Unspoken Tears: A Heartbreaking Tale of Love

Episode 2: A Love That Turned to Pain

Areeba had always believed in trusting her parents’ choice, and with time, she convinced herself that Rayyan was the right one for her. Their engagement was set for a year later, and the wedding was planned for four years down the line.

After the engagement, Areeba returned to the UAE, resuming her job and studies. Initially, she and Rayyan talked casually, but as days passed, their conversations deepened. He became a part of her life, a part of her heart. She started looking forward to his calls, his messages, the way he made her laugh, the way he understood her without her having to say much. Slowly, without realizing it, she fell in love with him, believing she had found her perfect match.

Their late-night conversations were filled with love, emotions, and endless appreciation.

“Areeba, do you even know how lucky I am to have you?” Rayyan would say, his voice warm with affection.

She would smile, blushing even though he couldn’t see her. “No, I am the lucky one. I got you, Rayyan. Someone who loves me so much.”

Rayyan became her whole world. Every day, she woke up to his messages, every night, she fell asleep to his voice. The thought of spending her life with him made her heart race with excitement.

But with time, things started to change.

Some days, he wouldn’t answer her calls. Other times, he would pick up but sound distant.

“I’m busy, Areeba. My exams are going on,” he would say.

She felt sad but forced herself to understand. He’s just busy… I shouldn’t disturb him. If I keep calling, he might think I’m a clingy girl.

She reassured herself, brushing away the loneliness creeping into her heart. And in this way, time flew by, her love growing stronger while his presence slowly faded.

Four years passed, and finally, the day arrived. The wedding was nothing short of a dream—filled with love, laughter, and endless celebrations. Areeba stepped into her new life with a heart full of hope, with dreams of a happy, love-filled marriage.

But soon, the colors of her dreams began to fade.

Rayyan’s job required him to work from 6 PM to 12 AM. In the mornings, he woke up late and locked himself in his room, claiming he was working on his computer. His breakfast, his lunch—everything was sent inside. The only time he stepped out was when his office time came, and he left without a word, heading straight to work.

At night, he returned home when everyone was already asleep. But Areeba? She kept waiting for him.

Every night, she sat in their silent room, listening to the ticking clock, hoping he would walk in, hold her hand, ask her how she was. But when he arrived, he ate his dinner in silence and went straight to bed, as if she didn’t exist.

Days turned into weeks, but Rayyan remained distant. He never asked how she was, never noticed the loneliness in her eyes, never held her hand when she needed comfort.

Areeba tried to ignore the pain gnawing at her heart. She convinced herself that things would change, that he just needed time to adjust. But deep down, an unsettling emptiness grew inside her.

One night, as Rayyan left his phone unattended, a message popped up. Areeba’s heart pounded as she read the words—words from another woman. Her vision blurred, her hands trembled. The world around her seemed to collapse in an instant.

She clutched the phone, her breathing ragged, and walked towards him. “Rayyan… who is she?” Her voice was barely above a whisper, but it carried the weight of a thousand unspoken fears.

Rayyan didn’t hesitate. His gaze remained steady, devoid of guilt. “Yes, I’m talking to her. And I want to marry her.”

Areeba felt the air leave her lungs. A sharp, unbearable pain ripped through her chest. “Then why did you marry me?” she asked, her voice breaking, tears streaming down her face.

Rayyan sighed, as if he were exhausted by the conversation. “When I proposed to you, there was no one in my life. But in these four years, I met Maha, and I love her now.”

Areeba’s knees felt weak. She clutched her dupatta, struggling to hold herself together. “You could have broken the engagement. Why didn’t you?”

He looked away. “I was scared… scared of what your parents would think.”

A bitter laugh escaped her lips between her sobs. “You were scared of them, but not of breaking me?”

She sank to the floor, crying until there were no more tears left to shed. She had given him her heart, her trust, her love—only to be discarded like she never mattered. But despite the unbearable pain, she wasn’t ready to give up. Her parents had gone back to the UAE, and she didn’t want to worry them.

With whatever was left of her shattered heart, she decided to give her marriage another chance, hoping—praying—that love could fix what was already broken.