Love Rivals: The Day I Saw Your Tears

69. The Best You Chose For Me, I Wasn't The Best In It

Mom sat down heavily, pressing her hand to her forehead as if trying to make sense of everything. I knelt in front of her, taking her hand gently in mine.

"Mom," I began, my voice softer now, "I know Nitya is wonderful. She'd make a great wife and an even better daughter-in-law. But no matter how hard I try, I can't be a good husband to her. I've never felt anything for her beyond friendship."

I paused for a while and then I continued, "Yesterday, I was burning up with fever. I was alone, no one was home, and I could barely move. She came to return your saree. Despite knowing her father would scold her, she stayed and looked after me, just because nobody was there to take care of me. She made me soup, made sure I was comfortable, and stayed until my fever broke. Then she left quietly. She risked getting in trouble just because she was worried about me. That's the kind of person I need in my life -- someone who will stand by me, through everything. Someone who cares enough to do the little things that matter."
I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the moment, and said softly, "Mom, when I'm with her, I feel so comfortable. It's like being myself, without any masks or pretenses. When I'm with Sarah, I don't have to watch what I'm saying, or worry about how I come across. I don't have to pretend that I'm okay when I'm not. I can just be... me."

Mom looking at me and looking at her moist eyes, I said softly, "Mom, I know you've always wanted the best for me. You've given me everything I needed -- the best schools, the best opportunities, the best career path. You've always been there, guiding me, making sure I had the brightest future. But the truth is, the best you chose for me, I wasn't the best in it. I wasn't the best in school, neither was I in medical field."
I squeezed her hand gently, pleading with her to understand. "Please, Mom. Let me choose what's best for me this time."

A faint smile gleamed on her face, softening her features. "Okay," she said, her tone gentler now. "I'll talk to your dad. But let me tell you, he will never accept her easily. If she manages to win him over... well, let's see."

Relief washed over me as I leaned in and gave her a hug. She patted my back and added, "I'm not doing this because I'm impressed by her, but because this is the first time in a long while that you've asked for something so sincerely."

As we pulled away, she chuckled softly. "By the way, your dad and I were lovers before marriage, you know. I guess I thought you and Nitya would naturally fall in love too like us, as you both work in the same place." She paused for a moment, thoughtful. "Alright, let me call Mr. Shetty and ask for his advice."

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I entered the hospital room where Nitya sat, her arms crossed and a frustrated look etched across her face. I took a deep breath, preparing myself for what I had to say. "Nitya, I need to talk to you. I'm really sorry, but I can't marry you."

Her eyes widened in disbelief, and anger surged through her. "Really? You can't even manage your own work properly! You barely passed your semesters because of me! And now, when it's time to repay that, you just want to walk away?"

I felt the weight of her words, but I stood firm, meeting her gaze. "I know I owe you a lot, and I genuinely appreciate everything you've done for me. But the truth is, I've always considered you a friend. I don't feel any butterflies when I think about us together. Please, just try to understand where I'm coming from."

Nitya's eyes narrowed as she turned her head towards the door, where Sarah had just walked in. "So this is why you went on that trip." She turned to me, "I was wondering how you came back acting so normal. You returned stronger, almost like you fought through the consequences of your mistakes with courage. I was shocked -- it felt like you were a different Ryan. Was this all part of her plan to make you fall for her?"

Confusion washed over me as I tried to piece together what she had just said. "What are you talking about? What did she do? And what does the trip have to do with my mistakes?"

Nitya's expression turned serious as she explained, "She promised me she would take you on that trip, that it would lift your spirits and pull you out of your depression."

I glanced over at Sarah, who stood quietly, her expression unreadable.

The realization hit me hard. Sarah went on that trip to cheer me up, to pull me from the depths of my despair. She knew me better than anyone else. The challenge she had thrown my way during our time together had ignited a fire within me.

I couldn't shake the feeling that she believed in me when I had lost faith in myself. The way she pushed me to confront my fears and insecurities made me certain that my decision to make her my life partner was the best choice I could make.