Love Rivals: The Day I Saw Your Tears

111. She Was My Past, My Present

(Sarah's Pov)

I was sitting on the chabutra seat beneath the shade of a sprawling tree, lost in my phone game. My stomach grumbled in protest, reminding me how long it had been since I had eaten, and my throat felt parched. I glanced around, considering asking a passing villager for some water but hesitated. Instead, I buried myself deeper into the game.

Suddenly, a voice broke through my concentration. "What are you doing here?"

I jumped, nearly dropping my phone. Looking up, I saw Ryan standing before me. "You startled me," I said, taking a deep breath to steady myself. "What are you doing here? Did you have lunch?"

He held up a tiffin with a casual smile. "No, an old granny gave it to me. Let's eat."

I raised an eyebrow, puzzled. "You didn't eat yet? What about Vicky? Didn't he share his food with you?"

Ryan shook his head. "He and Nitya are sharing their meal. But why didn't you eat?"

He unfolded the tiffin, revealing a generous serving of rice mixed with daal and a small container of curry. We settled down to eat together.

After a moment, he pressed on, "So, why didn't you have lunch with Vicky?"

I shrugged, my gaze fixed on the food. "It wouldn't have been enough for three people," I replied, trying to deflect. I could feel him studying me, so I kept my eyes down. "Honestly, I'm not of any help here. I'm just like a traveler who came to enjoy the view. I figured it was better if you guys ate well since you still have work until dusk."

Finally, I glanced up to find him still looking at me, a mixture of concern and curiosity in his expression. I tried to sound casual as I added, "It's not like I'm sacrificing anything. I already polished off three packets of chips before you arrived."

That finally made him chuckle, and the tension eased as he looked away, seemingly reassured.

I felt a swell of gratitude for Ryan as we shared that simple meal. The warmth of his kindness overwhelmed me, and I could feel my eyes misting over as I stared at him. In that moment, it struck me how much his gesture meant, especially considering how harshly I behaved him this morning.

But when he turned to look at me, I quickly averted my gaze, embarrassed. I couldn't let him see how much his generosity affected me; it felt too vulnerable, too raw. His kindness was too heavy to bear.

The doctors continued their work till the night cloaked the village as the last flickers of daylight fading into darkness. Their group had managed to book accommodations at a hotel on the outskirts, but with only one room available, Vicky had already secured it.

I had successfully persuaded Nitya to share a room with Ryan, according to my plan. However, the thought of sharing a room with Vicky made me uneasy.

Standing in the corridor outside the room, Vicky leaned against the wall, a smirk playing on his lips. "So, if you're comfortable sharing a room with Ryan, what's the big deal about sharing with me?" he asked, his tone casual, but there was a challenging glint in his eyes.

His words hit me like mud splattered on my clothes.

Vicky said, his tone casual. "Come on, we could talk all night. It'd be fun."

Before I could respond, Ryan's voice sliced through the tension. "What do you mean by 'sharing a room' with her? And why would you compare yourself to me?" He stepped forward, his stance fierce and protective. "Let me remind you that she's my wife now. She was my girlfriend back then. She's not some random party girl you can just invite into a room. Do you understand?"

Ryan grabbed my hand and pulled me into his room, his grip firm but not harsh. Once inside, he let go and paced around, his emotions bubbling to the surface.

"I get it," he said, his voice low but filled with intensity. "You don't like this marriage. I forced you into it. But does that mean you'll consider sharing a room with just anyone? How can you even think of it?" His eyes were fierce as he shrugged off his coat and threw it onto the bed with a heavy thud, the force of his movements revealing just how worked up he was.

"You're staying here with me," he demanded, as if there were no room for negotiation, his frustration crackling in the air between us.

At that moment, Nitya burst into the room, her anger palpable as she tossed her phone onto the bed. "Ryan!" she snapped, her voice trembling with rage. "You want me to share a room with a stranger? I'd rather kill you before that happens!" Her eyes flared with indignation, her whole body tense.