Mumbai â Jannat Villa
As soon as both of them turned to the side, Mannat Ji smirked and said, "Has the bedroom become too small for your romance?"
The moment Haya focused on Mannat Ji's words, realization hit herâshe was standing far too close to Rudraksh. Before she could react, Rudraksh, completely at ease, leaned back and replied, "Mom, this is exactly what I keep saying! But it looks like your daughter-in-law just looks for excuses to come close to me. Look, she started right here!"
Haya's eyes widened in shock. She quickly tilted her head up and met Rudraksh's gaze. He was staring at her with a teasing smirk, as if he wanted to say, This is just the beginning. The rest of your life will be even more challenging.
A hint of defiance flickered in Haya's eyes. Instead of getting flustered, she turned to Mannat Ji and, in an innocent tone, said, "No, Mom, it's not like that at all. I told Rudraksh that the bedroom is more than enough for romance. But his dear friend Sophia decided to interrupt. So... this is all because of her."
The moment Haya finished speaking, she turned to Rudraksh, her lips curving into a victorious smirk. And just like that, the tables had turned. Rudraksh, who had been enjoying teasing her a moment ago, now narrowed his eyes at her, realizing that she had managed to turn the situation against him.
Mannat Ji, who had been delighted by her son and daughter-in-law's closeness just moments ago, suddenly lost her smile. Her expression darkened. She knew exactly who Sophia was, and the mere mention of her name was enough to make her blood boil.
Her voice was cold as she asked, "Did you invite that girl, Rudraksh?"
Completely unfazed by his mother's sudden change in tone, Rudraksh leaned back casually and replied, "Of course, I did. Is there a problem with that? Even if there is, I don't care. If you ask her to leave, I'll leave with her."
His words hung in the air like a challenge. His casual demeanor had disappeared, replaced by a sharp edge in his voice. Haya turned to look at him, her heart skipping a beat at his audacity.
Then, suddenly, Rudraksh turned to Haya and, with an exasperated sigh, said, "I'm already tolerating this specimen because of you, right? Or do you want to make my life even more miserable?"
His words, though seemingly playful, carried a weight that made the atmosphere tense.
Mannat Ji wanted to argue, but she stopped herself. She knew her son well enough to understand that the more she pushed, the more stubborn he would become. And she didn't want to embarrass Haya any further. She knew very well how painful it is for a wife to hear about another woman in front of her.
With a sigh, she clenched her fists and chose silence over confrontation, though the storm within her was far from settled.
Mannat Ji was deeply concerned for Haya, but in contrast, Haya was completely at ease, enjoying Rudraksh's teasing remarks. After all, she felt nothing for himânot love, not attachment. Attachment comes from spending time with someone, from shared moments and experiences. But Haya had barely been here for two or three days. How could she possibly feel attached to Rudraksh? Moreover, in these past few days, Rudraksh hadn't spoken a single word of love or affection to her.
Noticing the silence between them, Mannat Ji spoke in a firm yet controlled voice, "Whatever is going on between you two, make sure it doesn't come out in front of the guests or the media. We will not tolerate any more embarrassment for this family. And especially you, Rudrakshâyou understand this better than anyone, don't you? Stay away from Sophia as much as possible, please."
With those final words, Mannat Ji gave them both a meaningful glance before turning around and walking away.
The moment she left, Haya turned to Rudraksh with a mischievous smile. "I told you, didn't I? If you give me pain, I'll modify it and return it to you. You've already seen the trailer... I can show you the full movie too."
Rudraksh smirked at her challenge. Tightening his grip around her waist, he leaned in and whispered, "Show me at night. I usually enjoy watching such movies after dark."
The double meaning in his words sent a sudden heat rushing through Haya. Her breath hitched, and she instinctively shut her eyes for a second, steadying herself. Taking a deep breath, she opened them again and met his gaze. But this time, she didn't say anything. Without a word, she turned and walked ahead, her heartbeat slightly unsteady.
Rudraksh, of course, followed right behind her, his eyes locked on her retreating figure.
Garden â Jannat Villa
The atmosphere in Jannat Villa was grand, buzzing with conversations and the presence of influential guests whose aura shone brighter than the glimmering lights. The night was alive with laughter and discussions, but after a while, murmurs about Rudraksh and Haya began spreading among the attendees.
Pushkar Shekhawat, who was busy attending to some high-profile guests, was soon approached by a few of them. One of the men, sipping his drink, casually remarked, "Mr. Shekhawat, it's been quite a while, but your son and daughter-in-law are nowhere to be seen. What rare gem have you found? The girl's family must be just as impressive, right?"
Pushkar Shekhawat, unfazed by the subtle curiosity, smiled faintly and responded in a calm yet sharp tone, "They gave us their daughterâwhat greater wealth could they possess? And let me tell you, the truly rich and noble are those who have daughters. What greater fortune could there be than that?"
His words, spoken with deliberate weight, silenced a few, but one man in particularâMr. Birlaâlet out a dry chuckle and countered, "Ah, Shekhawat Sahab, you have always had a way with words. Do you think these eloquent speeches can divert us from the real question? Why not just tell us the truthâwho are the girl's parents? What do they do? After all, is she from a family as rich as your elder daughter-in-law's, or have you just picked someone from anywhere...?"
Before he could finish, a deep, commanding voice cut through the air.
"She is my wife. Do you need any other introduction?"
A sudden hush fell over the gathering as Rudraksh Shekhawat strode in, his sharp gaze locked onto Birla. His presence alone was enough to send an unspoken warning through the crowd.
His voice was calm, yet laced with an unmistakable edge as he continued, "She is the wife of The Great Rudraksh Shekhawat. Whether she was born into wealth or povertyâwhy should that matter to you? You're here to enjoy a free meal, aren't you? So please, eat. Give us your blessings if you wish, and then kindly leave."
He took a step closer, his smirk growing colder. "And as for my wife, let me make it clearâshe is Mrs. Rudraksh Shekhawat. She could buy a hundred men like you just standing here."
His tone dropped a notch lower, but the underlying menace in his words sent chills through the air. "One more thing, Mr. BirlaâI prefer living in the present. But if you insist on digging into the past, I won't hesitate to turn you into the past."
It was a warning, coated in a deceptive layer of politeness, but the weight behind it was unmistakable.
A bead of sweat trickled down Birla's forehead. His hands clenched at his sides as he swallowed hard, his earlier arrogance now replaced by visible unease. Because if there was one undeniable truth in this worldâit was that Rudraksh Shekhawat was not just a name; he was a storm.
And only a fool would dare stand in its way.
Seeing his grandson lose his temper, Pushkar Ji stepped in, his voice calm but firm. "Rudraksh, every person here is our guest. Show some manners."
Rudraksh, still seething, snapped back, "Then why did you have to make that girl my wife? Now everyone will taunt me like this, and I'll have to answer them? You've made a joke out of me!"
Pushkar Ji remained silent, but Rudraksh wasn't done. "And why do you even associate with such cheap people, Dada? First, you forced this girl, Haya Diwan, onto me, and now you've invited Birla to the reception? Man, I've become a freaking bellâeveryone just keeps ringing me!"
Pushkar Ji's patience finally wore thin. His voice hardened. "Just because I'm not saying anything doesn't mean you can forget your limits, Rudraksh. And in case you've forgotten, there are people all around. This is a personal matter and can be discussed later. I'm not going anywhere, and neither are you."
Glancing around, he asked, "Where is Haya? I told you both to come together, didn't I?"
Rudraksh, his voice lower now, muttered, "She was supposed to come with me, but I couldn't just stand there watching you get insulted." Saying this, he turned and stormed back inside.
Just then, the spotlight fell on the entrance, and Rudraksh walked out, holding Haya's hand. The moment they appeared, all eyes turned to them. Guests were left dazzledâespecially by Haya, whose fair skin glowed under the soft golden lights. Dressed in a stunning red ensemble, she looked breathtaking. Her innocent beauty, already mesmerizing, had been enhanced by a talented makeup artist. The way she carried herself, the grace in her movementsâit was impossible to look away. More than a few young hearts in the crowd skipped a beat at the sight of her.
Rudraksh, on the other hand, was simply there to fulfill a formality.
Mannat Ji and Veena quickly moved to introduce Haya to the guests, but most people were too captivated by her face to focus on anything else. They weren't even interested in learning more about her beyond her name. And Veena? She wasn't letting them get much of a chance anyway.
After meeting what felt like an endless stream of people, Haya was exhausted. Soon, the cake was cut, and the guests started presenting her with gifts. The catering staff had begun serving dinner, and at this point, Haya found herself sitting alone on the stage.
Her beloved husband hadn't even looked at her once.
She continued forcing smiles as she accepted gifts, but her face had started to hurt from all the fake enthusiasm. Holding her jaw, she sighed. How much longer?
Just then, she saw a familiar figure walking towards her.
Her heart instantly sank.
It was Sophia.
Seeing her up close, Haya felt her mood sour even further. She didn't know why, but something about Sophia irritated her beyond words. And it wasn't just because she was her husband's supposed girlfriend. No, it was something moreâsomething deeperâthat burned inside her whenever she saw her.
Not wanting to engage, Haya turned her gaze away.
Sophia, however, smirked and leaned in slightly. "Won't you accept my gift too, Miss Haya?"
Without missing a beat, Haya calmly responded, "It's Mrs. Haya Rudraksh Shekhawat. You're more educated than me, aren't you? So why are you acting more ill-mannered?"
Sophia's eyes darkened as she glared at her.
What is Rudraksh planning to do? Will the distance between him and Haya turn into closeness?
The storm within Rudraksh and the coldness of Haya... Will their relationship take an unexpected turn?
To uncover the secrets, passion, and intense emotions, read "The Devil's Sweet Sin".