Love Rivals: The Day I Saw Your Tears

118. This Feeling Was Both Thrilling And Terrifying

(Sarah's Pov)

I had slept soundly, exhaustion from the long day pulling me under. As I slowly woke up, still half-asleep, I felt warm breaths against my face. My eyelids fluttered open, and I froze, my breath caught in my throat. His face was inches away from mine.

For a moment, I couldn’t process what was happening, and then I found myself staring at him. His soft, messy hair fell slightly over his forehead, and his thick eyebrows arched perfectly. My gaze trailed down to his sharp, defined nose and then, unexpectedly, my eyes stopped at his lips. I bit my own, trying to contain the surge of emotion that bubbled up inside me. His lips... I had never paid attention to them before, but now they seemed alluring, almost magnetic. My fists clenched in the sheets, trying to steady my heart, which was pounding uncontrollably.

The butterflies in my stomach fluttered wildly, and it took everything in me not to reach out. I shook the thought from my mind and shifted slightly backward, trying to distance myself. But as I moved, he stirred. My heart jumped as he turned onto his back, facing the ceiling, seemingly unaware of my turmoil. I released a shaky breath, attempting to calm the storm raging inside me.

Pulling myself together, I quickly slid out of bed and hurried to the washroom, closing the door behind me. Inside, I leaned against the sink, my thoughts racing. What was that? I splashed some water on my face, staring at my reflection.

He had been my boyfriend, sure, but we’d never been this close before. Back then, we were like best friends— barely holding hands casually, like it was no big deal. Everything between us felt so natural, so easy. But this... this was something entirely different.

This feeling was new, intense—something that had a grip on my entire body. It was both thrilling and terrifying, the way being near him now seemed to awaken something I hadn’t noticed before. I pressed my hand to my chest, feeling my racing heart beneath my palm.

After a quick shower, I slipped into something more comfortable, determined to get out of the room before Ryan woke up.

Today was one of those busy, demanding days where everyone would need me, just like during Sonal's wedding when my absence seemed to cause minor chaos. Relatives, along with my parents, had come to rely on my ability to handle the labour tasks. They never entrusted me any risky task.

I hadn’t seen Ryan all morning. I was too preoccupied with overseeing the preparations for the mandap set up near the house. My dad had sent me to the market for some last-minute items, and by the time I returned, I noticed Ryan standing by the mandap, struggling with the flower garlands. He was trying to wrap them around the pillars but seemed to be making a mess of things. The intense afternoon sun beamed down on him, and he was drenched in sweat, the rays highlighting every drop on his face as if he were melting under the heat.

I sighed deeply, watching him fumble for a moment before deciding to step in. Walking over, I reached out and took the tangled flowers from his hands. Without saying a word, I started fixing the garlands, wrapping them neatly around the pillars. Ryan stepped aside, watching me silently as I worked.

After a few moments, I finally spoke. "What are you staring at? Go sit in the shade before you pass out from the heat."

He kept looking at me, his gaze lingering longer than I expected, and then said, "Thanks." He grabbed a chair and moved into the shade, quickly getting absorbed in his phone.

Time slipped away like grains of sand, the sky transforming from a bright blue to a deep indigo as evening approached. My mom’s voice broke through my reverie, urging me to get ready for the night. I dashed to my room, only to find it empty, the anticipation in the air palpable. I opened my closet and carefully retrieved my lehenga.
On my bed, I placed Ryan's sherwani, neatly folded and waiting for him.

Determined to look my best, I made my way to Sonal's room, where she was already enveloped in the excitement of the day. She looked up and beamed, her hands adorned with intricate henna designs. "Come here!" she called, beckoning me to sit.

As she expertly draped the lehenga around me, I could feel the fabric swirling elegantly with every movement. Sonal adjusted it until it hugged my waist just right, pinning the dupatta into place with precision. “You look absolutely stunning!" She said with a spark in her eyes. I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror -- how the lehenga shimmered under the soft light. A small smile tugged on my lips.