I

♪♫ So gayi hain yeh saansein sabhi,

Adhoori si hai kahani meri

Phisal jaayein bhi toh darr na koi,

Ruk jaane ki zaroorat nahi

Kaagaz ke parde hain,

Taale hain darwazon pe

Paani mein doobe hue,

Khwaab alfazon ke...♪♫

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She made her way into the building, greeted the receptionist, and headed to her destination—the CEO's office.

Rivaah has been a bestselling writer for four years in a row now and Shekhawat's was the only publication firm she trusted with her work. She had become accustomed to the building during these three years so she knew her way around.

She went into the CEO's office after she got permission to enter.

There he was—Armaan Singhania—in a crisp white shirt with sleeves folded to his elbows, sitting behind a large mahogany table. Armaan was a ridiculously handsome man with brown eyes, black hair, straight nose, full mouth, and a sharp jawline. He was also a gentleman with a stoic face. He was the kind of man who was polite but wouldn't think twice before ruining you if you crossed him in any way.

Armaan looked her up and down and met her eyes when she cleared her throat. "You look horrible." They both knew he was lying.

She had put on a powder blue business suit this morning and paired it with white sneakers.

"And I don't see why it concerns you?" she sat on the chair across from him.

"It doesn't."

She was amused by now but gave a small nod. "Sure, whatever you say. Here."

She put a file in front of him. It was the first draft of her new book.

He took the file inspected it for a minute or two and then gave a nod. "I'll send you my review."

"Alright. Now I'll take your leave." She started to stand up when he stopped her.

"Ms. Rajput, it has been three years since you've been working with Shekhawat's. Why don't you come to the office for work? For how long are you going to work remotely? I can provide you with your own cabin and even a better paycheck if you want."

"We already have had this discussion numerous times in the past, Mr. Shekhawat and my answer is still the same. I have been working with you because you don't need your authors to come here until they are meeting their deadlines on time and that is exactly what I wanted and still do."

"But you've never disclosed your reason."

"It's personal and that's all that you need to know. I will be here when the next draft is ready." Saying that she went out of the office.

Rivaah had been working from home from the very start and she was not going to change that. She had responsibilities—a family to take care of and she couldn't let anything come in between that.

She drove toward the place she loved the least—her brother's company AR groups. She had nothing against her brother—she loved him—her dislike was only because she didn't like anything about business.

She parked the car and walked straight to the CEO's office—her office.

Neha—her PA, entered the office after her with a tab in hand. "Ma'am there are files on your table that need your signature."

"What about the meeting?" She asked after a nod.

"Everything is arranged for the meeting. It will start in 10."

"Is there anything else?"

"No ma'am. That will be all. Your schedule is clear after the meeting."

"Okay, Thanks!" Rivaah nodded at Neha which she took as her cue to leave.

She then started with the files. Reading and signing.

It should have been her brother to do all of this but he wasn't here now. This company was his dream and he left its responsibility to her. She only came here for important meetings or for weekly inspections. She took care of everything else from home.

A few hours later, she was done with all the files and the meeting, so she left the building after informing Neha that she would come back in a few days.

⪡⨳⪢

Rivaah stood outside the gates, waiting for her sunshine to come out. After a minute, she saw her through the crowd, running toward her with a big smile on her face.

Sia. Her sunshine. Her joy. Her daughter.

She crouched down just in time to catch Sia as she launched herself on Rivaah. A burst of laughter bubbled up in Rivaah as she took Sia in her embrace.

Sia was an over-energized 5-year-old who couldn't sit still at all.

The duo then went to their home—a penthouse—the only place where Rivaah trusted Sia to be safe.

"Baby, go sit on the sofa till I heat the food, okay?"

Sia gave an enthusiastic nod and did as told. Rivaah chuckled at her daughter's antics before making her way to the kitchen.

They ate, watched Sia's favorite Disney movie, and played, and when Sia was tired Rivaah tucked her into the bed.

After that, she opened her laptop and started writing. Reading and writing books was her escape from the real world and the problems and hardships it had to offer. Rivaah had always loved stories and started writing some of her own when she was in school. Soon writing started to feel like oxygen to her, so she took it up as a career for herself.

After a few hours of writing, she shut down the laptop and went into Sia's room to see if she was alright. When she was satisfied, she walked into her own room and slept.

This was pretty much everything that included Rivaah's life. Life of three people that she was living alone. Most days, she felt blessed but there had also been some rare moments when she felt lost—cursed—because she didn't know what she was doing, where she was going, or who she was anymore.

She was a writer by ambition. A mother by choice. And a CEO by responsibility.