Deep in the endless ocean, where silence stretched across an infinite expanse of water, a faint sparkle of light flickered. Through the glow came a whisper, soft and tender "Maa..."
Skanda gasped awake, her dusky-gloss skin damp with sweat. Her wide, dark brown eyes darted around as though she were still trapped within the dream. Her long, black wavy hair fell across her face in disarray.
"Wake up, Skanda," Vikram said, gently gripping her hand. Her assistant, manager, and trusted companion, his calm presence grounded her.
Blinking, she finally focused on him.
"Same dream again?" Vikram asked, holding the car door open.
"Yeah…" she murmured.
Stepping out of the sleek, luxurious black car, Skanda adjusted her suit jacket. Her aura was commanding, the kind that came naturally to someone who carried authority far beyond her years. Together, they walked down a narrow path leading to a large building hidden deep within the forest.
At the entrance, a young man was waiting, his face breaking into an eager smile.
"Ishan," Skanda said, her expression softening. He was her cousin, her final hope, someone her mother had once risked her life to protect.
"Mom's waiting for you. Come on!" Ishan said with excitement. Then, with a mischievous look, he added, "Her birthday is in one week, and you're still running off on business trips. Are those really more important than us?"
Skanda smirked faintly, glancing at Vikram. "What about the supplies?"
"They'll be delivered within two days," Vikram confirmed with confidence.
For the outside world, Skanda was no ordinary woman. At twenty-three, she was the CEO of a defense robotics company, a genius who supplied advanced war machines to armies across nations. Her robots adapted with new strategies, each upgrade unique and specialized according to military demands.
Beside her, Ishan her cousin and Vice President and her most reliable partner, sharing both her burdens and her ambitions.
But here, in the forest, she was not the CEO. She was simply a daughter.
"Mom!" Skanda exclaimed, rushing forward. She hugged her mother tightly, as though she were a child again. Her mother's face, older yet strikingly similar to her own, lit up with affection.
"I was waiting for you," her mother said softly.
"Sorry to keep you waiting… let's go."
For Skanda and her mother, nights like these were sacred. Once a month, no matter how busy life became, they would sneak away to the terrace with a mattress, staring at the stars and sharing their thoughts freely. No one was allowed to disturb their time. Under the vast sky, Skanda wasn't the CEO, the leader, or the strategist. She was just a daughter, laughing, dreaming, and confiding in her mother.
That night stretched long into quiet conversations, until Skanda drifted into sleep mid-sentence. By morning, she woke to find herself tucked into her bed, a silent gesture of care, done as always by Ishan.
When she came down for breakfast, a warm scene greeted her. Her mother, Vikram, and Ishan were bustling in the kitchen, preparing food together. The sight made her heart swell.
"You thought I'd be leaving again today, didn't you?" Skanda teased as she sat at the table. "Well, surprise. I've cleared three whole days. No business trips. Just us."
The room fell silent, shock flashing across their faces before joy quickly followed.
Vikram chuckled, but Ishan frowned, sulking. "Great. Now I'll be stuck at the office covering for you. Not fair."
Skanda smirked at his reaction. Older than both men, she had always been bossy with them, ordering them around for fun. But behind the teasing and banter lay an unshakable truth.
Ishan, her cousin, and Vikram, the orphan she had taken in as a child, were her most trusted allies. They weren't just family. They were the pillars she could always lean on.
For three days, the empire could wait. For now, she belonged here with them.