Love from Nowhere.

Antara had accepted embarrassing some hours ago. Here, at her debut evening, the long hours had ticked by till midnight, and her parents could take her home. Antara was their youngest offspring, the ugly sister who had never developed into a swan, as she was still encased in her puppy fat. Her expensive frock made her look like a barrage balloon.

As if that was not bad enough, Antara's one and only friend at her devout school had confided that she was three months pregnant, and a hasty wedding was being arranged. That was the end of their plans to sail off to college together and share their studies. They were regarded as the school nerds, always competing for top excellent results, the teacher's pets.

Even worse, Antara's debut escort for this social occasion was one of her second cousins. Jackson had taken one look at Antara in her blimp frock, and texted his real girlfriend, who had turned up. Much snogging of Jackson in front of Antara took place, right before her very strict parents, heavy groping and breathless glances. Antara had been the wallflower for the night, her father's face was practically purple with this family insult.

Antara had visited the unigender loo at one stage, and was slightly shocked that the most popular queen bees in her class were planning to have a threesome at their after party. Those two mega stars of teenage debuts totally ignored Antara, who blushed at some of her embarrassed, imaginative images which she conjured in her brain. She could never even visualize doing such excessive forms of loving.

Finally, this excruciating night of teenage torture and activity was over. Her father drove their family home, and slammed the car door. Antara thankfully eased off her virginal white shoes, inspected her blisters, and relaxed with simple, secret stash of chocolate biscuits. The debut evening had created a longing in her that she could not envisage ever happening to her.

The next day, she set about baking some of her traditional family recipes, cooking was her hobby. Her ambitions for college focused on becoming a psychologist, maybe one day having a happy romance, if love could come from nowhere for a Miss Chubby, as she was unaffectionately known. Her Grandma wandered in from her granny flat in the back yard, and Antara asked her advice. Her Grandma was regarded as the wise owl for their family, but all she said was, "Wait and see. Keep things simple. Maybe you read too much!"

Antara sat down to study for the day, with a pile of her baking. She had read enough psychology texts to realise that she was taking comfort eating to the levels of her human condition. Her endeavour was to please her parents, get top results, and make them proud of her future degrees and professional qualifications. To achieve all that would mean fat hips, and hopefully find a husband who would be her spiritual soulmate, as well as her true vocation.

She sent a devoted and nuanced prayer to her Lord for comfort, but so far no dove had appeared. Antara had to follow her parental life plan. So she made it through to college, minus her best gal pal, who was by then preparing for childbirth. Her 'disgrace' was healed over with the gold band and white wedding. Now she was becoming experienced in being married, so Antara would visit and share some cooking tips.

Antara was an impressive student, but her funds were limited. She wandered into a bakery near her college one day, for her comfort habit of coffee scrolls and a slice or two. The range of cakes was delectable. A sign advertised that an assistant was wanted, to start immediately, working as a baker's assistant in the shop. Antara sent another comfort prayer to her saviour, and applied straight away. She was a capable chick, she could handle morning duties, and study at night, like always.

Tyler, the baker, asked a few questions, and showed her how to make coffees, and the price list. Antara was soon a reliable, regular and popular sales assistant. She also started arriving much earlier than necessary, engaging in mixing and baking some of the speciality cakes. They sold very well, and even had good reviews online for the bakery website. Antara could supply free bread for her family when she visited on the weekends, and she had free cakes for her own delight.

Antara was not aware at the time, but working at the hot ovens had slimmed her down of some of her long hated puppy fat. Lifting and carrying heavy trays of dough and bread pans was toning her up, all much better than an expensive gym. Being surrounded by carbs on a daily basis meant no more closet eating of forbidden foods. So her comfort eating decreased. Tyler found her friendly, sweet, capable, and very attractive. He had survived a bitter, not so amicable divorce, and never thought he would meet his ideal woman.

Tyler the baker did not know how to approach the MVP in his successful business. Yes, Antara was his Most Valuable Person, or Player. Antara was still the top student in her course, but her self-confidence did not include snogging college boys. Tyler teased her one day, calling her his shy boy, as they were baking together. Antara glanced at him, and he smiled as he brought her a cup of best coffee. His hand brushed hers, and soon the pair were a couple. So she had met the one who changed her life.

Her grandma was thrilled when this loving couple announced their engagement. The handsome rooster, Jackson, even came over with his latest flame. Her father was not exactly riveted by this romance for his youngest. He had been hoping she would marry at least a professor, if not a medical registrar.

"Never mind," Grandma told Antara's father., "her cooking is the best."

Antara's father predicted that this holy union would never last, they were too different. But despite that, Antara and Tyler thrived. She finished her degree, and joined his bakery, adding sweet delectables, winning over more customers. The loving couple were staying strong and unstoppable. Antara could keep things simple, she was still curvy but appealing. Just when she least expected this blessing to occur, true love came from nowhere.