Once upon a time, men and women entered marriage with very clear policies regarding the division of labour: he would go to work and "bring home the bacon," while she would stay at home and cook, clean, and raise the children. Things aren't the same as they used to be. Modern Indian romance, intimacies, and marriages are far more complicated than assessments and reality television shows portray. In India, arranged marriages are an unique and complex process. People seek a 'soulmate' with whom they can spend the rest of their lives, but they also have specific expectations of the potential bride or groom. There is a strong narrative about finding love, compatibility, and connection, but what stands out is a real intent to replicate class identities beneath all of this. In a country that depends on a spending population, "middle class" is a necessary armour, a shared language, a value system, and, more importantly, a way of life. Life may be unjust, irritating, and disarmingly disappointing on most days. Being middle class, on the other hand, creates character in a culture obsessed with the need to be a part of the rat race. Marriage also places the onus of making sacrifices, concessions, and making the marriage work on the couple. This tale illuminates the unseen and underappreciated aspects of an Indian arranged marriage, the life of a middle-class wife and husband and their shared responsibilities as they navigate through life. Immense amount of desi tadka awaiting your way. *I don't own the illustration on the poster.*

Book 8 of the Mangoverse • A Marriage in Trouble Romance • His dream was to see his business roar and touch new heights. Her dream was to have a perfect family she missed out on as a child. When he married her for his gain, she had hope that one day she would win him over. That hope dimmed every day until it vanished. If six years of marriage didn't change anything, she didn't think anything else would. So she crushed her hopes with her own hands. She never complained, never fought. But it's different now. Her wounds are deep and she would not let them bleed anymore. Leaving him seems like a good option. But it is never that easy. He never knew of the pain she hid behind her supportive smiles, and now that he does, he is willing to ask for forgiveness. Or beg for it. Whatever works. He never had any intention of letting her go. Even before he married her, she was his, and he is determined to prove it now more than ever. ------

Butcher is the powerful president of The Lords of Mayhem Motorcycle Club who's never had a human emotion in his life. As the Sceptre of the King of the Fae, he's been hidden by the bad fae all of his life, despite not knowing fairies exist. Raine is a yoga instructor filled with emotions, and is inexplicably drawn to this dangerous man so filled with darkness. The two of them never made sense, but they still came together. Then Raine found out why Butcher pursued her. Add a surprise baby to the mix, and things go sideways. It's going to be up to Butcher, the man without emotions, to turn things around.

𝑰 𝒅𝒐𝒏'𝒕 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒕 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒔, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒊𝒕 𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒔 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑴𝒆 ••• "Did you know how I felt when I learned my wife wants to divorce me through a fūcking outsider?" He asked, his piercing gaze meeting hers through the mirror. His one hand was resting on her stomach, keeping her close to him while the other one touched her head. "This-" He moved the finger from her head to her heart. "-this-" He pulled her closer from his other hand. "-your whole fūcking being, belongs with me, get that?" He asked, raising her chin to make her look in the mirror. She should push him away, she should be telling him how much she hates him but she found herself nodding. "Words." He pressed. "Yes," She mumbled. "What's your name?" "Roop." "What's your name?" He asked again, pronouncing each word clearly this time. "Roop Mehrotra." "Roop. Amrit. Mehrotra." His jaw tightened, "Say it." "Roop Amrit Mehrotra." She breathed out, trying to get away from him but his grip was firm. "Right, and it's going to stay just like that." ••• Two people, one unwanted marriage. The question is, will they survive or give up without even trying? •••

Abhiram and Avantika Gandhi were a happily married couple. Yes, it had been an arranged marriage, but they had fallen for each other over the time - deeply, madly, immensely. Six years into their marriage with their cutest little three year old baby boy - Aarush. Doesn't this sound like a fairy tale? Well, it was, but six months ago, a storm entered their beautiful household and managed to shake the foundation of their love. Had they noticed some hints of this storm before? Yes, they had. Had they overlooked upon those? Yes, they had. The eyes which shone with love before, now had been deprived of it and all that stood in between was a massive wall of misunderstanding and longing. And what about trust? Abhiram believed his trust to be broken, but was that in fact the reality? With every page of their book seemingly torn apart, will they ever be able to stitch back the trust, the love, the respect? Or will everything fall apart forever? Join me in this journey of Unkept Promises. PS : Don't worry, I always write happy endings :D Note : Non Indian readers, there will be some phrases, words in Hindi which will be explained then and there. So you too can enjoy this book :)

Flash back to 1954. For seven months, Michael had been working many extra hours during the week, coming home late and even having to go into the office on weekends. Susan stayed at home, patiently waiting for his return each day. One evening, she called her widowed friend whose husband had died in Korea...and she heard her Michael's distinctive voice in the background...when he was supposed to be at work. After discovering his lies, Susan takes a stand that most women didn't take in the Fifties, hoping that Michael would come to understand his wife in an entirely new way.

Meenakshi. Her life turned upside down with one accident, she lost her future along with her father in the accident? She was thrown into a hell called "marriage" at a tender age of ten. She became an unpaid maid for her so called family and was stuck in a loveless marriage with an ignorant husband. Will she continue to suffer? Or Will something change in her life?

Rabya was unwillingly tied up in a knot of marriage with the only son of a big Zamindar; Adhrit Singh Chauhan. She once had a happy life, trying to achieve her dreams in the metropolitan city by striving to become independent so that she can financially support her family. But then, her one mistake and she was forced to marry Adhrit who's a decade older than her and lives in that regressive part of a small town in Uttar Pradesh where girls are not even allowed to step out of their house. Will Adhrit ever be able to be loved by his wife? Or will she always remain his unwilling bride?

Nico and Cosi seemed like the perfect couple...until Cosi discovered the divorce papers in her husband's safe, texts between her husband and step-sister...and a baby on the way.

When Alaia married the billionaire, Agastya Singhania, she was okay to be stepped in a loveless marriage. She knew from the start that she'd always be the Unloved Bride but then what about the soft corner that she's going to develop for her husband? Will she ever be loved even if she loves him with all her heart? Will she ever be enough? How can she be okay with the fact that her husband is still in love with his girlfriend who's dead?