Kanth Manor - the majestic three-storied villa belonging to Chandrakanth Malhotra, CEO of Jagannath Group of Companies bid adieu to the last of their guests at about 11.30 pm on sunday night. After seeing their guests off, the family members were ready to retire to their rooms and call it a week.

"Joseph"

Chandrkanth spoke through the intercom to his guard.

"make sure all the catering staff leave the premises in half an hour. You have the name list and their id's. The decorators will be here tomorrow morning by nine to clear their stuff. Check on the back gate, too."

He lifted his head to his son and daughter-in-law seated across from him.

"Sneha beta, hope the party has not got you tired"

His eyebrows creased in concern, after all, it's his daughter-in-law.

"No Dad! I'm fine, anyway mumma doesn't let me do much, I'm always rested and relaxed. She is spoiling me".

Padmini had earlier coaxed her pregnant daughter-in-law to move to the bedroom downstairs so that she wouldn't have to climb stairs frequently.

"She is right, can't deny that. Ok Paarth take her upstairs she needs to rest. And yes, I have asked our architect to come in tomorrow we can make minor adjustments in the ground floor bedroom so that you both can move in. Good night and take care!"

"Good night pappa!"
His son Paarth and daughter-in-law Sneha chimed together as they walked upstairs.

Chandrakanth had thrown this party to celebrate two occasions, his daughter-in-law was expecting the first grandchild of the Malhotra family and his daughter Aparna was to be engaged soon. It was a party only for the next of kin. The engagement was about a week away and the wedding in a month.

His future son-in-law, Samar Khurana's father, a celebrity chef owned a chain of fine dining restaurants across India and they were opening one in Dubai soon. That's where Samar and Aparna will be moving after the wedding, to manage the Dubai restaurant.

Aparna and Samar met at University in Pennsylvania and fell in love. Chandrakanth was more than happy about this alliance because his daughter chose well.

'Unlike me!' - the thought crossed his mind involuntarily when he saw his wife Padmini move around the house. Draped in simple yet elegant sky blue Benares silk saree and instructing the house help to clean up and put the house back in order and functioning. Padmini, was bestowed with beauty and elegance by birth, despite being born in a lower-middle-class family.

"Chandra please go sleep, you need to rest. I'll manage the staff here. You have been traveling all week as such. And you need to wake up early tomorrow too for your meeting".

Padmini handed him his medications with a hint of exhaustion on her face.

Her graceful smile never left her lips it was part of her demeanour, at all times. She was never comfortable calling him by name when they were married, as like the majority of the Indian women. It was he who forced her to change that habit because he might become a laughing stock amidst his business associates and counterparts in the society if she landed up addressing him
"Ji suniye" or "Paarth ke pappa"*
at parties, it was the mid-nineties for crying out loud! She found it out of bounds, to call him by name, in front of her in-laws. Finally, after a lot of coaxing from him, she settled with "Ji" at home and "Chandra" outside and while they were alone.

*(conservative Indian wives use these terms or similar ones in their language to address their husbands, instead of taking their names)

~~~~

"Chandra"

He looked up from his desk.

"please put away your work, I'm worried you're going to fall ill. Oh! I almost forgot Aparna wants to spend time with you before the wedding. Can you please reduce your working hours for her until then?"

Padmini spoke to him in a soft pleading voice, while seated in front of her dresser, removing her jewelry; genuine worry written all over her being. He smirked, shut his device, and walked over to her.

"Arent you tired?"

"Yes, but the staff needs supervision. Samar and his family will be coming for lunch the day after tomorrow, the house needs to be back in functioning mode by morning. I'll be back in half an hour".

Her Benares saree rustled as she moved away from the dresser when he held her hand and tugged her towards him.

"If you are concerned about me, why don't you make sure I go to bed happy!" his eyebrows arched suggestively. "I'm home after a week's trip. You didn't miss me?"

He knew these small talks would put her where exactly he wanted her, on the bed, under him!

"Chandraaa.." her breath hitched, insides knotted. Even after so many years of being married to him, she blushed at his touch like a new bride. And he loved to see that he commanded that effect on her.

"Son and daughter-in-law are sleeping across the hall, daughter is to be married off in a month.." her voice barely audible.

"So are you saying I'm fifty and old, and you're bored?"

His words would start playfully and soon they would turn harsh and menacing, so would his behavior. She had learnt her lessons in the past.

"Oh my God!" her hand flew to her mouth, "I didn't mean that you know me Chandra"

Her voice reflecting the stab of pain, she moved closer and hugged him, placing her head on his chest while his arms snaked around her bare waist through her saree folds. She knew it was better to submit than to face his wrath because he would make her feel guilty and she would have to make it up to him 'painfully!'

With that, she left to freshen up and change into sleepwear of his choice, even though she never preferred those fancy, revealing clothing she wore it to please him, only in the confines of these four walls.

KEEP YOUR HUSBANDS HAPPY! The mantra drilled into the beings of women for centuries all over the world.

~~~~~

The days that followed were a whirlwind of activities! The engagement and wedding preparations of their only daughter were a top priority for Chandrakanth, hence he had suggested that they hire some of the best wedding planners in the country, but Aparna refused.

"Dad please, I don't doubt these planners. They can cater to our expectations and maybe beyond too, but I want something memorable, a personal touch. I want Parul bua (aunt- precisely father's sister) to handle it".

She could feel her father face-palming himself internally and the rest of the family snickered at him. It was official that Chandrakanth couldn't stand his sister. They were polar opposites. He was chalk and she was cheese, way too cheesy for his comfort. Business blood coursed in both their veins no doubts, he choose machines and she people. Parul had handled the PR and advertising of their company during their father Jaganath's days. She was now, married and settled in London, working alongside her husband in their event management company. While she handled weddings and high-profile parties he managed corporate events.

"She will be here in two days Dad" Paarth filled him. Chandrakanth snapped his head from his plate, towards his children.

"Chandra, it's her wedding and a girl should be happy at this time. She is leaving the house and starting a new life away from us. Shouldn't all this be about her preference? She wants her family to be involved in the wedding planning which shows she values family and relationships, which means you have raised her right, Chandra".

That struck a chord within him and Padmini knew it would. He couldn't refuse his daughter's wishes and accepted his defeat. He did that only with his children, especially with Aparna and there were well guarded reasons for that. Padmini exchanged a secret 'I told you so' glance at her children as she served their dinner.

AN: Hello everyone! At last! Managed to post my first story on Wattpad. Please do read, vote and share your valuable feedback and comments.