The Temporary Wife by Catharina Maura

Description

The Temporary Wife. Mira Kapoor, a practical event planner, agrees to a “temporary marriage” with billionaire tech mogul Arjun Mehta. She sees it as a simple business deal: he needs a spouse to get a lucrative joint-venture visa, and she needs the high-profile privacy to plan her sister’s destination wedding without the tabloids getting in the way. Both parties enter the partnership with explicit terms: six months, no intimacy beyond elegant dinners, and perfect emotional separation. But when Mira becomes used to living in Arjun’s beautiful Mumbai penthouse and Arjun learns that Mira is warm underneath her icy professionalism, the borders between contract and commitment start to blur.

At first, their deal seems safe. Mira gives Arjun’s structured life structure and compassion by planning his busy schedule and getting him to leave closed-door boardrooms and explore the lively streets of Colaba. In return, Arjun protects Mira from the predatory press that wants to expose her family’s secrets and gives her security a financial lifeline after her father’s business went under. They spend their nights making plans over spreadsheets, drinking masala chai on the balcony, and telling each other stories about childhood dreams they are too afraid to explore.

But there are still old wounds that are still hurting even though the terms were properly worked out. After her fiancé cheated on her, Mira constructed walls around herself and promised never to allow anybody close again. Arjun doesn’t trust anything about love because of his parents’ loveless marriage and the cutthroat power struggles in the business sector. Every time Mira laughs at his dry jokes or Arjun admires how fiercely loyal she is to her family, they sense a tremor of something wrong yet very much wanted.

Their shaky bond grows stronger when a catastrophe hits: Mira’s sister goes missing days before the wedding, and Mira asks Arjun for help. They work together to find their way through the dark side of Mumbai, following leads through busy train stations, dealing with shady relationships, and dealing with corruption that could tarnish the Kapoor family’s reputation. In the face of peril, Mira’s bravery shines through and Arjun’s protective instincts kick in. They both realize how much they rely on and trust each other.

As the six-month deadline draws near, the pair has to deal with their unsaid feelings. Arjun has to choose between extending their contract and losing his heart, while Mira is scared that the only man she’s ever really loved is just “temporary” by design. At the end, on the steps of the Gateway of India, they have to choose between going back to their old lives or accepting a future they never thought they could have.

About the Author

Catharina Maura’s lyrical prose and emotional depth make The Temporary Wife a captivating exploration of what happens when love finds you in the most unexpected agreements. Through vibrant Mumbai settings from glittering high‑rises to fragrant spice markets and richly drawn supporting characters (including Mira’s fiery best friend and Arjun’s loyal childhood friend), the novel offers a tapestry of community, culture, and the courage it takes to risk everything for love.

The Temporary Wife is a moving testament to:

• Second Chances: Learning to trust again after heartbreak.

• Choices and Consequences: How small agreements can reshape destinies.

• The Power of Partnership: When two people bring out the best in each other.

Prepare to be swept away by a story of contract‑bound beginnings that evolves into a love neither Mira nor Arjun ever saw coming one that proves some agreements are meant to last a lifetime.

Product Details

• Title: The Temporary Wife

• Author: Catharina Maura

• ISBN-13: 9789353762858

• Publisher: Rupa Publications

• Published: March 2024

• Pages: 320

• Binding: Paperpack