Loving the Forbidden

His care

HER POV

“I think green would look fantastic,” said my aunt, Dina Chopra. My cousin and I were discussing engagement plans and outfits with our family. “I don’t care for green,” replied my uncle, Sumit Chopra, with a displeased expression.

The buzzing from the phone momentarily halted our chat. My cousin picked up and said, “Yes, we’re on our way.” He informed me that Sweta had invited us to her house for a similar discussion. Our parents opted to remain behind to attend to some business, so my cousin and I headed upstairs.

Upon arrival, Kabir Kapoor, Sweta and Jay’s father, warmly welcomed us. He is someone I deeply respect. “Hazel, my dear, I’ve missed you so much, sweetheart,” he said, giving me a side hug. I curled my arms around him and responded, “I’ve missed you even more, Uncle.”

After embracing Sameera aunty and Sweta, I took a seat on the couch, which I soon regretted as he was facing me. I nodded in acknowledgment, while he just gazed at him. I thought, *Hmm… that’s impolite.*

Several other family members were present, and we delved into discussing engagement party shopping plans.

Then, my phone rang. My mom was calling, asking me to return home to run some errands for her. Rajiv took the phone from me and spoke to her, “Aunty, could Hazel stay here? We’re visiting the big temple tomorrow, and she can join us.”

I was taken aback when he made that suggestion. It caught me completely off guard. Initially, I declined his offer, citing my college work as a priority, but Kabir uncle was persistent—his requests were hard to refuse. After some hesitation, my mom granted me permission, and the atmosphere brightened with everyone’s excitement. Just then, I found myself unconsciously glancing at Jay, who was smirking in my direction. Suddenly, the realization washed over me: we would be spending the entire day together tomorrow.

Sweta and Rajiv dove into an animated discussion about the dances and decorations for their engagement party. I found myself merely listening when Sameera aunty beckoned me to assist her with her clothes in her room. We quietly entered her room, and just then, Jay decided it was time to call it a night. Sameera aunty requested I help him, so I made my way over. He looked up from his phone as I nervously steadied his wheelchair and pushed it toward what I assumed was his room. “This way, little flower,” he said gently, guiding me when I mistakenly turned toward another room. “Why do you call me that?” I asked, unable to meet his gaze as he shifted slightly to look at me. Holding his eye contact was something I struggled with.

Stopping near his bed, I prepared to leave, expecting no response from him. But as I turned away, he grasped my hand, pulling me gently down onto the bed in front of him. With a finger under my chin, he lifted my gaze and said, “Because you are a vibrant little flower blooming in the midst of my darkness.” My stomach fluttered at his words, and I instinctively tried to look away, the keyword being “tried.” He held my chin a little tighter, brushing his thumb softly across my cheek. “Red, all for me,” he murmured. My cheeks flared even redder—if that was even possible. Just then, Rajiv called from the lounge, “Hazel, let's go; it’s getting late!” I seized the opportunity to escape.

Rajiv and I went down to his house. By the time we arrived, everyone had already retired to their rooms. My parents must have gone back to our place. We went to my cousin's room to sleep, where he told me he was excited about the next day. We were all going to seek blessings for his and Sweta's future. His thoughts made it hard for me to sleep. I couldn't stop thinking about him, his touch, and his voice always stir butterflies in my stomach.

"Wake up, Hazel. WAKE UP!" My cousin's shout jolted me awake. "What is it? The sun hasn't even risen. Just go back to sleep, Rajiv." I was about to drift off again when he said, "Everyone is ready to go to the temple, except you. I'm leaving you behind." I jumped out of bed, rushed to the bathroom, and got ready. When I came out in my robe, the room was empty. I quickly dressed, only to find my cousin lounging around, pretending. Dumbass lied. Annoyed, I threw a pillow at him. He went to shower while I made myself a glass of orange juice.

Downstairs in the building's parking lot, everyone was already loading their bags into the cars. "Good morning, babydoll," Sweta greeted me, followed by her parents and a few other family members. I happily returned their greetings. "Let's get going," Rajiv called out. We all got into the cars. It was just me, my cousin, and Sweta's family, as they wanted to visit the big temple for blessings on their future.

"Come with me, Hazel," Sweta called out. I climbed into the car, driven by Rajiv, and was surprised to find Jay there as well. It was a seven-seater vehicle, with Rajiv and Sweta occupying the front seats. Jay sat directly behind Rajiv in the backseat, leaving me with only one option—to sit beside him.

Jay was engrossed in his phone when I sat down. He had positioned himself slightly angled, his injured leg placed carefully between us and cushioned by pillows to prevent any accidental jostling. I made sure to keep my feet clear of his injured leg.

Suddenly, a hand holding a bottle of water appeared in front of me. Curious, I turned to see Jay holding it. "Drink," he commanded. I arched my right eyebrow, questioning his directive. "You haven't had anything to drink since early this morning," he explained. Just then, I realized it had indeed been hours since my last refreshment—an orange juice from earlier." I took it from him and thanked him.

Sweta and Jay shared laughter and stories about their lives in different places now. Their close bond is something I deeply admire. As we enjoyed music and relaxation, everyone agreed to pause for a snack break. Rajiv's speedy driving got us to the snack stop first. Sweta and Rajiv went off to take pictures, leaving me with Jay, who was already in his wheelchair, thanks to Rajiv's help. Trying to avoid making eye contact with Jay, since his presence made me inexplicably nervous, I busied myself with reading my messages in my phone.

"How's your leg?" I asked, mustering some courage. "Better than before, princess," he replied, his casual use of nicknames affecting me like always, and he was using them like we were casually discussing the news. Our conversation paused as the rest of the cars arrived, and we all entered the quaint café. I sat beside Sameera aunty, resting my head on her shoulder. With nothing appealing on the menu for me, I opted to skip a meal. Once everyone had finished, we returned to our cars.

Sweta was cozily holding onto Rajiv's arm as he drove. While I listened to tunes and gazed outside, I couldn't ignore his presence beside me. Unexpectedly, a packet of chips was nudged towards me by him. "Have some, little flower," he offered. Recognizing that he knew I hadn't eaten, I welcomed the gesture with a smile, enjoying the snack. After finishing, I placed the wrapper in the bin which was in the car and silently accepted the water bottle he extended towards me.

I was deeply touched and impressed by his attention towards me, but I found myself wondering why he was doing this. Does he feel the same attraction that I do? Is he interested in me, or is this how he treats everyone? He doesn't seem like the kind of person who would do such things for just anyone. Relaxed and absorbed in the music, I eventually drifted off to sleep with him in my thoughts.