Days after the wedding, life began to settle. Sanya and Akhil returned from their small honeymoon trip, the photographs still fresh in their phones, the fragrance of garlands still clinging to her hair. Yet, even in her happiest moments, Sanya felt something missing. A pair of silent eyes haunted her—Ram's eyes.
One evening, while Akhil was busy with work, Sanya wandered through the local market. She was stopped by a familiar voice.
"Sanya?"
She turned and saw Sita, her old school friend. They hugged tightly, laughter spilling out for a moment. But then Sita studied her face carefully.
"You're happy," Sita said, "but your smile looks… heavy."
Sanya sighed. "It's Ram. He came to the wedding, didn't he?"
Sita's eyes widened slightly. "You saw him?"
Sanya nodded. "Only for a moment. Then he vanished. Why? Why would he just leave?"
Sita hesitated, her hands clutching the end of her dupatta. "Because, Sanya… Ram has always been like that. You don't know half of what he's done for you."
Sanya frowned. "What do you mean?"
And that's when the truth began to unfold.
Sita spoke slowly, carefully. "Do you remember the year you were sick and missed weeks of school? Ram walked to the temple every single morning. He fasted for days, praying for you to recover. He never told you because he didn't want you to feel guilty."
Sanya's chest tightened.
"And when you had that big exam," Sita continued, "the nights you thought no one cared? Ram was awake too, sitting by the temple steps, praying for your strength. He said he didn't need to be near you as long as God listened to his heart."
Tears welled in Sanya's eyes.
"Even when you talked about Akhil," Sita added softly, "Ram listened with a smile. He wanted you to be happy, even if it shattered him inside. He once told me, 'If she finds someone who treats her kindly, I'll count that as my own victory.'"
By now, Sanya was trembling. The weight of every unspoken moment pressed against her. She realized she had been blind to the silent love that had stood beside her all along.
That night, she sat beside Akhil and repeated everything Sita had told her. Akhil was quiet for a long time, then whispered, "Sanya… Ram didn't just love you. He lived for you."
And for the first time since her wedding, Sanya cried without restraint.