“Congratulations, Mr. Singham. I read the recent article featuring you as even this year’s India’s top entrepreneurs. I was so impressed when I saw the new companies listed under your corporation. I... uh... have few business ideas that I would like to discuss with you. Can I meet with you personally this weekend?”

Dev Singham was at a dinner party, only half-listening to the conversation. He was standing with a group of men, most of whom were his business colleagues.

Dev’s attention was locked on a beautiful woman standing on the other side of the manicured lawn. She was standing with her profile facing his way and speaking to a group of men.

She looked stunning. She had softly rounded hips and long, wavy hair that was arranged in a simple style of being gathered on one shoulder. Her smooth back exposed in a low-cut dress looked very tempting.

As though she felt his gaze, without pausing her conversation, she glanced towards him.

A bolt of electricity passed through him as their eyes met.

He smiled invitingly at her, but she only looked at him for a few split seconds before turning back her attention to the person she was speaking with.

Dev’s heart beat faster at the challenge. He knew it was only the matter of time before he would charm her into his bed and make him the center of her attention.

“...don’t you think, that’s an amazing idea, Mr. Singham?”

Dev ripped his gaze away from the woman and looked at the man in front of him. The man who was currently speaking was an idle son of a rich man. Whenever Dev bumped into him in high-society parties such as now, the man spat out useless ideas even though he had never worked for a day in his life. But out of consideration to the man’s father who was well-respected and also a business partner in a few of the companies, Dev tolerated him for a few minutes.

“Frankly, no. I don’t think it’s a good idea. Like I’ve told you before, if you believe in something or are passionate about the idea, then go for it. Spend time creating the detailed business plan while doing hands-on research. Start working on it pro-actively. There’s no point in talking about ideas endlessly and wasting your time along with everyone else’s.”

The man’s face fell. Dev didn’t care. “Excuse me, gentlemen,” he said before walking away from the group to go towards the woman.

As he got closer, the man, who had been speaking to the beautiful woman, looked at him first and smiled. “Mr. Singham!”

“Hello, Mr. Rao.” Dev greeted the Commissioner and Director of the Agricultural department with a brief hand shake. He slipped the other hand around the beautiful woman’s waist, and smiled when he felt her shiver slightly at his touch.

“Am I interrupting?” Dev asked the group.

“No, Mr. Singham. We were discussing the latest technique and machinery for crop rotation. Madam has very good insights. Your input would be valuable of course. After all, your surrounding provinces have been providing really good yields over the last few years.”

Over the next few minutes, they discussed the topic at length. The beautiful woman argued passionately why some of the techniques wouldn’t work. Dev had never been aroused listening to someone talk about crop rotation or machinery used for agriculture. Well, there was always the first time for everything.

An hour later, Dev said his pleasantries to everyone and guided the woman away from the group. “You look so damn beautiful. Come home with me, right now,” he whispered in her ear. Goosebumps broke on her skin.

He kissed her cheek. “And can you talk about crop rotation in bed tonight? While I do some very dirty things to you?”

A soft laugh escaped her. “You are impossible.”

“I know and irresistible, too. Although, my wife sometimes calls me a cocky bastard.”

“Your wife is absolutely right.”

“Maybe. But she’s crazy about me. And loves me to pieces.”

Her face softened and she smiled. “That she does without doubt.”

They reached the front of the entrance where cars were waiting for the departing guests.

A valet handed them the keys. “Mr and Mrs. Singham, you SUV has been brought in already.”

Thanking the valet, Sabitha took the keys. Since Dev had a couple of drinks, and they didn’t usually bring a driver along during nights such as this, Sabitha drove as planned.

Dev looked at his wife’s profile as she focused on the road ahead.

They had been married for the last five years, but he still couldn’t get used to the fact that he was one lucky bastard, and Sabitha agreed to be his wife. Each day spent with her was a delight, and each day the love between them deepened further.

It hadn’t always been easy for them. Although he and Sabitha were completely committed to each other, it took more than a year to convince the people of the Singham province to accept Sabitha as one of their own. Luckily, Abhay and Anika had brought enough change in the people’s mentality and managed to convince even the staunchest of the conservative people that Sabitha was the right fit to be a Singham bride.

 

***

 A few hours later, Sabitha parked the SUV in front of the Prajapati Mansion.

The lights on the second floor were still turned on. “They are still awake,” she said with a slight frown marring her forehead.

“Well, you should have driven home faster.”

Sabitha turned to see a satisfied grin on Dev’s face. “Need I remind you, Singham, that we wouldn’t have been late if we hadn’t stopped the vehicle on side of the highway. Twice.”

Dev burst out laughing. “But baby, you looked so damn hot the whole evening, I couldn’t wait. And let me remind you that the second stop was your idea. You wanted to return the favor right away.”

Sabitha smiled. It was true. She had been impatient to claim him. Her husband was handsome and sinfully sexy, the kind that attracted most women without even trying. During the party, Sabitha had watched a lot of women eying him hungrily, but he ignored their stares and kept his eyes exclusively on her.

Dev held her waist and walked towards the Mansion. “Let’s see what the little devils are up to now.”

It was close to midnight, but most of the household was still up and buzzing. Preparations were ongoing for the week-long visit to the Singham province the next day. Sabitha and Dev headed up the stairs to the second floor.

Over the years, Sabitha had slowly transitioned the Prajapati household to run without her physical presence. Dhruv, along with a few other appointed members, were able to carry out most of the duties without her close supervision.

As soon as Sabitha and Dev opened the door to the room, two whirlwinds flew towards them.

“Mamma! Papa!” The two excited little voices shouted in chorus. As soon as the little bodies came closer, Dev picked them up in each arm and swung them around until they were excited squeals and loud giggles.

Dev carried them and put them gently on their bed. “Why are you monkeys still up?” he asked, tickling their bellies.

There were more giggles. “We are sooo excited to see Jay, Dhruti, Varna and Abhi tomorrow!” four-year-old Harsh said with his gap-toothed smile.

“Yes! We want to give them their gifts!” Harsh’s three-year-old sister, Sheena, almost shouted in excitement.

Sabitha straightened the blankets and tucked both the kids under it. “Did you re-open the gifts again while Papa and I were away?” she gently scolded.

There was a brief silence followed by guilty looks. “Sorry, Mamma,” said Harsh. “But we took Dhruv Uncle’s help to pack the gifts back.”

Sabitha smiled and kissed their foreheads. “It’s all right. Would you like a bed time story before I turn off the lights?”

“Can Papa tell us, tonight?” Sheena asked.

Since Dev sometimes travelled due to business, and even when home had to take calls past the kids’ bedtime, Sabitha was the one who tucked the kids and told them a story most of the week nights. But no matter what, Dev made sure he told them stories during weekend nights. To have their father tell them a story on a regular night was a treat.

“Okay, I’ll tell you a story. But since it’s getting late, I’ll make it quick.” His eyes fell on Sabitha. “Mamma is sleepy too, and wants to be tucked in soon.” He winked at her before sitting next to them.

The story was one of their favorites—the adventures of Dev’s grandmother when she was a child.

Sabitha sat on the other side of the bed, watching him, and listening to him as always while he narrated the story with a lot of dramatic enactment. Their children’s eyes were widened in wonder. But as soon as he was done, and the follow-up questions were all answered, the eyes on the little faces drooped, and they were fast asleep.

Dev stood up and kissed their foreheads before quietly watching them sleep for a few moments.

He let out a deep sigh. And then, his eyes fell on her.

Sabitha’s stomach flipped when she saw the way he was watching her.

She shook her head and laughed softly. “Don’t even think of starting that conversation again, Singham.”

“What? I didn’t say anything.”

“You don’t have to. I know that look and we’ve discussed this before and you agreed.”

“Oh, come on! Sheena needs a sister.”

“No, she doesn’t. She has a brother already. And Dhruti and Varna are equally close to her as her sisters.”

There was silence.

Sabitha laughed again at his mock sulky look. “Give it up, Singham. I know that if I let you have your way in this, you’ll keep me pregnant all the time. And you’ll keep using Harsh and Sheena as excuses, saying they need more siblings.”

He grinned. “Of course, I would. Because it’s true!”

She rolled her eyes and smiled. Meantime, he led her into the master bedroom suite which was across the kids’ room.

The house they built in the city had a similar set-up. Sabitha and the kids spent a significant amount of time in the city as well. But she knew once the kids began schooling, they would spend more time in the Prajapati province. She and Dev had discussed it at length and decided it that way. Mostly because they now had good teachers and infrastructure set up in the province.

Changing out of their clothes, they prepared for bed before slipping under the covers.

Dev pulled her closer to spoon. “Loved how you looked in that dress, tonight,” he murmured huskily.

Sabitha had worn the dress not only for his sake, but also because sometimes, she enjoyed dressing up in fancy clothes and going out to socialize and converse with like-minded people. Rest of the time, she was in her usual shirts and khaki pants.

But she knew without doubt that the man holding her in his arms loved her exactly the way she was. With no conditions or limits. She loved him even more for it.

“We had a long day,” he said. “I know you must be tired. So, I’ll let you sleep now. But I’m going to wake you early in a few hours to have that talk about crop rotation and new machinery.” His tone held an exaggerated amount of seriousness.

Sabitha laughed and turned her head to find his lips. She knew it was hard to smile and kiss at the same time. But with Dev Singham as a husband, she had to do that many, many times over the years. “Aren’t you supposed to slow down with age?” she asked.

“Nope. Even at the age of hundred, I’ll hopefully remain the same.”

She laughed once again as her heart felt full. She felt so well-loved and content.

She savored every amount of happiness in her life. She knew she was able to do that mostly because she knew what sorrow and living in a vacuum felt like. But Dev Singham pushed his way into her life and filled her with so much happiness that there was no space remaining for anything else.

“Love you,” she softly murmured against his lips.

“Forever and ever, baby.”