Obsessed Hearts : The Kalank Of Loyalty (ON HOLD)

|| Chapter 2: The Grace of Rajasthan: Meera Sharma ||

As the sun rose over the arid plains of Rajasthan, casting a golden hue across the vast stretches of land, a small, unassuming village came to life. The village, nestled amidst the rolling sand dunes, was a stark contrast to the opulence of the Rajvansh Palace, yet it held its own beauty—a beauty rooted in simplicity, tradition, and the rhythm of daily life. It was here, in this humble setting, that Meera Sharma's life unfolded.

At 20 years old, Meera Sharma was the very embodiment of grace, humility, and quiet strength. Her beauty was of the kind that didn't need embellishment—her long black hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall, and her deep, mesmerizing eyes seemed to hold within them the serenity of the desert night. With her fair skin and delicate features, she was often compared to the goddesses of old, but it was her innocence and natural charm that made her stand out.

Yet, despite her ethereal beauty, Meera's life was far from a fairy tale. She lived in a small, modest home with her strict, overbearing parents and her only sibling, her elder brother, Raghav. While her brother was a source of love and support, her parents were the opposite—a suffocating presence that dominated every aspect of her life.

Meera's father, Vishwanath Sharma, was a man of traditional values, and those values, unfortunately, often manifested as control and dominance. He was a man who believed that daughters were meant to obey without question, to live their lives according to the dictates of the family, and to suppress their own desires. Meera's mother, Savitri, wasn't much different. She echoed her husband's sentiments, often harsh and cold towards Meera, seeing her daughter not as an individual but as a duty to be fulfilled.

But despite the suffocating environment she grew up in, Meera's spirit remained unbroken. She was like a lotus flower, rising above the mud and muck to bloom beautifully. Her kindness, resilience, and inner strength shone through in the way she interacted with the world around her, especially with her brother Raghav, who was her closest confidante and protector.

A Day in Meera's World: The Routine of Kindness

The village was just beginning to stir as Meera stepped outside her small home. Dressed in a simple anarkali , her long hair loosely braided. Despite the early hour and the weariness that tugged at her bones from the previous day's chores, Meera greeted the day with her usual quiet smile.

As she walked through the village, she exchanged soft greetings with the other women who were out fetching water or sweeping the dusty paths in front of their homes. Though Meera was shy and quiet, the villagers loved her for her gentle nature. She was known for her generosity and willingness to help anyone in need, despite her own struggles at home.

When she reached the well, a few other women were already gathered, chatting in hushed tones about the latest village gossip. Meera greeted them with a polite nod, but she kept to herself, as she often did. She wasn't one for gossip or idle chatter. Instead, she focused on her task, lowering the pot into the cool water and pulling it back up with practiced ease.

As she turned to leave, one of the women, an elderly neighbor named Laxmi, called out to her. "Meera, beti, how is your mother? I heard she wasn't feeling well."

Meera offered a small smile, grateful for the concern. "She's better, thank you, Laxmi aunty."

The older woman nodded, her wrinkled face softening with sympathy. "You're a good girl, Meera. Always taking care of everyone. Don't forget to take care of yourself too, hmm?"

Meera's smile faltered slightly, but she quickly recovered. "I will, aunty."

But both of them knew it wasn't that simple. Meera's life was one of endless sacrifice—she had been raised to believe that her own needs and desires came second to her family's, and over time, she had internalized that belief so deeply that she rarely thought of herself at all.