The morning after the ‘night of lights’ dawns. It is quiet and deserted on the streets. The mustard oil in the earthen ‘diya’s’ has dried up and the cotton wicks, exhausted and burnt black, lie limp and lifeless inside. Remnants of the firecrackers overnight litter the ground all over. The flower decorations on the gates and doors in welcome to the Goddess seem to have lost their evening glory and only the duty bound saunter on the roads.

Another year has gone by, another Diwali has past. A new ’samvat’, the Indian new year, has begun. Life and its circle moves on in never ending motion.

The day after, has always brought with it an emptiness, an energy drain. There is the obvious physical drain because of the exertion of organization, of putting things together, and making the house comfortable and entertaining for guests - the food, the seating, the mixing, individual care, likes and dislikes of those invited. The continuous movement from one group to the other and seeking their requirement and asking after their well being. The service from the staff, the odd conversation here, the odd care there. It is not an easy job to play host. We tend to forget what a lot of effort goes in in making the evening. We just dress ourselves up and enter into the evening when all is done and ready, without ever realizing the value of that hidden hand that silently has worked in making sure all aspects have been attended to. We seldom reflect how it all came to pass and how it was all put together. We overlook, we take for granted that all will be done and ready, never paying attention to the fact that there is always one important person in charge that has labored hard to set the evening up, that has worked quietly and without complaint. That is there yet not there. That knows but never shows. That is present but seems to be not present. That commands but without obvious authority.

And that person is the lady of the house - the wife !

For her, the evening is the opportunity to exhibit her care and attention for the family. It is the opportunity when the fineness of her home will be on display. When others will form opinion of the residence she manages and governs. When from the welcoming flowers at the gate to the manner in which the food is laid on the table shall be under scrutiny and perfection. It is the time when the little nest she built as her own will be under test. Not so much for herself, but for those she cares and loves.

Every woman looks forward to the day when she will be able to be host to those she has sworn and committed her life to, and be host to those that visit her commitment. Wives are particular about this. They think and assess what gives comfort to those that enter her abode. What would suit them, what would please their appetite, what their temperament. What the nature of the crockery would be and the cutlery, how the arrangements for the seating would be executed and which bouquet or flower dressing would look pleasing where. It is a mammoth task and we tend to overlook the fact of how great an effort the lady makes in making the evening a memorable one. It is not done with any selfish motive, for personal aggrandizement, but rather with a feeling of doing something for the other. For those that depend on her, that look to her for guidance and advice. Making a home is not just about making babies and raising a family, it is the effort made in providing the security you expose to others that all is well settled, looked after and in control.

And it doesn’t stop there. It is a continuous process. Today the hosting may be over, but tomorrow the de hosting will start and the process of continuity shall be taken over. And day after day, year after year it continues.

This is a glorious moment of tribute to the better half, for they are the ones that make our life and also our design. When they are not there, homes have crumbled, and the inmates gone astray.

Staying together is the mantra for happiness and joy. Sharing issues, making all a party to what we go through the day, seeking reaction to decisions, valuing the inputs, and practicing the advice is what shall make our lives and our homes a better place to be in.

May I pray for such peace and harmony in every home. For togetherness and love. For sharing with others. For holding hands and walking together, step by step, towards a horizon that will be filled with multiple rainbows - each one only providing happiness and joy ..

Amitabh Bachchan