Love Rivals: The Day I Saw Your Tears

95. Fitting Into His World Isn't Easy

(Sarah's Pov)

I had no idea what had gotten into Ryan lately. His flirting had become relentless, and it felt like each day he pushed a little further. The worst part? I was getting swayed again, just like before, losing my grip over the feelings I’d tried so hard to bury. Every smile, every teasing comment, stirred emotions I thought I’d locked away. It was frustrating, and I kept reminding myself not to fall into the same trap.

It’s been seven months since our marriage, and life with Ryan had been…  a little complicated.  And now, his mom had arranged a Satyanarayan Puja at home, adding more to my plate. Everyone else seemed caught up in their own work, leaving me to arrange everything for the ceremony on my own.

I busied myself with organizing the items needed for the Puja, making sure everything was in place. The quiet buzz of preparation kept my mind off Ryan and the confusion swirling inside me. But every now and then, his face, his words, would pop into my head.

On the day of the Puja, Ryan's mom seemed genuinely impressed by how everything had turned out. Her eyes gleamed as she looked around and then at me, a smile tugging at her lips.

"I have to say, dear, this is incredible," she said, clearly impressed. "I don’t think I could have done it this perfectly myself. You really outdid yourself. Honestly, having you as my daughter-in-law isn’t bad at all."

Her words of approval should have lightened my heart, but something had been weighing on me. I hesitated for a moment, unsure if I should speak, but I knew I had to.

"Aunty," I began cautiously, "I have a small favor to ask."

She looked at me kindly, her expression softening even more. "Of course, beta. What is it?"

I swallowed the lump in my throat, trying to find the right words. "I know Ryan… won’t say anything to his dad, so I have to ask you instead." My voice wavered slightly, and I took a deep breath. "Could you please… ask uncle to stop insulting my family in front of everyone? It’s alright if he directs his anger toward me, but I can’t bear him speaking about my family that way."

My voice nearly cracked as I finished, and I felt my eyes sting with unshed tears. Ryan’s mom reached out, cupping my cheeks in a gentle, reassuring gesture.

"Oh, dear," she said softly, her thumb brushing away the hint of tears that threatened to fall. "I’ll make sure it doesn’t happen again. Don’t worry, I’ll speak to him."

Relief washed over me at her promise, and I nodded gratefully. She handed me a set of clothes and jewelry, gesturing to them with a warm smile. "Here, wear these for the Puja. You’ll look lovely."

I thanked her quietly as she left, and soon after, my parents arrived. Ryan’s mom greeted them warmly, treating them with the respect and grace that I had hoped for. I felt a sense of calm seeing the cordial interaction, and for a moment, I allowed myself to relax.

Ryan, now dressed in his traditional attire, joined us. He looked striking, the clean lines of his outfit giving him a dignified appearance. I, however, was having a much harder time. The saree Ryan’s mom had given me was stunning, no doubt, but it was also incredibly heavy. I had never been a fan of overly elaborate outfits, preferring simpler, lighter sarees. The jewelry set only added to the weight -- it felt like I was wearing an armor made of gold.

Struggling to pin the pleats, I turned to Shriya for help. "This saree… it’s so heavy," I murmured, feeling slightly suffocated by all the fabric. Shriya laughed softly as she helped me, adjusting the folds with practiced hands.

"You’ll be fine," she said reassuringly. "You just need to survive through the ceremony."

I smiled back, but inwardly, I was already counting down the minutes until I could take it all off. The weight of the jewelry was pressing on my neck and shoulders, and I could barely breathe. But I knew this was part of the tradition, part of my role today. So, I endured it, hiding my discomfort behind a composed smile.

The Puja was about to begin, and I couldn’t help but glance at Ryan, who was watching me from across the room. He gave me a slight nod, his expression unreadable. But there was something in his eyes that made me wonder—did he notice how hard I was trying to fit into this world of his?