CHASE OF STARDUST

mix of tired frustration and a faint, fading hope. "There's more to life

sive glance at her. "Oh, here we go again. Can y

stead, she turned to walk away-before the thu

in-acting all superior, l

m broke

th indignation, apron still tied, wooden spoon gripp

going to run this house while you chase your silly dreams?

the blow was hard. Every word

laws will clap for your grades when you can't even cook a s

owed the rising anger. She looked her mother strai

you, Ma. I just want the c

he scoffed. "A woman doesn't get to choose her path. Sh

d Raneya's chest tightened wit

ick with feeling. "I want a life where I matter-not

hip is a daydream, Raneya. But your duty-that's real. You're ch

, venomous and sharp,

ered. "Because of a piece of paper? A trophy? Let

tionate as she turned to Aanya. "At least you unde

a, eyes cold as stone, her disapp

n her chest. It said everything

, a soft clearing of the throat

he

all t

hands folded, his voice mea

's nephew. A good family. Educated, s

r went

t in her throat, her

ed, her voice barely au

yes not meeting hers. "But Fazeela thought

stepped forward. "We've set it for this weekend.

panic beginning to pu

ispered, almost pleading. "Pleas

voice dropped,

ks, Raneya. Now grow up. The real w

nded by voices that never

er failure. They f

shattering the last flicker of

endless nights of hard work, through sleepless sacrifices, was being extinguished by the very people who were meant to prot

resigned nod. "It's time to think about what's best for you," he sa

hroat. The weight of his words was suffocating. Every

th. "I can't do this. Please, I want to live my d

hing in his eyes. "Enough, Raneya," he snapped. "

rve of her lips. "See, Ma? She's still talking back. Stil

sion ex

re you turn your back on everything we've given you? All we've done for you, and this

am

air like smoke, suffocatin

ing, her eyes filled with tea

ion but unyielding. "I will not let your fears, your narrow thinking, de

ence passed.

nderous crack

The sting spread, but it wasn't just the physical pain that shook her. It was the betrayal. The re

ed. Even Aan

y, cold whisper. "You will marry this man," he said, his eye

tered, splintering into a million pieces. Her breath came in jagged, bur

r resistance. Her father dragged her down the hallway, past Aanya's

er-driven by duty, ego, and the

inality that made her knees buckle.

Like a secret

mbling. Her cheek throbbed, but the ache in her chest was far worse. She crawled

ne c

ked if sh

alls to the groom's family, discussions of tea sets

g her cage while