Jane was born into a middle-class family and had always been intelligent, polite, and generous. Throughout her life, she followed her parents' wishes, diligently building her career step by step, without dreaming of anything too grand. Hardworking and dedicated, she earned a reputation as the best at her job, eventually becoming a workaholic. She was the epitome of simplicity and elegance, priding herself on her quiet life.
Her father held a modest-paying job, her mother managed the household, and her younger sister was in college. When her father's career peaked, he moved the family to Dubai, but soon after, they faced financial difficulties. Jane stepped up, working tirelessly to support her family alongside her father.
At 24, Jane had one sincere wish—to marry someone who matched her idea of a perfect partner. She hadn't been concerned with dating, so when her father brought up marriage, she found herself intrigued. Although she had always made compromises in life's little things, she hoped that, when it came to marriage, she could choose someone who truly fulfilled her dream of an ideal partner.
It was a calm Friday morning when Jane's father, brought up the topic of marriage. Jane listened as he suggested an arranged marriage, nodding in agreement. She had always respected her father's wishes, and following the traditional path felt natural to her.
Before long, her father was scrolling through online profiles, showing her one face after another. Jane looked at each one carefully, searching for that spark she hoped would tell her she had found the right person. But no matter how many profiles he showed her, none of them seemed to feel quite right.
Then, one evening, something changed. Her father showed her a profile that seemed to catch her attention immediately. The man's name was Richard, and he had a presence that seemed to leap right off the screen—handsome, tall, with an undeniable confidence in his expression. He lived all the way in California, but the pull she felt was different this time. For the first time, Jane felt a strong urge and asked her father to reach out to his family, hoping this might be the connection she had been waiting for.
The next day, Jane's father made a call to Richard's mother, who lived in India. Jane's heart raced, pounding so loudly in her chest that it drowned out every other sound.Richard's mother was polite, her voice kind yet formal, asking questions about Jane's background and their family values. Jane held onto every word, her pulse quickening with each passing moment. The conversation seemed promising—hope flickered in her chest, warming her like a fragile flame. When the call ended, her father gave her an encouraging smile, his voice gentle as he said, "We've done our part. Now, we wait."
But as hours turned into the next day, Jane's hope started to waver. She found herself looking at Richard's profile again, unable to shake the feeling of wanting this to work out.Then the message came. Her body froze as her eyes landed on the words she dreaded to see: Richard's mother had declined her profile. Jane sat rooted in her chair, her eyes fixed on the computer screen. Her throat felt thick, and her fingers trembled as she re-read the rejection once, twice—five times—before it finally sank in. A knot formed in her stomach, and tears welled up in her eyes, threatening to spill. But she blinked them back quickly, swallowing hard to suppress the sob that clawed at her throat. She couldn't let her father see her cry; she couldn't let anyone see how much it hurt. Her father, noticing her silence, tried to comfort her. He suggested other profiles, his voice soft, almost pleading. "It's just one missed alliance, they don't deserve you." her father said.
But Jane barely heard him. Every name, every photo he mentioned seemed like a blur. None of them mattered anymore. How could they?
Jane's father kept showing her profiles of eligible men, but none of them caught her interest. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't stop wondering about Richard. Why had his mother turned her down? Did he even know about her? She searched online, hoping to find something—anything—that might tell her more about him or explain the lingering pull she felt. But his Facebook page, with just a few posts from years ago, revealed nothing. It was as if he had vanished, leaving her with only questions.
Yet deep down, Jane couldn't let go. Richard lingered in her mind, representing all the unexplored possibilities in her life. Friends and family encouraged her to move on, gently reminding her that this was just one missed connection. But instead, a strange sense of determination grew within her. For the first time, Jane was ready to do something bold, something that might change her life forever. She would find a way to meet him, to understand once and for all if her heart had been right about him.