Love Rivals: The Day I Saw Your Tears

53. Miserable Euphoria

He replied with a hint of irritation, "Satish. Honestly, if you were even slightly interested in me, you would have noticed my name on my WhatsApp profile."

His words stung, making me feel belittled. "I'm sorry," I mumbled, feeling the heat rise to my cheeks.

He pressed on, his tone more probing. "Were you ever in a relationship before?"

Startled, I blinked. "What did you just say?"

"Have you ever had a boyfriend?" he clarified, looking directly at me.

"No," I replied, my heart racing.

"Can you handle household chores?" he asked, his expression serious. "I'm not one of those typical guys; I just want to know what kind of wife you see yourself becoming."

I took a deep breath, trying to maintain my composure. "I know I can't be completely honest. I can barely cook, but I can manage. I'm too young to shoulder the entire responsibility of a household, but I'm mature enough to adapt to circumstances."

He seemed satisfied with my answer, but suddenly his expression shifted as he noticed Ryan entering the café.

Great, I thought. Just what I needed --- another headache. Before I could react, Ryan grabbed my hand and yanked me outside.

Satish's face turned dark with anger as he approached us, his voice tense. "I'm sorry, but we're not the kind of open-minded people who let the women in our family meet their male friends at any time and any place."

As he walked away, a strange fear washed over me, tightening around my chest. My heart raced, pounding in my ears, and I felt a sense of dread creeping in. Everything seemed to be spiraling out of control, and I couldn't shake the feeling that my life was unraveling right before my eyes.

Ryan grasped my hand gently and said, "Breathe."

I looked at him, confused by his sudden directive.

"Sarah," he said, his voice calm and reassuring, "you seem to have forgotten to breathe. Just take a long, deep breath."

Following his instruction, I inhaled deeply, feeling the tension in my chest start to ease a little. As I exhaled, Ryan offered me a warm smile that somehow felt grounding. "You are you, Sarah. There's no need for you to pretend to be perfect for anyone. You're already amazing in your own way. Just remember that."

I frowned, my frustration bubbling to the surface. "But I wasn't pretending!"

He shook his head slightly, his gaze piercing through my defenses. "You weren't speaking from your heart, either. Do you want me to explain what I mean?"

I remained silent, simply staring at him in confusion, my mind racing.

He locked eyes with me, his expression serious. "If someone were to ask you if you have a boyfriend, you should respond with something like, 'Why do you want to know?' And when it comes to questions about household chores, your answer could be as simple as, 'I hate it!' That's the real you, Sarah. You shouldn't have to explain yourself for things you don't even enjoy. Do you get what I'm saying?"

His words struck a chord within me, and I realized he wasn't entirely wrong. I often felt compelled to justify my feelings, whether it was about my excuses or lies.

But as I walked through the door at home, that relief faded, replaced by a storm brewing in my heart.
Mom and Dad had completely lost faith in me, their disappointment hanging heavy in the air when they discovered my secret meetings with Satish. I attempted to explain my side, but my words fell on deaf ears. They were so disheartened that they essentially threw up their hands, allowing me to drift through life without any guidance or direction.

The next morning, Satish called off the engagement. A wave of unexpected relief washed over me at the thought of being free from that obligation. But that fleeting happiness quickly turned to regret as I sensed a profound shift in my parents' demeanor toward me. When I was simply unemployed, they treated me like I was worthless. Now, I felt as if I had transformed into a complete stranger within the walls of my own home.

In the stillness of my room, I found myself whispering, "If my imprisonment is the key to their happiness, then perhaps I should accept that leash." I regretted yet another mistake, feeling trapped in a cycle I couldn't escape.

Just then, my phone buzzed, jolting me from my spiraling thoughts. I glanced at the screen and saw a message in our school group chat. It was Ryan. He had sent out his wedding invitation, inviting everyone to the celebration.

"Are you kidding me?" I muttered under my breath.
I felt a fire ignite within me as I clenched my fists. "No way," I vowed to myself, "you won't live happily after destroying my happiness. This marriage won't happen. Not if I have anything to say about it."