Love Rivals: The Day I Saw Your Tears

51. Small Lies Leading to Disaster

(Sarah's Pov)

Lately, things have been overwhelming. After the truth about the trip came out, no one in my family believed me, no matter how hard I tried to explain. The situation became even more complicated because of Ryan’s frequent, coincidental meetings with me. My family started jumping to conclusions, thinking we were growing too close. Their suspicions escalated to the point where they’re convinced I might cross my limits with him at any moment. Now, in their panic, they’ve started arranging for my marriage, as if that’s the only solution. I was honestly at a loss, not sure how to feel or react to any of this.

At first, I couldn’t sense any real change when families of potential grooms began visiting. It all felt distant, like some kind of elaborate joke, and I carried on as though none of it was serious. But when my parents finally chose a boy to be my groom and the small ceremonies started, the reality crashed in on me. This wasn’t some drama unfolding on TV -- it was my life, happening right in front of me. Suddenly, I was trembling with anxiety about the future. What would happen to my dreams of being independent? What about the hopes and ambitions my parents had placed on my shoulders for so long? In that moment, I realized I was no longer part of the decision -- I felt like a stranger in my own home.

During the days, I was consumed by following their every instruction, moving like a puppet in their plans. But at night, regret would wash over me, suffocating me as I replayed every misstep from the past. Each failure weighed heavier than the last, making it hard to breathe under the pressure. It felt like being born as their daughter was my biggest mistake, as if I had somehow let everyone down simply by existing.

One day, I broke down in my room, crying uncontrollably. My mom walked in, concerned, and asked what was wrong. Through sobs, I managed to say, "Where did I go wrong? Why are you doing this to me?"

She sighed and replied, “You’re lucky to be marrying into such a good family. Not everyone has that kind of fate.”

"Maa... I'm too young for marriage. What about your dreams for me?" I asked, my voice trembling.

"You can still fulfill them after marriage," she said calmly. "Your father has a reputation in society, and what if tomorrow you do something that ruins his name? You’re slipping out of our control. Before you make a mistake, we just want to fulfill our duty."

I couldn’t hold back the flood of emotions anymore. “I’m not like those girls, Maa. Trust your daughter! I can’t just fit into a life like this. I can’t live among strangers. I don’t want to spend my life doing household chores or caring for someone else. I don’t want to be a puppet, Maa. I just want to breathe.”

Her eyes welled up with tears, and my dad walked into the room. Mom turned to him, her voice cracking, "Shriya didn’t want to marry until she is settled in her career, and I respected that, even though it led to criticism from our neighbors. But now, it’s Sarah. She’s not even serious about her career, and day by day, her behavior is becoming more reckless. We’re doing this for her sake. When people ask me, ‘What is your younger daughter doing?’ I have no answer. When they say they’ve seen her with boys her age, I ignore it because I know they’re her classmates. But when they ask why her male friends frequent the café so much, I have no words. This society won’t let you live peacefully or think with an open mind. Why don’t you two understand what we’re going through?”

I turned to my dad, desperation in my voice. “Dad, I never called them. I don’t even talk to them much. Fine, I won’t meet them again, but I’m really too young to marry. Please, trust me. I’ve never demanded anything like my friends do. I’ve always followed your rules -- I never even went on trips or picnics unless you allowed it. How can that one trip suddenly change how you see me?”

Tears filled my eyes as I continued, “I know I lied about it, but I didn’t do anything shameful. Please believe me, I’m not like those girls you fear. I’ve always respected our boundaries. Why is this happening to me?”

No one listened to my cries. No one cared about my screams. My dad, without a second thought, declared the date of my engagement and stormed out of the room. I was left standing there, shattered, while the walls -- silent and unmoving -- became the only witnesses to my pain. They were like a well-wisher, quietly absorbing my agonized moans, while the rest of the world moved on as if nothing was breaking inside me.