As I slipped into my dress, the fabric cascading around me in a familiar embrace, I couldn't help but smile. It had been far too long since I last adorned myself in such attire, the demands of married life often dictating a wardrobe filled with sarees and kurtis

Covering the telltale marks of our earlier intimacy with a deft touch of concealer, I descended the stairs to find my husband and children already prepared for our departure. Adhvik's scrutinizing gaze lingered on my attire, silently assessing my choice, but I refused to meet his eyes, maintaining an air of indifference.

With Vihan cradled in my arms and Vrihanika nestled against Adhvik's chest, we formed a picture-perfect family unit, each child claimed by a devoted parent. Despite the underlying tensions that simmered beneath the surface, we presented a united front as we navigated our way through the throngs of paparazzi at the airport, their flashing cameras a constant reminder of the public scrutiny that accompanied our every move.

Settling into our seats aboard the plane, I ensured that both Vihan and Vrihanika were comfortable before coaxing them into slumber, their innocent faces softened by the gentle lull of the aircraft's engines. With a sigh of relief, I tucked them into their makeshift bed, the rhythmic hum of the plane serving as a soothing backdrop to our journey ahead.

As the air hostess signaled for us to fasten our seatbelts, I complied, my heart quickening with each passing minute of the flight. Sensing my unease, Adhvik's hand found mine, offering silent reassurance in the face of my lingering fear. I glanced at our intertwined fingers. How I envied my hands of getting attention from him

"Shit, when did I become this much creepy?" I questioned myself.

"Since you married Adhvik Singhania" subconscious taunted me.

The bitter truth ringing in my ears. With a chuckle, I shook off the unsettling thoughts, focusing instead on the approaching destination and the challenges it would inevitably bring.

After five long hours, the plane touched down in Mumbai, and we were soon whisked away in a car sent by Adhvik's family. The sprawling mansion loomed in the distance, a looming reminder of the expectations and judgments that awaited me.

As we neared the entrance, a wave of apprehension washed over me, my pulse quickening with each step closer to the impending confrontation with my mother-in-law. With a silent prayer for strength, I steeled myself for the inevitable onslaught of criticism and disdain.

In the car, Vrihanika slumbered peacefully in her father's arms, blissfully. Meanwhile, Vihan's excitement bubbled over, his eagerness to see his grandparents palpable in every enthusiastic gesture.

Despite the fraught relationship between myself and Adhvik's parents, one thing remained constant – their unwavering love for our children. They spoiled Vihan and Vrihanika , showering them with affection and gifts.

As Adhvik rang the doorbell, a wave of apprehension washed over me, knowing all too well the reception that awaited us within the confines of his family's mansion. The door creaked open, revealing a maid who wordlessly ushered us inside, granting us entry into the lion's den of familial expectations and judgments.

Stepping into the opulent living room, I couldn't help but feel acutely aware of my choice of attire, the simple dress now seeming woefully inadequate in the presence of Adhvik's disapproving family. With a heavy heart, I approached Adhvik's dadi, seeking her blessings as custom dictated, before tentatively moving towards his parents.

As I bowed to touch their feet, a palpable tension hung in the air, their withdrawal a rejection of the bond that. It was a familiar sting, the cold dismissal of their approval cutting deeper than any words could express.

Turning to Adhvik's chotti maa and paa, I braced myself for a similar rebuff, their disdain a painful reminder of my status as an outsider in their tightly knit clan. The sting of rejection gnawed at me, a bitter reminder of the barriers that separated me from the acceptance I so desperately craved.

Adhvik's family has always hated me since I wasn't there choice. Dadi was the one who chose me and married me to Adhvik

"What type of clothes did you wear?" My mother in law,

Gayathri Raghuvanshi taunted me after a long scrutinized gaze over my dress.

She didn't have problem with my dress but it was with me. It was a mere excuse to taunt me

"Maa, I only told her to wear those clothes so that it would be easy for her to feed Vrihanika" he defended me

"Bitch has wrapped my son on her fingers" my another mother in law, Deepika Raghuvanshi muttered to herself which I hear clearly since I was standing next to her.

"Fine, come and do these tasks. You have plenty to do, so stop wasting time," Gayathri's sharp command echoed through the room.

"She is my wife and daughter-in-law, not your maid. We've just arrived, and you want her to work? There are plenty of maids in this house, so order them, not her. We need rest," Adhvik's voice rang out firmly, his words a resolute defense of my dignity in the face of his mother's disregard.

"Go and take rest, beta," my dadi interjected, her gentle tone.

With Vihan eagerly immersing himself in play with his grandparents, I silently followed Adhvik to our room.

Thirty minutes later, as Vrihanika stirred from her slumber, I cradled her in my arms, feeding her with tender care while Adhvik occupied himself with his emails. With each coo and babble, I encouraged her to speak, longing to hear the sweet sound of "mumma" from her lips.

But to my dismay, her first word was not what I had hoped for. "Paa-pa," she uttered, her innocent voice filling the room with unexpected clarity.

Disappointment surged within me followed by a pang of jealousiness

Adhvik, who had been engrossed in his digital world, suddenly snapped to attention at the sound of his daughter's voice, his surprise evident in the furrow of his brow. The revelation of her first word, spoken not to her mother but to her father.

As Adhvik scooped up Vrihanika in his arms, a surge of jealousy coursed through me.

"Traitor" I muttered an accusation to my daughter

"I heard you, Adhya Singhania," his voice cut through the air, a mixture of amusement evident in his tone.

"I carried her for nine months, yet her first word was 'paapa'," I lamented, frustration coloring my words as I forgot momentarily that I was speaking to Adhvik.

"But it was me who put her inside you" he whispered in my ears making my cheeks  flush.

"Yet it me who gave birth to her, went through all the pains and mood swings"A flush of embarrassment spread across my cheeks as I realized the folly of my words.

"Ji, Iam sorr-"but before I could apologize, his harsh kiss silenced me, leaving me breathless.

"You don't have to apologise for everything Adhya" he told me in a soft tone

As he played with Vrihanika, I took a moment to compose myself before descending downstairs to fulfill my duty of preparing dinner.

"Look, our highness is coming"The sarcastic remarks of my mother-in-law

"I don't know what Adhvik's grandma saw in this orphan''the venomous words of Deepika stung, their disdain a constant reminder of my outsider status within the family while Gayathri nodded

In the solitude of the kitchen, tears streamed down my cheeks as I worked diligently to prepare dinner, the pitying looks of the maids only serving to intensify my feelings of isolation.

Once the meal was ready, I wiped away my tears and composed myself, refusing to let Adhvik see me in such a vulnerable state.

But as I moved to take my place at the table, my mother in law, Deepika commented

"Who will look after Vrihanika if you are here? Go and look after her and eat afterwards" Deepika said to me.

I got off from my seat only to be pulled by adhvik again

"She is not going anywhere and about Vrihanika she is sleeping so let my wife eat in peace" he said emphasising the word my wife.

As the hustle and bustle of dinner subsided, Vihan's cheerful declaration that he wanted to sleep with his grandparents brought a rare smile to my lips.

Pecking his forehead lovingly, I watched him skip off to join them.

Entering our room, I found Vrihanika still peacefully asleep in her crib. With a sigh of relief, I sank onto the bed. Exhausted from the works and responsibilities that had consumed my time and energy, closing my eyes and drifting into a much-needed slumber beside my sleeping daughter.

I was about to sleep until I felt strongly arms wrapping around my waist which made me startle by sudden action

"Don't get scared Adhya, Iam not doing anything and sorry for the way my parents behaved with you" he said and snuggled into my neck inhaling my raspberry perfume.

Soon we drifted into our dreamland in each other's arms

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