Mumbai
Jannat Villa
Haya sat on the bed, completely lost in her thoughts. Her mind was in turmoil after what had just happened. Did she really do that? Had she really crossed that line? Two people who loathed each other to such an extentâhow could they have shared such an intense, fiery kiss? Perhaps, in that moment, they had poured all their hatred into it, trying to consume each other in the flames of their animosity. Haya's breathing was ragged, her heart pounding as she whispered to herself, What is happening to me? Why is this man affecting me so much? No. She had to stay away from him. No matter who he was or what he was, she couldn't let him have this power over her.
With that thought, she tried to push aside the chaos in her mind and stood up from the bed. But just as she did, the door to the washroom opened, and Rudraksh stepped out. His hair was damp, droplets of water still clinging to the ends, a clear sign that he had just taken a shower. Haya immediately averted her gaze, her cheeks burning with a heat she refused to acknowledge. Meanwhile, a slow, knowing smirk played on Rudraksh's lips, as if he was enjoying her restlessness.
Haya, trying to suppress the storm brewing within her, slowly made her way toward her bed, unsure of what to do or how to handle this situation. The more she thought about it, the more embarrassed she felt. And the more embarrassed she felt, the more her steps faltered. As she inched forward, Rudraksh suddenly stepped in front of her, blocking her way.
"Where do you think you're going?" he asked, his deep voice laced with amusement.
Haya lowered her gaze, her fingers clutching the hem of her dress as she spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. "Look, I've already apologized. Why do you keep bothering me?"
Rudraksh let out a low chuckle, tilting his head slightly as he looked at her. "I must say, Haya Diwan, you're braver than I thought. What you did today..." He trailed off, his voice dipping into something darker, something dangerous. He lifted his hand, his fingers grazing her lips in a slow, deliberate motion. Haya froze, her breath hitching as his touch sent a shiver down her spine.
"You've awakened something in me," he murmured, his voice a mere whisper against her skin. "You've ignited a hunger, a craving..." His fingers pressed a little firmer against her lips before he leaned in, his breath warm against her ear. "And now that you've given me a taste, Haya, I'll take my full right. Every. Last. Bit."
Haya felt her heart pound violently against her ribs. She wanted to run, wanted to escape the intensity in his eyes, but her feet refused to move. Rudraksh straightened, his gaze sweeping over her from head to toe before he smirked.
"Now tell me, Haya Diwan," he mused, taking a step back, his voice dripping with a dangerous promise, "who will save you from me?"
Haya swallowed, refusing to let the fear show on her face, but deep inside, she knewâRudraksh had just set the rules of a game she had no idea how to play.
Determined not to give him the satisfaction of seeing her weakness, Haya ignored his words and turned away, walking straight to the couch. She didn't have the strength to face him anymore, not after everything that had just transpired. She knew Rudraksh well enough to know that he wouldn't stop teasing her if he saw even a flicker of hesitation on her face. And right now, she was full of hesitations, full of doubts, full of emotions she didn't understand.
She lay down on the couch, her body stiff as she forced her eyes shut. Sleep was a distant dream, but she had no other choice. Staying awake would only give him another reason to mess with her, and that was something she absolutely couldn't afford. So she lay there, pretending to be asleep, hoping that if she ignored him long enough, he would lose interest.
But deep inside, a part of her knewâRudraksh was far from losing interest. In fact, this was just the beginning.
Falak's Room
Falak picked up her phone in frustration, her voice laced with irritation as she snapped, "How many times do I have to tell you? I can't just come outside like this! I think I made a mistake by getting into this relationship. For the first time in my life, I gave someone a chance, and now you're making things difficult for me. Last time, Bhabhi got into trouble because of me, and I can't let that happen again. I am not going anywhere!"
There was a response from the other end, but it only made her more agitated. She let out an exasperated sigh before speaking again, "Vihaan, why don't you understand? The whole family is at home! What if someone sees me with you? No, I can't take that risk. Anyway, we're going on a trip soon. Whatever you have to say, you can say it there. But right now, I'm not coming downstairs, and that's final."
The moment she ended the call, a sudden force pulled her back. Before she could even scream, a firm hand covered her lips. Her eyes widened in shock as she struggled for a moment, only to find herself staring into a familiar, handsome face.
"Vihaan?!" she whispered, her voice a mixture of shock and fear. "What are you doing? What if someone sees you?"
Vihaan, completely unbothered by her panic, held her gaze steadily. His deep brown eyes twinkled with mischief as he smirked. "People do so much for their boyfriends, and you won't even come downstairs for me? Tell me, what's the worst that could happen if you just step out for a while? We'll just roam around a little, spend some time together, and I'll bring you back safelyâI promise."
Falak sighed, her heart torn between her fear of getting caught and the undeniable pull she felt toward him. After a long pause, she finally gave in, wrapping her arms around him in a warm hug.
"Later. I promise," she whispered, resting her head against his chest. "But for now, please go... for me."
Vihaan sighed in defeat but smiled nonetheless. He gently kissed the top of her head before stepping back. "Fine. But I'll hold you to that promise," he said with a wink before slipping out of the room.
As soon as he was gone, Falak let out a deep breath, her heart still racing.
Next Morning
Everyone was seated at the dining table, enjoying their breakfast. Haya quietly focused on her meal, hoping to avoid any unnecessary conversations. But just as she took a bite, Rudraksh casually lifted his coffee cup, pointed toward her, and said,
"Mom, she had something important to discuss with you."
Haya instantly choked on her food, coughing in shock. Mannat Ji, who had been sipping her tea, looked at Haya with a warm smile.
"Haya, dear, what is it? You know you can talk to me directly. Why did you have to ask Rudraksh to tell me?"
Haya shook her head, her voice laced with confusion. "But Mom, I didn'tâ"
Before she could complete her sentence, Rudraksh cut her off with a smug expression. "Oh, come on, weren't you just saying you needed to talk to Mom about something important? Something related to college?"
It was clear nowâRudraksh was doing this just to mess with her. Haya knew him well enough to understand that until she played along, he wouldn't stop. The entire family was now staring at her, waiting for an explanation. Taking a deep breath, she finally spoke.
"No, I don't have anything to say."
Shivay, who had been silently observing, frowned slightly before speaking up. "Haya, if there's something on your mind, don't hesitate. You can tell us."
After hearing this from multiple people, Haya sighed, realizing she had no way out. Lowering her gaze, she softly said, "Dad, I was thinking... I want to complete my studies. I mean, I don't have much to do throughout the day anyway, and Falak was telling me that admissions have started at her college. So... I was wondering if I could also resume my educationâif you all allow me."
As soon as she finished speaking, she lowered her head further, her heart pounding. The dining table went silent for a moment. But before anyone else could respond, Veena's sharp voice cut through the air.
"There's no need for that!" she snapped. "You are the daughter-in-law of the Shekhawat family. Do you even realize what people will say? 'Look, the Shekhawat family's daughter-in-law is going to college!' Every time, Haya, you come up with these ridiculous demands! And if Dad finds out, he won't be pleased either."
Haya flinched slightly but remained silent. Just as she was preparing for more backlash, Rudraksh, who had been listening to everything without a word, finally spoke.
His voice was ice-cold. "I think, Chachi, this decision should be mine. After all, Haya is my wife. So, I'll decide whether she studies or not. No one elseânot even Dada."
The entire room fell silent. Haya's eyes widened as she looked up at Rudraksh in shock. This was the last thing she had expected from him. Why was he... supporting her?
Mannat Ji, unaffected by the tension, smiled gently. "Even if you had disagreed, Rudraksh, I wouldn't have stopped Haya. If she wants to study, she has every right to. No one should have a problem with it."
Shivay nodded, then turned to Haya. "Fine, Haya can go to college. But on one condition."
Haya hesitated before looking at Shivay. His expression was unreadable as he continued, "Rudraksh will be responsible for dropping her off and picking her up from college. Haya will neither go with a driver nor return with one. If Rudraksh agrees to take on this responsibility, only then will she get admission."
Haya's mouth parted slightly in shock. What kind of condition was this?
Before she could react, Rudraksh, who had been silent for a moment, suddenly scoffed. His tone was sharp and annoyed. "Dad, are you serious? Do you even realize what you're saying? I'm a businessmanâI have a hundred other things to do! And you expect me to be this... this weirdo's driver? Not happening."
Shivay's expression remained calm as he sipped his tea. "Your choice, Rudraksh. If you don't want to do it, then Haya's admission won't happen either."
Rudraksh let out an irritated sigh before abruptly pushing his chair back and standing up. "Do whatever you want. Get her admission or don'tâI don't care. But I'm not doing this chauffeur job."
With that, he stormed out of the dining hall, leaving everyone in stunned silence.
Haya sat there with her head lowered, unsure of what to feel.
Shivay looked at Haya with a calm yet firm expression. "If you want admission, convince your husband, Haya. Only he can help you now."
Haya hesitated, biting her lip nervously before softly saying, "Dad, is it necessary that only Rudraksh takes me? I mean, I can go with Falak too..."
Hearing this, Falak and Areena immediately nodded in agreement, supporting Haya's suggestion. But Shivay simply got up from his chair, his decision unwavering.
"Haya, dear, I have made my decision. Now, it's up to you whether you want to accept it or not."
With that, Shivay walked away, leaving no room for further argument. Mannat Ji followed him, giving Haya a small, reassuring glance before disappearing behind him.
Shivay's Room
As soon as they entered the room, Mannat Ji turned to face Shivay, her brows furrowed with confusion.
"Why did you say that outside?" she questioned. "Haya can go with Falak. Viresh and Ishan are also there, and we have drivers too. She could go with anyone, so why only Rudraksh?"
A knowing smile appeared on Shivay's face, his eyes gleaming with something unspoken.
Will Rudraksh agree to Haya's request? Will she really get admission?
To find out, read the next part of "The Devil's Sweet Sin", where hatred, obsession, and confrontation take a new turn!
So, how's the story going so far? Did this chapter keep you hooked? And what do you think about Rudraksh's reaction? Tell me everythingâI'm waiting!