CHASE OF STARDUST

ved like an omen dre

girl's dreams. Fairy lights blinked like oblivious stars, unaware of the storm crackling beneath their glow. The scent of saffron biryani

was on the ver

e hall, "Aanya! Where are the garlands? Has the nikah

ists and fending off gossiping aunties, shoute

d the disappearing photographer. Meanwhile, Qureshi Sahab was pacing like a caged lion, snapping

drums erupted

aat had

om's side entered with wild energy. At the front was Saniya in a blinding pink lehenga,

he crowd-and danced. Or attempted to. Her arms flailed, her hips buckled, and her feet stomped like an earthquake

n the dhol players missed a beat, st

sic like a whip. "Rukhsana! Sit do

lau

quickly, s

is ready

er died. Anticipation th

-Raneya

mbroidery shimmered on her lehenga like gilded chains. Her dupatta framed her face with pain

foll

e a queen," so

am," murmur

iant, in simple clothes, full of fire. But this... this was

.. was grief. What he thought

was marrying a sto

d with unshed tears. "M

"Bilkul pari lag rahi hai. No wonder Z

passed through Raneya like smoke. Complim

le like a martyr h

and offered blessings. A cousin slipped a silk scarf over her head in traditi

me the

rd. The mic crackled. T

eshi, do you acc

od daughter never says no. Our decision is

urned. Her s

s parted. "

time. "Qu

. "Qubo

into her own chest. Words spoken by a stranger. W

all e

etals, selfies.

-something wit

me the

away emotion. Fazeela clung to her d

ispered. "This is your h

her mother's dupatta one last time-childhood memor

buried beneath steel. "We've ch

d

"Please don't go!" she sobbed. "Don't

en? Or stealing t

of humor in her empty gaze. "

woul

d toward her like a promise. He was glowi

the funeral be

ok his

als rain

. Music.

er with a final click-the

r family-smiling, waving, clapping. B

smile

t, hollo

that smile...

asn't

he beginnin