Riya sat in her room, gently caressing her growing belly, lost in thought. The conversation with Aryan earlier had left her heart shattered. When she had finally gathered the courage to talk to him about convincing his family for their marriage, hoping he’d understand her desperation and the need for stability, his response had been cold, distant.
“Aryan, please… we need to think about the future,” she pleaded.
He had barely looked at her, his face devoid of emotion. “I can’t represent you in front of my family, Riya. It’s not the right time,” he said. The words felt like daggers.
Not the right time? Riya could feel her heart breaking with every word he spoke. Her hopes had been pinned on Aryan, but now, it was clear. He wasn’t going to step up, not for her, not for their child.
She had also distanced herself from Arjun. Though Arjun had been her support, she didn’t want to burden him with her troubles anymore. She had been through enough and needed to figure things out on her own, for her child. Riya wanted no more confusion or complicated relationships. This was her battle to fight.
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Sitting alone in the quiet of her room, she whispered to her unborn child, “It’s just you and me now, my baby. We don’t need anyone else. I will take care of you, and I promise, I will never let you feel unwanted. We’ll have a happy life, just us.”
Her voice quivered as she spoke to her belly, trying to comfort herself as much as she was comforting the little life inside her. The thought of raising the child alone terrified her, but she would do whatever it took. She didn’t want to stay in touch with Aryan or Arjun anymore. It was too painful, and she needed a fresh start.
In the background, she could hear whispers and gossip among her neighbors about her situation, which only added to her isolation. But Riya was done caring about what people thought. All that mattered now was her child’s well-being, and she knew she had to be strong, even if that meant walking away from everyone who had once been close to her.
As she spoke to her baby, a new sense of determination settled in her heart. This was the beginning of a new chapter, one where she would stand alone—strong, independent, and ready to face whatever came next.
Riya sat at her desk, the soft glow of a lamp casting a dim light over the blank piece of paper in front of her. It had taken her days to reach this decision, but now that she had, she knew it was the right thing to do. She couldn’t stay any longer, not with the judgmental stares and the suffocating pressure of her family’s expectations hanging over her.
Her hand trembled as she picked up the pen, but she steadied herself. This letter would be her final goodbye. She wanted to leave behind an explanation, not for their approval, but for closure. She knew her family didn’t want her, not after what had happened, not with the child she was carrying. They had been silent, disappointed, and distanced.
With a deep breath, she began to write:
"Dear Family,"
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I know things haven’t been easy, and I don’t expect you to understand or agree with the choices I’ve made. But I need to be honest with you, and more importantly, with myself.
From the beginning, I had always followed the path you thought was right for me. I tried to meet the expectations society had placed on me, but in doing so, I lost myself. I fell in love with Aryan, hoping he would be the one to stand by me, but when I needed him the most, he turned his back. I can’t blame him entirely—it’s not easy going against what everyone expects. But now, I’m facing a new reality. I’m pregnant, and the man I loved has refused to represent me in front of his family. He’s made it clear that this is not the life he wants.
I’ve also stepped away from Arjun. He’s been kind, but I don’t want to be anyone’s responsibility or burden. I’ve decided to do this on my own—for the sake of my child and my own peace of mind.
I know how society views a woman like me. Unmarried, pregnant, and alone. I know that because of this, you have distanced yourselves from me. And maybe that’s for the best. I don’t fit into the criteria of what this world considers acceptable, and I’ve come to terms with that. But what I can’t accept is living in a place where I’m constantly judged, not just by outsiders, but by my own family.
So, I’ve decided to leave. I’m moving to another city to start over, to build a life for me and my child where we won’t be bound by the chains of what society thinks is right or wrong. I don’t expect your support or understanding. I just want you to know that this is my choice, and I hope one day, you’ll accept that.
Take care of yourselves. I will take care of myself and my baby.
With love, Riya"
Riya folded the letter carefully and placed it on her desk, knowing it would be the last thing she left behind for her family. She wiped away a tear, not of regret, but of release. She was finally free from the weight of their expectations, from the suffocating judgment that had surrounded her since the moment she discovered she was pregnant.
Packing her last few belongings, she glanced around the room one final time. This had been her home once, but now it was just a place filled with memories she no longer wanted to carry.
As dawn broke, Riya left the house quietly, her heart heavy yet full of hope for the future. She had found a small apartment in a city far away, where no one knew her story, where no one would judge her. It was a new beginning, one she was ready to embrace with her child by her side.
She walked away from her past without looking back, ready to start a new life, a life where she and her baby could find peace.
