*Character's POV in italics

It took a while for Padmini's anxiety attack to subside; which left Parul, Neha, and her staff in panic. For Neha, it was the worry of Mrs Malhotra becoming ill under her roof. God forbid something happened to Padmini she could be charged with a 'murder attempt' case.

For Parul, it was terrifying beyond comprehension. Padmini was her friend, sister, and mother figure; rolled in one. She would roll up her sleeves and go on a head-on war with even Lord Yama, the God of Death for her 'Minu Di'.

"For a few moments I thought I would lose you Minu Di! Don't you ever scare me like that ever!" Parul hugged her and sobbed like a kid. Padmini was pleasantly surprised when Parul addressed her by the nickname she used for her in childhood.

She gently pat her back, "I'm fine Choti. Relax please" her soft voice dropped close to a whisper, and both of them sighed in relief.

She pulled away from the embrace, "what happened Di? How come you had an anxiety attack? Is this the first time? Have you had it before? Does Paarth know this? Should I call him?" Parul's mind and tongue raced together, especially when she panicked.

"Choti! shh.. shhh.. enough! Listen" Padmini had to grab her paranoid little sister-in-law's face to gain her complete attention.
"I'm alright and no, this... whatever happened now..  some attack that you say..  has not happened before"

She had to lie through her teeth. She has been having these episodes often for the past few months, fortunately, or unfortunately, she had been alone while it happened.

"Maybe the stress of Appu being married and getting separated from her got to me finally.." she let out bitter laughter, eyes glistening with tears. "I'm alright now" nodded her head reaffirming.

Parul hugged her again. A little later they proceeded with the jewellery selection for Aparna. She willed herself to divert her mind to the jewel selection, once she started thinking about Aparna and Sneha, she completely forgot about everything. She was used to putting her family before herself, that's how it always was.

"Bhabi, promise me one thing. Before I leave, I want you to come with me for a complete health checkup." She plastered her palm on Padmini's mouth, "No, I'm not even letting you speak. It's an order!"

"Acha choti! Fine I will go for the checkup on one condition. Please do not let anyone know about this. I don't want to snatch away Appu's happiness. And Sneha also might get worried which is not good during pregnancy. Please!" Padmini's earnest request and the genuine reason made Parul agree to her condition.

~~~~~~

Padmini's turmoil...

The sight of the house next door kindled a painful memory. On the way back, she shut her eyes and leaned back on the seat; letting her conscience do all the fight and talk within. While Parul thought it was the physical exhaustion and let her 'sleep'.

'How can he do this? How long has this been going on? Why? Did he not love me? Am I not worthy of love?'

With the last thought, her heart constricted, a sharp pain shooting from her chest ran through her body, head throbbed, breath shortened, tears brimming under the closed eyelids. She managed to compose herself; like always. It had become a second nature to mask her true emotions. To act like the loving, devoted couple to the world; while he loathed her and tormented her in reality.

To walk around with her feathers unruffled on the outside; while truly on the inside she felt like being grilled and charred over the fire of anguish!

'No, I can't let this happen. Aparna and Samar don't deserve this pain. They love each other and need to start their life happily. I can't fail my child. I can not let myself slip into misery.'

She quickly gathered herself and took a deep breath.

'The wedding has to happen smoothly, these kids don't deserve any pain. I need to focus on the task at hand now.'

Then as always, another voice grew inside protesting her decision.

'So you mean to say you are not important to anybody? Your emotions, feelings, happiness, and well-being don't matter? If you are willing to forsake yourself, how can you expect the other person to take care of you or respect you? Why should it matter to an outsider when it doesn't matter even to you Padmini? For once acknowledge your true feelings and emotions. Is there no self-respect left in you? You are going to allow him to continue fooling you, hurting you, and ill-treating you?

Ignorance was bliss Padmini! He is with another woman and continuing his life with you too like nothing ever happened. Are you willing to help yourself with the scraps of the other woman? Is that what you are? You are his legally wedded wife, who truly loved him and only him. You laid out your heart, soul, mind, body, and your whole life for this man. You even cut ties with your parents and siblings because of his demands. What did he do in return? Trample all over you, treat you like some piece of furniture or an object; treat you like a slave. Pain - that's all he gave you.'

She never let the status of being Mrs Malhotra or the luxurious lifestyle or any of those perks get into her head, she always remained humble.

"Minu Di" Parul's voice broke the tsunami of thoughts that were drowning her, Parul gestured outside with her eyes.

'Oh! We have reached ho..' gulp 'Kanth Manor!'

~~~~~

CHANDRAKANTH's POV:

As the day dawned, I had the desperate urge to meet her; this gnawing itch! I got into my gym and called her from the number which I use exclusively for her alone, impatiently waiting for her to answer.

"Kayla dear! Good morning!"

"Hey, honey! What a surprise! It's 6 AM! Is everything ok Chandru?"

"Yeah! Are you free this morning? Say by 10? I have a meeting around noon. I want to meet you before that. Your place?" 

"I know you are impatient to be with me. But we just met yesterday, baby."

"The thing is from next week, I can't spare much time Kayla, the wedding is in another 2 weeks. "

"Oh yeah! the wedding! sure, I do have a meeting which is at 4. Are you planning to stay longer? We can have lunch together."

"Bye Kay! See you!"

"Bye honey!"

I stepped out of the gym and before heading upstairs had to brief this illiterate woman to not disturb me while I have to complete the conference call with my client. She can't understand a simple instruction and tortures me in the name of love. 

"Padmini, I don't need breakfast today. Have a meeting around 11, might have lunch with the Minister. Just send my coffee and cereal to the room. I have an important call to make don't disturb me".

'I'm not even able to stand the sight of this idiot these days. Kayla! She should have been my wife. She was my junior in college, and we both fell in love but before I could tell Dad about her, Surya ruined it. Even though Kayla was half Indian, half British she grew up like any normal Indian girl here in Delhi. I would have made Dad agree since her father was a Cabinet Minister at that period, it would have even benefited our business. But no! Dad had to choose this Padmini for me, in the name of culture and family values. I admit I was taken aback by her beauty and the raw innocence of a village girl; I was young and hormones raging. Can you blame me? When boys my age amidst my family and friends had girlfriends or at least had experienced the company of women in some form; I was a virgin at the age of 22. Shamefully speaking! I stayed that way as I had promised my parents - No alcohol, no women, and no drugs! They had a knack for extracting promises that made my life excruciatingly painful. Well, Kayla left for England, heartbroken after the news of my betrothal.

Well, after Surya my elder brother was outcasted by my dad, I decided to be even more obedient. Shit! there was way too much fortune and wealth, to be thrown away! Not even a blind man would do that. I had always dreamt of leading the Jagannath Group.

Surya was more into the academic side, he is a Professor now at MIT in Massachusetts, never cut to run this empire. Little did I realize that my respect and adoration towards Dad was going to cost me my life. I loved and admired my Dad to a fault! He was my superhero! A man from a remote village near the borders of Uttar Pradesh to come to the capital city and start a business and have made a mark in the market in two decades is not a joke. It was only in this aspect that he failed me, which is a major chunk considering that I was destined to spend my entire life with her.

A few days after marriage I learned, that Padmini had completed just the twelfth standard, that too in Hindi medium, did not know English, not a single word. It was much later that she made an effort to learn English, with Parul's persuasion, even now is nervous to speak in English.

She's not fit for the society that I belonged to, in any way. She was the Sanskaari bahu (perfect daughter-in-law, with Indian values) that my parents wanted but in no way a match for me. My parents loved her and treated her like Parul. I can't stand my sister, just because she follows this woman around like a pup and keeps singing her praise.

Hell! She has everyone under some magic spell of hers. I don't find anything in her except that she looks beautiful that's it, still dresses like the same old villager. Why the hell can't things be simple? Dad had to complicate everything! If I divorce her, I will have to pay a huge amount as alimony, nearly half the property value on the date of divorce to be precise. That's what my father's will says. I'm not willing to lose half the hard-earned property to her. She isn't worth that much. Fuck! She isn't worth anything, she hasn't earned a single penny in her life.'

Author's note:
Hello dear friends! Thanks to all those who have read my work so far🙏
Thanks to those who have commented and voted🙏❤
your support means a lot.

Please do feel free to share your views.

Domestic violence doesn't mean only physical harm, even verbal abuse and unfair treatment count as domestic violence. They all shatter the said individual's spirit.