keep my eyes from widening and my breathes pacing up.
Sahil looked puzzled, but he had to maintain a poker face. No one should know about our originality. I gazed at him, and understood that his so called, 'wild guess' had come true.

We read the letter. He has the gun. HE IS THE THIRD STRANGER!

My head gently leaned over to Sahil's shoulder, my face showing a mix of frustration and fear.

Sahil paused.

SAHIL LITERALLY PAUSED!

He was flushed red. Bright like a tomato.
And I didn't even know what I was doing.

Sheetal and Nishant were blank till the next minute, staring at us.
Nishant asked,
"Am I being a third wheel?"

Sheetal continued,
"Am I the fourth wheel then?"

"No, nothing like fourth wheel exists."

I looked at Sahil, and grinned at his red face.
"Tamatar ji, aap hum dono ko marvaoge kya?"
(Are you going to get both us killed, Mr. Tomato face?)

Sahil tried his best to reply,
"Cold-... I've got cold."

Sheetal instantly stood up,
"Oh, you should've told me before! I'll get some hot water."

She ran to the kitchen.
My grin stayed on my face, my eyes still staring into Sahil's soul.

Nishant broke the silence,
"You guys should get married."

My grin instantly faded away. Fidgeting with my fingers, my face changed it's direction to the beautiful atoms that I could see on the floor.
Stuttering, Sahil said,
"C-.. can we focus on the letter?"

The atmosphere changed. Should we speak the truth or not? This question was roaming in my mind. Sheetal came back with water in a glass and handed it to Sahil. He was lying, and I knew. I decided to talk about the letter and keep the fun for later. Sahil kept the chit on the floor. And then said,
"This person claims that he has the weapon which was used to kill the king."

Sheetal: So did he kill the king?

Nishant: We can't say that. Maybe they had given it to someone else to kill the king.

Sahil: He/she has written it purposely in our language so only we can read it. I know you won't believe me but, he has told is to meet the Queen.

Sheetal: Queen?

Suzanne: Yes. The writer of the letter will also be there, but we won't be able to see him.

Nishant: Okay, so I'll give this information to the Queen. Your sure that you have read it correctly, right?

Sahil: Yes. He also knows about the new 'Queendom.' This means he is updated about all the things in this Queendom.

Nishant: Oh, that's a smart notice.

Sahil lets out a smirk.

At this time, I thought,
It seems that these guys are always in a cold war. But not a usual cold war, a psychological one. So, they are trying to outsmart each other.

The next day...(Day 4)

The sun rose, indicating the start of the day. And we were ready to meet the Queen. I really didn't know what is this meeting for, but it was compulsory. We had to go for it. Nishant had already left for the palace while we waiting to leave. I was just about to bid bye to Sheetal when she stopped me,
"Here, yoghurt with sugar."

I replied,
"Why? We aren't your relat-..."

"No. You shouldn't say that. It's my duty to stop you from saying that. You said right, that you no more feel lost now. This is our ritual. You should follow it."

I looked at Sahil, with a satisfied smile on my face. She then fed it to us and we left the house. I really felt that now we weren't strangers anymore.

I happily left the house. We saw a carriage standing outside the house. My mouth had stayed open looking at the huge carriage. I told Sahil in excitement,
"So big! We've to go in this?!"

Sahil whispers to me,
"If you do this over acting in front of the Queen, she will give you a death sentence at once."

I replied,
"Why can't you just be happy anytime?! Never satisfied!"

"Satisfaction is the enemy of hardwork. If you are satisfied, then you will never work hard to gain more. Stay hungry, stay foolish!"

"Indeed you are~"

"What?"
Literally he behaved like the aunties who start long lectures when you don't listen to them. I ignored it and we sat in the carriage. I was looking everywhere, including the window pane, below the seat, the wheels of the carriage.

Sahil said formally, but still with a hint of sarcasm,
"I hereby request you not do this this over acting in front of the Queen. You can do this in front of me, but not in the court."

Just after this, I heard a voice from the backseat.
"Aww! So cute. You are ready to listen to all her talks any time, right? I got a doubt before itself."
I turned back to find Nishant smiling at us. I said,
"Heh! When did you enter here? You left for the palace long back right?"

"You both are surprised, aren't you?"

"Yes!!"

Sahil said,
"I had noticed it before itself."

"You're too boring Sahil, right Suzanne?"

"Yeah, he's too boring!"

I and Nishant were gossiping like gossip queens. Sahil looked neutral, but I knew he was the most irritated person on this earth at that moment.

We reached the palace. It was marvelous, full of vibrant colours. Carvings at each wall and every nook and end of the castle. Each tower was beautifully designed in shades of blue. The central tower had the Queendom's flag in it's whole honour.
We entered the palace. I couldn't understand that I was happy, overexcited or scared. Some soldiers came, and took us inside the palace. Vast rooms, great sculptures & paintings were there all over the palace.
I expected that we'll be taken in a court room, but the soldiers took us to another room. I started looking everywhere. Near the window, I saw the Queen, looking outside at the queendom. Her traits were totally like a king, or much better than kings. The soldiers informed her about our presence. The Queen gestured them, and they left. After they left, she turned towards us. Her look itself was giving me chills running down my spine.
At that moment, I understood that she is the same Queen who is there in the painting at the weird place...

•••••

The painting of the Queen...
Black lehenga?

The pieces are now getting connected~

So that's all for today, folks!
Next chapter releases on Friday, until then,
Stay tuned! 😊💖