The Wrong Kind of Touch
Meera was still sitting on the floor of the pooja room.Her eyes were red from crying.
The small cut near her forehead still stung slightly.
For a few minutes...
Meera just stayed there silently.
Her fingers trembled slightly as she pressed them against her wet cheeks.
Trying to stop crying.Trying to breathe normally again.
But Aarav's words kept echoing inside her head.
"You act like a girl desperate to sleep with me."
Her eyes closed tightly again.Pain flashed across her face instantly.
"Why...Why do his words still hurt this much...i just can't take this anymore.." she whispered shakily to herself, fresh tears slipping down again .
She quickly wiped her face angrily.
As if she hated herself for crying over him again.
Then suddenly..
Her phone started ringing loudly. Meera blinked quickly.She hurriedly wiped her tears with the back of her hand and picked up the phone.
Her eyes softened instantly seeing the name on the screen.
"It's Veer Calling..."
For the first time after everything.
A tiny smile appeared on her face.
She quickly answered the call.
"Hello Veer? " her voice came out soft and slightly broken, though she tried to sound normal ..
"MEERAAA!" Veer shouted dramatically from the other side immediately, his voice loud enough to make her pull the phone slightly away from her ear .
Meera closed her eyes briefly.A tired smile appearing on her lips.
"You seriously scream like a child every single time." she muttered weakly, exhaustion clear in her tone .
"First hello and then you already insulting me?This is exactly why nobody loves you, Ms. Meera Sharma." he complained loudly, fake hurt dripping from every word .
Meera let out a weak laugh despite herself.
"Shut up, Veer. You talk too much." she whispered softly.
Ruchika's loud voice suddenly echoed from behind him.
"DON'T LISTEN TO HIM, MEERA!He's been acting like a monkey since morning!" she shouted dramatically from the background .
"OI, Ruchi !!I heard that!You always insult me in front of people!" Veer protested instantly.
Ruchika scoffed loudly."Because you deserve it."
Meera smiled properly this time.
Hearing them...
For a few moments..She forgot Aarav completely.Then Veer spoke again.
"Anyway listen. Convocation preparations are almost done.And after that..." he said excitedly, sounding much calmer now .
His voice became dramatic again instantly."ME AND RUCHIKA ARE COMING TO YOUR PLACE!" ..
Meera blinked slightly.
"Here?To Oberoi mansion?" she asked softly.
"Yes, madam," Veer replied proudly
"And then we'll celebrate Holi together properly.And this time nobody escapes from colors!Especially YOU, Meera!"Ruchika screamed again from behind.
Meera smiled slowly hearing that.
After everything that happened today...
This was the first thing making her genuinely happy.
"Okay...Come fast then.I'll finish my work quickly." she whispered softly.
Then suddenly her tone changed slightly.A teasing softness entering her voice.
"And Veer..."Meera said.
"Hm?"Veer answered.
"Tell Ruchika to get ready early for once.She always gets late because of makeup." she teased lightly .
"EXCUSE ME?!" Ruchika shouted dramatically from behind .
Veer burst out laughing loudly.
"SEE?!I told you even Meera agrees with me!" he yelled proudly.
"I hate both of you." Ruchika groaned loudly.
"No, you love us. Specially Meera." Veer replied proudly.
"Unfortunately." Ruchika muttered dramatically.
Meera laughed softly again.Then Veer suddenly became suspicious.
"Wait.Why do you sound weird?" he asked slowly, concern entering his voice now .
Meera froze .
"What?" she asked quickly.
"You sound tired.And your voice...like you were crying?" he paused briefly.
Meera immediately looked away instinctively.Even though he couldn't see her.
"No. Just tired from work." she lied softly.
Veer stayed silent for a few seconds.
Like he knew she wasn't telling the truth.
Ruchika's voice came again in the background.
"What happened?" she asked softly.
"Nothing Ruchi..." Veer murmured distractedly.
"Did someone say something to you?"Then he spoke again to Meera.
Meera's fingers tightened slightly around the phone.Aarav's face flashed through her mind instantly.
His cruel words.Her chest hurt again immediately.But she forced herself to smile weakly.
"I'm okay, really . You don't have to worry." she whispered softly.
"You know you're terrible at lying, right?" he muttered gently .Veer sighed quietly.
Meera looked down silently.She almost wanted to tell him everything.
But she couldn't.So instead..She forced a lighter tone again.
"Stop acting like an emotional uncle," she muttered softly .
"WOW.Now you're insulting my emotions too?" Veer gasped dramatically again.
Ruchika burst out laughing loudly behind him.
" Just come carefully, okay?" she said quietly, genuine concern softening her voice .
"We will . Don't worry." Veer replied immediately.
"Okay." Meera whispered gently.
The call finally ended.
And Meera stared silently at the dark phone screen for a few seconds.
The small smile slowly faded again.
Reality returning quietly.
Then slowly...
She took a deep breath.Because no matter how broken she felt inside..
Her work never stopped.And neither did life.
A few minutes later...
Meera finished arranging the pooja room carefully. She cleaned the scattered colors from the marble floor slowly, trying to distract herself from the storm still raging inside her chest.
But no matter how much she worked...
Aarav's words still echoed painfully in her mind.HShe quickly blinked the tears away.
"No more crying Meera...You are strong. You can survive .." she whispered softly to herself.
Then finally..
She picked up the prasad tray carefully and stepped outside quietly.
But the moment she entered the hallway..
"Meera.. You are here. I was looking for you."Janvi's voice stopped her immediately.
Meera turned quickly.
"Yes, ma'am? Do you need me do something?" she asked respectfully.
Janvi stood near the staircase, watching her carefully.
"There are guests waiting in the living room for prasad. Go serve them quickly before your Vishwanath sir starts panicking again." she said calmly.
Meera nodded immediately.
"Okay, ma'am. I will go there now." she replied softly.
She was about to leave..But Janvi suddenly spoke again.
"Wait , beta."Meera stopped instantly and turned back.
"Yes, ma'am . Do you want to say something?" she asked quietly.
Janvi's eyes slowly moved over Meera's appearance.From her old white dress...Then her brows furrowed slightly.
"Didn't anyone put color on you yet?" she asked softly. Surprise and concern both visible in her eyes.
Meera froze instantly.She didn't know what to say.Her fingers tightened slightly around the tray.
Then slowly...She shook her head.
"No, ma'am. I was cleaning the pooja room." she replied quietly. A faint sadness slipped into her voice.
Janvi stared at her silently for a moment.Then her expression softened deeply.
"Oh...That's not good at all." she murmured gently.
Before Meera could understand
Janvi picked up a little red gulal from the nearby silver plate.
And then.Very softly...Janvi applied the color to Meera's cheek.
"Happy Holi, beta," she said warmly.
Her voice carried a motherly tenderness that Meera had missed for years .Meera stopped breathing for a second.
And suddenly..It didn't feel like Janvi Oberoi standing in front of her anymore...
It felt like her mother again Her mom Sita .Her throat tightened instantly.
And before she could stop herself
A tear slipped down her cheek silently.
Janvi noticed immediately.
"Meera?What happened?Did someone say something to you?" she asked softly, concern filling her face instantly.
Meera shook her head quickly.
"No... no, ma'am...It's just.." she whispered. But her voice trembled badly.
Janvi frowned more hearing that trembling voice.
"Then why are you crying like this?Did something happened?" she asked quietly. Her fingers lightly cupped Meera's face with care.
Meera lowered her eyes immediately.
Trying to hide herself.Trying to stop crying.But it only became harder.
"It's just...After my mother died...I stopped feeling mother's love from anyone." her voice cracked painfully.
Another tear rolled down slowly.
Janvi's expression changed instantly.
Pain flashed across her eyes too. Meera looked down at the floor.
"But whenever you care for me...I feel like maybe... maybe my mother is still loving me somehow." she continued softly.
Janvi looked emotional too.She placed her hand over Meera's head affectionately and stroked her hair gently.
"Don't cry, beta.You mother will sad if you cry.Your mother stayed loyal to this family till her last breath.She protected this house like it was her own.She loved my children like they belonged to her too." she murmured softly. A faint emotional smile appeared on Janvi's lips.
"So tell me...How can I not love her daughter?" she asked gently.
Meera's eyes filled instantly hearing that.Her tears fell faster now.
"i don't know... ma'am... you love me that much " she whispered emotionally.
Janvi immediately shook her head lightly.
"No 'thank you.You are family to this house too." she scolded softly.
Meera looked stunned hearing those words.Nobody had called her that in years.
Janvi noticed her expression and smiled gently.
Then suddenly....
Her eyes moved toward the tiny cut near Meera's forehead...
"What happened here?" she asked sharply.
Meera's hand quickly moved to her forehead unconsciously.
"Oh... it's nothing.I slipped while cleaning." she replied quickly.
Janvi looked unconvinced.
"Meera.Look at me." she said slowly.
Meera hesitated slightly...Then slowly looked up.
Janvi studied her face carefully.
And something inside her became uneasy.
But before she could ask more..
Voices from the living room echoed loudly.
"Prasad! Someone bring prasad!"
Janvi sighed softly.Then gently wiped Meera's remaining tears herself.
"Enough crying now . Go serve the guests before they start complaining that Oberoi family forgot them completely." she murmured warmly.
Meera let out a tiny laugh through tears.
"Okay, ma'am." she whispered softly.
She turned slowly to leave.But after taking two steps. She stopped again.
Then turned back quietly.
"And... thank you for loving me," she whispered emotionally.
Janvi's entire expression softened again..She entered the living room carefully with two other maids, all of them holding silver plates filled with prasad.
Her white dress still carried faint marks of pink and red gulal now.
And the tiny cut near her forehead...
But she ignored it.Like she ignored everything else in her life.She started serving the guests one by one.Trying not to look toward anyone too much.
Especially not Aarav.And definitely not Omkar.
Because after what happened in the pooja room...She didn't trust herself emotionally anymore.
But fate clearly had no intention of giving her peace today.
"Hey, Meera. Give here prasad."Omkar's voice stopped her instantly.
Her fingers tightened slightly around the prasad plate.
She turned.Omkar sat comfortably beside his parents on the large sofa, one arm resting lazily behind him.
And beside the opposite couchAarav sat with his cousins.
And the moment Meera looked up.
She realized something immediately.
Aarav was already staring at her. Meera's heartbeat became uneven instantly.
She looked away quickly.Then forced herself to walk forward.
"Prasad..." she said softly. Her voice polite but slightly nervous.
She first handed the plate respectfully toward Vikram.
"Thank you, beta." Vikram said warmly, taking the prasad with a calm smile .
Then she moved toward Vaishnavi.
But the moment Vaishnavi saw her clearly.Her eyes widened in surprise.
"Oh!Aren't you the same girl from our party that day?" she asked warmly. Genuine recognition .
Meera froze immediately.Fear flashed across her face before she could hide it.
Because for one painful second..
Now comes the reminder that she's
"She is just a maid. And maybe they will also disgusted her now."
She nodded.
"Yes... aunty i was there . " she replied quietly. Her fingers tightened around the tray slightly.
But instead of disgust..Vaishnavi's smile became even softer.
"I knew I remembered you!" she said softly.Then she looked Meera up and down carefully.
"What are you doing here, beta?" she asked curiously.Meera lowered her eyes slightly.
"Aunty I work here as servant..." she replied softly.
The words came out quieter this time.
She waited for the expression change.
But instead..Vaishnavi looked genuinely surprised.Then warm again.
"Oh...Well... I didn't expect to see you again here." she said softly.
Then she smiled affectionately.
"But honestly... I'm it's nice to see you here. S" Kindness and sincerity shined openly in her eyes .
Meera blinked slowly.Her throat tightened slightly.Because she wasn't used to kindness without conditions anymore.
A small genuine smile appeared on her face too.
"I'm happy to see you too, aunty. I hope you're enjoying the celebration." she replied honestly.
Vaishnavi nodded immediately.
"Very much!Your Janvi ma'am always organizes Holi beautifully." she laughed softly.
Then she leaned slightly closer.
"But now that I've seen you again...you are hard working girl . I like when girl earn their own." she added playfully.
Meera looked genuinely touched hearing that.A faint emotional smile appeared on her lips.But before Vaishnavi could continue...
Omkar suddenly interrupted smoothly.
"Mom...She's working right now.And if you keep talking to her like this...She'll forget everyone else and only talk with you.." he said lightly.Then his eyes shifted toward Meera slowly.
Vaishnavi laughed immediately.
"Oh right!Sorry, beta. Go continue your work."Then she looked at Meera apologetically.
Meera nodded quickly.
"It's okay, aunty." she replied softly.
But before she could move away..
And across the room..
Aarav's become cold..His fingers curled slowly against the glass in his hand.
His eyes never left Omkar.Meera handed prasad toward Vaishnavi again politely.
But Vaishnavi suddenly noticed the tiny cut near Meera's forehead.
Her expression changed instantly.
"Oh my GodWhat happened here?" she asked softly.Meera instinctively touched her forehead.
"It's nothing. I slipped while working." she replied quickly.
Omkar's eyes narrowed slightly hearing that.
He didn't believe her.
Vaishnavi still looked unconvinced.
"You should put medicine on it. Small wounds ignored at the beginning become painful later." she said gently.
Meera nodded softly.
"I will, aunty. Don't worry."
Then quietly..She moved away to serve the other guests.But throughout the entire interaction..Aarav watched silently. He noticed the more comfortable Meera seemed around Omkar's family...
The darker Aarav's expression became.Because somewhere deep inside..Something ugly was rising again.
Meera finally finished serving everyone.She stepped out of the crowded living room and moved toward the garden area.
The moment she entered outside..
Loud music hit her ears immediately.
Colors flew through the air.
People danced freely near the fountain while children screamed excitedly, throwing gulal at each other.
But Meera...Still felt emotionally tired.
She stood near the stairs for a second taking a slow breath.Trying to forget everything that happened inside.
And then..Her eyes suddenly widened slightly.
"VEER! RUCHI!"A real smile appeared on her face instantly.
Near the enter gateVeer and Ruchika stood looking around through the crowd.
Veer wore a blue kurta now completely ruined with colors while Ruchika looked equally chaotic in pink and blue gulal all over her cheeks.
And both of them clearly looked lost.
Meera couldn't stop smiling seeing them.Something inside her felt lighter.
"They actually came..." she whispered softly to herself.
At the same moment...Veer spotted her too.
"MEERAAA!" he shouted loudly from across the garden, waving one hand dramatically like a madman .
Several guests turned to look at him immediately.Ruchika smacked his arm instantly.
"Stop screaming! This is not a fish market!" she scolded loudly, embarrassment clear on her face .
Veer looked offended immediately.
"Excuse me? My emotions are pure!Not like you." he argued .Then he pointed toward Meera.
"Look at her! She missed me already!"
Meera laughed softly seeing them fight even from far away.
She started walking toward them quickly through the crowd.Her smile slowly widening ...
But suddenly..
A strong hand grabbed her wrist from behind.Before she could react..
Another hand covered her mouth tightly.Meera froze instantly.Her heart nearly stopped.
"Mmmph...!"The tray almost slipped from her hands.
Panic exploded inside her immediately.Before she could scream
The person pulled her sharply away from the crowd.
Meera struggled immediately.
"Mmmph... let me...wh...who are you..!"
She tried desperately to pull the hand away from her mouth.Her heartbeat thundered painfully inside her chest.
Then suddenly..
The grip loosened slightly.Meera stumbled back against the wall immediately.
She looked up.And froze.Meera's fear instantly mixed with shock.