Hey there! I'm Mahira Varma, the fashionista from a small village who dreams bigger than the sky itself. If you looked up "colorful chaos" in the dictionary, my picture would be next to it-along with some questionable outfit choices. My love for fashion started young; who wouldn't want to turn their grandmother's old sarees into a rockstar-worthy ensemble? I called it "upcycling." Grandma just called it "ruining perfectly good fabric."
Living in a village means the local fashion scene is practically non-existent. The biggest trend here is whether to wear a cotton saree or salwar suit, but I had a different vision. I spent evenings watching YouTube tutorials, dreaming of strutting down runways in Paris instead of the muddy lanes of my village. My fashion icons? A mix of Gigi Hadid and my neighbor's goat, Bubbles. Yes, Bubbles has impeccable style-who else can pull off a floral garland with such flair?
Then, I came across an exciting announcement: a big fashion company from the city was showcasing Indian fashion in Paris! I was practically doing the cha-cha in my living room. They wanted to display the vibrant side of India. I could picture myself in something bold, maybe even with neon colors that would blind the front row.
On interview day, I wore a stunning kurti, accessorized to perfection. As I stepped into the city, it felt like I had landed in a parallel universe of glamour. When my turn came, I entered the cabin, ready to dazzle. But then, BAM! The CEO sitting across the table was none other than my former bully, SHANAR ROY! My stomach dropped faster than my hopes of ever owning a pet unicorn.
"Hey...," he greeted, surprise dancing in his eyes. No way was I going to let him see me sweat. I decided to play it cool. "Do I know you?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. He smirked, pretending not to recognize me either. Oh, game on!
Who would have thought I would find myself face-to-face with him...my past?
As Claire aims to leave her oppressive stepfamily behind, she befriends Zion. Will he be her ticket to freedom or a distraction in achieving her dreams?
*****
Claire Olsen has had a crush on Zion Petrakis since the first time she laid eyes on him, but he never noticed, instead only having eyes on the school's it girl, Maddie Jennings. Knowing she couldn't compete with Maddie, Claire hid her feelings for Zion, satisfied with admiring him from afar. However, when a series of events led Claire closer to Zion, her feelings for him grew from infatuation to love. And despite fighting hard to keep her feelings contained by distancing herself from Zion, he was determined to show her that he's earned a spot in her life.
[[word count: 100,000-150,000 words]]