Mumbai
Jannat Villa
The day had turned into evening, yet Rudraksh had not returned. Haya, however, was at peace because his presence often disturbed her. Lately, he had started teasing and troubling her even more. What bothered her the most was when he came too close, making her feel restless.
It was seven in the evening when Haya woke up from her nap. She checked the time and quickly tied her hair into a bun.
Getting up from the bed, she walked into the washroom. When she stepped out, her eyes instinctively scanned the room, but there was still no sign of Rudraksh. Letting out a silent sigh, she glanced at herself once in the mirror before making her way downstairs.
The house was quiet. Everyone was in their rooms, and the servants were busy, most likely preparing for dinner. As soon as they noticed Haya, they rushed toward her with concern.
"Madam, is everything alright? Do you need anything? Tea? Coffee?" one of them asked worriedly.
Haya gave them a faint smile and shook her head slightly. "Nothing. Please continue with your work. I'm fine," she replied softly.
Saying this, she turned away and walked toward the garden, seeking solace in the cool evening air.
In the garden, peace stretched as far as the eyes could see. Silence surrounded the place, with only the cool breeze whispering through the air, enough to soothe Haya's heart. She sighed softly and murmured, "Good thing that devil hasn't returned yet. Otherwise, he would've emptied my mind with his nonsense."
Lost in these thoughts, she glanced around. The garden was filled with all kinds of flowers, their beauty bringing a smile to her face. After all, flowers were her weaknessâhow could she not be happy?
As she admired her surroundings, a familiar voice suddenly called out, startling her.
"Bhabhi, you're here?"
Hearing Falak's voice so close, Haya turned to her and asked softly, "Falak? You're back from college?"
Falak nodded in response. Haya, relaxing a little, asked, "And now? Are you going somewhere?"
One look at Falak's outfit was enough for anyone to guess where she was headed. She was dressed perfectly for a party.
Falak smiled and said, "It's my friend's birthday party. That's where I'm going. Bhabhi, why don't you come with me? Bhai isn't home either. This way, you'll get to see a little of Mumbai too. Please come."
Haya's expression changed instantly as she refused, "Falak, I don't like noisy places. Besides, I don't even know anyone there. You have friends, but I'll just feel out of place. I'm fine here."
Falak, however, was persistent. "Bhabhi, please! I promise I won't leave your side. I'll stay with you the whole time. And my friends already know youâI introduced you to them just yesterday. Don't you remember?"
Haya hesitated before replying quickly, "I'd have to change first... and honestly, I'm really not in the mood, Falak."
But Falak was determined. "That's not a problem! I'll help you get ready. It'll just take two minutes!"
Before Haya could protest further, Falak grabbed her hand and, with an excited grin, pulled her inside.
A little while later, Haya stood completely ready. She was dressed in a stunning red gown that enhanced her beauty, making her look breathtaking.
Falak gasped in admiration. "Wow, Bhabhi! You look so beautiful! So, so gorgeous! Everyone's going to be stunned tonight. The real star of the party has just arrived!"
Haya, however, remained composed and replied softly, "I'll go with you, but only on one condition."
Falak's excitement faltered slightly as she asked curiously, "What condition, Bhabhi?"
Haya replied calmly, "We'll stay for just one hour."
Hearing this, Falak beamed and hugged her. "Yes, promise! We'll be back soon. Now, shall we go?"
With that assurance, Haya finally agreed and left with Falak.
Shekhawat Corporation
Rudraksh sat in his chair, his gaze locked onto the trembling woman before himâSofia. His stare was intense, unwavering, and filled with something so dark that it made Sofia shiver uncontrollably.
Lighting a cigarette, Rudraksh exhaled a cloud of smoke before speaking in a cold, measured tone. "I don't have much time to waste. Say what you have to sayâquickly."
Sofia, whose hand was bleeding from a bullet wound, shook even more violently. She had every reason to fear him. Rudraksh was a man of his word, and just yesterday, he had warned herâif she dared to appear before him again, he wouldn't hesitate to shoot her, and he had done exactly that.
His aim had been precise. Cold. Unforgiving.
Sofia was trembling uncontrollably, her mind racing with fear. She had believed that since she was once Rudraksh's girlfriend, he would surely forgive her. But what she had failed to remember was that Rudraksh was a man of his word, and for him, everyone was equal. Anyone who committed a crime would face his wrath, and Sofia had lied to him. There was nothing worse she could have done in his eyes.
With shaking lips, Sofia whispered, "Rudraksh, you shot me? Youâyour Sofia? How could you?"
Rudraksh, unfazed, leaned back and responded coldly, "I shot you with my own hands. And this time, the bullet won't hit your hand. It'll go somewhere else. So stop your nonsense. I warned you beforeâdon't come in front of me. But you didn't listen. You took Rudraksh Shekhawat too lightly. Now you'll face the consequences."
With those final words, Rudraksh quickly sent a message to someone and walked out without sparing her a second glance. Sofia screamed and ran after him, but he didn't even turn around to look at her. The sound of her desperation echoed, but for Rudraksh, it was nothing more than background noise. He had already made up his mind.
Club
The club was filled with the loud noise of music, and everyone was busy dancing and singing. People were dancing closely with each other, some enjoying drinks, while others were chatting away. For Haya, it was the first time experiencing something like this. She had grown up in a simple environment, where she had only seen such things in movies, not in real life. She tightly gripped Falak's hand, even though she was usually confident and unafraid of anything. But this overwhelming crowd and chaotic atmosphere made her nervous. She had never seen such a scene before, and now, faced with it, she felt out of place.
Falak, sensing her discomfort, reassured her, "Bhabhi, don't worry. Nothing will happen. I'm here with you, okay? And this is Mumbai. This kind of thing happens all the time here. Just stay with me."
Haya nodded, silently following Falak. After a while, they found themselves in a private room, away from the crowds. There were only a few people here, and the music was much softer, which brought Haya some relief and comfort. However, as soon as she looked around, her heart skipped a beat, and all the peace she had found seemed to vanish.
"What did Haya see? How will Haya's party turn out? To find out, read 'The Devil's Sweet Sin.'"