Hi Risha – I can assure you that it will, eventually, get better. You are still in the eye of the storm. You will one day laugh, instead of cry, at your ex. He chose what was easy. He rejected love. Love is something that every human desires and needs. Love is what makes life worth living. I don’t care what the cultural background is, I believe this to be a universal truth.

Change will eventually come but in the meantime, lean into your feelings. Cry. Get it all through your system. It will decrease over time. Don’t deny what you are feeling because you are being true to yourself. You have been hurt and need to learn from it. Denying your emotions will just prolong that.

You’re not old … I’m 38 (no kids)! Granted, I come from a different culture but I don’t believe a woman’s age determines their worth in life. You are clearly intelligent, friendly and have a lot going for you. Don’t place your value into not having a husband or children. There are many, many ways in which you can lead a good life and give back to the world. The traditional way is not the only way. My home country, Canada, is very open to newcomers and immigrants. You might be able to find success here. Having said that, if you are drawing a good salary in your home country, start saving and take a wonderful holiday. I travel solo a lot. It’s a great way for a woman to experience growth, comfort and trust in themselves.

Here are some reading suggestions. As you read them, please note how similar all of the stories are. You are not alone:

– Google “arranged marriage tinybuddha” and read the links. There are numerous threads on this site detailing a similar situation to what we’ve experienced. Here are a few:

https://tinybuddha.com/topic/losing-my-boyfriend-to-an-arranged-marriage/

https://tinybuddha.com/topic/he-left-me-after-7-years-together-for-conservative-parents-help-me-please/

– http://madh-mama.blogspot.com/2015/07/when-your-indian-boyfriend-leaves-you_31.html

– This website has a number of interesting articles, just search: https://indianhomemaker.wordpress.com

https://www.loveshack.org/forums/breaking-up-reconciliation-coping/breaks-breaking-up/205041-arranged-marriage-broke-us-up

https://www.loveshack.org/forums/romantic/marriage-life-partnerships/114882-arranged-marriage-how-can-anyone-go-through