Page 130 of Everything She Wanted

I sit up in bed and start checking my messages after taking a few long, deep calming breaths.

I have five missed calls from my mom, so many pictures from the family group chat from the engagement party, only one message from Shaan, and several frantic texts from Rachel, apologizing.

I disable notifications from the family group chat, as I can’t bring myself to look at any of those photos. A reminder of the lie I have been living for so long. Then, I mentally prepare myself for Shaan’s text.

My Dadi is getting weaker by the day. I can’t tell my fam we broke things off. Not yet.

I feel a flicker of frustration, but mostly there’s sadness and understanding.

I would never want to hurt that sweet old lady who reminds me so much of my own grandma, who passed away when I was just ten years old.

I understand. Let me know how she’s doing.

I brace myself for a call with my mom. She spends most of it telling me off for disappearing and not spending time with my family that came for the engagement, and then finally asks how things are with Eshaan. I know full well that she’s more worried about our reputation than me, so I tell her everything’s fine. His Dadi is sick, and we’ll figure things out later. I want to tell her we broke things off, but I just can’t deal with her reaction just yet. She’s leaving tonight, and even with everything and how strained our relationship is, I’m sad I didn’t get to see her and say bye.

Then, I take another deep breath and call Rachel.

She picks up on the first ring.

“Nisha, I’ve been so worried, and I feel so horrible. I should have never let Nick ambush you like that, and on your engagement. It’s just that—”

“Rach, it’s okay,” I interrupt her.

“It’s not. I knew how much the engagement meant to you, and I messed up. Big time.”

“Rach, listen please. Shaan and I are calling it off.”

For a moment, the silence is deafening.

“What? What happened?”

“He’s been seeing someone else for months.” I hear her gasp on the other end, although I’m sure she’s probably not that shocked. She warned me after all. “Sonia, his ex, came up to me and confessed everything when I was out with my family on Sunday, even showing me the texts and photos.”

“Nisha. I’m so sorry. I really am.” Her compassion threatens to dissolve the calm and peace I cultivated since getting here.

“I know,” I say quietly.

“Did you talk to him about it?”

“I confronted him, and it got ugly.”

“Shit. I’m so sorry. I should have been there.”

“No, Rach. You’ve been there so much, but this I had to do myself. We’re waiting to see how things are with his grandma, and then we’ll break the news to everyone.”

“Oh, babe. Where are you now?”

“In Victoria, like Eshaan and I had planned, but I just came here alone to take some time to really think about everything. I might just stay here for the rest of the week. Let things settle and find myself again.”

“Nisha, I’m so proud of you, you know that.”

“I’m proud of me too,” I manage.

47. She Rises

I spend the rest of the week exploring the city, and it’s fun. I’ve travelled for work and for a little while when I took that semester off and met Rachel, but nothing on my own for a long time.

I visit the Butchart Gardens and spend a whole day wandering around, letting the greenery revive me.