Love, Bites!

By Varsha Prakash

Maya, a misogamist, falls in love while trying to prevent her closest friend from being married to an orthodox. Maya, a lawyer who handles divorces, struggles with her mother's wish to marry her off and her distaste for matrimony. Maya watched her parents divorce as a child, which destroyed her faith in love and fostered hatred. On the other hand, Priya is a girl who has lived a life of comfort but wants to stand on her feet and become independent by opening a bakery. She had recently applied for a course in baking to make her dream come true, But her parents and Rahul (her fiance) discourage her because they are convinced she doesn't need a job. After all, she would soon wed a diamond merchant. Everything starts falling out of place for Priya when the marriage dates are preponed, putting Priya's dream at stake. The childhood friends Priya, Kunal, and Maya plan a trip where they rekindle the lost love and friendship, but at a price. Maya is taken aback when Priya's brother, Dhruv, whom she despises, joins them on the trip. As the days pass, they become fond of each other, turning from enemies to lovers. Priya starts doubting her decision to marry Rahul when she starts having feelings for Kunal. These good times eventually end when Priya confesses about her soon-to-be marriage to Rahul, which she had kept a secret from Maya and Kunal, fearing their reaction. Rahul is an unworthy guy for Priya who body shames her and tries to control her life. The plot develops as Maya and Kunal support Priya's happiness by attending her wedding despite the conflict. During this period, Priya understands her love for Kunal, who helps her realise her worth and fight against all the injustices done to her in the past. On the other hand, Maya realises her love for Dhruv through her constant jealousy when she sees him with other women at the wedding. The story ends when Priya finally takes a stand against the unfair treatment, leaves the marriage, and opens her bakery after pursuing the course. Maya gets engaged to Dhruv, and love steps into her life again after all these years.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Astitva Prakashan
• Release date: Nov 6, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223819271

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

Maya pushed the man to the wall and unbuttoned his shirt. His well-built chest had looked tempting to her when she first saw him standing at the bar earlier that night. The way he had swirled his whisky glass while staring at Maya had her drool. He was both hot and classy, the perfect combo. Maya hadn’t wasted a minute more and walked straight to him. After they were done flirting and making out enough to make everyone around them uneasy, he asked if she would like to continue at his place.

The place was small, considering the hiked prices of the Mumbai apartments, but Maya had seen worse. The sights of the rooms had always made her judge the guy. But brushing her thoughts aside, she was keener on focusing on the task at hand, which was to do the nastiest things with the man standing before her.

The dim lights of the room were incapable of hiding her thinking face, and when she looked back at him, she could see him staring back at her daydreaming face.

He grabbed her thick thighs with his hand and wrapped it around his waist, ready to punish her for being distracted. She climbed onto him like a hungry tigress, her eyes filled with lust, a smirk on her face. He picked her up as she leaned against the wall, her body arching like a bow. Her firm, round, heavy breasts colliding with his tight chest muscles, he kissed her neck and started moving down on her like a beast marking its territory.

The sweat of lust trickled down their bodies; he wiped his face and looked at the air conditioner, Wait, I should turn it on.

Maya nodded, trying to balance her head filled with dopamine. He was good at what he was doing, and it was a rare occasion when Maya could feel the heat she was feeling. Making out with strangers did no good to her stubborn heart, but it did keep her away from the word commitment. Maya had a simple rule: NO SECOND MEETING and this mantra had become quite a key to having a sorted life in her late twenties.

As the night grew darker, the sheets took the pain of every twist and turn, and after a long hour of evilness, everything became still.

Maya picked out a cigarette from her box. She looked at the man beside her and smiled at her dead meat. Without disturbing him, she tiptoed to the balcony. She lighted her cigarette and took a long drag, and the nicotine rushed through her body. The smoke rose amid the night, leaving its trail in the air. Her eyes followed the path, looking at the smoke vanish after some time. The ground was covered with water, much like a wet rug kept from the sun for a long time. Trees had begun to sprout tiny buds, like newborns wrapped in wool sweaters. The wind carried the earthy smell she had craved for.

She looked at the sky to find a star, but nothing was visible from the city’s pollution. All she could see were the buildings that marked the status of every human being, and that is what they called development, but what about the things that were lost behind in the name of modernisation? She remembered her childhood days when the world remained free from the grasp of the internet. Eyes were enough to capture the memories, playing in the sun, making sand castles and before her mind could sweep her into the strong nostalgia.

She heard her phone ring from the other corner of the room, tangled in the charger. Taking one last drag from her cigarette, she threw it down from the balcony and walked with her light feet to check her phone. It was her alarm, which she had set while dressing up for the night. It was three fucking am.

Fuck, Maya blurted out. She had a case hearing today. She looked around only to find her clothes thrown around in every corner of the room. Maya collected each with the least light coming from the night lamp. And after a panic attack of five minutes, she looked at herself in the mirror and settled her clothes as if the night had never happened.

Her hair was a complete mess, and she was in no mood to get the ‘shame shame’ look from the guard of the building; she ran her hands into her bag and grabbed a clutch and after she was done tying her hair into a bun. She slowly closed the door and walked out of the room, making her way to the main gate, hair tied in a bun and mascara drenched up to her cheeks.

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The following day, the roads to the family court in Bandra, Mumbai, were flooded with fans, for it was the case of none other but a very famous blogger. Tamanna Arora was a woman in her late twenties. She had become an idle for the girls as her outfits had managed to break the stereotypes held for every typical Indian girl.

Traffic grew as the trial approached, and horns blew from every street corner. Out of the swarm of cars emerged a white Honda City swiftly approaching the parking area.

Good morning, Madam Ji, greeted the watchman in his desi tone. He started striding with the car, ordering everyone to make a way.

Good morning, Maya replied, pushing the brakes. She lowered the window and tilted her head, looking at the car parked before her. Why is this car parked in the lawyer’s parking? She questioned the guard who rushed towards the car driver, instructing him to move outside, but the man remained unbothered with air pods plugged into his ears. He swayed to the beats of some song as if teasing them.

Maya honked repeatedly at the black Mercedes Benz S-Class. But the car’s owner remained in his zone, ignoring the honks coming from behind; he did not move an inch, making the situation worse.

Sir, please move your car outside; I don’t know how you managed to get it inside, requested the guard, pleading with God to do some miracle so that he could keep his job, but there was no response.

Maya got down from her car. Excuse me, Maya knocked on the window glass of the driver’s seat. Can’t you see you are blocking the way? she pointed towards her car, which stood just behind.

Dhruv sat straight in his seat with a jerk and looked at Maya, trying to understand the chaos he had created.

Maya fumed with anger, words flowing through her little mouth; her beautiful, big, round eyes shined like marbles. A strand of hair played on her face, unbothered with her anger. She pushed it behind her ears only to find it tangling back at her face. Her beautiful, curvy body was wrapped in a black robe. Dhruv had never seen someone so gorgeous. Her features were sharp, her eyes perfectly carved like almonds. Her lips were perfectly shaped with two little triangles. And the way she spoke nonstop made him smile instead of becoming angry.

After seeing the epitome of beauty, Dhruv pressed the button, and the window slid downwards.

Aye, mister. Are you blind? Maya snapped her two fingers together in his face. His eyes were narrow, like interrogating every person he set them to, his jawline perfectly carved like some Greek god who decided to tour the modern world.

Can’t you see the board, bhaiya? asked the guard, interrupting both of them.

What board are you talking about? I can’t see any. Dhruv pretended to look around, turning in every direction possible.

It’s there, Maya pointed towards a board hung on a pole with bold written words PARKING ONLY FOR LAWYERS. Her lip slightly lifted from the side as she looked at Dhruv staring at the board, realising its existence. She had always been obsessed with being right, and right now, this particular moment was another small victory, a good omen before her big case.

Chill, you aren’t getting paid for winning an argument here, Dhruv grabbed the car's gear and glided it backwards, swiftly putting it into reverse mode.

Mister, don’t try acting smart here. It’s not Delhi, Maya’s tone a bit higher this time.

Oh, you have already noticed the number plate, I see. Dhruv smiled, seeing Maya become uneasy.

Yep, but you couldn’t see a huge board before you. Maya rolled her eyes, irritated by the audacity of the man who was still in no mood to drop the argument.

Are madam ji, leave him now. Aren’t you getting late? requested the guard, who had started indicating Dhruv to the outside parking. This was not the first time Maya had argued with a stranger. To Maya, arguing felt natural, and when the argument couldn’t work, she sometimes got down to physically fighting. She had once beaten two boys single-handedly in the middle of the road.

After exchanging rugged looks with Dhruv, she went through the crowd of fans and media and climbed the stairs to the courtroom. Her heart was filled with excitement. Compared to other boring cases, this case was something Maya always wanted, and it was an opportunity. She had been preparing for this case for the last few weeks, and more than the case, she looked forward to the trip she had planned with her friends. And on top of everything, she desperately needed a break from the beaches.

Everyone sat on the allotted seats; the proceeding started after the judge had arrived. The older man wore a black gown with a precisely combed grey moustache above his flat lips. His face was empty of emotion, and his sharp eyes represented the law and the ideology that had taken over him so much that he maintained a poker face throughout the hearing. Tamanna Arora sat right beside Maya, who was to represent her in her divorce case. Maya looked at Tamanna and smiled as she mouthed, All the best.

You may proceed with the case, ordered the judge as his hammer of justice struck like Thor’s hammer, leaving its profound aura in the air.

Your lordship, my client Yash Arora does not feel the need for a divorce and looks forward to a mutual agreement, spoke the opponent’s lawyer.

Maya Sharma, does your client feel the same? asked the judge, looking at Maya through his lowered glasses.

No, my lordship, Miss Tamanna has clearly stated that she wants a divorce and pleads the court to agree on her decision, Maya replied, standing up from her chair.

My lordship, may I request Tamanna Arora to tell the reason behind her need for a divorce? the opponent’s lawyer asked.

The judge nodded as Tamanna moved into the cubicle. Tamanna Arora was a famous fashion blogger who had struggled her way to success. She came from a small city in Kanpur and was interested in fashion from a young age, but her life had different plans for her. Before she could tell of her interest in her family, she was married off to a rich guy.

Your Lordship, I want this divorce to end the constant torture on my mental health. This man has left no stone unturned to insult me, and he keeps defaming me, putting false accusations on my character. Tamanna looked straight into her husband’s eyes.

May I ask you, Miss Tamanna, why are these issues not worth settling outside the court? Don’t you see any solution to it other than divorce? the opponent’s lawyer inquired, securing his place closer to where Tamanna stood.

The question penetrated Tamanna, for she knew very well the man against whom she was standing was the same man she was married to and had fallen in love with. In the last few years, she had done everything that could have been done to change the destiny of their bond, but nothing had worked. And after many years of depression and mental torture, she had gained the courage to file for a divorce.

Maya looked down, and the image of her mom floated in her mind. Her fists tightened; jaws clenched as she recalled the days when her mother had gathered the courage to divorce her dad. Objection, my lordship, my client is being targeted emotionally here. Maya stood up from her seat.

Objection sustained.

Your lordship, I would request Mr Yash Arora in the cubicle, Maya pleaded the judge.

Mr Yash Arora, could you state your issue with Miss Tamanna’s blogging profession? She walked towards the left cubicle where Yash Arora now stood.

Objection, my lordship, hurled the opponent’s lawyer, trying his best, but the objection was overruled.

My lordship, I feel her profession is having an impact on my family’s status; her pictures in those dresses are tearing apart my family’s reputation, answered Yash Arora in a tone as innocent as that of a cow.

May I know how that is possible? Maya folded her arms and walked closer to the cubicle. She knew that her presence near the man would confuse him. She had done it a few times and knew precisely when to start surrounding her prey.

Objection, my lordship.

Saxena ji, at least let me hear the case first, said the judge, addressing Mr. Kunal Saxena.

Sir, we don’t approve of our family members wearing such clothes publicly. Yash Arora settled his collar with an expensive watch wrapped around his undeserving wrist.

My lordship, now I want to address a straightforward question, Mr. Yash Arora. Don’t you have a textile business? Maya asked, walking back to her desk as she gathered some documents and a file.

Yes, it’s my family business, Yash Arora replied.

So, you use models to present those clothes to sell in the market if I am not wrong.

Yes, we do.

My lordship, here is the catalogue of the textile company that is run by the Arora family, with models posing in lingerie and nighties. Maya passed the catalogue and the files to the judge. The judge settled his glasses on his nose and looked at the pictures.

So, the question that I want to ask you, Mr. Arora Ji, shouldn’t you stop advertising these models? As far as I can see, even these pictures can ruin your family’s reputation. Aren’t you ashamed of selling these types of clothes?

Objection, my lordship.

Objection overruled, Maya Ji. We are getting the point you are trying to bring here, but it would be appreciated if it’s less personal.

I understand my lordship, but this has gotten very personal for my client too, Maya pointed at Tamanna.

Mr. Yash, the right to equality comes under fundamental right in the law of the Indian constitution, and I hope you do understand that your wife has full right to proceed with her profession, the judge said.

"My lordship, I would request the court to grant my client divorcee as we all can see the ideologies doesn’t match anymore and nothing can improve outside too, for this