RAKSHA BANDHAN SPECIAL
~ A cosmic bond woven across lifetimes and lightyears ~
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AZURE PLANET — VEYOMA SKY BASE
The twin moons of Azure floated above the Veyoma Sky Base, their coral and violet glow spilling like watercolor across the glass terrace. On this distant planet, Raksha Bandhan had transformed—from an ancient Earth-bound ritual to a galactic celebration, cherished even among the stars.
Inside the quiet hum of the Main Office, a small figure crouched behind a desk, her breath warm on her fingertips as she blew gently on the wet, glittery ink of a freshly handcrafted rakhi. It shimmered—woven from silk threads of Nebulon worms and adorned with stardust beads plucked from the tail of a passing comet.
A gift made not just of thread.
Not just a symbol.
But of memory.
Meaning.
Magic.
"Princess Aishu." came Vedika's soft voice, echoing down the corridor. "Where are you hiding?"
Startled, the little shadow stuffed her art supplies under the table, leapt over it with mischievous grace, and stood pretending she had just entered. As Vedika opened the office door, she saw the small girl standing there with an innocent smile.
"Aishwarya." she repeated, with a knowing look, nodded with sly smile.
"Mama!" Aishwarya squealed and ran to her with her small arms outstretched. Vedika lifted her with ease, spinning her gently before settling her in her arms.
"What are you doing here so late? Didn't Shivangi take you to home?" she asked, brushing a finger over Aishwarya's nose.
"She did. But I just wanted to be with Mama." Aishwarya replied, mimicking an adult shrug.
"Oh really?" Vedika narrowed her eyes in playful suspicion, then began tickling her. Aishwarya burst into peals of laughter.
Vedika glanced towards the side table—a knowing smile tagged on her lips.
"Ha~ haha! Mama, stop!"
Vedika smiled, then turned toward Ronak, handing over the base's access key. "Take care of the systems tonight."
As they walked toward the elevator, Aishwarya looked up. "Mama... can't they all come tomorrow? For the festival?"
Vedika glanced down at her softly. "My baby, they all have families. And festivals are meant to be celebrated with loved ones."
"But you're their head. Can't you order them?" she asked innocently.
Vedika chuckled, seeing through her thoughts, and gently tapped her nose again. "That wouldn't be right. Power isn't for forcing joy—it's for protecting it."
Aishwarya sighed, nodding glumly.
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THE NEXT DAY
The Veyoma Base wasn't as buzzing as usual. Shivangi and Vedika returned to duty, while Aishwarya trailed quietly behind, her energy dimmed. Her rabbit-ear headband drooped slightly as she crouched near the office desk, pulling out the hand-made rakhis secretly she'd hidden the night before.
She muttered to herself, "No one's coming... they all have families."
Vedika and Shivangi exchanged a glance, hiding their smile.
Then—suddenly—a commotion erupted outside. The main door to the office slid open with a chime, and in poured the base crew… with their families. Voices filled the air, laughter echoed, and Aishwarya blinked, stunned.
"Why are you all here?" she asked, wide-eyed. "Aren't you supposed to be celebrating the festival with your families at home?"
A woman knelt before her and smiled.
"Miss, we are family. A big, giant one. Veyoma Sky Base is also our home."
One by one, they stepped in—Noxhunt (one who purifies or slays demon souls with unique energies), Tenebrix (one who builds protective barriers or webs), Vireerion (one who performs achemy)—all gathering in the atrium. Aishwarya's eyes widened, then sparkled with delight. Without another word, she grabbed her tiny backpack and began tying rakhis to each of them.
"Here! And here! Don't move!"
One crew member chuckled. "Young miss, why are you tying rakhis on us? We're your uncles and aunties, not your brothers."
Aishwarya placed her hands on her hips, standing tall on the table.
"Tying a rakhi doesn't just mean you're my brother. It means you promise to protect me. And you all do that—every single day. From evil space rifts. From evil demon creatures. From everything."
The room quieted for a second, touched by her words.
Then, with two rakhis still clutched in her hands, Aishwarya turned to Vedika and Shivangi.
She walked over, held them up, and said, "Mama. Fairy Godmother. You two too!"
The women bent down, smiling. She tied a rakhi on each of their wrists, grinning with pride. Then she took a theatrical step back, arms crossed.
"Where are my gifts?" she asked, eyes twinkling.
Shivangi gasped dramatically. "Oh no! The royal princess tricked us all. We didn't bring anything!"
Aishwarya's face fell. Her imaginary rabbit ears drooped once more.
Vedika elbowed Shivangi, signed: "Stop teasing her."
Then she knelt and brought out a small velvet box. "Here."
Inside lay a bracelet—intricately designed with cosmic runes, starlit crystals, and a sapphire centerpiece.
"Wow!" Aishwarya gasped. "Mama! That's the one you were designing the other night, right? Is it really for me?"
"Only for you." Shivangi leaned in. "One of a kind in the universe."
"Wow!" Aishwarya squealed, spinning in a circle, dancing with joy as the base filled with soft laughter and love.
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Some threads aren't just tied around wrists...
They wrap around stars.
Around hearts—
Across lifetimes.
And sometimes, in a world far from Earth, on a planet wrapped in nebulae and moonlight—they find their way home.