Marriage of a Thousand Lies by S.J. Sindu

She goes out dancing, she drinks a bit, she makes ends meet by doing digital art on commission. It’s not ideal, but for Lucky, it seems to be working. They present an illusion of marital bliss to their conservative Sri Lankan–American families, while each dates on the side. As Lucky, an outsider no matter what choices she makes, is pushed to the breaking point, Marriage of a Thousand Lies offers a moving exploration of friendship, family, and love, shot through with humor and loss'. To live openly means that Lucky would lose most of the community she was born into-a community she loves, an irreplaceable home. But does Nisha really want to be saved? And what does Lucky want, anyway? It doesn't always get better.

The attraction is mutual and Lucky tries to save Nisha from entering a marriage based on a lie. Nisha has agreed to an arranged marriage with a man she doesn't know, but finds herself attracted to her old friend. When Lucky's grandmother has a nasty fall, Lucky returns to her mother's home to act as caretaker and unexpectedly reconnects with her childhood best friend and first lover, Nisha. They present their conservative Sri Lankan-American families with a heterosexual front, while each dates on the side. Lucky's husband, Krishna, is an editor for a greeting card company. Fifty bucks gets you high-resolution digital images of anything you want (orcs, mermaids, cos-playing couples in sexy boudoir scenes) and a nice frameable print. She likes to dance, to have a drink or two, and she makes art on commission.

'Lakshmi, called Lucky, is an unemployed millennial programmer.

Marriage of a Thousand Lies by S.J. Sindu