The Dogra mansion followed a strict routine every morning. By seven-thirty, the house was already awake, filled with the quiet footsteps of the staff, the soft sound of utensils, and the familiar rhythm of a disciplined household. Breakfast was laid neatly on the dining table, newspapers were arranged beside Virendra’s seat, and fresh flowers decorated the corners of the room, reflecting both wealth and order.

Virendra and Sneha Dogra stepped out of their bedroom, fully dressed for office. Virendra adjusted the cuffs of his shirt while walking, his expression calm and focused. Sneha walked beside him, holding her handbag and checking her phone one last time before slipping it inside. She was dressed in a simple yet elegant business suit, her hair neatly tied, her face carrying the quiet confidence of a woman who had built her own identity in the business world.

As they entered the dining area, Damini, Virendra’s mother, was already seated at the head of the table, her posture straight and commanding. The moment Sneha appeared, Damini lifted her eyes and looked at her slowly and deliberately, from head to toe. Her gaze travelled from Sneha’s hairstyle to her formal attire and then to her footwear, as if silently evaluating every detail. She did not say a word, yet her disapproval was clearly visible.

“Arrogant…” she muttered under her breath.

After a brief pause, Damini turned her attention away from Sneha and looked toward Chetna, who was sitting beside her with a gentle smile on her face. Her younger son Chetan’s wife, Chetan had died in an accident ten years ago. Damini’s expression softened instantly, and affection filled her eyes.

“Chetna,” she said warmly, placing a bowl in front of her. “You stay busy with household work all day. You should take better care of yourself. Eat properly. Drink warm water in the morning. Don’t neglect your health. You should rest more. You are the only one who takes care of everything every single day so perfectly, so you have to take care of yourself perfectly too, dear.”

Her tone was full of concern, as if Chetna’s well-being was her only priority. Chetna nodded obediently and replied softly.

“Yes, Maa… I will take care.”

Sneha observed everything quietly. Even Chetna glanced at her for a second and smirked. Sneha noticed the difference in tone, the warmth in Damini’s voice, and the way her eyes shone with affection for Chetna. She also noticed how that warmth disappeared completely when it came to her. This was not new for Sneha. She had seen this behavior countless times, yet every morning it managed to hurt in a different way.

Still, she chose to ignore it.

She sat down calmly and picked up her teacup, pretending to focus on it. Her face remained composed, but deep inside, she felt that familiar heaviness settle in her heart. Years of experience had taught her that reacting would only make things worse.

Virendra, sitting beside her, noticed everything.

He always did. Without saying anything, he gently touched Sneha’s thigh under the table with his own, a small and almost invisible gesture meant only for her. It was his silent way of saying that he understood what was happening and that he stood firmly by her side.

Sneha glanced at him for a brief moment and gave him a faint smile, grateful for his quiet support. That simple gesture meant more to her than any words ever could.

Damini had never truly accepted Sneha.

From the beginning, she had been uncomfortable with her personality. Sneha was educated, confident, and financially independent. She was not the kind of daughter-in-law who limited herself to household duties. She attended meetings, made decisions, and stood equal to her husband in every professional matter. In Damini’s traditional mindset, this independence felt threatening rather than admirable.

After the tragic death of her younger son, Chetan, Damini’s attachment to Chetna and her children, Ved and Vedanshi, had grown stronger. She poured all her emotions into them, perhaps as a way to fill the emptiness Chetan had left behind. Over time, this emotional dependence slowly turned into favoritism.

Sneha understood the reason behind Damini’s behavior, yet understanding did not make it any less painful. She had tried, many times, to win her mother-in-law’s approval. She had tried adjusting, compromising, and remaining silent. But nothing ever seemed enough.

To Damini, Sneha was not the ideal daughter-in-law. She was an arrogant businesswoman. And that, in her eyes, was her biggest flaw.

Chetna was quite observant and noticed Damini’s eyes on Sneha. Therefore, she deliberately placed her favourite breakfast on Damini’s plate and spoke to her with excessive care.

“Maa, please take care of yourself. If I don’t look after you, I don’t understand how you’ll manage to take care of yourself. You don’t pay attention to anything. Now, you don’t even eat unless I prepare the food and put it on your plate myself.”

Sneha completely ignored both Chetna and Damini because she did not want to say anything here. The truth was, she was happy that Chetna was taking care of Damini, but she also knew very well what Chetna was doing and what she was not doing. She had hinted at this to Virendra several times, but Virendra did not want to upset his deceased brother’s family in any way, not even by saying a single word. That was why he always told her to ignore everything.

While the conversation at the dining table continued in its usual rhythm, the sound of the main door opening echoed softly through the hall. A tall young man entered the house with confident yet hurried steps, his presence instantly drawing everyone’s attention. Dressed in formal trousers and a neatly pressed shirt, with a blazer folded over his arm, he carried himself with natural authority and grace. There was something about him that made people notice him without him having to demand it.

Without pausing even for a moment, he walked straight toward Sneha and bent down respectfully to touch her feet, as he did every single morning. It was not a habit forced upon him, but a tradition he followed willingly and with sincerity. Sneha immediately placed her hand on his head, blessing him, pride and affection shining in her eyes.

“God bless you, my son…”

After that, he turned toward Damini and touched her feet in the same manner, followed by Chetna’s. His gestures were polite and composed, reflecting the values he had grown up with. Damini nodded approvingly, momentarily pleased by his respectful behavior, while Chetna smiled softly at him.

As soon as he straightened himself, his eyes began searching the room restlessly. He glanced toward every corner, as if expecting to see someone in particular. When he did not find her, a slight frown appeared on his forehead.

Noticing this, Sneha smiled knowingly and said gently,

“She is finishing some of her work. She said she will be here in five minutes.”

Hearing this, he did not respond. Instead, he turned around immediately and walked briskly toward the staircase, his steps quick and determined. Virendra watched him go with an amused smile, already understanding what he was about to do.

Upstairs, Vidya was sitting at her desk, arranging some files. She had just finished making a few notes when she heard hurried footsteps approaching. Before she could react, the door opened and he stood there, looking at her with clear impatience mixed with affection.

“I was coming… Arre, listen to me first,” Vidya began, trying to explain. “I was just coming down.”

But he did not let her finish. With a playful grin, he walked up to her and gently lifted her into his arms, ignoring her surprised gasp.

“Put me down Suryansh…” she exclaimed, half annoyed and half amused. “Have you forgotten that I am your aunt, not your friend?”

The moment his name echoed in the room, it felt as though it carried its own weight.

Suryansh smiled mischievously and replied, “You made me wait, sweetheart. You know I don’t like that.”

Holding her carefully, he carried her out of the room and brought her downstairs, completely ignoring her weak protests. When they entered the hall like that, Sneha and Virendra could not stop themselves from smiling. They had seen this scene countless times, yet it never failed to touch their hearts. It showed the deep bond he shared with Vidya, treating her not just like an aunt, but like a second mother.

Even Damini, who rarely expressed open affection, found herself smiling at the sight. For a moment, her rigid expression softened, and pride reflected in her eyes.

Suryansh gently placed Vidya on her seat and made sure she was comfortable before sitting beside her. He then picked up a spoon, served food onto Sneha’s plate and then to Vidya, and began feeding her with his own hands, insisting that she eat properly.

Suryansh Dogra was twenty-eight years old, yet his journey had begun much earlier than most people’s. At the age of sixteen, he had started accompanying his father to the office, learning the smallest details of business with complete dedication. He observed meetings, studied financial reports, and absorbed every lesson his father taught him with seriousness beyond his age. By the time he turned eighteen, he had already laid the foundation of his own venture, determined to create an identity separate from his family’s legacy.

Over the years, through hard work, discipline, and sharp intelligence, he had built his business into a respected name in the industry. Today, he was not known merely as Virendra Dogra’s son, but as a successful businessman in his own right, someone whose decisions carried weight and whose presence commanded respect.

Yet, despite all his achievements and status, inside the walls of his home, he was still the same affectionate son, caring grandson, protective nephew, and devoted family member, who believed in maintaining relationships with the same sincerity he applied to his work.

Sneha looked at him with quiet pride, Virendra observed him with satisfaction, and Vidya smiled at him with pure affection. Only Damini, though pleased on the surface, watched him with a complex expression that hinted at emotions far deeper than anyone could understand.

And once again, beneath the appearance of a perfect family, unspoken tensions quietly continued to exist.