Chapter One – Meet Diya

Diya’s POV

Location: Mumbai, the City of Dreams

The morning sunlight spilled into my room, painting the walls with a golden hue. After finishing my daily routine, I descended the marble staircase of my house. The faint sound of temple bells echoed in the air, guiding me toward the small shrine inside.

A large portrait of Radha-Krishna adorned the temple wall. I lit the diya, performed the aarti, and sat quietly for a moment, letting the peace sink into me. Just as I stepped out, my phone buzzed.

“Good morning, Diya,” chimed a familiar voice.

It was MEERA—Machine Enhanced Entity for Responsive Assistance—my AI creation. My companion, my confidante, my shield. I trusted machines more than humans; after all, if they failed me, it was only because I had programmed them wrong.

“Morning, Meera,” I murmured, smiling faintly. She managed my house, my work, my chaos. She was my world’s order.

Grabbing a sandwich, I headed to my office. Crowds and attention were things I despised.

Sunshine Technologies

Sunshine Technologies—the empire I built. The number one tech company in the world, feared and respected in equal measure. A multi-billion-dollar fortress of innovation. People dreamed of working here, but few understood the power it wielded. Sunshine could build futures—or destroy them—in seconds.

I parked in the private basement, took the exclusive elevator, and pressed the button for the 54th floor. The CEO’s cabin.

No, I wasn’t the CEO. Not officially. That story would come later. First, I had to face him.

Vihaan Singh Rathore. The beast. The CEO of Sunshine Technologies.

Outside his cabin, I spotted Rishi, his ever-cheerful PA.

“Good morning, ma’am,” he greeted warmly.

“How’s your boss’s mood?” I asked, arching a brow.

Rishi chuckled nervously. “Not good. Subah se sab ki class lagayi hai. All the best.”

I smirked. “Great.”

Without knocking, I pushed open the cabin door.

“Good morning, Mr. Grumpy,” I teased.

Vihaan’s eyes snapped up, sharp as daggers. His glare could freeze oceans.

“Sorry,” I muttered quickly, realizing the storm brewing in his silence.

He inhaled deeply, then spoke through clenched teeth. “Tum… kaha thi tum?”

“In the lab,” I replied, trying to sound casual. “Working on a big project.”

His brows furrowed. “Big project? Care to elaborate?”

“Yes. Updating the security system. TARUN—Technologically Advanced Responsive User Navigator. Your AI.”

“Chup. Ek dum chup!” His voice thundered across the room.

I flared instantly. “You’re not my boss, Vihaan. I’m yours. So don’t shout at me!”

His lips curled into a half-smile. “Then behave like it.”

The tension snapped. My anger melted. I stepped forward and hugged him tightly. “I’m sorry, bhai. I can’t fight with you.”

His arms wrapped around me, protective, grounding. “It’s okay, baccha. But you need to understand—running away from problems won’t solve them. Aaj nahi to kal, you’ll have to face them.”

He pulled back, his tone softening. “Now, get to work. I have a meeting in the conference room.”

At the door, he turned once more. “Mishti, the file is in the left drawer.”

Only Vihaan called me Mishti. My Someone special had given me that name, and he had claimed it as his right. I don’t know but I allow him to call me Mishti

The Truth

I sank into his chair, staring at the empire around me. Vihaan wasn’t my real brother, but he was my soul brother. My maternal grandmother had brought him into our home when he was nineteen. Since then, he had been my mentor, protector, father figure, and shield against the world.

After my parents died in a car accident, my grandparents raised me like their own daughter. Vihaan became my anchor. He was the only one who truly knew me. He loves me very much “jiska mai bahut fayda uthati hu.”

Because here’s the truth—I am the real owner of Sunshine Technologies.

The world knew me only as Dee. A ghost. A name without a face. No one had ever seen me. Not the employees, not the clients. Only Vihaan, Rishi, and Shree—my best friend—knew my identity and some of my important clients.

My parents had hidden me from the world, and my grandparents continued the tradition. Overprotective, secretive. We always maintained low public profile. People didn’t see Vihaan face also. They just know us only by name. I don’t know but my parents always hide my identity. And after that my nani and nanu is over protected to me.

 They said it was because of my illness. But I knew there was more. Much more.

And one day, I would uncover it.

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