Anita awoke to the sound of soft coos and gurgles, sunlight streaming through the curtains of the bedroom she now shared with Rishav and his children. Her heart swelled with a mixture of love and trepidation as she glanced at Arjun and Aishe in their cribs, the weight of motherhood heavy on her shoulders. She had spent countless nights in tumultuous dreams, haunted by the specter of Rishav's late wife, feeling the pressure of living up to an impossible standard.

As she tiptoed to the window, the morning air felt fresh, but her heart remained clouded. Rishav had left early for work, as usual, leaving her to navigate the complexities of her new life alone. She thought of the previous evening's dinner, where Rishav had chastised her for a minor mishap with Aishe’s feeding schedule. His sharp words still echoed in her ears: "You need to be more attentive, Anita. This isn’t a game."