Family Breakfast - 8:15 AM
The breakfast room was full when Nimisha arrived. Raghbir sat at the head of the table, reading the newspaper. Saroj was discussing something with Kritika. Shaurya was on his phone, grinning at something. Tanisha was describing her latest shopping trip to her mother.
Normal family morning.
No acknowledgment that today was different.
Nimisha took her seat quietly, accepting tea from the servant who'd actually acknowledged her presence this morning. Small mercies.
"Good morning, bhabhi," Shaurya said with his usual warmth.
"Good morning."
"You look tired. Everything okay?"
"Fine. Just didn't sleep well."
Samarth entered then, dressed in a sharp charcoal suit, looking like he'd gotten even less sleep than she had. Dark circles shadowed his eyes, and his jaw was tight with tension.
Their eyes met briefly across the table.
He looked away first.
"Samarth, finally," Saroj said. "We need to discuss the final preparations for the gala. It's this Saturday."
"I'm aware."
"Kritika has prepared the final guest list. We're expecting—"
"Maa, I don't have time for this now. I have meetings all day."
"But—"
"Later." His tone brooked no argument.
He grabbed a cup of coffee, didn't eat, and left without another word.
Without acknowledging Nimisha.
Without remembering.
She stared at her plate, forcing herself to eat even though everything tasted like ash.
"Nimisha, after breakfast, we need to finalize the seating arrangements," Kritika said. "I've made some changes based on the new RSVPs."
"Of course."
"Oh, Maa!" Kritika suddenly brightened, reaching for a bouquet Nimisha hadn't noticed on the sideboard. "I brought these for you. To say thank you for being like a mother to me all these years."
The flowers were beautiful—expensive white roses and lilies arranged perfectly.
Saroj's face softened. "Beta, you didn't have to."
"I wanted to. You've always been there for me. Supported me. Loved me." Kritika's eyes glistened with genuine emotion. "I don't know what I would have done without you."
"You're like a daughter to me," Saroj said, taking the flowers. "More so than—" She caught herself, glancing at Nimisha.
More so than the daughter-in-law who'd been forced on the family.
