Veil of Truth

Chapter 1

The lecture hall buzzed with the low hum of students packing up their notes. It was the end of another long day at the medical school, and Amina felt the familiar exhaustion settling into her bones. She had been up all night studying, and the exhaustion showed in the slight heaviness of her eyelids. She was always one to take her studies seriously—perhaps too seriously at times, her friends said—but the demands of medical school left little room for anything else.

As she tucked her textbooks into her bag, Layla breezed up to her side, her energy as boundless as ever.

"You're coming, right?" Layla's voice was more of a demand than a question, and Amina knew exactly what she was referring to before she even spoke the words.

"Coming where?" Amina replied, pulling her scarf more securely around her head and adjusting her bag over her shoulder.

"To my party, of course!" Layla grinned, the excitement in her voice unmistakable. "You know, the one I've been talking about for weeks. The one at my house this Saturday night?"

Amina felt a knot form in her stomach. She knew Layla had been planning some sort of social event, but the idea of attending such a gathering made her feel uncomfortable. Parties and social functions weren't really her thing. She preferred the quiet of her study desk, the sanctuary of her small room, where she could focus on her studies and keep her faith at the forefront of her mind.

"Layla, I don't know..." Amina hesitated. "I really need to focus on studying for the next round of exams. It's been so hectic lately."

Layla threw up her hands in mock frustration. "Come on, Amina! You need to take a break! You can't study all the time. Trust me, you've been buried in textbooks for weeks. You'll have fun, I promise. And it's just at my place, nothing too crazy, I swear." She paused, giving Amina a pointed look. "Besides, you haven't even seen where I live yet. My mom keeps asking about you."

Amina sighed. Layla's persistence was legendary, and she had a way of wearing down anyone who hesitated. And it was true that she hadn't yet visited Layla's house, despite having known each other for nearly three years in medical school. Amina had always politely avoided it, preferring the quiet of her own apartment to the extravagance of Layla's home.

"I don't know if I'm really... into these kinds of things," Amina said quietly. "I'm not like you, Layla. I just feel—"

"Like you don't belong? Stop it, Amina!" Layla cut her off, her voice firm but playful. "You're my friend. You belong wherever I am. You'll meet some of the other students, some doctors, maybe even a few professors. It'll be great for networking. And I'll be there, so you won't feel out of place."

Amina hesitated. Layla was persistent, and while Amina appreciated her friend's enthusiasm, she wasn't sure she was cut out for these kinds of social gatherings. But Layla had a way of twisting her arm without ever directly forcing it.

"And... my mom really wants to meet you," Layla added, her voice softening, though Amina could sense the underlying pressure. "She's heard so much about you from me. She's been asking when you'll finally come over for a visit. She's already excited about it."

That was the tipping point. Amina felt a small pang of guilt. She had heard a lot about Layla's mother, Sarah, over the years—how warm, intelligent, and accomplished she was. Amina couldn't deny that she respected Mrs. Sarah. If she was being honest, Amina didn't want to disappoint Layla's mother.

"Okay, fine," Amina relented, a reluctant smile tugging at her lips. "I'll come. But only for a little while. I still have to study."

Layla clapped her hands together, her eyes lighting up with joy. "Yes! You're the best! Trust me, you won't regret it. I'll pick you up at 7?"