I'm Your Healer

~Blame me!~

"Good morning, Papa," Meera greeted softly.

Her father smiled warmly at her as he began eating his breakfast. But before Meera could take a bite of hers, her mother abruptly took the plate away from in front of her.

"Ye tumhare liye nahi hai," her mother said coldly.

Meera froze in confusion, staring at her mother. "Kya matlab?" she asked hesitantly.

Aditi looked at their mother with concern and asked innocently, "Par maa... fir didi kya khayegi?"

Her mother shot Aditi a sharp glare that silenced her immediately. "Tumhe khana khane ki zarurat nahi hai! Vacation pe jaake pet bhar liya na? Ab jao apne kamre mein; mujhe tumhara chehra nahi dekhna hai," she snapped at Meera.

Meera's heart sank at the harshness of her words. She lowered her gaze, trying to hold back tears. Her father intervened gently, "Ab jane do na! Vacation toh ho gaya hai. Vese bhi uski Shivansh se shaadi hone wali hai toh kya farak padta hai?"

"Kya farak padta hai?" Meera's mother repeated angrily. She turned toward him and continued sharply, "Aap toh beech mein mat boliye! Aapke karan hi ladkiyan bigad rahi hain! Palat ke jawab dena seekh rahi hain!"

The argument escalated quickly between them as Aditi watched fearfully. Meera reached out and hugged Aditi from the side to comfort her silently.

"Ab tum khush ho? Tumhare karan ghar mein shanti nahi rahi," their mother said bitterly to Meera. "Sahi kehti hai tumhari mausi-tumhe toh humne itna khila-pila ke moti chamri ka kar diya hai! Ab palat ke hume hi toh marogi!"

Meera finally found the courage to speak up amidst the chaos. "Maa... aap aise kyun bol rahi hain? Maine kya kiya?" she asked softly.

Her mother's anger flared even more. "I just don't want to see your face! Nikal jao yahan se!" she shouted.

The morning was ruined once again as tensions boiled over in the household. Shortly after, Aditi's school bus arrived outside, and she left for school reluctantly after hugging Meera goodbye. Their father left for work at the bank soon after, while their mother headed out for university-but not before locking Meera in her room.

As she sat alone in her locked room, Meera curled up on the floor with her arms wrapped around her knees. Her mind drifted back to a painful memory from years ago-a moment that had scarred her deeply.

She remembered when her mausi's family visited their house one afternoon. While everyone was chatting in the living hall, Meera had been playing in her room with her older cousin. At first, everything seemed normal until he suddenly tried to hold onto her arms awkwardly.

"What are you doing?" she had asked him confusedly as she pushed him away.

But he persisted, leaning closer and placing a kiss on her neck. Uncomfortable and scared, Meera had protested loudly: "Ye kya kar rahe ho bhaiya? Main mummy se aapki shikayat karungi!" She ran toward the door in panic.

He stopped her midway and tried convincing her not to tell anyone about what happened. But before she could escape, he pushed her onto the bed and laid over her while attempting to kiss her again. Terrified and crying loudly by now, Meera struggled against him until she managed to push him away and ran out toward the living hall where both families were gathered.

"Papa! Bhaiya kuch kar rahe the!" she cried out desperately.

Her father looked concerned but confused as he asked gently what had happened. "Kya hua Meera? Kahi gir gayi kya? Kyun ro rahi ho?"

"Bhaiya kuch kar rahe the!" she repeated through tears.

Her parents exchanged bewildered glances before dismissing it lightly: "Koi baat nahi beta... wo bada hai tumse."