Remember if you do not give me a justifiable answer you would be quick to submit your resignation on my desk within the next couple of minutes." My tone was sharper than the tip of a knife. 

There was a visible distress appearing in the kinesics of the other department heads too because they never know who is the target of my next attack.  Sweat appeared in small droplets on the forehead of Mr Ramon even when the air conditioning was excellent. Sucking in the breath he replies in trepidation. "Sir the raw material is not reaching our industry on time.  As a result our products are not able to meet the sales demand and our competitive firms are grabbing the market."  

A nerve ticks on my neck and I bonk my fist on the large desk before me.  "So you keep your hands folded reading the whole story while our sales drop to a threshold point?  Why am I knowing the reason now? Why doesn't the raw material reach our industries on time?  Answer me damn it!"  I shout sending the silent conference hall to vibrations. 

Gulping audible Mr Ramon gives me a feeble reply.  "Sir, please give me ten minutes. I will set the matters right." I get off my seat towards him walking in slow, threatening strides and square him inscrutable.  "What were you doing all this while, Mr Ramon?  Were you baking cookies in your home along with your wife?” My tone goes low in acrid.  “It is high time you amend your mistakes. I need your resignation on my desk damn right now."  I behest furious, tapping my forefinger on the conference table.  

"Mr Mutt from today, you would be in charge of this matter. Make it a point to brief me about the progress of affairs on a daily basis.” I state my objects lucidly. 

“The meeting is dismissed."  My voice held command leaving dreadful faces of my staff behind watching me walk away.

Mara's POV

It was six in the evening and I had just returned from college. "Hi Princess" My dad gazes at me in warmth running his hand on my head lovingly. "Dad, stop doing that to me in the presence of Vance. I am not a little girl anymore." I grumble with my eyes directed on my little brother who seems to have a good time watching our daddy-daughter show. 

"Oh, did I do something wrong princess?" Dad takes an innocent side as I give him a hard glare. He pulls my nose least bothered about my anger and my brother bursts to laughter that he was controlling all the while. "See, you made me a joker in front of Vance." I was no less a drama queen, pointing to my brother who was now rolling on the ground getting dyspeptic in a hysterical laughter.

"We are going to the dinner party of Mr and Mrs Samsung. It's their anniversary today. Would you wish to join us, Princess? You could also meet your friend Jessie." My dad asks me in expectation. 

I contemplated his attractive offer but the loads of homework I brought from my college seemed like challenging me with deride.  “Dad, I have to prepare for my monthly tests to uphold my scholarship for the next term. I will meet Jessie some other time. Also I have a lot of homework to do." I mumble with my voice going dim. 

"It is okay Princess, there is always a next time and you are not staying at home idling away watching TV." Dad cheers me like always with his encouraging words.  Vance tails me to stay home as he was not interested in going to parties.

It was ten in the night. I completed all my homework and was on the verge of dozing off. Putting on the night lamp and already surrounded with the coziness of the comforter I set my alarm for the next day and closed my eyes to welcome the dream world. Dad has a set of spare keys, so I need not worry about opening the door in the middle of the night. My brother was already fast asleep in the bedroom next to mine.

The dream

I walk along with my parents on a deserted road. Something about the atmosphere was screaming danger but I put my meaningless thoughts away. My parents are going to shield me from every danger. Dad will protect me. My conscience assured me all the time. I turn beside and suddenly note the losing form of my mother. There was an arrow pierced on her chest and she gradually succumbed to the floor.

I reach her with tearing eyes as she mumbles almost inaudible. “Take care of your little brother, my princess." I looked at my father for help but a bullet already pierced his chest and he was losing his conscience. "You need to be bold and stay strong for your brother, my princess." He repeats the words of mom in a dull voice and closes his eyes completely. I gaze at the resting form of my mother. Holding her hands in mine I urged her to wake up but she wouldn't budge.

****

Damn! I get out of the bed like a zombie holding my breath. What sort of a terrorizing dream was that? Calm down Mara. Everything is going to be fine. My face was covered in sweat. I walk towards the corridor. Looking at the mirror in front of me I wash my face in the wash basin and rush to my parent's bedroom to find their bed empty. Walking ahead, my eyes capture the wall clock hanging on one of the walls. The clock struck exactly two in the night. Why is it taking so long for mom and dad to reach back home? I checked on the adjacent bedroom and Vance was sleeping peacefully drooling on his pillow. I shake my head looking at my little brother with a smile and pull the blanket to his chest.