"Eat properly, Nidhi,"
Alok Mehra said coldly, looking at the girl sitting across the dining table.
"Who knows if that poor family of yours will even be able to feed you well."
Nidhi quietly looked at her plate.
"As if fate will ask for her permission,"
a sharp voice came from the staircase.
Maya Mehra walked down slowly, hatred clear in her eyes as she looked at Nidhi.
Beside her was Ashna Mehra, their real daughter, holding her mother's arm like she truly belonged there.
"I'm done," Nidhi said calmly.
"I'm getting late."
She stood up without any emotion and walked toward her room.
"Oh, don't be so proud," Maya mocked.
"Eat while you can. I really doubt that broken family of yours can afford decent food."
"Yes, your mother is right," Alok added.
"I heard your real parents don't even work. Five useless sons, sick old grandparents…
That middle-class family won't give you any happiness."
There was no hatred on his face.
But there was no love either.
Only pity.
Nidhi said nothing.
She went upstairs, packed her belongings, and came back down quietly.
Just as she reached the stairs, Ashna suddenly blocked her way.
"I'm sorry, sister," Ashna said softly, fake concern dripping from her voice.
"This is not my fault. Destiny played this game.
I never wanted you to leave your comfortable life…
but keeping you here would be unfair to your real family."
Her words were sweet.
Her heart was not.
Nidhi understood her very well.
"I don't care," Nidhi said coldly and tried to walk past her.
But Ashna suddenly grabbed her wrist.
"Now that you're leaving," Ashna smiled,
"I want to give you a gift.
After all, fake or not, you were still my sister."
A sharp light flashed in Nidhi's eyes.
She knew it.
Another drama.
Three months ago, Alok Mehra had met with an accident and needed blood urgently.
When Nidhi went to donate, the reports revealed the truth.
She was not his real daughter.
An investigation followed.
Years ago, due to a hospital accident, two babies had been switched.
Ashna, their real daughter, had been living in a poor household where even two meals a day were difficult.
Maya and Alok brought her home immediately.
Nidhi's name was published in the newspaper.
Within a week, a man called and claimed Nidhi was his daughter.
Alok did a basic check.
He didn't investigate deeply.
He believed Nidhi came from a poor family.
And once the truth was out,
they no longer wanted her in their house.
Suddenly, Ashna rushed out of her room, panic on her face.
"Mom," she said anxiously,
"have you seen my diamond necklace?
The one you bought for me last week.
I can't find it anywhere."
Maya's face changed instantly.
"How can it disappear?" she snapped.
"I'm sure someone stole it."
Her eyes landed on Nidhi.
"Now that she knows her family is poor, she's started stealing," Maya said harshly.
Before anyone could react, Maya grabbed Nidhi's handbag and turned it upside down.
Everything fell on the floor.
And just as Nidhi expected—
a diamond necklace dropped onto the ground.
"I knew it!" Maya shouted.
"She's a thief!
We raised her, gave her everything, and now she's stealing from our own house!"
"Nidhi, how could you do this?" Alok said angrily.
"I never expected this from you."
A deep coldness filled Nidhi's eyes.
"Think whatever you want," she said calmly.
"It doesn't matter to me."
She turned to leave without defending herself.
"Sister, you can't go like this," Ashna cried dramatically.
"I told you I would give you this necklace myself.
Why did you steal it?
Why are you questioning my parents' upbringing?"
That was it.
Nidhi freed her hand and slapped Ashna hard across the face.
The sound echoed through the hall.
Everyone froze.
The quiet girl they thought they knew
was suddenly someone else.
"I knew it!" Maya screamed.
"She's a curse!
Now that her truth is out, she's attacking my daughter!"
She rushed toward Nidhi in rage.
But what happened next—
left everyone stunned.
Their eyes widened in disbelief.
To be continued…