Raju stormed into the house late at night, his face set in stubborn determination. He found his mother, Rehena, sitting in the dimly lit living room, her frail hands sorting through a basket of old clothes. She looked up as her son entered, sensing trouble in his hardened expression.

"Ma, I need ten thousand taka," Raju declared bluntly.

Rehena blinked in surprise. "What? That's a lot of money, son. Where will I get that? We barely have enough to eat."

Her voice trembled, but Raju showed no concern. His impatience flared. "I don't care how you do it. Just get me the money."

A painful silence filled the room. Rehena stared at her son, searching for a trace of the little boy she had once cradled in her arms, the boy who used to tug at her saree and beg for sweets. But that child was gone. In his place stood a young man, cold and unfeeling.

She knew she couldn't refuse him. A mother's heart is weak, even when her son's heart is stone.

The next day, with heavy steps, Rehena made her way to the goldsmith's shop. She hesitated before stepping inside, her fingers tightly clutching the last piece of jewelry her late husband had gifted her—the only memory she had left of him. As the shopkeeper took the delicate gold chain from her hands, she felt as if a piece of her soul had been sold along with it.

Later that evening, she handed the money to Raju, her hands trembling. "Baba, this is the last thing your father left for me. Please spend it wisely. Make me proud."

Raju took the cash without so much as a glance at his mother's sorrow-filled eyes. "Yeah, sure," he muttered indifferently before walking out the door.

Rehena stood there, watching him disappear into the night, her silent tears soaking her faded saree. She didn't know that her sacrifice would be wasted in the cruelest way imaginable.

Raju didn't use the money for college. He had no intention of studying. Instead, he rushed to the city's most expensive shopping mall, his heart pounding with excitement. He had a plan—one that had nothing to do with books or education.

Rupa, the beautiful daughter of a wealthy businessman, was his obsession. She was everything he wanted—elegant, rich, and completely out of his league. And to win her over, he needed to prove that he belonged in her world.

With his mother's hard-earned money, Raju bought an extravagant gift—a diamond bracelet, one he knew would impress her. Then, as if to complete the illusion of wealth, he took her to a high-end restaurant, where the chandeliers sparkled like stars and the waiters bowed as they poured expensive wine.

As they ate, Raju leaned back in his chair, exuding confidence. His shirt was unbuttoned just enough to show off the golden chain around his neck, his wrist adorned with a fancy watch—both bought with money that wasn't his.

The room was cool, but Raju felt the warmth of his own arrogance. As sweat beaded on his forehead, he casually pulled out a crisp 500-taka note. Instead of using a napkin, he wiped his forehead with the money and then, without hesitation, tossed it onto the floor.

Rupa's eyes widened. "Raju! You just threw away money!"

Raju smirked, his voice laced with arrogance. "It's nothing. My father's money is endless."

Rupa giggled, dazzled by his careless extravagance. She believed his lie. She wanted to believe it.

But deep inside Raju's mind, he knew the truth. He was nothing more than a fraud, a man feeding off the last remnants of his mother's love, turning her sacrifices into stepping stones for a love that wasn't even real.

He had betrayed the one person who had given up everything for him....