I was in my room, my body trembling as I tried to hide beneath the bedcover. There was no sign of anyone, and I lay curled up, waiting for someone to save me from all this pain. Suddenly, someone touched my shoulder and pulled the cover away. I scurried to the corner of the wall in fear. Priya stood there, looking shocked at the sight of me.
“Meeru, what happened? Your amma, appa, sister, and brother have come. They are in the hall, talking to my daddy. I thought you would be happy to see them,” Priya said.
I wanted to rush out and curl into my mother’s embrace, but I was too scared to leave the room. The monster was outside, waiting. I told myself I would leave this place. I didn’t want good food, new clothes, or the best school. I would be happy in my village, with my family, wearing Janani’s old clothes. I would study in my old school, eat less to save money for my mother, and never ask for anything again.
I don’t know what happened next, but when I opened my eyes, my mother and sister were beside me. I immediately hugged my mother, crying into her embrace.
“Meeru, don’t cry. You have a fever. I’ll take you to the hospital, and we’ll visit grandma. I know you miss her, and that’s why you’re unwell, but she’ll be fine,” amma tried to comfort me, caressing my hair.
I shook my head and tightened my hold around her.
“Amma, please take me with you. I don’t want to stay here. Please, amma, take me with you. I promise I’ll be a good girl. I’ll help Janani with all the work. I won’t ask for anything,” I begged through my tears.
Before my mother could reply, the door opened and the monster walked in. He handed a new cricket bat and ball to my brother, smiling sweetly at me. When he touched my forehead, I flinched, and he quickly pulled his hand back before sitting on the chair. Then, he picked up a stack of cash and held it out to my mother.
“I think you should leave Janani here. Maybe Meera is feeling homesick, and if the sisters are together, she would feel better. You don’t have to worry about them—we will take care of them. Their future will be secured here with us. What is the purpose of keeping the girls at home when your husband isn’t even responsible enough to protect them? What if something happens? Would you be able to protect them?”
I was stunned by his words. Was he really trying to convince Amma to leave Janani in this hell? Would he torture her the same way he tortured me last night? Slowly, with fear, I turned to look at him. He shook his head sharply, warning me to stay quiet. My hand clutched Amma’s forearm, my body trembling uncontrollably.
“Oh my god, she’s shivering, Radhika. Let me take her to the nearby hospital. You get ready in the meantime, and we’ll visit Mother-in-law at the hospital. I don’t think Meera should travel far—let her rest at home,” he said smoothly.
I buried my face in Amma’s chest, refusing to let her go.
“Amma, I’m fine. I don’t want to go to the hospital. Please, Maa,” I begged, shaking my head vigorously, desperate not to leave her.
“It’s okay, Meeru. You don’t have to go to the hospital. Just lie down, and I’ll get some tablets and porridge,” Amma comforted me softly.
I lay down on the mattress, pulling Janani close beside me. She tucked the bedsheet over us while Amma left to bring food. When she returned, she tried feeding me, but I had no appetite. I forced myself to eat a little and swallowed the tablets. Amma sat by my side, gently patting my head. Under her touch, I finally felt a little calm and drifted into sleep—but even then, I held Amma and Janani tightly, terrified they might leave me alone with the monster.
I had slept for a long time when I suddenly felt something crawl on my leg. Fear and instinct took over, and I jolted awake to find Manoj sitting beside me.
“What happened, Meera? Everyone has gone to visit grandma, and they asked me to take care of you. Let me check if your fever has gone down.”
Manoj reached out, about to touch my neck with the back of his palm, but I pulled back. My body was trembling, and I noticed a strange change in his expression.
He leaned closer, and when I tried to push his hand away, he gripped mine tightly and pressed his palm against my forehead and neck. His hands lingered far longer than necessary. Tears rolled down my cheeks, and I began hiccupping helplessly.
“Why are you crying, Meeru? Don’t be scared. I’m not like my father—I won’t hurt you.”
I froze at his words. The realization struck me—he had seen everything last night, yet he hadn’t saved me from his monster of a father.
“Please… leave me alone,” I whispered, my voice breaking with fear.
But instead of leaving, Manoj sat down beside me, leaning against the wall. He wrapped an arm around my shoulder, pulled me close, and before I could move away, he leaned near my ear and kissed my earlobe. Disgust and nausea churned inside me—I wanted to throw up.
“I’ll be gentle, Meeru. Don’t be scared,” he murmured.
Horror washed over me as I understood what he meant. I tried to slip away, desperate to escape the room, but Manoj blocked my path. Shaking my head frantically, I folded my hands and pleaded with him to let me go.
“Meeru, be a good girl. Did you forget my father’s words? I have photos of you from last night. If I show them to the people in your village, they’ll kill you and your family. Do you want your sister, mother, and brother to be murdered? Or left to starve without food or money? Stay quiet, and don’t even think of telling your mother—or of running away. You won’t like the consequences.”
******** Trigger warning ***************
His gaze shamelessly dropped to my chest, and panic surged through me. I tried to run into the bathroom to lock myself in, but Manoj yanked me back by my wrist and kissed me forcefully. I struggled, hitting him with my fists, and finally he let go—but only to grab me in a crushing embrace. His hands roamed my body shamelessly as I screamed for help. Then he groped me harshly, and I winced in pain, powerless and terrified.
He opened the gallery and showed me photos of him kissing and hugging me. I stared at them in shock.
“I have more proof now, so shut your mouth and stay still if you want to save your family’s dignity,” he threatened.
I trembled, tears streaming down as I pleaded silently. His hand sneaked inside my night pants. I broke down, sliding helplessly against the wall, yet Manoj crouched lower, continuing what he had started. I squeezed my eyes shut as he groaned. I knew what that sound meant, I had seen the monster do the same last night. My body ached in pain from the assault, until finally he pulled out his hand and I heard the sharp sound of his zip.
“Now be a good girl. Go back to sleep. Your family will be leaving tomorrow. Until then, keep your mouth shut.”
********** Trigger content ends *******
The devil tossed a chocolate at me and walked out of the room.
I felt lifeless. Crawling to the mattress, I pulled the cover over my head. By evening, I heard footsteps approaching and shut my eyes tightly. Amma and Janani sat beside me.
“She’s still burning with fever,” Amma whispered, brushing my hair gently.
Then came more footsteps.
“Aunty, I tried waking her for lunch, but she was asleep, so I let her rest. I brought food for her. She looks so weak,” Manoj lied smoothly.
He is a devil. And Amma didn’t even see it.
“Thank you so much, Manoj. I’m glad Meera has all of you to take care of her,” Amma said gratefully. She pulled the cover from my face and shook me gently. I turned away, unwilling to look at anyone—especially those who had made my life hell.
Amma forced me to eat a little, gave me tablets, and that night, she and Janani slept beside me in the room.
The next morning, I sat by the window, watching the world outside. It felt like I was trapped in a prison. No, I was in a prison.
“How are you, Meera?”
I turned and saw Janani, just waking up, yawning softly. But all I could hear were the devil’s and the monster’s voices echoing in my head. They wanted to ruin Janani and destroy my family. I couldn’t let that happen. They shouldn’t suffer like me. Janani shouldn’t ever face what I had endured.
I turned my gaze back to the world outside.
“When are you leaving?”
Janani was shocked at my question. Why wouldn’t she be? I was the same girl who had been crying until last night, begging to be taken back home, and now I wanted them gone. But how could I make them understand what was happening around us? The least I could do was save her from this hell.
Later that morning, I joined Amma and Janani to meet Grandma. Maybe she would notice the change in me and help me escape this misery. I thought I could use her sickness as an excuse and leave this hell and return to my home.
Grandma lay on the bed, looking weak, her arm in a cast. I held her other arm as she studied me closely.
“Why does she look so weak and pale?”
Everyone turned to me and then back at Grandma. I moved closer.
“Mother-in-law, Meera is worried about you and fell sick. She loves you so much and couldn’t stay away. She will be fine once you’re back home. Isn’t that right, Meera?”
I froze. This monster had twisted everything in his favor. He glared at me, the devil’s threat flashing in his eyes as he subtly showed me his mobile.
“The doctor said we can take Amma home,” Kavitha aunty added, beginning to pack the things in the hospital room. Appa glared at Amma, who lowered her eyes, then stepped closer to me, facing Grandma.
“Amma, I’ll stay with you until you recover completely. He will return home with Janani and Akash. Janani will take care of the house in my absence.”
I was stunned by Amma’s words—shocked, but at the same time relieved. At least I wouldn’t be left alone. She would be with me for a while, protecting me from the monster and the devil. A small smile escaped me as I hugged her, a sigh of relief leaving my lips.
But that relief was short-lived.
“Radhika, don’t mistake me,” the monster began smoothly, “but I don’t think that’s a good idea. Leaving the children alone with your husband doesn’t sound safe. So either you stay back with the children, or we’ll take care of Mother-in-law. We can hire a maid for the household work.”
Of course, everyone agreed with the monster’s words—it was no surprise. I held onto a flicker of hope that Amma would insist on staying with Janani and Akash, or at least that Appa would step up, take responsibility, and assure that he could care for his children in her absence. But nothing happened.
In the end, my parents left with Janani and Akash, leaving me behind to rot in this hell.
**************************
A/N:
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