The Unwanted Marriage

Chapter 41

Amina's POV

We reached the airport, and soon enough, we were boarding our flight. It was a two-hour journey from Mumbai to Bengaluru. We'd booked business class, and the seats were, of course, far more comfortable than economy. We settled in, relaxing into the plush upholstery.

"I'm so excited to meet your friend!" Simran exclaimed, her voice buzzing with energy.

"That's the tenth time you've repeated that exact sentence," I said, looking at her with a wry smile.

"So what? I am excited!" she retorted, already pulling out her headphones and scrolling through songs on her phone. I sighed, shaking my head. I took out a book from my bag, "The Silent Patient." I was on part two, and so far, it was utterly amazing, truly hooking me in. I'd even been reading it on the way to the airport. The flight soon took off, and we were served with food and drinks. The journey went smoothly, and we landed.

We hailed a cab, and I gave the driver the location Layla had sent me. It took about an hour to reach.

When I stepped out of the car, the place was surreal. It felt like I'd walked straight into a book, into a fantasy. The grand palace before me, bathed in a cascade of lights, looked like a dream, like something out of a fairy tale. I was absolutely awestruck.

"Amina, pinch me," Simran murmured, standing beside me, her mouth slightly agape, her gaze completely fixed on the palace.

I gave her a gentle pinch, not too hard. "Ow!" she winced, rubbing her arm. "Is it real? It looks like I've entered a book!" she said, her voice brimming with excitement. Then, she turned to me, her eyes shining. "Thank you so much, Amina, for inviting me," she said, hugging me, or rather, squeezing me tight.

"You're choking me!" I laughed, wrapping my arms around her in return. She pulled away, a wide smile on her face. I could see the sheer excitement bubbling in her eyes, and it made me happy. But then, a cold wave of fear washed over me as a chilling realization hit.

"What happened?" Simran asked, noticing the sudden shift in my expression.

"Nothing," I mumbled, already walking inside, my heart beginning to pound with a familiar dread.

As we stepped inside, the sheer scale of the palace took my breath away. Massive chandeliers hung from the soaring ceilings, casting a soft, golden glow that highlighted the intricate carvings and opulent decor. It was breathtakingly beautiful.

"Oh my God, Amina, where have you brought me?" Simran breathed, looking all around, her mouth slightly agape. "By any chance, did we enter a movie? It's all so filmy!" she added, her voice bubbling with excitement.

I pulled out my phone and called Layla. Within minutes, a kind lady appeared, guiding us through the labyrinthine corridors to Layla's room. As I entered, Layla was sprawled on her bed, a face mask smeared across her face. When she opened her eyes and saw me, she literally ran, launched herself off the bed, and leaped into my arms. I stumbled back a little with the force, but I tightened my grip around her, holding her close. She burrowed into my neck, and I could feel the wetness there, indicating she was crying. Even my own tears started to fall, hot tracks down my cheeks. We stood like that for a few precious moments, clinging to each other, before finally pulling apart. We both had tears in our eyes, but wide, genuine smiles on our faces. Her face mask had fallen to the floor somewhere in the process. She kissed my forehead, a tender gesture. We didn't speak, as if the words were stuck in our throats, but everything we needed to say was conveyed through our eyes.

Finally, I broke the eye contact and introduced her to Simran, who had been standing patiently beside me, a soft, affectionate look in her eyes. I pulled Simran closer, side-hugging her. "Layla, meet my friend Simran," I said. Then, turning to Simran, "And Simran, meet my friend Layla." They hugged each other, a warm embrace between instant friends.