Some men shape the world not through grand declarations, but through quiet strength, steady hands, and hearts that lead with love. Fathers, by blood or by bond, are among life’s greatest blessings. They are protectors, providers, and often, the unsung poets of the everyday.
From the way they rise early without complaint to the way they offer calm in chaos, fathers have a gift for making the world feel safe. There’s something sacred in their presence, something heaven-sent. Their wisdom often comes not in words, but in gestures: a steadying hand on your shoulder, a knowing nod, a well-timed silence.
And perhaps, without even realising it, they leave behind something more: the scent of who they are. A trace of cologne on a collar. The warmth of leather from a worn jacket. The faint spice of tobacco, or the freshness of grass after the garden's been tended. They are whispers of the past, carried on the quiet breath of scent.
When you catch a familiar scent, something identical or even just similar in note, you can feel his presence. The man who anchors your world. Your father. Your husband. That gentle waft when he enters the room. The invisible signature he leaves behind. There’s something in it that quietly says, You’re not alone. It’s comforting. Steadying. Like a silent embrace.
My husband Peter wears Assam Tea & Cardamom. A refined blend, warm, spiced, and quietly sophisticated. Our sons know this scent intimately. They always ask him to wear it. To them, it’s more than a fragrance; it’s the scent of their father. Of childhood. Of home. It’s their olfactory memory of safety and strength.
Even when Peter is away, at work or travelling, the fragrance lingers. On his scarf. In the hallway. In the fibres of a piece of clothing left on the back of a chair. It’s a quiet echo of his presence. A reminder that he is near, even when he's not. The boys naturally gravitate towards it, finding reassurance in something so simple, yet deeply powerful. Because scent, when wrapped in love and memory, transforms into a silent reminder of presence, a source of comfort and security that words alone cannot capture.
This Father’s Day, I want to honour all the fathers, those who show up, love deeply, and lead quietly.
To the ones who stay steady through storms, who speak with their actions more than their words, who lift us without asking for praise, you are seen. You are cherished.
You may not always wear your heart on your sleeve, but your love is written in the everyday moments, and that is everything.
Today, and always, you deserve to be celebrated in ways both grand and quiet.
And I want to take a moment to write a note to Peter.
To my husband,
You are a wonderful man, a devoted husband and an extraordinary father. You made a promise, and you have kept it in every way.
When you chose to take me on, I was a single mother to two young boys. Though we had known each other for a very long time, you stepped in with the quiet strength of someone who understood love not just as a feeling, but as a commitment. You promised to care for my boys as your own, and to stand by me, and you have stayed true to that promise ever since.
Never have I felt insecure with you by my side. Not once have you let me down. You have been present, protective, and constant. To our three boys, you are simply “Dad.” Not a stepfather. Not a distinction. Just their father, always equal, always kind, always there. Even before you became a biological father, your love embraced them fully.
People often say I’m a successful woman, but behind every successful woman is a successful man. And behind that successful man is a successful woman. We’ve never stood in front of or behind one another; we’ve always sat side by side, lifting each other, building together, believing in one another. That is our quiet strength.
So today, on Father’s Day, I just want to say thank you.
Thank you for choosing us, for loving us, and for being the heart of our family.
You’ve given our boys the gift of a real father and given me the comfort of true partnership.
We are so blessed to have you.
Happy Father’s Day, Peter.
Chandrika X
And to all the fathers out there,
Fatherhood comes in many forms. It isn’t defined by biology or titles, but by presence, the kind that stands quietly, yet firmly, through all of life’s moments. It’s found in the man who offers a gentle word, who stays when it’s hardest, who chooses love again and again.
To every kind of father, by blood, by bond, or by choice, your love matters. You are the steady hand, the safe harbour, the quiet strength so many depend on. And often, it’s in the smallest things that your love is felt the most, the unseen efforts, the everyday care, the constant heart.
So this Father’s Day, thank you.
For being there, for loving deeply, and for making life richer just by being you.
Happy Father’s Day.
