Hmmm that could be a thing too but remember they all left her at home pressing clothes and went shopping
I am not saying that he cared for her consistently. What I meant he does love her but he has other things to worry about and she is not in his list of priorities. He makes sure that she has a source of food, clothes, education and maybe some allowance, and mostly leaves things to that. He is not particularly worried whether she has actually eaten or not. Whether she is actually being cared for or not. It is like if Sitara needs something, she will have to ask for it openly. If she is not doing that, it is all fine and good. Occasionally however, he does stand up to his wife's troublesome behaviour. It is also true that he prioritises his own daughter and then his nephew over his niece. What I mean is he does love her but actively caring for her is more of an semi-afterthought for him. This does not make a bad person. Most father figures in the subcontinent are like this. Even to their own children. Sometimes fathers do not even know which class their kid is in, let alone which section or who is their class teacher. It is pretty much regarded as their mother's job. It is the same here. Sitara's caregiving is her Tayi's responsibility while ensuring her survival is her Taya's, according to their worldview. He is doing what he can and what he is expected to do. Even taking care of her marital choices. He refused Qasim on the grounds that Khala Bi does not like Sitara and because Sitara herself has no inclination towards Qasim, otherwise she would have at least endorsed him. He only agreed to the Qatari dude because he was out of options. That is care. It may not be all good but it did exist and still does in some extent.

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