Actually Shipra's characterization has been treated very 'down to earth' according to me...One moment she was shown loving and cherishing Priya and the next shown to be step-motherly towards her almost being cruel...that only a natural mother can do...I can totally identify her character of having a unmarried girl who is past marriageable age (according to Indian standards) and thus a headache and heartache for any parent...although she understood and appreciated the things Priya has given up for the family, she cannot ignore being a mom and a women what a life (of loneliness) will be as Priya gets older and when siblings grow naturally apart...found her characterization extremely identifiable with mom in a similar situation...