Herein, we report the design and synthesis of a red luminescent ruthenium (Ru) complex with imidazophenanthroline as the chelating ligand. The metal complex showed a unique concentration-dependent distinct optical response in the presence of the target analyte, Na 2 S. At the lower concentration (micromolar range), the addition of Na 2 S resulted in the decrease of absorption maximum with a diminution of luminescence intensity. On the contrary, a bathochromic shift in the UV−visible spectrum with a turn-on luminescence response was noticed upon the addition of excess Na 2 S (millimolar range). The detailed mechanistic investigation indicated the formation of a hydrogen-bonded complex with sulfide (HS̅ ) ions at lower concentrations involving imidazole nitrogen ends. On the other hand, excess Na 2 S led to the reduction of nitro to amino group, which facilitated the extent of intramolecular charge transfer. Furthermore, we used the Ru(II) complex for analyzing H 2 S in toilet water samples, as it is the indicator of fecal contamination. Also, it was observed that chemically modified paper strips could detect H 2 S in contaminated water samples without involving any sophisticated instruments (sustainable approach). Finally, the imaging of H 2 S inside living breast cancer cells (MCF-7) was achieved under various stimulated conditions. Moreover, H 2 S-induced, concentration-dependent alternation in the luminescence signal was also noticed under intracellular conditions.