Indore
Banquet Hall
The entrance was alive with the sound of drums and trumpets, and flowers were showering down from every direction. The Shekhawat family had arrived at the banquet hall, and everyone elegantly stepped out of their cars, adjusting their sarees and lehengas. But Rudraksh, with his typical angry expression, was glaring ahead as if ready to devour anyone who dared to cross his path. The whole event, the rituals, and the noise bored him to his core. Yet, he continued with it all, knowing that he was doing this for his grandfather, Pushkar Ji, to save his family's honor. His parents, Mannat Ji and Shivay, could see through their son's frustration and knew that he wouldn't be able to handle this forced tradition for long. They understood that this facade wouldn't last much longer.
Ranjeet, trying to lighten the mood, quickly draped a garland of roses over Rudraksh's neck and exclaimed, "Welcome, welcome! Our groom, Rudraksh Shekhawat, the one and only! We've all been waiting for you!" At Ranjeet's words, Haya's mother immediately stepped forward to perform his aarti. The guests, who had been standing quietly at the back, watched this display in silence. Rudraksh didn't say a word, not even acknowledging the garland or the ceremony. He simply walked past everyone, his face showing no emotion, heading inside the hall, with Max following closely behind him.
Once inside, everyone's eyes widened in disbelief as they saw Rudraksh. Many guests turned to Ranjeet, asking him where he had found such a handsome and wealthy groom for his daughter. Ranjeet, feeling proud, wore a satisfied smile, but the girls couldn't help but gush over Haya's good fortune. After all, Rudraksh was not just handsome but also incredibly attractive, and the entire room seemed to agree that Haya had hit the jackpot. Meanwhile, special arrangements had been made for the guests, ensuring they were treated like VIPs. However, Ranjeet had kept the guest list small, trying to avoid drawing too much attention to the wealth and status of his daughter's new family.
On the other hand, Ranjeet had drained his entire life's savings into booking the most luxurious hotel in Indore, which was far beyond the means of a middle-class man like him. But he wasn't spending all this money on his daughter's wedding for her sake; it was all for his wealthy son-in-law, Rudraksh. Meanwhile, Rudraksh sat by himself, engrossed in his phone. Max, noticing this, leaned in and whispered, "Boss, at least look interested today. People are watching, especially Grandpa." Rudraksh, glaring at him, smirked and replied, "Oh? Since when do you care about their opinions? Did anyone ask me before making decisions about my life? I'll do what I want. If anyone has a problem with it, they can deal with it. You just enjoy the free food and don't get involved in my business. Ask Mom when this drama will end. If this wedding doesn't finish within an hour, I'll be heading to Mumbai by myself." With that, Rudraksh buried his face back in his phone, clearly uninterested.
Just then, a loud murmur ran through the hall as everyone turned to look. Max's eyes widened in shock as he saw Haya walking towards them. Everyone turned to look at her, and their eyes froze in admiration. Haya looked incredibly beautiful. Arina, unable to hold back her excitement, rushed over to Haya and jokingly said, "Did the moon fall down to earth? How did you manage to look this stunning?" The room was filled with appreciative murmurs, and everyone agreed that the couple was a perfect match. Rudraksh, undeniably handsome, and Haya, with her breathtaking beauty, seemed like they were made for each other.
But Haya didn't respond to Arina's playful teasing, and Rudraksh didn't spare her a single glance. He walked toward the mandap with his usual cold expression. Haya followed him silently, her head lowered. Moments later, the wedding rituals were completed, and the vermilion on Haya's forehead and the diamond mangalsutra around her neck marked the official unionâHaya Rudraksh Shekhawat.
As the rituals concluded, Haya lifted her teary eyes for the first time to look at her groom. At that very moment, Rudraksh, despite his disinterest, couldn't stop his gaze from meeting hers. Their eyes locked, and for a brief moment, the world seemed to stop. Rudraksh's eyes were cold, filled with disdain, while Haya's eyes betrayed sorrow and regret. Neither his striking appearance nor her innocence could erase the bitterness between them. They looked perfect together to the outside world, but within, they were far from it. Their first meeting had been filled with contempt, and it seemed that nothing would change in the future.
Rudraksh, irritated by the silence, quickly averted his gaze from Haya's face. At that very moment, the priest smiled and declared, "The marriage is complete. Now, may the bride and groom take the blessings of the elders..." But before the priest could finish, Rudraksh, in anger, turned away and began to walk off. As the bride and groom, Haya was bound to follow him, even though she wasn't entirely willing. Rudraksh's gesture of moving ahead without looking back was interpreted by the guests as a sign of him seeking the elders' blessings before leaving with his bride.
Despite the tension between them, Rudraksh continued walking, not caring for the formalities or seeking blessings from anyone. When Gudia, his mischievous sister-in-law, appeared to demand money in exchange for his shoes, he shot her a harsh look. But as soon as he saw the innocence in her eyes, a small, almost imperceptible smile formed on his face. Gudia, looking exactly like Haya but even more innocent, mischievously demanded, "Jiju, if you want your shoes back, give me one lakh rupees." The room went silent, and Ranjeet, unable to bear the situation, quickly pulled Gudia aside, scolding her, "Gudia, don't cause trouble for your brother-in-law right now. Your sister's departure is important!"
But before she could protest further, Pushkar Ji, noticing the situation, handed Gudia a check for ten lakh rupees. "Here, take this. Be happy," he said. Gudia, momentarily taken aback, hesitated, saying, "But, Dadaji, what would I do with so much money? Mom says that if we demand too much, we'll get less in the end. You've given me so much!" Her innocence brought a smile to everyone's face, and even Haya couldn't help but smile. Mannat Ji, lovingly kissing Gudia's forehead, said, "This is from your Jiju, your only brother-in-law. Take it and be happy." Gudia, after a glance at her father for approval, took the check and handed it to Ranjeet, who accepted it with a grateful nod.
Soon after, it was time for Haya's departure. Pushkar Ji called Ranjeet over and, with a warm smile, said, "Ranjeet, you've given us your daughter, and that is the greatest gift we could ever ask for. Please accept this small token from us." Ranjeet, overwhelmed, looked at Pushkar Ji, who handed him a check for two crores. "This is for all the expenses you've incurred for the wedding. We don't want you to be burdened with debt on account of us. You've spent your life's savings to give our daughter a comfortable life. Please accept this, and don't feel the pressure. It's for our daughter, and we've done this for her future."
Ranjeet, touched by his generosity, lowered his head and said, "We never expected such a gesture. Truly, our daughter has married into a wonderful family." Pushkar Ji smiled and said, "It's time for the farewell. Let's not keep her waiting." At his words, Ranjeet and the other guests stepped outside, and Haya, who had been holding back her tears, couldn't keep them in anymore. Her tears flowed as she clung to her mother, crying uncontrollably.
Meanwhile, Rudraksh, who had been muttering to himself, looked at Haya with disgust. "What a strange girl! First, she used her innocent looks to trap my parents, and now, she's going to enjoy all this luxury, all this drama. Incredible." Rudraksh raised an eyebrow and looked at Max. "How long is this nonsense going to continue? When will it end?"
Max, sensing the tension, tried to divert the conversation. "Boss, your sister-in-law is really beautiful." Rudraksh snapped, "Oh? Why don't you marry her, then?"
Finally, Ranjeet, with a heavy heart, handed Haya's hand to Rudraksh, saying, "Take care of my daughter. She's now your responsibility." Rudraksh, showing no emotion, let go of her hand for a moment, but when he saw Pushkar Ji's stern look, he reluctantly took it again. He didn't bother to seek blessings from anyone and walked straight to the car, his actions puzzling everyone. Despite the tension, it was Pushkar Ji and Shivay who stepped in to calm everyone down.
Mannat Ji, sensing the discomfort, quietly said, "Haya, go sit in the car. Rudraksh isn't feeling well, and you should And after meeting everyone, Haya sat in the car. Just then, Gudia quickly ran towards Rudraksh, and seeing her, Rudraksh stepped out of the car. His unexpected action shocked everyone, as until now, he had kept a cold, distant demeanor.
Could Haya win Rudraksh's heart with her love and efforts? Would Rudraksh ever let go of his cold, heartless persona and accept Haya as his partner? Only time would tell, but one thing was certain: their lives were about to change forever.
To know more, read "The devil's sweet sin