shadow of the heart

Chapter 13: Seeds Of Doubt

Nisha woke up the next morning with a heavy heart. The conversation with Rohan from the previous night replayed in her mind like an unshakable dream. They had left things unresolved, the weight of his family's expectations pressing down on them both. She wanted to call him, to tell him that they could find a way, but a part of her wasn't sure what to say.

Her phone buzzed with a message from her mother, asking her to come home that weekend for a family gathering. Nisha's parents had been surprisingly quiet about her relationship with Rohan so far, but she could feel the subtle hints creeping in — the inquiries about her future, the quiet glances they exchanged when the topic of marriage came up in conversation. She dreaded the moment when the pressure from her own family would start to match what Rohan was facing.

As she sat down to work on her article, her thoughts were scattered. Writing about balancing dreams and societal expectations felt painfully close to home. How was she supposed to offer advice when she was struggling with the same issue? She opened a blank document and stared at it for what felt like hours, unable to find the words.

A text from Aarav broke her out of her trance: Coffee later?

Nisha quickly responded, I could use it.

Later that afternoon, Nisha met Aarav at their usual spot, the café that had become their refuge over the years. Aarav greeted her with a warm smile, but his expression quickly turned to concern when he saw her face.

"You look like you didn't sleep," Aarav said, raising an eyebrow.

Nisha sighed, slumping into her seat. "I didn't. Rohan and I had a long talk last night, and now I feel... stuck. His family is pressuring him about marriage, and I don't know what to do."

Aarav frowned, stirring his coffee. "I thought you guys were on the same page about taking things slow."

"We were," Nisha said, her voice tinged with frustration. "But the pressure from his family is getting to him. And I get it, Aarav. I really do. We're both dealing with the same thing, but I feel like it's all coming to a head too quickly."

Aarav nodded thoughtfully. "I know the pressure can feel overwhelming, especially when family gets involved. But have you two really talked about how to deal with it? Like, what's the plan?"

Nisha shook her head. "That's the problem. We're just reacting to everything. We haven't sat down and made a real plan for how we're going to navigate this."

"Well, maybe it's time you did," Aarav suggested. "If you both want to make this work, you need to be proactive. You can't just wait for things to get worse."

Nisha knew he was right, but the idea of confronting the issue head-on made her anxious. What if Rohan wasn't willing to compromise? What if his family's expectations became too much for him to bear?

Aarav seemed to sense her hesitation. "Look, I know it's scary, but avoiding the conversation isn't going to make it go away. You've worked so hard for your dreams, Nisha. You deserve to have both — a successful career and a relationship with someone who supports you."

Nisha looked down at her coffee, her thoughts swirling. "I know, but I can't help feeling like I'm asking for too much. His family wants a traditional daughter-in-law, and I'm not sure I fit that mold."

Aarav reached across the table, placing a comforting hand on hers. "You're not asking for too much. You're asking for what you deserve. And if Rohan loves you, he'll figure out how to make it work."

Nisha nodded, grateful for Aarav's support, but the doubt in her heart remained.

That evening, as Nisha sat at home, she decided to call Rohan. She needed to clear the air, to figure out how they could move forward. The phone rang twice before he picked up.

"Hey," Rohan's voice sounded tired, as if he'd been wrestling with the same thoughts.

"Hey," Nisha replied softly. "Can we talk? I've been thinking about everything, and I don't want us to keep going in circles."

There was a pause on the other end. "Yeah, I've been thinking too. I'm glad you called."

Nisha took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves. "Rohan, I don't want to lose us, but I can't ignore how much pressure we're both under. I need to know that we're in this together, that we can face whatever's coming — whether it's from your family or mine."

Rohan's voice was quiet, but steady. "I feel the same way, Nisha. I don't want to lose you either. But honestly, I'm scared. I'm scared that if I don't meet my family's expectations, they'll never accept us. And I don't want to put you in a situation where you have to change who you are just to fit in."

Nisha's heart ached at his words. "I don't want that either. But we can't keep avoiding the problem. We need to figure out how to stand up to our families together, or this pressure is going to tear us apart."

Rohan let out a long sigh. "You're right. I know you're right. But it's hard, Nisha. My parents have a certain vision for my life, and I've always felt this responsibility to fulfill it. And now, with us... it's like I'm being pulled in two different directions."

Nisha's throat tightened. "I don't want you to feel like you have to choose between me and your family. But at the same time, I can't compromise my dreams. I've worked too hard for them."

There was a long silence on the other end of the line, and Nisha felt a pang of fear that maybe they wouldn't be able to reconcile their differences. But then Rohan spoke, his voice more certain this time.

"I don't want you to compromise your dreams, Nisha. I love you, and I want to make this work. We just need to figure out how to do it without losing ourselves in the process."

Nisha felt a wave of relief, but also a deep sense of uncertainty. They had acknowledged the problem, but solving it felt like an uphill battle.

"Let's take this one step at a time," she said finally. "We'll talk to our families when the time is right. But for now, let's focus on supporting each other."

Rohan agreed, and as they hung up, Nisha felt a small sense of hope. But the road ahead was still unclear, and she couldn't shake the feeling that their love was standing on shaky ground.