The  Malhotra family had retired to bed after a long day of mixed emotions, a bit of jubilation and a bit of remorse. Celebration over Paarth becoming the next CEO and having saved the company management from falling into wrong hands. But the way it had to be done inflicted a lot of pain on everybody. It should have been a graceful handing-over ceremony in the Board room and a party later to make the official announcement; like how Jagannath had done while announcing Chandrakanth as his successor. 

Padmini sat in one of the lawn chairs, reminiscing the moments of the ceremony which was held a few years after their marriage. Her heart felt heavy at the turn of events. She had somehow begun feeling a bit alien inside the mansion now. She glanced around the property - perfectly manicured garden, large massive iron gates, the posh interiors, every nook and corner spelling luxury. These same halls and corridors, bedrooms and kitchen which had been decorated, cared and maintained with diligence by her; seemed cold and lifeless now. Ever since she returned, she had felt claustrophobic inside the mansion, they were nothing but a constant reminder of the life of struggle, neglect, pain and loneliness.

The noise of the courtyard door closing drew her attention, squinting her eyes in the dark she spotted Kabeer walking towards her. 

"What are you doing here?" She angled her neck to look at him when he stood by her side. 

"Kabir Pratap Rana reporting to duty Ma'am!" He stood in attention and mockingly saluted her.

"No need to babysit me inside the house Kabeer, that too at this hour." Padmini groaned in dismay, she knew Paarth would have set him up for this. "Also we were pretending for Chandrakanth's sake that you were my bodyguard, stop taking it seriously. I feel it is demeaning to call you so." 

"I value every job as long as it doesn't involve immoral activities. Let's say this helps your son to sleep in peace" he shoved his hands in his tracksuit pockets as he spoke to her, the nights were gradually getting colder. He observed that Padmini hadn't worn any winter garments to keep her warm. "You're going to catch a cold".

"I'm fine. It's not the biting cold yet, it's pleasant." She hummed glancing at the indigo-coloured sky "early winters are my favourite." A few minutes of silence prevailed with just the gentle ruffling of leaves and chirping of crickets, the smell of bonfires lit by pavement dwellers filling the air.  They both started walking back inside the house.

"I'm glad you were able to find the courage to do what you did at the office today. I'm really proud of you!" She responded with a gentle smile and a nod. He made sure she went inside her room and locked her door, before retiring to the room allotted to him. 

⚜⚜⚜⚜

Have you felt a boulder compress you, unable to move or escape? What do the last moments feel like before you die? Do you recollect all your favourite moments? Or your whole life flashes before your eyes as they say? Or do you yearn for the last glimpse of your children?

All I could think of was to survive. I didn't want to die so early, not like this at least. 

The weight on my chest increases by the second, at this rate my rib cage might snap like twigs. Will my lungs and heart be punctured like balloons once the bones snap? I wonder! My throat constricts and  I gasp for air, my eyes sting, tears streaming down the corner of my eyes, and my vision gradually blurring. My head was pounding, all other organs began registering their fight for oxygen. My whole body was fighting and palpitating. I was trying to push him off me or remove his hands from my neck. Neither of which worked.

I open my mouth to scream, but he tightens his grip around my neck, and I just croak and gag. I pound my fists on his leg to no avail, with each punch my weakness is felt.

Is it wrong to seek a chance to live with dignity? Shouldn't a woman ever try to live for herself? Is it a crime to speak up against the abuse and humiliation you are subjected to? All the lifelong trauma that he put me through, was it not enough?

I look at his face. Gone are the traces of the man I once loved wholeheartedly. So unrecognisable, totally contorted with devilishness. I begged him to stop, words failed me but he could understand my pleas. It made him always happy, but this time he wasn't going to stop. It was clear.

He was inebriated, breath stank, eyes bloodshot with rage, hair tousled and his otherwise pristine clothes were crumpled and soiled. The handsome charming facade had worn off several times before me in the past, but this look of him reminds me of the demons mentioned in ancient epics.

Doesn't the epic and mythology teach us that good triumphs over evil? Am I going to give up so easily? My body shudders and I cough, struggling to survive.

"You are pathetic, a low life! You deserve to die. How dare you turn my family against me? Do you think you are smart enough to take away my inheritance from me? You are just scum, a nobody, a stupid bitch who is meant to serve me and obey me. You don't have anybody to save you. You are an orphan, remember? A mere beggar on the streets if I toss you out today." He spat in hatred.

Chandrakanth violently shakes Padmini as he sits on top of her, pinning and crushing her with his weight while trying to strangulate her. She clutched his legs hard trying to push him off, but in vain.

His face had turned gruesome with wrath and hostility that was driving him to do the unthinkable. The light in her eyes was gradually dying out and her struggle was slowing down. Padmini felt her body begin to give up the fight. 

 "I'll frame that asshole boyfriend of yours for your murder. Does he think he's heroic trying to save you? That orphaned bastard can't do shit against me. Do you get that? I'm Chandrakanth Malhotra." He growled in rage.

The movement in Padmini's body began slowing down and ultimately it stilled and she felt limp in his hands, her head drooped to the side when he loosened his grip. Chandrakanth shook her and patted her cheeks a couple of times to ensure she was dead. He sighed. He had gotten rid of her. A sense of relief washed over him. He felt a new high, adrenaline pumping through his body. 

He felt he could get done with Kabir too. The idea seemed too appealing to let go of. But he knew it was not that easy to get away with two murders at one stroke. Plus, he knew he would be the first suspect. He pulled out Kabir's wristwatch from his pocket and threw it on the bed and removed his gloves. 

He laughed like a maniac.
 "Newsflash! The straightforward police officer Kabeer goes to jail for the murder of Padmini Malhotra, the wife of industrialist Chandrakanth Malhotra. The two had been in an illicit relationship" sarcasm and hostility dripped in his tone, as he shifted to get up from his position. 

He felt a sudden burning sensation and pain on his left thigh. He averted his eyes from Padmini, to find blood staining his trousers, there was a gash from which a paper knife jutted out. He panicked and stumbled off the bed, assessing his wound. 

Confusion filled him, "what the hell? How..." Padmini had managed to stab him with the paper knife while struggling to free herself, the alcohol and his rage had numbed out the impact, and his eyes darted towards the bed. 

Padmini struggled to sit up, wheezed and coughed violently, her head spun but she managed to pull herself up to lean back on the headboard. Chandrakanth could not believe his eyes. He thought she died.

In a flash, her hand reached out to grab something, followed by a loud noise of glass shattering. Chandrakanth spotted a bedside lamp flying across the room and crashing against the glass window.  Chandrakanth, stood stumped by the turn of events. The noise had alerted everybody in the house.

"Mummaaa..." Paarth and Aparna's screams jolted Chandrakanth out of his trance.

"Padmini"

"Minu di"

All Chandrakanth saw were flashes of movement. He never expected things to turn against him so quickly, he thought he could overpower Padmini and put an end to her.

"Paarth wait..." Kabeer's commanding voice halted everyone before they touched Padmini or sat on the bed.

"Turn on all the lights, get some water. Don't touch anything in this room" he walked towards Padmini and examined her from head to toe. "Strangulation" he identified from the red marks around her neck. 

Padmini was still struggling to breathe, shaken from the attack, tears streamed down her face, she looked dishevelled and beaten, and there was blood trickling from the corner of her mouth. He slowly put his hand forward and examined her face and neck, the bruise was already turning blue. Rage filled him. He spotted the gloves and his watch on the bed. 

He looked up at her "did he " he swallowed, unable to finish the question, implying if she was sexually assaulted. Padmini broke down hiding her face in her palms, he caressed her head. "Padmini answer me. Did he assault you?" He sounded stern and commanding.

The rest of the family looked between them in disbelief. She understood Kabeer's question and denied it. 

"Kabeer what's going on?" Paarth panicked as he crouched near the bed beside his mother. They had an idea of what might have occurred but they couldn't believe that Chandrakanth would stoop that low. 

"Chandrakanth has tried to strangle her." He gestured towards the bed pointing towards the gloves and the watch. "And plant evidence to frame me for the murder." He glared at Chandrakanth, the rest of the family gasped in horror and Parul rushed towards Padmini.

"Dad, what's wrong with you? Why would you do this to Mumma? Have you lost your mind?" Paarth was delirious, he turned toward his mother. "Ma, are you ok?" he cupped her cheeks in his palms. "Of course, you are not. How stupid of me to ask that! Come on let's get you to the hospital."

"Di Are you alright? Oh my God, you are alright!" Fear and relief filled Parul as she went on ranting continuously while hugging Padmini and rubbing her back. "So sorry! I should have stayed with you..." Parul broke down.

Aparna sat beside her, "come let's go from here Mumma. Paarth please help her walk to my room" she was quivering internally while desperately trying to control her anger and tears. Ever since Padmini went missing Aparna had stopped talking to Chandrakanth and had begun to hate him when his affair with Kayla came to light.

Padmini's hardened gaze was fixed on Chandrakanth as she was helped out of the bed by her family. She stumbled and swayed despite their support, still feeling light-headed and weak from the attempt at her life. Paarth had already dialled their family doctor. 

 "Do you want me to call the police?" Kabeer's question to Padmini drew everybody's attention. Padmini couldn't find her voice, it felt hoarse and painful. "Take your time. But I don't think I'm letting go of him" the steely resolve in his eyes and his tough stance confirmed it as he glanced at the rest of the family members. 

"She... she stabbed me... I came to talk to her... look... See here, she stabbed me with a paper knife." Chandrakanth desperately tried to gain sympathy.

He turned to his son, his speech slurred. "Paarth look his watch is on her bed, proves my suspicion. They... they are having an affair and... and planning to kill me. She will take away my wealth. I knew she's a gold digger and a filthy bitch". 

"Shut up!" Paarth bellowed like a possessed man. "Stop your shit Dad" storming forward he shoved Chandrakanth against the wall and grabbed him roughly by his collar "You don't even deserve to be called a father. I warn you, one more word against my mother and I shall rip you apart with my hands."

Padmini squeezed Parul's hand gesturing her to make Paarth stop. Parul huffed and mouthed a 'NO'. Kabeer stepped in and dragged Paarth away.

Chandrakanth slumped on the floor against the wall. His mind was recoiling with anger, embarrassment and hurt. He screamed, thumping his fists on the floor. 

Anandnath walked back into the room, he placed beside his nephew a fresh set of clothes and a first aid box, squatted near him and helped clean the wound on his leg and bandaged it, handed him an ice pack. He stood up to leave when Chandrakanth held his hand.

 "Let me go! We will talk tomorrow morning, when you're in your senses" he sounded stern and decisive.

The room door was locked from the outside, Kabeer and Ravi sat outside the room guarding Chandrakanth. 

⚜⚜⚜⚜

Chandrakanth was seated at the dining table with a pounding headache and nausea. He was nursing a cup of coffee and rubbing his forehead anxiously. At the sound of footsteps, he turned around to find the whole family walking down the stairs.

Padmini seemed a bit pale, she wore a cervical collar. She sat at the table across from Chandrakanth, accompanied by Parul.  The domestic staff had been dismissed with only the Malhotra family inside the mansion. An envelope was placed before Chandrakanth. He glared at her but refused to open it. 

"That's your inheritance" her voice was gruff after the impact of the previous night's attack. He gave her a death glare and huffed. 

"Your insolence baffles me Chandrakanth" Anandnath picked up his brother's will and read it aloud. 

'I, Jagannath Malhotra, founder and CEO of Jagannath Group of Companies hereby in sound mind and health write this final will and appoint Anandnath Malhotra my younger brother and co-founder, and Mr Hareshwar Bhatia, my friend, well-wisher and co-founder of Jagannath Group of Companies and my lawyer Mr Kapadia; as the executioners of this will post my demise. 

In the event of my son, Chandrakanth Malhotra divorcing his legally wedded wife Padmini or physically harming her or endangering her life, abandoning her or their children owing to immoral activities.

Neglecting or failing in his duties as the head of the family and as the rightfully appointed CEO of this company, and in the event that all aforementioned accusations have been proven beyond doubt; I declare him unfit to be my successor and legal benefactor.

I approve the legally appointed Board members to propose a Vote of no confidence and remove him from his position and deny him rights as a CEO or shareholder and appoint Paarth Malhotra as the CEO. All assets in his name that were purchased from the investment of the parent company, Jagannath Group, shall be frozen/ transferred to his son Paarth Malhotra, by default.

Paarth Malhotra and Padmini shall be my legal heirs from the said date when this will is invoked. Aparna Malhotra and Parul Rajvansh shall inherit an equal share of the ancestral home in our village and the farmlands as per our family tradition. Kanth Manor, as an undivided property, shall be bequeathed to Padmini. 

Chandrakanth Malhotra shall be permitted to live at the farmhouse at Gurgaon, however, he doesn't hold the right to sell/pledge/mortgage/rent the property. He shall remain as a basic employee on the company roster and shall carry out his job as per the advice of the Board of Directors of Jagannath Group of Companies.'

Anandnath Malhotra folded the document and placed it in front of his nephew on the table.

"Just in case you are speculating, this is just the copy, the original is safe" Anandnath Malhotra summed it up.

Chandrakanth glanced around the room in anger and disbelief, his worst nightmare had turned true. He was indeed stripped of everything.

He felt helpless and wronged. His whole body was thrumming in anger. There was only one reason why all this was happening, Padmini. She was the one who must have brainwashed all of them to go against him. How did she gain so much courage? How did she get so smart to manipulate everybody and get all the property in her name?

"The truth is too hard to swallow Mr Malhotra?" Padmini spoke gaining his attention, a smirk played on her lips. "While you are choking on your pride, care for some water?"

The glass of water slid towards him. Chandrakanth was outraged at the new developments. But he was not the meek Padmini to be silenced.

"How dare you? You vile woman!" He picked the glass to throw at her with the clear intent to harm her when in a flash his movement was blocked and the glass was snatched from his hands by Padmini.

"Well, here I assumed all along you were a clever businessman Mr Malhotra. You seem to have forgotten that we are not the lawfully wedded husband and wife anymore. If you hurt me now, you might be charged with an attempt to murder. Consider yourself lucky I haven't done that already, after what you did last night." 

Her stoic element was still intact, she met him eye to eye except, now he couldn't see fear in them anymore. Chandrakanth was startled when the glass shattered at his foot before Padmini walked away from him. 

Kabeer stepped towards Chandrakanth, intimidatingly, "I warn you, don't keep pushing your luck. Piece of junk like you should be behind bars and done away with for good. I do not understand why she keeps delaying your imprisonment" his nostrils flared as he scowled at him. 

"Why? So that you can marry her?" his sarcasm stopped Padmini in her tracks. "It doesn't seem to bother you both from romancing like couples now, anyway? So why behave like you both have some shame left? Isn't this what it's all about Padmini? You have been having a secret affair with him and ran away and lived with him for three or four months. Now you come back and act like you're the most virtuous woman on the planet? Both of you are planning to take over this property and wealth and everything away little by little, aren't you? What's next? You're going to murder your children, for this wealth and settle with this bastard here? I always knew you were a money-grubbing parasite!" He scoffed.

The layers of his disgusting true self were being exposed bit by bit, and even though some of his family members had a clue about how entitled he could behave, no one expected him to be this contemptuous, except for Padmini. 

Kabeer landed a hard punch on Chandrakanth's face, which toppled him off the chair. "How dare you? You bloody asshole!" Kabeer lunged at him again. 

Paarth and Ravi grabbed Kabeer and tried to drag him away from Chandrakanth. Chandrakanth was letting out a sick smile as he dabbed the blood from his nose. Parul led a pregnant Aparna away from the scene of the scuffle.

"Enough" the whole mansion echoed with Padmini's voice, she stepped forward in one fluid move and slapped Chandrakanth.  She stood there, shaking violently in pure rage. Every individual in that mansion was astonished at Padmini's reaction.

She walked into the altar and returned minutes later with a heavy file, which she dropped on the table. "This... Chandrakanth... this file can destroy you in seconds." She seethed in anger gritting her teeth. "You know what? This doesn't matter too." stressing on each word out of sheer fury.

"I... I alone," she pointed to herself, "this Padmini alone, can destroy you single-handedly. You know that. We both know that. Want to try your luck?" she quirked her eyebrows, letting out a snarky chuckle. "But knowing what a cunning schemer you are, I gathered all the evidence" fury roared through her mind.

Kabeer knew what she was talking about, but others remained dumbfounded at her outburst and confused about what she was talking about.

"What... What are you talking about? Are you making some false allegations teaming up with this policeman?"

Chandrakanth sounded half confident, still believing that throwing the accusations at her integrity and her character will gain him a vote of trust. 

She stepped towards the table and continued speaking while throwing open the file.

"The proof for the life that Chandrakanth and I lived are not only Paarth and Aparna" she let out bitter laughter and pulled out a bunch of photographs. "These are proof too" as a lone tear rolled down her cheek.

They were the photographs of the scars on her body, which were taken by her therapist with her permission while, keeping in mind her dignity. There were gasps of shock. Padmini glanced around the room. Even Chandrakanth couldn't believe that she would be bold enough to publicise these.

"Yes, that's me and all of these scars were caused by years of abuse by Chandrakanth." 

"No... You're lying. She's lying. I would never. I did not... Stop it. Don't believe her". All of Chandrakanth's pleas were ignored. 

"He kept threatening me not to reveal the truth. There are numerous reasons behind each of these scars, and it was almost a daily routine, but the motive was only one. He wanted me harmed, threatened, abused, controlled, slaved and trapped. He dictated every move of mine, every word I spoke, where I went, what I did, what I wore, whom I met or spoke to... He even separated me from my family, his affairs were also a way of humiliating me". Padmini went on a full-blown tirade.

Everybody in the room was heartbroken and was lost for words. Guilt and shame ate the family members internally, they all shed silent tears.

She walked up to him and sized him up, "Each and every word that you ever uttered Chandrakanth was to just demean me, break me and demoralise me all through these years. Your affair with Kayla, I knew it before Aparna's engagement. Don't think I was scared to talk about it. You were the least of my concerns. It was because Aparna didn't deserve such a disastrous start to her life, that I spared you both." She kept glaring at him, as hot tears streamed down her face and all the pent-up anger and resentment sought a let-out.

"Padmini when you went missing..." Anandnath managed to find words to give life to the suspicion that was nagging everyone.

"It was Kayla." Padmini looked Chandrakanth in the eye. "She had organised to kidnap me. She threatened me to comply by setting up stalkers behind Paarth, Sneha, Aparna and Sameer, to kill them. I figured it was Kayla because she was the only outsider who knew the whereabouts of Aparna's honeymoon and that information, she could have gotten only from you Chandrakanth."

She glanced around at her family "she admitted to it, which I recorded and used as leverage to finish the labour strike. It was Kabeer's idea." 

She sighed and slumped on the chair tiredly. Parul handed her a bottle of water and sat beside her holding her hand.

"That woman was planning to take over what belongs to my children rightfully, once she married you after this divorce. And I shall never let that happen, that's why I urged Mr Bhatia and uncle to execute your father's will".

Chandrakanth knew Kayla was drunk on power, wealth and status. By setting up a business for her and some funds in the name of her daughter he thought he could keep her happy. 

"I had some people wiretap her and her brother's phones." Kabeer placed a micro recording device on the table "Chandrakanth what did you drink last night? Before you came here and attacked Padmini, what did you drink?"

Chandrakanth tried to recollect, "It was just scotch and some vodka" He was confused by these questions.

"Kayla wants to take over your business and properties and leave you on the streets, as revenge. Her brother is one of the most wanted drug dealers, against who I was trying to gather evidence a few years back. They plan to spike your drink regularly and get you addicted or frame you for smuggling drugs along with your company shipments. That's why she was desperate to take over Xavier's job at the factory."

Kabeer played out the audio clip to them. It was a massive jolt to Chandrakanth to learn that he meant nothing to Kayla and she sought only revenge and his wealth.

Padmini rose from her seat, "You can go to hell for all I care. But no one messes with my children. All these years I put up with your torture and abuse just for the sake of my children. I warn you and that banshee of yours. Stay away from my kids!"

She flung the envelope containing the divorce verdict on his face and walked back upstairs. 

Word count: 4242

Date Published: 6 July 2022

AN:
Hello all! Another update after a long break! And I hope I was able to live up to your expectations.

There were some unanswered questions which I have addressed in this chapter.

1. Why Padmini's father in law never did much to help or protect her.

2. The secret behind Kayla, her brother and their intentions.

If there are any loose ends and you need clarifications, please comment here and shall clear them.

Thank you for all your valuable support ❤❤❤❤

Lastly, the story is coming to an end🙁 maximum one or two chapters more and we shall be bidding Padmini and her family goodbye!