For instance, if you only had Mahnoor (and not any other competitor) with the same kind of rebellion and independent personality she has, would you father be appreciative of her the same way he is of your other niece today?

This is a million-dollar question! As far as I can recall, yes. Before Hajra, he loved Mahnoor a lot because she was his first and only grandchild. So, I believe competition and comparison can change how people see the world and the decisions they make. The same applies to love life. Your husband might find you beautiful, but if he keeps comparing you to someone else, his perspective about you will change.