Beyond The Stars

Chapter 2

"Aaargh!" Saeen Shahnawaz Shah screamed in frustration. His bodyguard Bilawal was used to his tantrums. It seemed like the Saeen was under a lot of stress lately. It was no surprise to other people too. Everybody knew that the Saeen had sired no male heirs, due to which his entire lands, properties, sugar mill, and the thousands of acres large haveli(a huge mansion) was being given to his nephew whom he despised. The elder Saeen Murtaza Shah was dying and thought it to be a waste of energy to transfer everything to his elder son who had no possibility of extending the Shah family line. He thought it would be wiser to just transfer everything to his younger son's eldest son, seeing that he would eventually be the Raees (duke). 

Shahnawaz Shah was desperate. He could not let his bratty, good-for-nothing nephew take away all that he ever dreamed of as a kid. As a young boy Shahnawaz Shah used to dream of becoming the Raees of the village one day and of ruling all the lands with a tight fist. He hated those lazy, insulent farmers who thought they could pat him on the head just because he was a young boy. Did they not see that he was their future ruler!
And more than anything else he despised his younger brother : Haider Shah, who was born out of Murtaza Shah's second marriage. Since childhood his mother had instilled a deep hatred towards Haider and his mother whom she deemed unworthy of anything good or expensive, since they came from a middle class background. And Shahnawaz Shah carried this hatred deep within his heart. He could not let anything fall in Haider's hands even if it meant destroying it all.

"That son of bitch" Saeen Shahnawaz Shah cursed Haider once again. Why did he have to be born. His birth ruined everything. 

Haider's mother Mehwish was a beautiful yet cunning lady. She worked for Saeen Murtaza Shah at one of his offices. Getting a married rich man under her thumb was no big feet for her. But winning over his entire family proved to be difficult. Especially when his first wife Naeema Begum seemed persistent to degrade her at every moment.
Mehwish tried with all her might to control her husband but all her efforts seemed futile in front of her inlaws. Eventually she was kicked out of the Haveli with venom being spewed into the older Saeen's ears by his mother. But God proved to be on her side when she gave birth to Murtaza Shah's second son. Not only did it pacify her husband but it also put her mother in-law in her place. The older wife could do nothing but watch the other women win over her husband's heart with the birth of 2 more sons, whereas Naeema Begum could not bear anymore children after her first son.

In retaliation the only thing Naeema Begum could do was to seed hatred in her son's heart against Mehwish and her sons.  

"If only I had a son" Shahnawaz Shah thought. Saeen Shahnawaz Shah hated the fact that he only had two daughters. Only a son could have continued the Shah dynasty. Now he will have to give it all up to Haider. He would rather give his family fortune to a stranger than to his own brother.

"Hmm... Maybe I should" this was bound to be the most ridiculous idea that Shahnawaz Shah ever had. But he had no choice but to go with it. Why not hire an actor to play as his long lost son! He would then able to convince his father to transfer all the property to him and when the late Saeen die he could just pay the actor off. 

"This is brilliant" Shahnawaz Shah yelped with joy. He couldn't contain himself. He felt quiet like a genius. There was just one problem. Where will he get an actor who could pass off as his son. He needed someone of the correct age, features and height. Not anybody can just pass off as Shahnawaz Shah's son. He will have to be a handsome young man. Someone athletic and charismatic. In short, the Saaen was looking for a son he always wished for but could never have.

Screech!!! The car skidded to a halt. The driver had hit something or..... someone.

"Watch where you're going you filthy MF" the driver screamed and then got out of the car to check the damage. The boy was alive. But was bleeding from his leg. "It's just a scratch" the driver told the Saeen. With that he turned to the young man and told him to get lost. Before he could go, Shahnawaz Shah saw Furqan Qureshi.

Could it be him? Could this young man be my son?! The Saeen quickly told Bilawal (his bodyguard) to fetch him.

Saeen Shahnawaz Shah (Noman Aijaz) in picture