Get ready to pull up a chair for a deeply personal story. This week, we’re kicking off a huge multi-part series with our guest, Sandeep. She came to the U.S. when she was just a little kid, and from day one, the pressure was intense to stay totally true to her Indian roots, which meant living under a super strict household while trying to grow up American.

For Sandeep, "no dating" wasn't a suggestion—it was the law. So when her folks found out she was just talking to a guy? That was it. They packed her bags, flew her straight back to India, and suddenly, she was being married off to a total stranger.

This first part of her story is all about that rigid upbringing and the absolute whirlwind of a forced wedding that changed her life overnight. Tune in, because trust us, you need to hear this one and realize you are so not alone.