Thank you, Oppo, for bringing this topic. I have seen enough views and counterviews.
I want to quote a very different perspective. In every species, parents are supposed to be the nurturers, providers and caregivers. They are wired with the protective gene, which is because of the propagation of species and averting any danger that comes to the children. Why only humans? You would see this in any animal species. Likewise, you'd see a Veena with a fierce protectiveness to her children which includes Prerna too. Mothers often come across selfish, even when it means to subdue the HAPPINESS of their offspring. Reason? Very simple, for them, HAPPINESS is not MORE IMPORTANT than PROTECTION AND SURVIVAL. Hence, Veena was absolutely against Anupre MARRIAGE even before that track. Her sensors had sensed her daughter or child being humiliated, pushed around- READ PHYSICAL POSSIBLE THREAT.
So, Veena behaving a certain way is the MOTHER'S INSTINCT!
On the contrary, you'd see most of the children not caring much about the parents. They might do it out of compassion, but the biological obligation is not there. It's the law of nature. The young thrive, leaving behind the old, non-reproductive parents to find MATES!
Prerna was SELFLESS till the time she found her probable mate and her parents did matter to her till that time. Her insane love for Anurag drives her. Pregnancy also has to CONTRIBUTE to it. Women look for compelling paternal investment. As long as Anurag comes back to her and the baby, she was even ready to let him sexually consummate with another woman!
During the Bajaj track too, she was driven by love, but her maternal instinct basic biology of yearning for Male paternal investment did bring her closer to Rishabh. She started to admire Bajaj- the father. Somewhere, at the back of her mind, she could see him as a sense of security and a daunting father-an ideal male paternal investment in her child.
Anyway, coming back to the TOPIC. Prerna's characterisation is SUBJECTIVE SELFLESSNESS. Her Selfless stems from her COMPULSIVE INSTINCT OF BEING WITH ANURAG SOMEDAY!
Parents will not matter to her anymore. That's why you must have seen parents being abandoned in REAL life too. Basic BIOLOGY!