Anika’s life fell into a pattern over the next week as she spent more time in the clinic. She continued to spend time on the computer during the day between her clinic appointments. During the evenings, after spending time at the library, she retired to the master bedroom.

She no longer pretended to be asleep in the mornings. In fact, she waited up for him to have dinner together. Apart from some minor conversation she made regarding the people and their medical needs, dinner was mostly silent.

They didn’t say a lot to each other, but something was building up between them, and each time he was next to her on the bed, she was intensely aware of his presence. Her body hummed when they accidentally touched, and whenever he got up in the morning and went away, she keenly felt his absence. Their suite felt empty and cold when he wasn’t around.

There were times when she was honestly afraid of him, especially when he came back with blood on his clothes. It still bothered her a lot, but when he showered and slid in next to her, she forgot everything.

He didn't make any move to touch her again. The last time he did was before they had gone to the temple.

She tried to convince herself that she wasn't disappointed. She should be happy that she knew he wouldn't touch her anymore.

But the disappointed hollowness in her stomach spoke the truth.

 

*****

 

Anika was having breakfast outside at the gardens. She was laughing at something Sonu and Meena were saying.

“You girls don’t have to go to school today?” she asked.

“No. It’s the beginning of our summer holidays!” Sonu said excitedly.

Lakshmi was rolling her eyes. “That means these little imps are going to attack the mango farm. The last time they ate so many mangoes, they suffered stomach aches for a few days.”

Meena grinned. “Pfft… it was nothing. We got back on the trees the day after, and we felt fine.”

Anika smiled. “Well, I have the medications handy this time. Just don’t forget to bring me some of those mangoes.”

“Definitely! I know which trees have the juiciest and sweetest ones, but please don’t tell Abhay about us going to the orchard.”

Anika was amused. “Why? He’ll ask you girls to bring him back some as well?”

Sonu grinned. “No. He’ll give us a talk about how it’s not safe climbing trees and all. I fell from a tree three years ago and broke my leg.”

Before Anika could say anything, she heard someone shout.

“Dr. Singham! Sitamma just collapsed! Please come quickly.”

Leaving the half-eaten breakfast, Anika rushed towards the prone woman. The woman’s face was graying, and she was clutching her chest.

“Keep her upright! She might be having a heart attack.” Anika turned towards Malini. “Please have a car readied. We cannot treat this at the clinic. I’ll have to go to the hospital.”

Malini nodded and left hurriedly. Meantime, Anika asked a few people to get a stretcher to take the patient to the car.

As soon as they reached the parking lot, Malini returned with a tense look. “We are trying to reach Abhay, but we are not able to connect with his phone.”

Anika frowned. “Why is that relevant right now? Have the car readied, and we can reach him later to let him know.”

Malini looked uncomfortable. “Anika, we all have strict instructions to contact him before we can take you anywhere outside the estate premises.”

Anika’s jaw hardened. “Well, that may be the case under normal circumstances, but this is an emergency.” She turned towards one of the men. “Get the car here. We are going to the Arundhati Hospital. That’s my order.”

Her heart beat faster as she spoke to them with a firm tone. She knew the people here were accustomed to authority, and right then, she needed to enforce it to save a life.

The man only hesitated for a couple of seconds before he went towards a car.

Twenty minutes later, they reached the Arundhati Hospital. Dr. Rao was also waiting for her. A few hours after they administered proper medication and took necessary precautions, Sitamma seemed to stabilize.

“She still needs proper monitoring. We need to take her to the city,” said Anika.

Dr. Rao nodded. “I can go along with her and also take someone.”

“I can come along—”

“No. You can’t,” said another voice.

Abhay Singham stood at the hospital room doorway with a face like thunder.

Anika looked at Dr. Rao. “Please leave right now Dr. Rao and let me know how she is doing after reaching the city.”

Dr. Rao nodded and left with the patient, but before he walked out of the room, he threw her a concerned look.

Abhay began walking towards her slowly. “You disobeyed my order.”

Listening to the quiet statement, Anika felt a shiver run through her body.

“I didn’t disobey on purpose. We had an emer—”

“You even made my people disobey me.”

“They didn’t disobey you, Abhay,” she reasoned. “They were following my instructions.”

Instead of cooling him down, her statement made him even angrier. “You do not ever override my instructions.” He emphasized the word ever.

“But it was an emergen—”

Before she could finish, he closed the distance between them completely. “Do you understand?” he demanded with a scary quiet tone.

“I had to take a quick decision because—”

“Do you understand?” he snapped.

Anika was pissed. She was a doctor. She was trained to save lives, not compromise someone’s life because of a blind order.

“No!” she shouted.

His expression changed. He became even more menacing. And he also seemed to grow in size as he loomed on top of her.

“What did you just say?” he asked quietly.

“I said no!” When he continued to loom, she shoved him hard on his chest with both her hands. “I will not follow your orders blindly! I did what I had to do!”

He didn’t budge with her shoves. In fact, his eyes blazed. He looked downright scary, but she refused to get intimidated by him.

“I don’t care what the circumstances are. I want you to follow my orders. I will not tolerate any disobedience—”

“I don’t care either,” she snapped, getting angry herself. How dare he behave as though she was a child who had to obey his order blindly? She was a qualified doctor who will be required to make many such calls in the future.

Before she could give him a piece of her mind, the next instant, her legs were lifted off the ground, as he pinned her to the wall with his body. She gasped at the impact, and soon she was facing her enraged husband as he held her hips in a firm grip.

“Don’t fucking test my limits,” he hissed into her face.

She glared at him. “Then don’t put any limits on me!” she snapped.

There was silence. Then she heard his teeth grinding. “It is for your bloody safety,” he said with anger.

She felt some of her anger die at his words. “Then why didn’t you tell me that instead of barking out instructions at me?” she asked softly.

He glared. “Because I don’t have to explain myself every time. When I pass an order, I expect people to follow it.”

Okay, she was back to being pissed at him. “I’m not other people, I’m your wife! If you want me to follow something, you explain it to me first so I can make an informed decision.”

He continued glaring at her in frustration.

Slowly, she felt her anger die completely. He was worried about her. In his weird way, he was trying to keep her safe from being attacked by his enemies.

She understood him to an extent, but she did not want to let him think he could order her around without providing a proper reason. Although she had been behaving like a doormat initially due to the circumstances, she wasn't one. She needed to set the tone of their relationship, however brief it would be.

Her feet were still off the ground. Slowly, she wrapped them around his hips, pulling him closer. He stiffened at the contact, and she felt him hardening.

She moved her hands from his shoulder to his head, and tugged his hair. Leaning forward, she kissed him on his cheek. “I’m sorry I worried you,” she whispered.

His hands on her hips tightened. She waited breathlessly, wondering whether he would push away from her or pull her close to take over the sexual tension threatening to blaze between them.

Before anything happened, a man’s voice interrupted them. “Abhay, they are waiting for you. We should start now. Oh! I didn’t know. I mean I’ll… uh… I’ll be outside.”

They heard the man leave.

Slowly, Abhay let her loose until her legs slid down, and she stood on the ground in front of him.

He watched her closely. “I’ll make sure to leave behind more men at the estate from now on. They’ll accompany you if you need to go somewhere,” he said quietly.

Anika nodded. “Thank you,” she replied and then watched him adjust his clothes. “Are you going home?” she asked huskily.

Regret flashed in his eyes. “No. I had to cut short an important meeting. I’ll be heading back to the city. I’ll be back tomorrow morning.”

“Okay. I’ll see you at home tomorrow,” she said softly.

He nodded and then held her elbow and walked them towards waiting cars.

As her car drove away, she turned back and saw him standing next to his car watching her.

When she couldn’t see him anymore, she sat back with her eyes closed and rested her head against the seat.

She had referred to the Singham Estate as her home…