Nice post and topic Fary.
With Imlie's return, a lot of things have changed, made more noticeable by her sunny disposition. Everyone feels lighter, a cloud has lifted with her arrival. They all missed her and knew how the house felt, including Adi. He is able to appreciate how Imlie has infused life into his family again.
The T's maybe a bit slow, but some things they let go to maintain the harmony and peace in the family and with their samdhis. They are good gentle souls. Anu has unfortunately abused this very nature far too many times and now they have decided to strike back in their own fashion, by refusing to engage with them, at any level. They are hospitable when they visit their house but refuse to take any more insults from them. The last visit by Anu when she threatened to break up AdiMun, their shaadi over the supposed behavior by Adi, was the last straw that broke the camel's back.
For all Anu's care on sindoor, MS and all that is attached to the symbols of a marriage, she herself does not sport any. Expects things to be perfect for Malini and her tamasha by throwing water to erase the footprints of Imlie in the house post Holi was a rude tantrum. She threw water to erase the symbol but could not wash it away. She cannot erase Imlie from Adi's life, she is here to stay. She will react in a bad way for sure and will be unable to control herself as her daugher's marriage is in shambles.
Remember Malini, when she came back from his office and the T's were trying to uplift her mood by planning a party for Adi, she just walked off saying I am tired and need to rest. LOL.. she has never made any efforts to understand and mingle with them. It was all a show.
Just as Malini thought that Adi never insists or lavishes so much of attention on me, just gives up after a token - try na, did she ever reciprocate ? She never had a word for the T's when they said they are busy to attend the Puja. She could not even bring herself to utter, pls try to come, it will be nice if you all can make it for the puja. Nope they never matter and had this been Imlie, she would have found a way to convince them.
The comparisons will only grow in Adi's mind and hopefully in the T's mind as well in the coming days.