Love Rivals: The Day I Saw Your Tears

1. Runaway Days Reappearing

(Sarah's Pov)

A notification popped up on my phone. The screen blinked to life, revealing a message: "Reunion Venue Details". I stared at it for a second, feeling the familiar wave of dread wash over me, but I swiped it away, dismissing it like I had with all the others.

I was getting ready to leave for the café when Mom's voice cut through the silence from the kitchen, "Don't forget to pick up some paneer on your way back!"

"I might be late, Maa," I replied, hoping she'd drop it.

But of course, she didn't. "You're coming home no matter what. Just make sure you're back before it gets dark. Your brother-in-law is coming over for dinner."

I let out a long, silent sigh. This is exactly what I wanted to avoid. Family dinners, the endless questions, the pressure. My sister's husband was always pleasant enough, but every time he visited, the comparisons were inevitable -- who was achieving more, who had their life more "together." I could already feel the weight of the evening pulling on me, and it wasn't even close to dinner yet.

I grabbed my bag, bracing myself for what I knew would be a long night, and stepped out the door.

I took the bus to The Brouche Sip, the café owned by my brother-in-law, Sonal's husband. As the eldest daughter's husband, he ran the place with a blend of precision and passion. I worked there part-time, and he was always fair with my pay. More importantly, he never treated me like a family member when I was on the clock-he was just my boss, and that was something I didn't appreciate much.

I walked in through the café's doors, greeted by the familiar hum of coffee machines and the rich aroma of freshly ground beans. The bustling atmosphere always had a way of grounding me, making the worries of the day seem a little more manageable.

"Late again," he grinned as I walked in.

"Maa has her endless demands," I said while fastening my apron. "And it's all for you. You're coming home for dinner tonight, right?"

"Oh, alright," he replied with a nod, as he gestured toward the counter. "Now, get back to work."

My phone vibrated with a new notification, and I rolled my eyes as I saw what it was. It was from Shriya, the middle child, who never missed a chance to remind me about government service exams. She was always sending me notes, pushing the idea of a stable government job as if it were the ultimate path to success.

It wasn't that I was uninterested -- far from it. I knew the benefits of a stable career in the public sector. But despite my interest, my mind seemed to be at odds with my frustrations, stubbornly resisting the focus required to pursue such exams.

"Sarah, handle the customer," Amreesh, my brother-in-law, said, snapping me out of my thoughts.

"Okay," I replied, and quickly shifted my focus to the task at hand, ready to dive into my work.

As dusk settled, I asked Amreesh, "Can I clock out now?"

"It's not possible today," he said, focused on calculating the bill.

"But I wasn't scheduled for the night shift. I'm leaving," I insisted.

He looked up and said, "Jennifer's taken a leave today, and we have a reservation for tonight. Can you cover her shift, just for today?"

I rolled my eyes and noticed him tapping extra cash on the counter. "Are you trying to bribe me?" I asked with a teasing smile.

"It's extra pay for extra hours. So, are you in?" he replied with a smirk and raised eyebrow.

"Only for today," I said, quickly taking the money. "I'll be sure to mention this extra shift to Sonal."

The doorbell rang, and I called out, "Welcome," though my voice trailed off as familiar faces appeared.

"Sarah, come here for a minute," Amreesh called from the gathering.

"Yeah," I responded, barely audible.

As I made my way to the counter, one of the customers said, "Hey Sarah, it's a surprise to see you here! You've never come to any reunions before, but you're here before everyone else today. I'm surprised."

I barely managed to respond, "Yeah, you all enjoy yourselves. I'll be back soon."