The newspapers and news channels were constantly going on with the same headlines, just varying in languages, tones and choice of words for the past two days.

The share prices of Jagannath Group of Companies have been consistently dropping after a series of unfortunate and shocking events.

When the anchor prompted their reporter to elaborate, the screen displayed the photograph of a man almost as old as Chandrakanth, the Operations Director of their parent company whose resignation had raised a storm within the organisation. Disgruntled Chandrakanth stepped off the treadmill and stormed out of his personal gym at home, a young man hurrying behind him handing his towel and bottle of water. Hoping to miraculously wash off the troubles and tension that were taking a toll on him Chandrakanth entered the luxurious bath.

"Arghhh... Shit! they can't even remember to replace the toiletries. Ravi..." his voice rumbled through the first floor of the mansion and brought the young man hurtling up the stairs.

"Si... Sir...." The uniformed lad in his twenties was trembling in fear, sweat building up around his scalp line under the fierce glare of his employer. He lowered his eyes and paused at the doorstep when he met his towel-clad boss, his reflexes snapped in at lightning pace and he moved towards the bathroom quickly replenishing the necessities and with a bowed head apologised and left the room in a blink.

When Chandrakanth stepped out, a docile Ravi pulled open the massive doors of the walk-in wardrobe, diligently pulling out draws, dragging out rails of hangers to reveal an array of shirts and suits, opening chests nestling expensive cufflinks, ties and wristwatches; picking out shoes to match his suit shining them further.

"Sir" Chandrakanth gestured him to proceed while fixing his tie "you are due for a haircut and beard trimming Sir."

Chandrakanth raised an eyebrow at his reflection and angled his head to reconfirm, "if I reach home early today". He nodded his head curtly, at that Ravi left the room assuring him to call his personal stylist to make an appointment. "A quick learner" Chandrakanth voiced his approval to no one in particular.

Ravi was his Man Friday at home taking care of him 24/7 and had successfully made it to the good books of the demanding billionaire.

Chandrakanth's phone chimed with a popup of his agenda for the day.

'Great! Back to back meeting with the Board and investors. Glad Paarth is handling the workers union and media!' He dropped the phone beside him. Paarth had left for the meeting with the workers union by 7 am, after giving him an earful over the phone.

Gauri the cook placed his breakfast before him and left, Ravi continued to serve him, while updating him on home affairs and certain personal commitments. "Sir, your uncle from Mumbai is expected today. The car will be sent to pick him up. Do you want to receive him personally or should Paarth sir...?"

Chandrakanth heaved a sigh thinking of his father's younger brother, dropping his cutlery thoughtfully, he reached for the glass of water, "Sir if you don't mind... Given the recent occurrences, it would be advisable you meet him at the airport. These gestures make the elders happy generally, and that's half your battle won Sir. Sorry if I'm overriding!" His face was devoid of any emotion in particular and his tone unwavering and clear, indicating his honesty. With a nod, Chandrakanth stood from his chair.

"What time is the flight?" the sunglasses perched on the bridge of his nose completed his charismatic look.

"8 pm sir" Ravi couldn't help but admire Chandrakanth's magnetism.

"I'll be there, just send me a reminder by seven".

"Is that man good looking or what? Thank God we both are straight else I would have been one of his victims".
He mumbled to himself and heard uproarious laughter on the other side of his hidden earpiece. "Oh! I forgot I was still connected to you prick" he deadpanned.

"Are you fawning over Mr Malhotra, Ravi?"

"Shut up junior Malhotra. It was just an observation, I can see why people are throwing themselves at him. He's got it all the looks, money, intelligence..."

"Except a heart!"

"Glad you are not like him bud! Ok, any news on aunty?"

Ravi was a trustworthy acquaintance of Paarth who was bought into Kanth Manor to keep an eye on Chandrakanth and the family home. Kayla had made several attempts to come and live there. Their lives were in shambles ever since Padmini left, the least said. The value of a wife or a mother is realised only in her absence.

A lone tear slipped his eyes at the thought of how his mother had kept everything tied up and put together to keep this family happy, while she had been through hell and beyond at the hands of the man she loved.

~~~~Two months ago~~~~

A month after Padmini went missing Kayla began visiting Kanth Manor occasionally at first and then regularly, gradually got involved in domestic affairs. She wanted all the female staff removed. She wanted to be safe than sorry given Chandrakanth's virtue.

"Kayla, I did not even know that there were female staff at home other than Gauri, the cook. I never paid attention to these things unless there was any financial obligation that required my involvement. If they were engaged for more than five years then Padmini must have seen them as trustworthy. You cannot just up and dismiss them suddenly. I would never allow my staff to be dismissed without a valid reason." He tried to reason with her illogical approach.

Things took a horrifying turn when Kayla slapped Gauri one morning trying to establish her presence in not only Chandrakanth's life but also in their house. Gauri had stood near the dining table to persuade her employer to have his meal on time and earned a slap from Kayla, who questioned her intentions.

A visibly hurt Gauri responded with dignity, 'I may not be rich madam but I sure am not shallow enough to ruin someone's life', casting an accusing glance at Kayla she walked out of the mansion. Chandrakanth was not very pleased with Kayla's behaviour towards Gauri but did not want to take the side of a servant in her presence.

Paarth and Aparna apologised to Gauri asking her to return and the long-serving aide of the Malhotra family refused to work under anyone other than Padmini. She was the trusted and senior-most of the domestic help of the Malhotras, directly appointed by Ambika Malhotra twenty-five years ago. Not only her, but many of their domestic staff also were unwilling to work under anyone other than Padmini.

Paarth and Aparna later stormed into the family home to talk with their father but we're enraged to find Kayla seated there.

"Dad, can you explain why Kayla is in our home? Why is she interfering in our family and office affairs?" Paarth exclaimed disregarding her presence.

Aparna was livid, even though she understood the equation she was trying to be civil despite knowing that the man seated across from her did not deserve any of it. Chandrakanth was hesitant and Kayla stepped forward to speak but held back when the siblings threw a hateful glance at her.

"Dad are you in a relationship with Kayla? Is she your mistress, girlfriend whatever crap you want to call this? Did both of you chase my mother away? Answer me, Dad, did you both kill her?"

"Paarth.." Chandrakanth and Kayla yelled in unison.

"Shut up! Shut the fuck up! Before I end your miserable existence" Paarth bellowed at Kayla. Chandrakanth was dumbfounded by Paarth's fury and Kayla turned pale.

"You filthy homewrecker! Don't you dare take my name! You are not worthy of it. Get out of my house and don't you dare step inside again. I'd have you arrested for trespassing."

An enraged Kayla tried to speak just to be silenced by him again.

"Out! Now! I don't give a flying fuck who the hell you are! Remember, no outsider steps inside Kanth Manor without my mother's approval. This is her home and will always be".

His honey-brown eyes ablaze and his athletic body taut with rage, Paarth seemed like a possessed man. Kayla scuttled out, disheartened that Chandrakanth had not taken her side.

Aparna had been a first-hand witness of her brother's fury while handling her bullies in school but for Chandrakanth it was a first.

"And you Dad, don't you dare defend yourself! I'm so ashamed of you Dad. I'm ashamed to even address you as my father. Did you forget you are married and have a wife who is alive and who practically worshipped the ground you walked? Would you have liked it if the tables were reversed? If Mumma... Shit, I can not even say those words for her" he slapped his forehead shutting his eyelids briefly in annoyance.

"Did you even think that your adventures can jeopardise the lives of your children? What would happen if Samar's family knew about your affair? What would Sneha think? I'm scared to even bring her here. Imagine having my wife live under the same roof as a womaniser! "

Aparna was horrified. "Bhai (brother) what do you mean?" her voice barely a whisper.

He turned around towards his sister with a pained look, "It so happens that this is not Mr Chandrakanth's first instance of cheating". He turned back towards his father "And going by his reputation, probably not the last. And in that aspect, these two are made for each other!" He was filled with spite for his so-called parent.

"Paarth have you forgotten that I'm your father. Have you no respect..."
The disgust on the face of his children and bitterness in their tone bothered Chandrakanth, it even hurt him and began doubting himself.

Alas! Arrogance and ego, the twin vices and his constant companions, never let him repent his choice beyond a second.

"Just because you donated a sperm does not make you a parent. You have to earn that respect, love and adoration."

Paarth couldn't help unleashing a bit of venom that rose inside him due to the hatred building up towards his father.

Why?" Paarth's voice strained, "Why Dad? She was so innocent and such a wonderful woman. She knew nothing but unconditional and unadulterated love. How could you?" overwhelmed by emotions and distress, he choked.

"I was never happy with your mother." Chandrakanth's voice was hateful towards Padmini.
"I was forcibly married to her. She never was and never could be the woman I love. Kayla was the one I loved. Why can't I have an educated woman, whose thought processes match with me as my wife? Isn't that what a life partner is supposed to be? An equal partner, with whom you share everything? I never had that companionship, understanding, love or support from her."

Paarth snorted, "If that was the case you should have never agreed to marry her or should have divorced her soon after discovering. You don't live with someone for thirty long years, have two children and then wake up one fine day to realise that she is not compatible and go have an affair at the ripe old age of fifty! That's the most outrageous thing ever Dad."

Paarth was itching to punch his dad's square jawline and dislocate it.

Sleeves roughly bunched around his elbows, the two-day stubble gracing his countenance, dishevelled hair, exhaustion and anger, had robbed the boyish charm and mirth from her brother, Aparna observed sadly.

Chandrakanth was seated like engraved on a stone, he had seen too many people, handled too many tricky situations nothing was tough for him. He would figure out a way to pacify his children too. If they do not approve of him, he didn't need them. He was 'the Chandrakanth Malhotra' - he didn't have to go behind people, they came seeking him. He was their father, eventually, they had to come to him.

Aparna held her brother's arm and he engulfed her in an assuring embrace. When words failed her, the vulnerable little girl in her took shelter in her brother's arms always, from childhood and he had always been there at every step, along with their mother.

Their gaze drifted to Chandrakanth involuntarily, who sat there with an unreadable expression. The person that they adored, respected and loved had just been stripped off his mask to slowly reveal his true self. 'Is everything about him a facade?' The siblings couldn't help but wonder!

"Bhai" she whimpered "we failed Mumma right?"

"Yes Appu I failed to protect my Ma, but little did I realise that her source of happiness was going to be the source of destruction".

Guilt flooded their bodies and pain ripped through their hearts, trying to comfort each other and failing they left what was their home once, but now just a hollow cement structure.

AN: Hello dear friends and readers! Apologise for the delay in updating.

I assure you things are going to get spiced up from now (in the story of course) 😄 you already witnessed a sample above.

Thank you for staying patient, reading, voting and sending your feedbacks❤❤❤❤🙏 

Take care and stay safe!

October 22, 2021