“Seventy rooms… in the house… and you… pick my clinic…” Anika panted the words. She was on top of Abhay who was lying on the cold sterile clinic floor.

His fingers dug into her hips as he pushed her harder and deeper on top of him, until they both groaned.

“Abhay… people might be waiting outside…” she gasped, even as she dug her nails into his chest and grinded.

He groaned and his movements became frantic. “No one will dare… they saw me come here…”

Anika was horrified that people knew what they were doing in the clinic. Her devil of a husband had a wicked grin. She tried to muffle her screams of ecstasy within his neck, but he didn’t have any qualms. He let out a loud roar of release that she was sure could be heard outside.

“Oh God,” she said, burrowing even more into his neck. “I’m not stepping out of this clinic. Everyone must have heard us!”

Abhay’s chest shook in laughter. “Relax. Everyone is busy at the house with the preparations for the ceremony.”

She raised her head. “But the ceremony is tomorrow.”

“Yes, but usually they start the preparations a day ahead, so the house is going to be crowded with much activity. We have more privacy here.”

She sighed and hugged him closer as he ran his fingers gently on her back.

After a few minutes, she stirred on top of him. “We should head back. This is my first event as a hostess. I want to be there when the guests arrive.”

“You’ll do fine. And everyone working here knows what needs to be done,” he said.

They lay quietly for a while longer until they heard a faint cheering coming from outside.

“What’s that?” she asked.

“Dev must have gotten here. There are organized fights that happen as part of the celebrations.”

“Oh. I don’t want to miss anything. Let’s go check it out,” she said.

She got up and began dressing while he watched her lazily with his head propped on one of his arms.

“Abhay, we need to join everyone,” she said, even as her heart flipped watching his lazy smile and his naked body.

“Are you sure you want to leave this place, and not stay here for some more time?” he asked huskily.

“Yes,” she said, with great difficulty, her voice coming out equally husky.

Abhay got up laughing and began putting on his clothes. As soon as they stepped out of the clinic, the cheering noise was louder.

As they walked towards the growing sound, Anika could see a crowd gathered around something.

“You have got to be kidding me!” Abhay scowled.

“What is it?”

“I see Prajapatis, too. My idiot brother must be challenging one of them to a fight.”

A few of the Singhams spied Abhay and immediately gave way, until she walked along with him to front of the circle.

“Fuck!”

Anika didn't react to Abhay's crude word. She was too stunned at the sight in front of her.

Dev Singham was stripped down to a piece of long silk loincloth that showcased his immense muscles. He towered over his opponent by almost a foot.

Standing in front of Dev—was Sabitha. Dressed in cotton trousers and a tight tank top, with her long hair braided as usual, her cousin had a stony yet challenging look in her eyes.

“Oh my God. Is Dev seriously considering fighting Sabitha?” Anika asked.

There was a grim look on Abhay's face, but he didn't do anything to stop them.

“Abhay, do something! He's going to hurt her.”

“I can't. That would only add insult to the Prajapatis,” Abhay replied.

“But—”

“Don't worry. My bet is on your cousin. She is a natural. My brother might be a trained fighter, but his arrogance and temper will get the best of him during this particular fight.”

There was a loud ring of a bell indicating that the fight could start. With bated breath, Anika watched it with disbelief.

Dev didn't move immediately. Sabitha used that chance to punch him on his face in a quick move before bouncing away from him. Dev's head snapped back with his jaw clenched as he watched Sabitha bouncing on her feet back and forth waiting for the next move.

“What's the matter, Singham, running scared already?” Sabitha taunted. She cracked her neck and indicated to him with her palms. “Come on, move that pretty ass.”

Dev’s biceps flexed indicating the anger and tension in his body. “No. I paused to ask you if you are sure about this. Because when it comes to you, I don't think I can hold back.”

Sabitha smirked. “Or maybe, you are just scared that once and for all, we'll all know who is the stronger one between us is. Your people will find out that you’re just a privileged prick who is your brother's bitch.”

There were audible gasps from the crowd.

Dev let out a snarl. “You are going to regret that.”

Sabitha let out a rare sweet smile rolling her shoulders and preparing her stance.

This time without any hesitation, Dev attacked Sabitha with various boxing moves. Sabitha dodged most of them making Dev even more pissed. Both the fighters moved in a circle drawing loud cheers, until Sabitha used one of her legs to kick Dev on his shin.

He let out a roar and then charged. Sabitha neatly dogged him and smashed her elbow on his jaw. They kept going at it until Sabitha visibly landed more punches on Dev.

“That's it. No more consideration because you have boobs and an arse,” Dev muttered under his breath and charged once again. This time, he used his superior strength to bring Sabitha down on the floor. They both went crashing with Dev on the top.

Anika could see Sabitha gasping for air appearing to be in distress. Before Anika could intervene, Dev loosened his grip to get up. The next instant, Sabitha moved rapidly, wrapping her legs around Dev's neck in a strange chokehold.

Dev tried to struggle out of the trap, but he couldn't. One of his hands lay trapped under Sabitha’s body as she tightened her legs around his neck. Using his free hand, Dev tried to push Sabitha's body away, but his movements grew weak.

Anika knew Dev was going to pass out in a few moments due to lack of air. He was growing sluggish and his face had turned grayish in color.

However, a few seconds before he completely blacked out, Sabitha loosened the hold and kicked his limp body away before getting up to the loud raucous cheers from the Prajapatis. Dev lay on the ground coughing and gasping for air.

Anika looked at her husband. She couldn't tell whether he was pissed or not by what he had just witnessed. “Help Dev, Abhay.”

“No. Let him deal with it.”

Dev slowly got up from the ground and walked towards Sabitha, stopping only a few inches away from her, towering over her. His eyes displayed his anger even as his mouth twisted in a smirk. “Well, what can I say? The best man won. But don't you think this manly display would actually put my brother off rather than make him see you as a woman?” His eyes swept the length of her. “He's definitely not going to leave his beautiful and kind wife for someone like you,” he taunted.

Anika was shocked at Dev's rude behavior. He was so charming albeit cocky with the women living in the Singham Estate. He was even friendly and pleasant towards her.

Sabitha didn’t seem to be affected by any of his insults. “Don’t worry, Singham. I already knew that.” She smirked. “Growing up with a pretty man like you, I figured your brother would prefer a pretty wife, too.” Sabitha's comeback drew laughs as she strode away from the makeshift arena towards the mansion.

“I'm going to talk to her,” Anika told Abhay, before she began pushing through the crowd to reach her cousin. By the time she cleared out of the circle, Sabitha was gone.

Since the celebrations continued, Anika had the lunch delivered to her room. Abhay joined her for lunch and then went back to the celebration. She had wanted to join everyone as well, but she got 'summoned' by her aunt through one of her aunt's personal maids.

Anika headed towards the north wing of the house where her aunt was apparently waiting for her.

As she walked on the polished marble floors of the Singham mansion, Anika couldn't help but notice the difference in her own feelings and behavior. She couldn't believe that it had only been a little over three months since she had been called from the United States under false pretenses and trapped by her aunt. She had been terrified and helpless then, but right now, she was waiting to have the confrontation with her aunt.

As soon as she received confirmation that Myra and her parents taken to a safe house, everything changed. Neelambari Prajapati had no bargaining or rather blackmailing power over her anymore.

Anika’s steps slowed down as she passed through a large balcony overlooking the makeshift fighting ring. There were sounds of cheers, and it was obvious that the fights were continuing since morning. What really made Anika pause were not the ongoing fights, but the woman who lay perched in the shadowed nook of the balcony wall.

Something about the way Sabitha sat watching the setting sun made Anika go towards her.

Sabitha looked incredibly lonely. Anika didn't know why, but even though she knew her cousin was fully capable of murder, she did not harbor any fear towards her. Maybe because she had learned from Abhay that sometimes to end violence, one needed to resort to violence.

“Sabitha?”

Her cousin jumped slightly at the interruption. She looked at her for a few seconds before turning back to the view outside. “What do you want?” Sabitha asked in a monotone.

“Are you okay?” Anika could see that Sabitha's split lip was visibly swollen at the corners.

“I'm fine,” Sabitha replied still staring out.

“I can have some ice sent up to you. It will help with the swelling.”

“No thanks. I think I'll live,” Sabitha said dryly.

Anika couldn't help but notice how similar Abhay and Sabitha were in many things. Both led a group of violent factions and had to be brutal to instill fear and respect within the people. Dev was a Singham, too, but most of the time, he was a cocky sweet talker who got work done in a different way. He was quick to smile and laugh. Unlike him, Abhay and Sabitha were the silent kind who only resorted to dry humor on rare occasions.

Sabitha would have suited Abhay better when it came to picking a Prajapati as a Singham bride. Did Sabitha think so, too?

Her cousin was watching a fight between Abhay and Dev. There were laughter and cheers as the brothers grappled together using some traditional fighting moves.

There was no wistfulness in Sabitha's eyes, but then, like Abhay, her cousin wasn't exactly the demonstrative kind.

Anika gave in to the need to ask her cousin about something that had been burning inside her. “The night before my wedding, did you call for a meeting with Abhay to convince him to marry you instead?” She recalled listening to Dev and Abhay's conversation on her wedding night. And even during the fight this morning, Dev had made a snarky remark to Sabitha about impressing Abhay.

Sabitha tore her eyes away from the fight to look at Anika. She stared quietly for a few seconds. Anika thought she wouldn’t get an answer, but surprisingly, she did.

“Yes. I had called for Abhay Singham the night before the wedding for the sole purpose of seducing him and convincing him to marry me instead.”

Anika was stunned. “You are… in love with Abhay?” she asked.

Sabitha scoffed. “No. I don't love him or any other man. That kind of love is for fools,” she said.

Anika didn't know what to think of her cousin's response.

A small smirk played on Sabitha's face. “I'm not here to try to seduce your husband away from you.”

Anika shook her head. “I know that already. I'm just wondering about your motive back then.”

Sabitha stilled for a couple of seconds before she shrugged. “Power, not a motive enough?”

This time it was Anika who took her time to analyze the enigma that was her cousin. “Maybe, but power wasn't the only thing driving you to want to marry Abhay. I think there must be something else that you wanted to accomplish.”

Sabitha let out a half smile. “You are quite perceptive. Not the same frightened girl from three months ago.”

Anika shrugged. “Well, three months ago I was held hostage, and my family was threatened. So, of course, I was terrified.”

“And now?”

“Now, I know my family is safe, and that I'm no longer a hostage.” Her chin rose slightly, involuntarily. “I'm here with Abhay, willingly.”

Sabitha nodded briefly. “Glad you are not ill treated by any of the Singhams. One of the reasons why I thought it was a good idea to seduce Abhay Singham… was also to stop him from marrying you. I wasn't sure you would survive this place for long.”

Anika was surprised. She didn't think Sabitha gave a damn about her. In fact, Sabitha had scared the shit out her during the stay at the Prajapati mansion.

Definitely there was more to everyone here than what met the eyes.

“Thank you,” Anika said earnestly.

“Don't thank me. Like you said, I had other reasons, too, for wanting Singham's power.”

The sun disappeared behind the horizon making it darker. “Our aunt is waiting to talk to me. Let me finish talking to her, and then I'll come get you for dinner. I noticed you didn't have lunch with us this afternoon.”

Sabitha didn't respond.

Anika began to walk away. She stopped when heard Sabitha call her name.

“Anika.”

She turned to look at Sabitha, but couldn’t see her face within the shadows.

“Don't trust Neela with anything,” her cousin said quietly.

“I wasn't going to. I know she's crazy with her beliefs of Singham bloodlines and drought and everything. She's probably going to re-iterate the same thing along with the same threats as before.”

Sabitha laughed softly. Anika realized it was a bitter laugh. “Neela doesn't give a damn about anyone. The last thing she would do is worry about the people or the drought.”

Anika was stunned. “Then why did she…” Her words drifted as her mind began to furiously process what she had observed about her aunt.

“Just be careful around her,” Sabitha warned.

Anika nodded and continued walking towards the north wing, her mind completely preoccupied with what Sabitha had just revealed about her aunt.

The door was partly left open, and Anika slipped inside. She took a few steps towards the gallery where there was a large seating area, but the sight in front of her made her stop short.

Her aunt was standing very close to a wall with her face stuck to a large life-sized portrait, while running her fingers over it and murmuring something.

Anika’s keen ears picked up the name her aunt murmured over and over again.

“Vijay…”

The portrait was of Vijay Singham, Abhay’s father. The resemblance to Abhay was so uncanny that it was close to creepy seeing her aunt caressing the inanimate picture.

Anika cleared her throat making her aunt jump. “You asked for me?” she enquired politely.

Neelambari wiped her tears before turning. “Yes.” She moved towards the seating area and sat on one of the chairs. “Sit,” she pointed at an empty chair.

The fact that Neelambari was ordering her in her own house rubbed Anika the wrong way. “I prefer not to,” she said quietly. “This room is only meant for Singhams. We receive guests in a different wing. Follow me,” she said, walking away.

Anika didn’t bother to check whether her aunt was following or not. The fact that the woman who had threatened her family with harm was present in the house boiled her blood.

One of the maids saw her heading towards the guest receiving room in the north wing and hurriedly opened the door.

“Thank you, Priya.”

“You are welcome. Would you like anything to be sent up from the kitchen?”

“No, thanks.” Anika looked over her shoulder. “My aunt will be leaving shortly. Inform her people and ask them to prepare for the journey.”

Neelambari looked livid, but she didn’t comment.

Anika continued inside the room and sat on the high-back winged hostess seat. “Do be seated.” She pointed to the sofa opposite to her.

Her aunt strode towards it and sat down. There was a long stretch of silence where each woman sized up the other.

“I think becoming a Singham must have really gotten into your head, my dear niece.”

Anika smiled. “Believe me, it didn’t. If I were to behave like a true Singham, then anyone threatening my family would be lying dead in front of my feet not summoning me like a lackey.”

Her aunt’s body tensed up, and she visibly dug her nails into the soft leather of the couch. “Watch how you talk to me, girl. I’m still the one running this show.”

Anika sat back. “Not anymore,” she said confidently. “I’m sure your goons must have informed you by now about not being able to track my family.”

Neelambari didn’t reply. Her eyes flared with anger and a few moments later, her mouth spread into a smile. “So you managed to keep your family safe. Well done! But you know what? I really don’t care about them anymore. You are already married, and from what I can see you are truly married with the possibility to provide the Singham heir. My mission is already accomplished.”

Neelambari’s smile and words churned inside Anika’s stomach, but she kept a calm look on her face. “I don’t think it’s just the marriage and heir you were after.”

“Oh?”

“There is something else. And I believe it has got to do with Vijay Singham.”

For a brief moment, the look on her aunt’s face indicated shock and panic. “What nonsense—”

“I’ve seen how you watch, Abhay. I’ve heard you call him Vijay several times.”

“Because he looks like his father. I don’t appreciate this—”

“I just saw you hugging Abhay’s dead father’s portrait.”

“Listen to me, you—”

“You loved him. Yet you agreed to marry his brother. Why?”

“I agreed to marry a Singham for the sake of people.”

“You give a damn about the people. I’m sure you had a selfish motive. This feud wasn’t just because he broke off the engagement to marry someone else. There is more to it. And I'm determined to find out everything.”

There was visible panic and outrage on Neelambari’s face. Her entire body shook and trembled. “You will find out nothing!” she hissed.

“Oh, so there is something then,” she stated, while her aunt’s fingers dug into the soft leather of the couch.

“I will find out what it is, and I can promise you I will not rest until I do.” Anika spoke those words calmly and in a matter-of-fact tone, making her aunt break into a sweat. She got up from her chair. “Don’t ever call for me again. If I have anything to say to you, I’ll send for you.” With those final words, Anika strode out of the room, leaving her visibly upset and terrified aunt behind.