Chapter 2 The Woman His Mother Never Accepted
Chapter 2
The Woman His Mother Never Accepted
The moment Aadhira stepped out of the ballroom, the cold night air hit her skin like freedom.
Behind her, the music had already started again.
Of course it had.
Rich people always knew how to pretend nothing happened.
Her heels clicked softly against the marble floor as she walked through the long corridor leading toward the private family wing of the mansion. The Oberoi Mansion was enormous, almost palace-like, with walls covered in old portraits and chandeliers that probably cost more than most people's homes.
Yet despite living here for three years, it had never felt like home.
Not really.
As she reached the staircase, a familiar sharp voice stopped her.
"I knew this girl would create trouble one day."
Aadhira closed her eyes briefly.
Savita Oberoi.
Her mother-in-law stood near the hallway entrance in an expensive silk saree, diamonds glittering around her neck. Even in her fifties, she carried herself like royalty. Cold eyes, perfect posture, and a face that never truly softened whenever Aadhira was around.
Disapproval practically lived in her expression.
"What kind of decent woman humiliates her husband publicly?" Savita continued, her voice low but poisonous enough to cut deep. "And on an anniversary party? Shameless."
Aadhira stayed quiet.
There was no point arguing anymore.
In three years, she had learned something important about Savita Oberoi.
Nothing would ever be enough.
Not the way Aadhira dressed.
Not the way she spoke.
Not how politely she behaved.
Not how hard she tried.
Because in Savita's eyes, Aadhira had committed the greatest sin possible-
She wasn't born into wealth.
The Oberois were old money. Powerful. Respected for generations.
And Aadhira?
She was an orphan raised by her grandmother in a small house with more love than luxury.
Savita had never forgiven her son for marrying "beneath his status."
"Savita enough"
A calm masculine voice interrupted the tension.
Aadhira looked up to see Rajesh Oberoi walking toward them slowly. Unlike his wife, Arjun's father carried warmth in his presence. His hair had begun turning grey, but his eyes remained kind and observant.
He glanced once at Aadhira's pale face before looking at his wife.
"That's enough," he said gently.
Savita crossed her arms. "You saw what happened downstairs."
"I did."
"And you still support this behavior?"
Rajesh sighed softly, already sounding tired. "Not every issue needs to become a war."
Aadhira lowered her eyes quietly.
That was always how he handled things.
Neutral. Peaceful. Careful.
He cared for her-she knew that. He often checked whether she had eaten, defended her subtly in conversations, brought her books because he remembered she liked reading.
But when it came to standing against his wife...
He never did.
Perhaps after thirty years of marriage, peace had become more important than fairness.
Savita looked disgusted. "This girl has ruined the atmosphere of the entire party."
Before Aadhira could respond, another voice suddenly entered the hallway.
"Honestly, Mom, bhabhi ruining the party is still more entertaining than your kitty-party gossip."
Aadhira blinked in surprise.
Rhea Oberoi walked downstairs with effortless confidence, her phone still in her hand. Behind her came Kabir, Arjun's younger brother, looking half amused already.
"Rhea," Savita warned sharply.
"What?" Rhea shrugged innocently. "At least bhabhi made tonight interesting."
Kabir grinned. "Actually, bhabhi filing for divorce before bhai even realizes he's obsessed with her?
Despite everything, Aadhira almost smiled.
Almost.
From the very beginning, Arjun's siblings had welcomed her like family. Sometimes she genuinely wondered if they loved the idea of her and Arjun together more than the couple themselves ever had.
Even before the marriage, they used to tease Arjun endlessly whenever Aadhira visited with Dadi.
Especially because Arjun became... different around her.
Softer.
Less robotic.
Back then, everyone noticed it except the two people involved.
"Remember college fest?" Kabir laughed lightly. "Bhai literally left an investors meeting because bhabhi had fever."
Rhea gasped dramatically. "And then he acted like he 'just happened to be nearby.'"
Aadhira's chest tightened painfully.
Those small moments had once meant everything to her.
Because despite the coldness now... there had been a time when Arjun looked at her differently.
Before marriage.
Before expectations.
Before something between them broke beyond repair.
Savita looked irritated. "Stop encouraging this nonsense."
"Nonsense?" Rhea frowned slightly. "Mom, bhabhi has cried enough in this house already."
The hallway fell silent.
Savita's expression hardened instantly while Rajesh looked away uncomfortably.
Aadhira felt exposed suddenly.
Embarrassed.
She hated people seeing her pain.
Especially this family.
Before anyone could speak again, another warm voice echoed from upstairs.
"My child."
Everyone turned immediately.
Dadi stood near the balcony railing, leaning lightly on her walking stick. Age had weakened her body but never her sharp eyes. Unlike most people in this mansion, her affection for Aadhira had never felt conditional.
She truly loved her.
Maybe because she understood loneliness better than anyone else here.
"Aadhira," Dadi called gently, "come upstairs with me."
Without waiting for permission from anyone, Aadhira quietly walked toward her.
As she passed by Savita, she heard the older woman mutter under her breath-
"This girl was never right for our family."
Aadhira's steps paused for the smallest second.
Pain flickered across her face.
But before she could continue walking, a deep familiar voice suddenly spoke behind them.
"She's my wife."
The entire hallway went still.
Arjun stood near the entrance, his expression dark and unreadable.
His grey eyes moved toward his mother slowly.
"And no one in this family," he said calmly, "will disrespect her ever again."