It was not a complete nonsense, Meerub was not in her senses that time, it was needed to bring her out of the shock. But I think if it was someone else in this scene it would not have been a problem.
She wasn't having a panic attack and he slapped her way too hard. He was also not trying to calm her down but trying to stop her forcefully. That's why she snapped. She was simply walking pass him crying and he stopped her.


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