The Forbidden Beta

a P.

und of our mother's voice. "Where have you been?" she asked, looking fluster

ething nice to wear for the party." My mother just nodded, looking relieved

time left." I watched her go, feeling a sense of dread in the pit of my stomach. So

as my mother so anxious about this party? I knew that my father's return to Delhi h

ed at myself in the mirror. The dress was a deep shade of red, with a flowing skirt and a fitted bodice that hugged my curves in all the right

iting impatiently at the door. "I'm waiting in the car," my father said curtly as he ope

only one who's late," after noticing my sister running down

t was hanging around us. She laughed, but it was forced, and I could tell that she was nervous abo

ing to us and my mother trying to make small talk to ease the

and people were milling about outside, dressed in their finest clothes. My father got out of the car without a word, and my moth

sed couple waiting for us at the big doors. The man was tall and imposing, with a firm handshake and a

man who was standing there greeted my mother with a warm hug, and the two women walked arm in arm into the hote

t was a magnificent piece of art, with sparkling crystals that caught the light in a thousand different wa

nce. And there he was, a well-dressed man with blond hair and sea-blue eyes that seemed to sparkle in the dim light of the lobby. My heart skipped

voice low and husky. "I wasn't

managed to say, my voice barely above a whisper. His eyes flashed bl

smiles and warm greetings. It was as if everyone knew us already, and

. It was a whirlwind of activity, but it was also strangely comforting. I felt like I was

th her elbow. "You liked what you saw," she said, nodding her head in the direction where th

nge about him," I replied to my sister, my mind still reel

?" she asked, her

, his eyes flashed black for a second,"

urprise. "That's strange," sh