"Damn it! I can't work under so much pressure… but without pressure, I can't work at all! What the hell am I supposed to do? If I don't make a solid comeback this time, my boss might just fire me. Think, Tripti , think! If you don't figure this out, you can kiss your job goodbye."

Her room was a complete disaster—papers crumpled and tossed everywhere, her laptop blinking with unfinished drafts, and frustration written all over her face. She typed furiously, deleted the words in the next second, then scribbled something on a notepad only to tear it apart. Nothing was working.

With a defeated sigh, she ran her fingers through her hair, forcing herself to calm down. Just as she began picking up the scattered mess, a sharp knock on the door made her freeze.

"Miss Tripti !"

Her heart skipped a beat.

"Yes, sir?" she responded, trying to mask her panic.

The man outside didn't bother softening his tone. "Mr. Sarvagya wants to see you in his cabin. Right now. And I suggest you don't waste a second—he's not in a good mood today."

Tripti swallowed hard. She had seen this coming. "Okay, sir. I'm on my way."

Tripti wasn't just any writer in the company—she was one of the highest-paid authors in the industry. There was a time when her name alone could sell stories. Readers loved her writing style, her way of weaving emotions into words, and for a long time, she had ruled the market.

But fame is a fickle thing.

Over the years, her magic started fading. Her stories felt repetitive, predictable. The audience wanted something fresh, and with new, talented writers emerging every day, Tripti found herself struggling to keep up. Sales dropped. The buzz around her name died down. And now, she was standing at a point where her job itself was at stake.

She had no doubt why Sarvagya had called her. This was going to be her final warning.

Taking a deep breath, she straightened her shoulders and knocked on the cabin door.

"Come in."

Tripti stepped inside, her heart pounding. "Hello, boss. You wanted to see me?"

Sarvagya, the CEO of the company, leaned back in his chair, his sharp gaze fixed on her. "Yes. Have a seat."

She sat down, trying to keep her hands from fidgeting.

"I'll get straight to the point, Tripti ," he said, his tone unreadable. "If you don't start taking your work seriously, you'll need to start looking for another job."

She clenched her fists. "I'm trying, boss."

"Trying isn't enough. I need results." He leaned forward, his expression hardening. "This is your last warning. If you don't deliver a solid story soon, I won't have a reason to keep you here. Do you even realize what people are saying?"

Tripti 's breath hitched.

"They think I'm keeping you around because we have some kind of affair. That your talent has nothing to do with your position here."

Her face burned. "What?"

"You heard me." His voice was calm, but the underlying frustration was clear. "I don't care what people say about me, but I won't allow anyone to question your credibility. You need to prove them wrong, Tripti. And the only way to do that is through your work."

A lump formed in her throat, but she forced herself to stay composed. "Sir, please… just give me a little more time. I promise, I'll write something exceptional. I'll make such a powerful comeback that no one will ever doubt me again."

Sarvagya exhaled, studying her for a moment before nodding. "Fine. One month. That's all you have. Use it wisely."

Tripti felt a flicker of hope. "Thank you, sir. I won't let you down."

He sat back, his voice losing some of its sharpness. "Tripti , I know you have talent. But you're stuck in a loop. You keep writing the same kind of stories, over and over. That's why people have lost interest. You need to break out of your comfort zone. Give them something new. Something unexpected."

She nodded, determination burning in her eyes. "You're absolutely right. This time, I'll pick a theme no one has explored much. A story that will demand attention."

Sarvagya's lips twitched in approval. "Good. That's exactly what I wanted to hear."

She was about to leave when his voice stopped her.

"Tripti, wait."

She turned back, confused.

He stood up, walked towards her, and before she could react, he pulled her into his arms.

The warmth of his embrace melted away her tension in an instant. His lips hovered near her ear as he murmured, "I don't like speaking to you this way, but as the boss, I have to be fair to everyone. I can't give you special treatment just because…"

She smiled against his shoulder. "Because I'm your wife?"

His hold on her tightened. "Exactly. This company values talent, not relationships. If you're not performing well, someone else more deserving should take your place. That's how it works."

Tripti pulled back just enough to look into his eyes. "I understand, darling. And I agree. If I'm not good enough, I shouldn't be here. But… I just need this one chance. Who knows? Maybe this time, things will be different."

Sarvagya studied her for a moment before shaking his head. "You always ask for tips, but sweetheart, if I help you, it would be cheating."

She huffed. "Not even a little hint?"

A smirk played on his lips. "Alright, one piece of advice—step away from sci-fi for once. Try writing a love story. Or maybe something supernatural. But whatever you do, make it fresh. Make it something that no one can ignore."

Tripti chuckled. "Noted. This time, I'll make sure my husband doesn't have to fire me." She tapped her chin playfully. "For the sake of my poor stomach, I need to keep this job."

Sarvagya laughed, tugging her cheek. "Naughty girl."

She pretended to pout. "Well, I should get going now. It's time for me to head home, and you need to catch your flight for that business trip."

His eyes twinkled mischievously. "Leaving without a goodbye kiss?"

Tripti crossed her arms. "Nope. First, you scolded me, and now, you're abandoning me for an entire month. I'm very upset with you."

Sarvagya smirked, pulling her closer. He brushed his lips against her cheek, whispering, "I'll make it up to you. When I come back, I'll bring lots of gifts."

She raised an eyebrow. "How many?"

"Enough to make you forgive me."

She pretended to think, then finally sighed. "Fine."

Grinning, Sarvagya caught her lips in a deep, lingering kiss before pulling away and straightening her slightly smudged lipstick.

Tripti giggled, grabbing a lipstick from his drawer and fixing it. Before walking out, she gave him a quick, secret kiss.

Then, she quietly slipped out of his cabin—like nothing had ever happened.

Because as far as the world knew, Tripti and Sarvagya were just boss and employee.

Not husband and wife.

__________________________

The night was calm, the soft hum of the air conditioner the only sound in Tripti 's dimly lit bedroom. After a quiet dinner, she curled up on her bed with her iPad, flipping through the pages of a novel she had recently started.

But as she read on, something peculiar caught her attention.

The female lead's name was Tripti .

And the man she had not married? Her husband's stepbrother? His name was Sarvagya.

Tripti let out a surprised laugh. What were the odds? She smirked, shaking her head. "Well, that's a funny coincidence."

But instead of dwelling on it, she continued reading. The story had an intense, dramatic premise—full of love, betrayal, and dark twists. But just as she was getting immersed, she abruptly tossed the iPad aside, groaning in frustration.

"This Tripti is an absolute fool!" she declared, folding her arms. "If I were in her place, I would've married Sarvagya instead of that Shashank! He seems like a good guy… and he's also her ex-lover. Why the hell did she push him away?"

She exhaled sharply, her frustration only deepening.

"And now, look at what happened! Shashank straight-up murdered her! Seriously, how is this story even supposed to continue without the main lead?"

She had only read half the novel, but as soon as the protagonist was killed by her own husband, her interest vanished. The plot felt unfair, incomplete—like it should have gone in a completely different direction.

Sighing, she switched off her iPad and lay back against the pillows, staring at the ceiling.

"If only I were in this story…" she mused. "I'd never let Tripti and Sarvagya be apart. They could've fought their battles together instead of being torn apart like this."

Her mind spun with endless possibilities. What if the story had taken a different route? What if the characters had made better choices? What if she had the power to rewrite it the way she wanted?

Thoughts kept swirling inside her head, blending fantasy with reality, until exhaustion finally took over. Her eyes fluttered shut, and she slipped into a deep slumber.

And that's when it happened.

A soft hum vibrated through the air, barely audible at first, but growing stronger with every second. The temperature in the room shifted, a strange energy crackling in the atmosphere.

Then, out of nowhere, a radiant white glow formed around Tripti 's sleeping body.

The light wasn't ordinary—it shimmered, pulsated, almost as if it were alive. Slowly, a deep crimson orb emerged from within her, glowing like molten fire. It hovered in the air for a brief moment before shooting straight into the iPad's dark screen.

As soon as the orb disappeared, the room fell silent again.

The glow faded.

The air settled.

Everything returned to normal.

Except… something had changed.

Something unexplainable.

What was that light?

What just happened to Tripti ?

And more importantly—where had that mysterious red energy gone?