Chapter Thirteen
A Bridal Shower Full of Questions

The moment I walked into Zahida's bridal shower, I knew it was going to be one of those days. The house was overflowing with family, laughter, and chatter, the kind of energy that you couldn't avoid, no matter how much you wanted to slip into the background.

I was already on edge because of the way people tend to suffocate you with their expectations, and this bridal shower would be no different.

It wasn't that I didn't love my cousin Zahida—of course, I did. She was like a sister to me. She and I had grown up together, sharing secrets, and confiding in each other about everything from our embarrassing first crushes to our struggles with our parents.

I'd seen her through her high school heartbreaks, her first job, and now this big milestone—her wedding day was just around the corner. Everyone was so excited for her, and I was happy for her too. But it didn't change the fact that I was already dreading what would happen when I walked into the room.

"Tatiana! You look gorgeous!" Zahida greeted me with a huge smile as I walked through the front door. She looked radiant herself, glowing with the kind of excitement you only saw in people who were on the verge of a life-changing event.

"Thanks," I said, leaning in for a hug. "You look beautiful too. How are you feeling?"

"Excited, nervous, overwhelmed, all of it!" she answered, her face lighting up. "But I'm so happy you're here."

I gave her a quick squeeze. "Wouldn't miss it for the world," I said with a smile, even though a part of me felt a little out of place. But it was family, and I had to be there, no matter what.

I scanned the room, hoping to find a quiet corner where I could sit and maybe just blend in. But I should have known better. There was no such thing as blending in when you had a big, loud family that was always eager to catch up, especially when it came to your personal life.

"Tanya!" Aunty Farah called out, waving at my sister from across the room.

Tanya's presence was my buffer. She had this amazing ability to light up any space, to make everyone feel like they were the most important person in the room. People gravitated toward her, and while I loved her for it, it also meant she was often the first target for conversation.

"Tatiana, darling! It's been ages!" Aunty Laila came up to me with open arms. She was always the first one to make her rounds, making sure everyone was "up-to-date" on the latest news. I braced myself, already knowing what she was going to ask. I had gotten used to her way of probing.

"How have you been? Still working with Joe, huh?"

"Yeah, still working with Joe," I replied, trying to keep my voice light.

"Any wedding plans?" she asked, her smile widening as if she already knew the answer, but wanted me to say it out loud.

I felt my stomach tighten. I hadn't expected it to start this soon, but then again, I should've known. It was the question everyone had been asking me for the past months, ever since Joe and I had gotten together. And no matter how many times I told them we were in no rush to get married, people still seemed to think that it was only a matter of time.

"Oh, you know," I began, trying to play it cool, "Joe and I are as happy as we are. We're not in a rush. We're just focusing on... other things right now."

Aunty Laila didn't seem to take the hint. She pressed on, her voice lowering slightly, almost conspiratorially. "But you're *not* getting any younger, darling. You know, it's time to start thinking about settling down. You're so lucky you have someone like Joe. He's a good catch, Tatiana. He adores you."

I couldn't help it. My irritation bubbled up. Why was it always about marriage? Why couldn't anyone just let me be? It was as if my worth, my entire future, was dependent on that one decision. It felt like a weight I didn't want to carry, yet it was always placed on me—this invisible pressure, a constant reminder that I wasn't doing things in the "right" order, whatever that meant.

I forced a smile. "Yeah, I know. But we'll figure it out when the time comes."

Before she could ask another question, I spotted Tanya across the room, talking to some of the other cousins. Tanya noticed me and waved, then made her way over, probably sensing my discomfort. I was grateful. Tanya was the type of person who could diffuse any awkwardness with a single look.

"Everything okay?" she asked, leaning in slightly as Aunty Laila moved away to chat with someone else.

"Yeah, just tired of the questions," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "It's like I'm expected to have everything figured out just because I've been with Joe for a while. Like it's a checklist: boyfriend, check. Where's your ring? Why is your finger bare? When's the wedding? You know Ocean needs a sibling. When are you having more kids?"

Tanya nodded in understanding, her eyes softening. "I get it. It's annoying. People just want to know where they stand in your life, but they don't realize how invasive it feels."

I sighed. "Exactly. It's like they think I need to be validated by some big, public declaration of commitment. And I'm over it. Joe and I are happy. Why does it matter to anyone else?"

"Because," Tanya said, her voice playful yet wise, "people always want a love story with a clear beginning, middle, and end. They want the 'happily ever after,' even if they have no idea what it takes to get there."

I gave a dry laugh. "Well, if they want to live my love story, they can have it. I'm done explaining myself."

Tanya chuckled and nudged me. "Don't let them get to you. They'll always ask. It's just who they are."

I nodded, feeling a bit better having vented to her. But of course, it didn't stop the questions. As the shower went on, I was cornered again and again by relatives eager to hear when I'd be joining the married club. Each question felt like a little jab, a reminder that I was somehow falling short of what people thought I should be doing with my life.

At one point, Cousin Nadia—who was always the first to bring up any kind of relationship talk—pulled me aside. "Tatiana," she said, her voice lowered as if we were about to discuss something confidential. "Have you and Joe talked about the wedding? Because, you know, the family is waiting."

I raised an eyebrow. "Waiting for what? To see when I'll finally give in and follow the script everyone expects me to follow?"

Nadia's smile faltered, and she shrugged, trying to deflect. "It's not like that. People just care about you, that's all. They just want to see you happy."

I took a deep breath. "I am happy, Nadia. But being happy doesn't mean I need a wedding ring to prove it."

Her lips pressed together, and she hesitated for a moment. "I understand. But just remember, the longer you wait, the more people will wonder. It's like they think you're keeping something from them."

I couldn't help the frustration that crept up. Why couldn't they just respect that some of us don't have life's milestones mapped out with neat little bows on top? Why couldn't they understand that love wasn't a race, that I didn't need a ceremony to validate what Joe and I had?

"Maybe I'm just not like everyone else," I said, more sharply than I intended. "Maybe my happiness doesn't look the way you expect it to."

Nadia looked taken aback, and for a moment, I thought she was going to apologize. But instead, she just nodded slowly, as if she was mulling over my words. I wasn't sure if she truly got it, but at least the conversation had ended without her trying to convince me I needed to 'settle down.'

By the time the bridal shower was winding down, I had heard every variation of the when are you getting married? question at least five times.

I was exhausted. Not because I was tired of hearing about Zahida's wedding—that part was lovely—but because I was so worn out from constantly defending my own choices, from fending off questions that felt more like accusations.

I had to remind myself that I was allowed to take my time, and that it was okay not to follow the script everyone else seemed so desperate for me to read. Joe and I were doing fine. And if anyone had a problem with that, well... that was their issue, not mine. I didn't need a wedding to prove my worth. I just needed to be happy, and for once, I was.

As I left Zahida's bridal shower that day, I promised myself I wouldn't let the questions get to me. I knew I couldn't change other people's expectations, but I didn't have to live by them either. My life, my choices. And I was content with that.