Mumbai â Jannat Villa â Garden
As the evening breeze swayed the lush green trees in the beautifully decorated garden of Jannat Villa, the air was filled with laughter, chatter, and the faint aroma of exquisite delicacies being served to the guests. The grand reception of the newlywed couple was in full swing, and amidst all the glitz and glamour, an intense conversation was brewing between two womenâHaya, the newlywed bride, and Sofia, the ex-girlfriend of her husband, Rudraksh.
Sofia's eyes gleamed with a mix of irritation and amusement as she crossed her arms and looked directly at Haya. With a sarcastic smirk, she remarked, "Your tongue moves like a pair of scissors, sharp and relentless. I used to think Rudraksh's wife would be someone who barely speaksâa mute, perhaps."
Haya, who was elegantly dressed in a deep maroon and gold lehenga, chuckled softly at Sofia's words. Her eyes held a playful glint as she tilted her head slightly and replied with equal sharpness, "Oh, really? And what made you assume that? Misconceptions can be so misleading, don't you think? After all, I had my own assumptions too. I used to believe that my dear husband's girlfriend wouldn't be so lowly. But look at thatâwhat we expect isn't always what we get."
Sofia's smirk deepened, but this time, there was a dangerous edge to it. She took a step closer and lowered her voice just a little, though it was still laced with mockery. "It's interesting," she mused, "how freely your tongue moves in front of me, but when it comes to Rudraksh, why do you suddenly turn mute? Do you get scared of my boyfriend?"
Haya's playful expression didn't waver. Instead, she smiled sweetly, her voice calm yet laced with subtle dominance. "Scared? Of your boyfriend?" she asked, as if the very idea amused her. "No, my dear Sofia. I am neither afraid of him nor of my husband. It's just that I don't waste my energy on unnecessary and pointless matters." Then, as she gracefully tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, she added with a polite yet sharp tone, "Anyway, since you've graced our reception with your presence, as the younger daughter-in-law of the Shekhawat family, I insist that you eat and drink well before you leave. After all, your visit should serve some purpose, shouldn't it?"
For a moment, Sofia simply stared at Haya, her eyes flickering with an unreadable expression. And then, as if recovering quickly, she let out a chuckle and extended a gift towards Haya. "Please," she said with an eerie sweetness, "make sure to open this. I sincerely wish to see a few lines of distress on that oh-so-calm face of yours."
Haya accepted the gift with a polite smile, but there was a knowing glint in her eyes. "Oh, wow!" she exclaimed, feigning excitement. "This must be a rare moment in historyâa husband's ex-girlfriend gifting his wife. How unusual, but interesting! I suppose I have no choice but to accept it. After all, it's a gift from my husband's beloved past, isn't it?"
With that, she gracefully took the gift and placed it to the side, not even sparing it a second glance.
Sofia lingered for a few seconds longer before finally leaving, the smugness in her expression barely masking the irritation that Haya had so effortlessly planted in her mind. Once she was gone, Haya turned her gaze towards the unopened gift, her fingers lightly tracing the ribbon that held it together. A small smirk played on her lips as she muttered under her breath, "I'm sure she has poured all her venom into this, like a true snake."
Instead of opening it, she leaned back against the plush sofa, crossing one leg over the other. Around her, guests were either busy clicking pictures with the newlyweds or indulging in the grand feast. Haya, however, remained composed, her eyes still on the gift, as if deciding whether to unravel the mystery within or let it sit there, meaningless and forgottenâjust like Sofia's presence in Rudraksh's life.
Catering Area
The night was alive with the sound of clinking glasses and murmuring voices as guests indulged in the grand feast. Among them, Rudraksh stood in a corner, engaged in a phone call, his expression unreadable. Unbeknownst to him, Sofia had been standing behind him for quite some time, her patience wearing thin.
Frustrated, she finally spoke up, her voice sharp with irritation. "Enough already! How long are we going to keep up this drama?"
Rudraksh, momentarily startled, ended the call and turned to glare at her. Without saying another word, he grabbed her wrist and led her toward the washroom, away from prying eyes. His grip was firm, and his steps were quick.
Once inside, he released her hand with a sharp look. His voice was low but filled with suppressed anger. "Have you lost your mind, Sofia? Do you even realize how many people are around? They all know you as my friend, but if you keep acting like this, they'll figure out you were my girlfriend. And most importantly, if Dada sees us together like this, I don't want to hurt him. I married Haya because of him. Why the hell are you still following me?"
Sofia, refusing to back down, clenched his shirt in her fists, her eyes brimming with frustration. "What's wrong with you, Rudraksh? I love you! Do you have any idea how much it hurts to see you with someone else?"
Before she could finish, Rudraksh pried her fingers off his shirt, his expression darkening. "How many times have I told you not to touch me?" His voice was cold, distant. "I hate it when anyone touches my clothes. And as for seeing me with someone else, you have a choice, Sofia. You can enjoy your life or walk away. I never forced you to stay. I told you from the very beginningâyou cannot be with me and still expect to have a heart. I don't think with my heart, and I don't get attached to people or things. I expect you to do the same. Think with your mind, not your emotions."
Saying this, Rudraksh shot her one last piercing look before storming out of the washroom, leaving Sofia standing there, her hands curled into fists. Her lips pressed together in anger as she watched him leave. She took a deep breath, exhaling slowly before scoffing under her breath.
"Oh, I do think with my mind, Rudraksh. That's exactly why I am the only girlfriend of the richest and most powerful gangster alive."
With that, she reached into her designer handbag, pulled out a tube of deep red lipstick, and carefully applied it. Giving herself one last confident glance in the mirror, she straightened her dress, tossed her hair back, and walked out in styleâlike she owned the place.
At the Dining Area
Outside, the reception was still in full swing. Mannat Ji, the gracious hostess, moved elegantly through the crowd, making sure all the guests were well taken care of. She had a warm smile on her face as she ensured that everyone had enough to eat and drink.
Just then, a well-dressed, stylish lady approached her with an admiring expression. "Wow, Mannat!" she exclaimed. "You really found a gem of a daughter-in-law. If your bahu has an elder sister, do let me know. I would love to have such a beautiful girl as my daughter-in-law too. Honestly, she is just as perfect as your son!"
Mannat Ji smiled politely, her eyes filled with motherly pride. She spoke softly but firmly, "Haya has only one sister, and she is still quite young. So, I'm afraid you have no chance, Mrs. Gupta."
Mrs. Gupta's face fell in disappointment, her expression turning slightly sour.
Just then, another woman interjected with a curious, somewhat sly tone. "Well, there's no doubt that your chhoti bahu is more beautiful than your badi bahu, but does she match your family's status, Mannat? Your son is the most handsome and wealthiest bachelor in all of Asia. Did you only consider beauty when choosing a bride for him? Or did you think about wealth too?"
A hush fell over the group as the insinuation settled in the air.
Mannat Ji, however, remained unbothered. With the same graceful smile, she looked at the woman and said, "I fail to understand how people can be so narrow-minded. Do you see me standing here? Am I worth any less than a treasure? My bahu is our wealth, our priceless treasure. We need nothing beyond her. And as for moneyâwhat would we do with a rich bride? God has already given us everything. The only thing we didn't have was a daughter, and now we have one. So where does wealth or status even come into this?"
Her words left everyone speechless. The women who had questioned her stood in stunned silence, their expressions laced with embarrassment.
Mannat Ji, glancing at their guilty faces, let out a soft sigh before saying with a composed smile, "Excuse me, ladies. Enjoy the food. If you need anything, the waiters are here to assist you."
With that, she gracefully walked away, leaving the women to reflect on their shallow words.
Garden
The soft glow of fairy lights bathed the garden in a golden hue as the night deepened. The air was filled with the distant chatter of guests and the soft clinking of glasses, but away from the crowd, Haya sat on a cushioned seat, her eyes struggling to stay open. Sleep was slowly overtaking her, her head nodding slightly as drowsiness crept in.
No one seemed to notice her until suddenly, someone dropped into the seat beside her with a slight thud.
Startled, Haya's eyes flew open. Her heart skipped a beat as she turned her headâonly to find Rudraksh sitting beside her, casually swirling the drink in his glass while his intense gaze remained fixed on her.
Her drowsiness vanished in an instant, replaced by annoyance. "What the hell is this behavior?" she snapped, her voice sharp with irritation.
Rudraksh smirked and leaned in closer, his voice lowering to a husky whisper as he spoke near her ear. "Behavior? Really? And what about what you're doing? Are you planning to bring disgrace to my family by falling asleep in the middle of a grand reception?" His eyes flickered around the area, making sure no one was watching too closely.
Haya rolled her eyes, crossing her arms in defiance. "Oh, for God's sake! I was just feeling sleepy. How is that a crime?" she muttered, her tone laced with irritation. Then, narrowing her eyes at him, she added, "And can't you ever keep that mouth of yours shut? Also, you're so heavy! You just plopped down like a damn bullâI nearly got scared thinking who the hell just sat next to me!"
A lazy smirk played on Rudraksh's lips as he slowly extended his hand toward her waist, his fingers brushing lightly against the fabric of her dress. His voice was teasing yet dangerously smooth. "Hmm... Seems like you have a deep connection with animals. You always manage to name a new one every time you talk to me."
Haya's eyes widened in disbelief, and she shot him a deadly glare. "Youâ!" she started, but Rudraksh was completely unfazed. Her sharp words had no effect on himâhe was as annoyingly unaffected as ever.
She was about to snap back when, all of a sudden, Rudraksh leaned in even closer and did something that made Haya's eyes widen completely, every trace of sleep vanishing in an instant.
"What is Rudraksh's true intention? Will the distance between Haya and Rudraksh fade away?"
Find out in "The Devil's Sweet Sin" â¨ð¥