Khaali Raaste

CHAPTER 3

 Shadows in the Light

AYESHA'S POV

The next morning, I woke up with a start. The soft glow of the sunrise seeped through the curtains, casting gentle patterns across my room. I blinked, trying to shake off the remnants of a restless sleep. My head still felt heavy, and my heart thudded with the memory of the previous night—the note, the sounds, the feeling of being watched.

I glanced over at my desk, half expecting the note to have disappeared like a bad dream. But there it was, lying exactly where I had left it. I stared at it for a moment, the words replaying in my mind: "Sometimes, the eyes can deceive, but the heart knows the truth."

What truth? And whose heart? I frowned, feeling a mix of confusion and irritation. Was someone playing games with me? I needed answers, and I knew just where to start.

Grabbing my phone, I typed out a quick message to Zara: "Meet me at the café by 10. Need to talk."

Within seconds, my phone buzzed with a reply. "Ooooh, serious much? Be there!"

I sighed and put the phone down. I didn't know if I was being paranoid, but something told me that what happened last night wasn't a coincidence. I got dressed, throwing on a simple pair of jeans and a loose-fitting shirt. As I brushed my hair, I caught my reflection in the mirror. There were dark circles under my eyes, and I looked tired—no, haunted.

I splashed some cold water on my face, trying to wash away the remnants of fear that clung to me. "Pull yourself together, Ayesha," I whispered to myself. "You're not a scared little girl. You can handle this."

When I finally made it downstairs, Mama was in the kitchen, humming softly as she prepared breakfast. "Good morning, sleepyhead," she greeted me with a smile. "You look like you didn't sleep well."

I forced a grin. "Yeah, just had a weird night. I'll be out for a while—meeting Zara at the café."

Mama nodded, not pressing for details. "Okay, but be back soon. Your father wants to discuss something with you."

I felt a knot form in my stomach. "What does Papa want to talk about?" I asked, trying to sound casual.

Mama shrugged. "I don't know, but he seemed a bit... serious."

Great. Another thing to worry about. "Okay, I'll be back soon," I mumbled, grabbing a piece of toast on my way out the door.

CAFÉ MEET-UP

The café was bustling with its usual morning crowd. The familiar smell of freshly brewed coffee and baked pastries filled the air. I spotted Zara sitting at our usual table by the window, her face buried in her phone. She looked up and waved as I approached.

"Hey, you!" she greeted me with a bright smile. "You look like you've seen a ghost."

I sighed, sinking into the chair opposite her. "That's because I might have," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper.

Her eyes widened with mock horror. "Oh no! Did the stalker from your novels come to life?"

"Zara, I'm serious!" I snapped, a bit harsher than I intended. Her smile faded, and she leaned in closer.

"Okay, okay, sorry. Tell me what happened."

I took a deep breath and began recounting everything—the door moving by itself, the flickering light, the note that appeared out of nowhere. As I spoke, I could see Zara's expression shift from amusement to concern.

"Wait, are you saying someone was in your room?" she asked, her voice low.

"I don't know," I admitted, rubbing my temples. "But how else would that note get there? I didn't write it, and I was alone in my room."