Chapter Thirty-Nine: Crossing Oceans for Hearts
(Ria's POV)
The airport was chaos, but somehow the chaos felt normal. Miles was holding my hand tightly, his mom beside him, Emma and Maya trailing behind us like an uncontained whirlwind, and Lia fussing over last-minute details, Leo trying to navigate luggage while texting furiously.
"Threads, relax," Miles said softly as I fidgeted with my passport. "We're almost there. You'll be fine."
I tried to believe him, but my stomach churned anyway. I hadn't been home since graduation, and now I was flying into the storm of my parents' expectations — and bringing Miles with me. And his mom. And the rest. I felt like a walking circus act.
Emma nudged me. "So… you're actually letting Miles meet your parents before anything official?"
I shot her a look. "Emma, please. Not now. My life is not a reality show."
Maya whispered, leaning in. "Ria… don't worry. We've got your back. We'll survive this together."
I smiled weakly, grateful, but the nerves didn't ease.
The flight was long. I tried to sleep, but excitement and dread tangled in my chest. Sofia was glued to her tablet in the seat behind me, and even from the back I could hear her little giggles. She was ten now — adorable, opinionated, and already clearly a little boss.
Finally, the plane touched down in Dhaka. Heat, humidity, and a flood of memories hit me instantly. Home. And yet… not exactly mine anymore. I was flying with half my life and the rest of it waiting to explode in conversations I wasn't sure I was ready for.
The car ride to my parents' house was tense. Miles stayed quiet, protective, occasionally squeezing my hand. His mom whispered reassurances to him in her calm, measured voice, while Emma gossiped lightly to pass the time. Maya, sitting beside me, held my hand tightly.
And then… we arrived.
The moment we stepped inside, my mother's eyes locked onto me. And I knew. I knew the lecture was coming.
"Ria! What is this?" she exclaimed, voice sharp, almost theatrical. "Flying here with… all of them? Miles, his mother, and…" She gestured to Emma and Maya. "I did not expect this."
I swallowed hard. "Ma… please. I… I had to bring him. It's important."
Her gaze narrowed. "Important? You think love is a reason to disrupt plans? Your father has been planning for this — for your marriage — for years. And now you…" She waved at Miles, her tone softer but still firm. "You brought him here. Without consulting us first?"
Miles stepped forward calmly. "Mrs. Rahman, I understand this is sudden. I don't intend to disrespect your plans. But I… I love Ria. I want to marry her. And I wanted to speak with you directly, together, before anyone else makes decisions for her."
The room was quiet for a long moment. My mother's expression softened slightly. "Miles… you speak boldly. Very well. Let your father talk to my husband and see if your family is reliable. Then… we will see."
Cue my father. Calm, measured, but unmistakably scheming in that quiet way that meant he always had a plan. "Ria," he said, voice low and steady. "I've had this in mind for some time. Marriage is important — it ensures stability, honor, and family harmony. If Miles is serious, we will talk to his family. But…" He looked at me with that fatherly weight, the one that made my chest ache. "…I want you to understand what this means."
I nodded, gulping. "I… I do, Baba. I just… I don't want to be married to someone else."
Sofia squealed from the couch, bouncing in excitement. "Ria! Is Miles really going to be my big brother? Yay!"
I laughed weakly. "We'll see, Sofia…"
Aunts trickled in, all armed with opinions. One whispered to my mother, "He seems decent enough, beta, but are you sure he can handle our Ria?"
I glared at her. "Excuse me?"
Miles laughed softly, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. "I can handle her. And then some."
The tension in the room broke slightly with that, though my mother's frown remained. Miles's mom stepped forward, calm and warm, offering reassurances about his family's intentions, his career, his stability. It was like watching a delicate chess game — each side carefully placing words, gauging reactions.
Hours passed. Discussions swirled around the room — the expectations, the timing, the logistics. Miles spoke carefully, assertively when needed, protective of me without being overbearing. I clung to his arm at one point, hiding my face as panic threatened to overwhelm me again.
Maya whispered, "Ria… you're okay. You've got him."
Emma muttered, still wide-eyed, "This is… way more intense than I thought."
Lia, ever the pragmatist, nudged me. "Threads… you love him. Don't overthink. He's standing right there. And he's not backing down."
I nodded, shivering a little. Stress, nerves, and relief tangled together. My parents, finally reassured by Miles's words and his mom's presence, agreed to have formal discussions with his father about the marriage arrangements.
Sofia cheered from the couch, bouncing up and down. "We're having a wedding? Yay!"
I laughed, heart pounding. "Not yet, Sofia. But… soon."
By the time night fell, the house had settled into a quieter rhythm. Conversations had been had, boundaries set, and the first tentative approvals given. Miles squeezed my hand under the dinner table, whispering, "See? We survived. Together."
I leaned into him, still trembling, still exhausted, but a little more hopeful. The panic was not gone — far from it — but now it had a thread of safety woven in: Miles was standing beside me. And somehow, that made all the chaos manageable.