THE CHASE OF STARDUST

That night, dinner was an event. Raneya cooked as if the kitchen itself were her canvas, pouring her heart into it

The kitchen filled with the nostalgic aroma of home—warm spices, sizzling herbs, and a sweetness that lingered in the air. When they all sat down for dinner, Justice Shah praised every dish, and Razia Begum even teared up at the taste.

"It feels like old times," she said with a chuckle, holding Raneya's hand.

Aahil remained silent, poking at the food like it was a royal inspection. Yet, without a word of appreciation, he helped himself to two plates of biryani, two bowls of kheer, and nearly cleaned out the serving trays. It would have been funny if he weren't so dramatic about hiding how much he enjoyed it, sitting there eating like a petulant monarch, irritated that he had to acknowledge something so delightful.

Raneya caught him devouring a third bowl of kheer, and barely suppressed a laugh as she smirked.

"A tantrum-throwing toddler in a tuxedo," she whispered to herself, snorting softly but muttered, "Guess the food isn't that bad."

He ignored her with his gaze set on the dishes sitting on the table instead while Raneya served with a smile. Cherished the warmth from Razia and Justice Shah. Aahil? She pretended he didn't exist.

After dinner, once the dishes were cleared, Raneya had begun forming a quiet ritual with Razia Begum.

The old woman's room, with its scent of sandalwood and lavender, became a sanctuary for heartfelt conversation and whispered secrets. Raneya would sit cross-legged on a plush rug beside Razia's bed, brushing out her silver-streaked hair or tucking in her pillows as the older woman gazed at the ceiling, lost in time.

Under the soft glow of a bedside lamp, Razia Begum took Raneya's hand and murmured, "You remind me of her… my daughter-in-law."

Raneya looked up, surprised. She had never seen her presence in the house or seen anyone mention Aahil's mother before.

"She was gentle," Razia Begum continued, her voice like a feather dipped in sorrow. "Not born into privilege, but she carried herself with more grace than anyone in this house. Aahil adored her. She was the only one who could make him smile like a boy."

There was a pause. The weight of grief thickened the air.

"She died when he was still young," Razia Begum whispered. "So suddenly. A car crash. Justice Shah never forgave himself—he was driving that night."

Raneya's eyes stung with unshed tears. "That must have changed everything."

Razia nodded slowly. "It turned our palace into a mausoleum. Aahil stopped speaking for months before he moved on from it. But one day, an accident made him build walls no one could climb. Not even me."

The old woman's eyes shimmered with pain. Raneya reached forward, wrapping her arms gently around her shoulders. It wasn't just sympathy—it was connection. As if she had finally stepped inside the heart of this house and understood its ache.

From then on, Razia Begum continued to tell Raneya tales of the past—how Aahil used to dance barefoot in the gardens, how he would sneak sweets into her sari pallu, how he once cried over a wounded puppy for days. These stories chipped away at the cold image Raneya had carved of him… though the man in the mansion and the boy in the stories felt worlds apart.

Still, she listened. Every memory. Every hidden sorrow tucked behind the legacy of the Shahs.

And unbeknownst to her, Aahil and Justice Shah stood at the door, silently watching this quiet friendship blossom. 

For the first time in years, Justice Shah had seen his mother laugh with abandon, speak with ease… and it was all because of the girl with the haunted eyes and a heart bigger than the estate they lived in.

A girl who, he was slowly beginning to realize, didn't just belong in their house—she might be the only one who could heal it.

But beyond those bedroom doors, a different energy stirred.

Aahil stood silently at first but later moved to his study without responding. His jaw tightened as he stared down at the courtyard, where Raneya had earlier walked with Razia Begum under the moonlight.

He had seen this before.

Warmth that disguised secrets. Innocence masking agendas.

But this time, he wouldn't be fooled.

He had waited too long, and soon… he would confront her with the truth she was hiding.

And then, the game would truly begin.

That night, while the mansion quieted into velvet silence, Raneya went to her guest room. It sat right next to Razia Begum's room and was modest compared to the rest of the palace, but she had everything she needed. Her scholarship forms, study plans, goals—all stacked on the desk. Without holding back further, she quickly retreated into her books. The soft rustle of pages filled her guest room as she jotted down notes about scholarship deadlines and business courses.

But then, a chill ran up her spine. Something felt... off.

She looked up toward the door.

There was a shadow. A movement.

Her heart thudded.

She crept toward it— tiptoeing to the entrance. Just as she reached for the handle, a hand slammed over her mouth and a body pressed her back pinning her to the wall.

Her eyes went wide in terror.

"Aahil," she gasped beneath his palm.

"Shh." His voice was low, almost a whisper. But laced with frost. "Don't make a sound," he hissed, eyes burning into hers.

Her heart pounded in her chest.

Her body stiffened as he leaned in close, their faces inches apart.

"Don't test me. I don't buy your act," he said, voice smooth and deadly. "You're being watched. Every step. Every word. I know more about you than you know about yourself."

Her heart roared like thunder in her chest.

She shoved him back with a forceful nudge, gasping as air finally filled her lungs. "How dare you—!"

"You think you can fool everyone with your innocent act?" he said coldly. "Don't try to run. Don't try to play smart. I know more about you than you think."

Her blood ran cold.

She wanted to protest. But as she opened her mouth to say something, her lips parted and the words hung to the corner of her tongue. 

Looking at this he just adjusted his shirt, turned on his heel, and walked away with a shrug—like it had all meant nothing.

"Sweet dreams… Raneya."

And just like that, he vanished into the shadows, leaving her fuming, breathless as she stood there, seething… and terrified of how much power he held over her—simply by existing.