Loving the Forbidden

HER POV Oh, will this guy ever stop talking? Rajiv Chopra, my cousin, keeps going on and on about his engagement plans. Tonight, his future wife is coming over, and we need to make her feel welcome. I've organized everything and decorated the house with flowers. In fact, the place looks like a new garden with the beautiful flower pathway I've created for Sweta Kapoor, my soon-to-be sister-in-law. Right now, I'm standing in front of the mirror, checking that I don't look like a mess after all the decorating. The reflection is a girl with a forced smile on her lips. Her eyes might be tired and dull, but they're still lovely. A few hair strands fall from a messy bun onto her face. Her nose is red from the cold, and her knee-length dress is a bit wrinkled. A voice interrupts my thoughts, "Hazel, where should I put these extra flowers?" Since I was a child, everyone has called me Hazel. "Put them in the guest room for now," I answer. Quickly, I smooth my dress, let my hair down, and it cascades down to my back. I adjust the belt around my waist; the dress does a nice job of highlighting my slim figure. I leave the room, ready to welcome Sweta. "Everything I planned for her is going to be amazing," says my cousin, as he goes upstairs to fetch his wife-to-be. What did he plan exactly? I decorated the whole house while he just kept boasting about impressing her with money he doesn’t have. Why go upstairs? Rajiv and Sweta's homes are just a couple of floors apart in the same building. They grew up together and fell in love. Our families are not strangers but have known each other very well for a long time. The room is bustling with people, including my parents, uncle, aunt, and their friends. I stand at the entrance, awaiting Sweta and her family to extend a warm welcome. The night is stunning, with stars illuminating the vast living room, which remains bright as midnight approaches, ready to introduce a new family member for the first time. Although I'm not particularly fond of my cousin and his family, I am genuinely thrilled to welcome Sweta into our family because I adore her. She is an extraordinary person, showing remarkable tolerance for someone like my cousin. Our connection was instant when we spoke for the first time a few months ago. "BHABHI," I exclaimed as I embraced her as soon as she appeared. 'Bhabhi' is a Hindi term for sister-in-law. She pulled me closer in a warm embrace. "How are you, darling?" "Much better now that you're here," I replied sincerely. She has been living abroad for years and only landed an hour ago. "Did you forget about me?" a voice chimed in from behind. I turned to see my favorite person, Sameera Kapoor, Sweta’s mother. We share a special connection and have become close over the past few months, turning into gossip buddies. She even refers to me as her daughter, given Sweta’s distance. "How could I forget you, aunty? You’ll always be my favorite," I assured her, wrapping my arms around her with the brightest smile I've ever given anyone. At that moment, I sensed a burning gaze upon me. While still in her arms, I turned my head and met the eyes of Jay Kapoor, Sameera’s son and Sweta’s brother. He stared at me, raising an eyebrow as soon as our eyes met. I quickly averted my gaze, unable to face him. After the severe accident he recently endured, which left him with a rod in his left leg and confined to a wheelchair. Despite being seated, he appeared enormous and made me feel much smaller. He was intimidating, and his presence was unmistakable without uttering a single word. With a leg in a cast, he still exuded authority. It was evident to anyone, even the visually impaired, that he was a regular at the gym before his accident. His eyes had an effect on me, particularly when his lips curled into a smirk as he looked me over. I stepped away from her and invited Sweta to walk along the flower-lined pathway leading to a beautifully adorned living room, where a delightful cake awaited her. Hearing a gasp beside me, "This is so beautiful, darling," I grinned, replying, "There's more." All the while, I could feel that intense gaze piercing my back. She expressed joy seeing her favorite cake on the table. Everyone in the living room greeted her, and some even hugged her. My parents, Mahesh Chopra and Amaira Chopra, embraced her and warmly welcomed her into the family. My younger brother, Daksh Chopra, greeted her with bashfulness. Friends of my cousin and other family acquaintances also welcomed her. I enjoyed the evening immensely with everyone. It was past midnight when everyone decided to retire for the night. My cousin and I were bidding farewell to my sister-in-law’s family when Jay's phone slipped from his lap. Everyone else was engaged in conversation. Turning towards him, I saw he was already watching me. Bending down to pick up his phone, I noticed his hand near the table's edge. "Be careful, little flower," he cautioned. I extended his phone to him while still kneeling by his wheelchair. Instead of taking the phone, his hand brushed past it and tucked some hair that had fallen onto my face behind my ear. My heart raced, and I felt warmth creeping into my cheeks. He took the phone and offered his hand to help me stand. Grasping his hand, I rose. He caressed my fingers with his thumb before releasing them. I quickly stepped back when Sweta arrived to assist her brother towards the elevator. I felt my cheeks flush when he gave me a sly smile just as the elevator doors were closing. My parents and younger brother had already left, as I was spending a month at my cousin's house. I had taken a leave of absence from college to assist my cousin with their preparations. After tidying up everything, I settled down with Rajiv in his room. He drifted off to sleep almost instantly, but sleep eluded me. A particular face and teasing nickname kept playing in my mind. No one had ever captured my attention the way he did. His presence affected me deeply. Yet, it was off-limits. I wasn't supposed to look at him or speak to him. Eventually, sleep came over me while thinking about him.