The patriarch, if retired, has claimed the verandah or the living room chair. He wears a lungi or dhoti and reads the newspaper so loudly that the rustling sounds like rain. His job is to "supervise" the maid cleaning the floors. His other job is to click the television remote between the news channel and the old Ramayan series, annoying everyone. Yet, his presence is the insurance policy. When the electrician comes to fix the fuse, the family doesn't call a helpline; they call "Papa."

In Indian culture, family is considered the backbone of society. The traditional Indian family is a joint family, where multiple generations live together under one roof. The family structure is typically patriarchal, with the eldest male member holding the highest authority.

The mother of the house finally sits down with a cold cup of chai. But "rest" is relative. She is simultaneously scrolling through the WhatsApp group of the Resident Welfare Association , planning the menu for the weekend when the chacha (uncle) visits from Kanpur, and haggling with the vegetable vendor on the phone.