The Devil's Substitute : Book #1 [Original Edition]

||Chapter 14||

 •Into the Chapter•

It was a tranquil morning in the Raghuvanshi household. The servants efficiently set the table, moving with practised precision, as Rani Raghuvanshi and Raghuveer Raghuvanshi settled into their seats, exchanging glances to note the absence of others.

Samaya entered the dining room, her face radiant with joy, her steps light and her demeanour exuding an unusual happiness.

"Good morning, Maa Sa. Good morning, Daada Sa," Samaya greeted the elders warmly, her voice carrying an undertone of excitement that didn't go unnoticed.

Rani nodded with a soft smile. "You seem particularly happy today, Samaya. Is there a reason?" she inquired, her curiosity piqued by Samaya's unusual cheerfulness.

Samaya hesitated slightly but maintained her smile. "No, Maa Sa. I'm always happy," she responded, trying to sound casual but failing to mask the hint of something more behind her words.

"Really? I thought someone's absence was bringing you joy," Raghuveer taunted lightly, his eyes narrowing slightly as he watched her reaction

"Where are the others, Jamila?" Rani inquired of the servant, her voice carrying an edge of impatience.

"They will be joining us shortly, Madam," Jamila replied, bowing slightly before resuming her duties.

Samaya's happiness seemed to swell as Nandini, Randhir, and Riya entered with sombre expressions. They greeted the seniors before taking their seats, their demeanour noticeably gloomy, casting a pall over the cheerful morning.

Ranveer and Karan followed suit, their faces mirroring the solemnity of their siblings. Only Reyansh remained absent, prompting concerned glances from Rani and Raghuveer.

"No one has passed away. There's no need for such gloom," Rani remarked, casually inspecting her manicured nails as Raghuveer looked away with an irritated sigh because of his wife's rude remark. 

Nandini's expression hardened, but Randhir intervened, gently tapping her shoulder in a gesture of restraint. Meanwhile, Riya observed Samaya's grin with a puzzled expression.

"Chachi, aren't you smiling a bit too much?" Riya ventured cautiously, her voice tinged with suspicion.

Annoyance flashed across Samaya's face. "Why does it bother you? I don't pay for my smiles," she retorted sharply, her tone defensive.

"Yes, but there's a saying, 'the wider the smile, the closer to death,'" Riya countered, causing Samaya to fall silent, her smile fading slightly.

"Maa Sa, our daughter-in-law has left us. It hasn't even been a week since the wedding. How can we possibly be happy?" Nandini remarked sarcastically, her voice dripping with irony.

Rani smirked knowingly. "Don't worry, Nandini beta. Our Reyansh will find another bride. He'll marry into a respectable family, and you'll have a worthy daughter-in-law."