Forbidden Love

Chapter Two

Chapter Two

Vocabulary

Mahrani: Queen

*****

After a tiring and gruesome day at the office, Soumya was ready to skip dinner and fall asleep immediately. But instead she chose to sit and read in her room. She had barely opened her book when she received the phone call. She looked down on the caller ID and saw that it was a video call from Ishika Mishra, her old best friend from college. A large smile painted her face as she picked up. Ishi and her luckily hadn't lost touch after college ended, but both of them got busy in their separate lives. They still made time to talk as often as possible.

" Hello maharani ji. " she waved when her bestfriends face appeared on the screen. " Aj apko apni praja ki kaise yaad ayi " ( How did you miss your citizen today. )

Ishi rolling her eyes. " Chup kar dramebaaz kahi ki. " ( Shut up you drama queen. )

Both the girls laughed. " Maine tumhe kuch batane ke liye phone kiya hai. " ( I've called you to tell you something. )

" To batao na. " ( So tell me. )

Ishi raised her left hand but even through the screen Soumya didn't miss the shiny diamond ring on her ring finger. Soumya's jaw widened and she let out a large scream.

" No way! Adi ne propose kar diya! " She squealed. ( Adi finally proposed! )

Aditya Mittal was her boyfriend of three years. As far as Soumya knew they were head over heels in love with each other so it wasn't a shocker that he'd proposed. He'd done it much later than Soumya had initially expected. Through the way they acted Soumya thought he'd get down on one knee on their graduation itself but alas he chose to wait 2 more years.

" Ha. Hum shadi approximately 2 mahino mein karne wale hai aur ek formal sagaai bhi kar rahe hai 2 hafto bad. " Ishi squealed along. ( Yes. We're getting married in approximately two months and were also having a formal engagement ceremony in 2 weeks. )

" Sach. " Soumya couldn't believe it, her best friend was getting married to the love of her life. ( Seriously. )

Ishi nodded. " Adi ki family ka ek hotel delhi meh hai jo humare ghar se sirf 20 minute door hai. Shaadi wahi hone wali hai. "( Adi's family owns a hotel in Delhi which is just 20 minutes away from our house. We're getting married there. )

Adi's family owned a group of hotels all across the country so it wasn't a surprise that they had one in delhi, near ishi's ancestral home. Her family had moved to Mumbai to further promote their textile business but Delhi always held a special spot in her heart. She continued to chat with Ishi about wedding preparations till a maid knocked on her door.

" Ayaan sir aap ko niche dinner ke liye bula rahe hai. " ( Ayaan sir is calling you down for dinner. )

***

Dinner in Kapoor mansion was as usual, a quiet affair though it hadn't always been that way. There was a time where the house had been full of laughter and warmth, but ever since the deaths of her parents, Neil and Alia Kapoor, their once joyful home had turned into a cold house. Soumya ate her meal in silence as she normally did. Normally everyone ate separately but today her brother insisted on a family meal which caused the wheels in her mind to start turning. It was obvious there was something cooking in Ayaan's mind as usual.

There were no sounds other than the clattering of utensils and Janu's little squabbles as Anu bhabhi fed her. The tension could be felt in the room and everyone present knew that Ayaan was preparing himself to make an announcement. When Janu finished her meal she was taken upstairs by a maid and as expected, Ayaan bhai chose that moment to speak. He put his fork down and cleared his throat for everyone's attention.