Maya leaned back in her chair, adjusted her headphones, and glanced at the clock. In just two minutes her popular evening radio show "Love Lines" would be going live on 94.3 FM. As host of the show for the last three years, Maya had become well known for doling out relationship advice to listeners seeking guidance with their romantic woes. Though only twenty-eight, Maya spoke with a confidence and wisdom beyond her years when it came to matters of the heart - or so her fans believed."Thirty seconds to air," Maya's producer Kavya announced through the studio speakers, jolting Maya out of her thoughts. She instinctively straightened up in her chair, ready to switch into her smooth radio persona as Kavya counted down."Love Lines with Maya, coming at you live in 5...4...3...2..."Maya flashed a bright smile even though it couldn't be seen on radio. "Good evening angels and welcome to Love Lines. I'm your host Maya, here as always to receive your calls and lend an ear..."As she launched into her opening introduction, Maya tried ignoring the tiny flicker of self-doubt always hiding behind her smiling voice and expert words. Who was she to guide others on intimacy when her own romantic history was a string of disappointing dead-ends? Brushing aside her insecurity, Maya focused on replying to the first caller - a nervous young man seeking proposal ideas for his girlfriend.Over the next hour, Maya handed out advice on topics ranging from rebuilding fragile trust after infidelity to navigating major lifestyle differences with in-laws. If she occasionally embellished tales of harmonious relationships from her personal world for the sake of audience hopes, nobody but Maya had to know...Until a particularly self-assured male caller named Aryan rang in near the end of the show. From his smooth voice to unusual name, everything about him stood apart from Maya's regular audience. And the way he openly challenged her counsel on modern relationships immediately put Maya on the defensive - yet also sparked an unwelcome flame of interest and intrigue...In the charged conversations that followed with Aryan both on-air and off over the next months, Maya found her life unexpectedly intertwining with this charismatic entrepreneur who seemed to see beyond her radio persona...even as shadows from their independent pasts threatened fragile intimacy blooming secretly.Caught between reluctance to risk her professional credibility by publicizing their relationship and magnetic longing to surrender fully to Aryan's fervent passion, Maya realized she was falling dangerously beyond the point of self-protection. Until one dramatic public confrontation forced their precarious balance to come crashing down, leaving Maya facing her worst fear - a future without the man who had come to mean everything.With turmoil unleashed around her private and public world thanks to their volatile chemistry, Maya knew the time had come to either walk away from sweet madness...or take the ultimate leap of faith.
