Bound by Revenge (The Singham Bloodlines)

by MV Kasi P. G Van

  CHAPTER 33

  Anika returned to the festivities happening outside. An hour later, Neelambari, along with a small group, waited near the entry way of the Singham Mansion, for the cars to be brought.

  Seeing Neelambari waiting out with her luggage, the atmosphere changed to that of a tension-filled one.

  Anika strode towards her aunt. "I wish you had stayed longer," she said in a deliberately louder tone, to be heard by people around. "But it's so nice of you to allow your people to stay back and enjoy the festivities even though you prefer to go back and rest in the Prajapati Estate."

  Neelambari remained quiet.

  "I hope you get better. There is so much to catch up on, and so much more to know about you. I promise I will visit the Prajapati household soon."

  Neelambari got into a car and stared ahead without acknowledging Anika or her words.

  Soon the car drove away.

  Anika smiled at the people around. "On behalf of the Singhams, I would like to welcome the Prajapatis to the Singham Estate. Please enjoy the celebrations and our hospitality."

  There were wild cheers from the people, most of whom must have been half-drunk and their stomach's filled with the rich food that was prepared exclusively for the celebration the next day.

  Anika felt a heavy masculine arm slip around her waist. "That was impressive. Can we have our own celebration right now, Dr. Singham?" her husband's deep voice whispered into her ear.

  Smiling, she looked at him and let him lead her to their master suite where they continued with their own private celebrations.

  *****

  The next morning celebrations resumed. During the middle of the celebrations, Abhay made an announcement.

  "We have obtained the necessary permissions to divert the Singhoor river towards the Singham-Prajapati border. The projects to dig in our canals will begin starting next week. There will also be three new factories that will be set up within our province."

  Abhay looked at his brother and then at Sabitha.

  "Dev and Sabitha will work with all of you to make these projects a success. We will make our lands prosperous again."

  There were cheers all around, along with an anticipation of a better future.

  Anika felt overwhelmed with the amount of pride she felt towards her husband.

  Abhay Singham was a true leader.

  CHAPTER 34

  Anika was sitting in the library, reading a book when the phone rang.

  She answered it with a smile on her face. “Dr. Singham here.”

  “Ann?”

  She froze as she heard the familiar voice.

  “Ann? Is that you?” the girl on the other end asked urgently.

  “Myra…” Anika whispered as her eyes began to well up with tears.

  “Oh my God, Ann. You are safe… you are safe!” There were sobs on the other end of the line causing her to break down as well. She couldn’t control her crying of sheer relief as she heard her sister speak.

  She wiped away her tears and took a deep calming breath. “Myra. How are you? How are Mom and Dad? And also Nathan,” she asked urgently.

  “We are all safe, Ann. We are only worried about you. We heard what happened.”

  “Don’t worry about me, Myra. Just keep Mom and Dad safe until everything is sorted.”

  “Yes. We are still at a safe house, and Justin is working with the cops to remove the threat completely. They have already caught a couple of men and are questioning them.”

  Anika felt her mind at ease listening to her sister. “That’s good. Last time I heard from Justin, he’d mentioned they would simply be deported to be tried at the Indian courts.”

  “Yes. Unfortunately that’s the law,” Myra grumbled.

  As long as her family was safe, Anika didn’t care where Neelambari’s goons were tried by the law.

  “How are you, Ann? We can’t wait to have you back with us.” Her sister sobbed.

  Anika didn’t know what to say to that. She had been insistently planning to get her family to safety from the day she had gained access to Abhay’s computer. Planning her own escape, although not her priority then, she had always thought she’d eventually get back to her old life.

  And now… she didn’t want to go back.

  “Ann?”

  Taking a deep breath, she answered her sister. “I’ll see you guys soon, Myra. I’ll also be bringing Abhay… my husband.”

  There was silence.

  “What are you saying, Ann. Aren’t you planning to leave him and get back to us like you said?”

  Anika shook her head even though she knew her sister couldn’t see her. “No, Myra. I love him. Now that you guys are completely safe, I’m going to tell him everything—”

  “Ann, stop with the madness.” Her sister’s voice shook in concern. “Is this the same man who forced you to marry him?” Myra asked.

  Anika bit her lip. “Yes. But he had a reason—”

  “Isn’t this the same guy who kills people, and threatened to kill you as well, if you didn’t listen to him?"

  “No. No. That part was a misunderstanding—”

  “What part, Ann? The killing people or threatening to kill you?” Myra asked in disbelief.

  “Myra, listen to me. You don’t understand—”

  “Please Ann. I’m begging you…” Anika could hear Myra’s sobs. “I don’t know what those people did to you or how they influenced you. Please, come back.”

  “I'm going to come, Myra, I promise. But—”

  “No. Right now, Ann. That’s why I’m calling you. Justin has already made an escape plan. Ravi, his contact will be waiting for you at the Karnul railway junction. Board any of the passing trains there. Ravi will also have your flight tickets and a passport ready.”

  When Anika fell silent, listening to the plan, Myra began to panic. “Ann, promise me you are coming. Please.”

  Anika still didn’t reply, her mind torn between her family and her newfound love.

  “Ann, listen to me. You might be experiencing confusing thoughts about your captor. But please remember, at end of the day, he’s still your captor. You might feel you love him, but in reality, none of what you are feeling is true. It’s called a Stockholm Syndrome. Look it up!”

  Myra was studying criminal psychology and knew what she was talking about. However, Anika didn’t have to look up the meaning for that term. She already knew what it meant.

  Her heart began to pound as her mind tried to process the next course of action and the various implications. “I’ll be there,” Anika whispered, before ending the call.

  Over the next few minutes, she sat in the library staring blankly at the wall. Then closing her eyes, she took a deep shuddering breath before opening them again.

  She went down the stairs and walked towards the large parking area located next to the driveway of the Singham mansion. Her eyes were wide, and she moved as though in a trance.

  Ravi who stood near one of the cars speaking with the other drivers spotted her and came towards her. “Anika, do you need any help?” he asked.

  “Yes. I need to pick up a friend from the Karnul railway station. Can you drive me there?” Her voice came out as a whisper.

  Ravi hesitated for a second before smiling. “Sure. Let me know which car we’ll need. Is your friend coming with a lot of luggage?”

  “No. Any car should be fine. But we have to go alone. We can't take anyone else with us.”

  Ravi froze.

  "Please Ravi. I want you to follow this order of mine. It's urgent. Please make it happen."

  Ravi looked torn, but eventually he nodded. "Come down to the east side entrance. I'll bring a car there," he said.

  Heart thudding, Anika went past the busy household towards the east entrance which only had tall trees and overlooked endless stretches of barren land.

  Soon, Ravi got a small car that obviously didn't belong to the Singhams. It was his personal car.

  Pulling the door open, she sat ne
xt to him in the front seat.

  Ravi began to drive her to the destination.

  Anika remained silent. Ravi remained silent as well as though he sensed a different kind of mood in her that he usually didn’t encounter.

  Her eyes took in the familiar landscape outside as the car sped through.

  I'm addicted. I'm so addicted to you that I don't think I can stay without having your taste on my tongue or your smell inside my lungs.

  She suppressed a sob at the memory of his words.

  “Ravi.”

  “Yes, Anika,” he responded with a grave voice.

  “Please turn back. I don’t want to go for my friend right now. I’ll come back later… with Abhay.”

  Ravi nodded, and without saying anything else, he slowed the car down and reversed it and drove them back towards the Singham Estate.

  Even though worry about her parents and sister remained, her heart felt much lighter with the decision she’d taken.

  “I’m sorry, Ravi, for wasting your time.”

  “That’s okay. I understand,” he said gently.

  Did he suspect she was trying to leave the Singham Estate? And if so, why didn’t he say anything or call Abhay immediately? She felt touched by the loyalty and trust most of the Singhams showed her.

  “Ravi… I…”

  Whatever she was about to say was cut off when she was jerked hard within the seat as they crashed into another car. Their car spun in circles before coming to a halt. Before she could catch her breath and ask whether Ravi was fine, they were surrounded by more than a dozen SUVs.

  CHAPTER 35

  “The Senanis,” Ravi said in a horrified whisper. And then he looked at her with widened eyes. “Please, remain here. I’ll go speak with them and get this sorted. And no matter what happens, don’t get out of the car.”

  Anika’s heart was thumping loudly in fear. “It’s not safe, Ravi. Don’t get out. I’ll go speak to them.”

  Ravi shook his head vehemently. “Please. Don’t fight me on this. I’ve already sent out the code to Abhay and everyone else at home. Help should arrive shortly. Just—”

  Before Ravi could finish, a loud thunking noise sounded on her side of the car. The door was being attacked by what appeared to be an axe. She knew the car was bulletproof, but had no idea how long it could withstand an axe.

  There were at least twenty men surrounding the car watching them with wild eyes as though they couldn’t wait to tear the car apart.

  She was trembling as she tried to think of a way out.

  Less than five minutes later, the entire car door on her side was wrenched apart, and she was being pulled out of the car.

  Ravi tried to intervene, but a loud gunshot went off within the car.

  “No! Don’t kill him!” she shouted in panic as she saw Ravi’s bleeding arm. “I’ll come with you.”

  “That’s good. Then don’t trouble us and come out quietly,” said one of the men.

  With her heart pounding loudly in fear, she pushed herself out of the car. Immediately, hands grabbed her.

  “Finally, we have the Prajapati whore with us,” said a tall man who looked much more put together than the rest of the men. There were several snickers at the crude comment. “You kept us waiting for a very long time, sweetheart. That bastard Singham must have known that and kept you well guarded.”

  She remained quiet, trying not to show any visible fear. There was an evil grin on an otherwise a handsome face in front of her. “I lied. I hate all Singhams. And I especially hate leaving them alive,” he said, before shooting into the car multiple times.

  Anika screamed and struggled to go towards Ravi. “Let go! Let me go to him,” she shouted.

  She began to fight. She kicked, scratched, and clawed with her free hand while ignoring the pain on her other hand where the man held her in a bone-crushing grip. The man raised his hand and slammed into her face. Stars exploded behind her eyes followed by pain. Reeling and staggering, she tried to remain upright, refusing to give into the blackness.

  A rough hand grasped her under her chin, forcing her to stare into the man’s cold smiling eyes. “I’m going to have so much fun breaking you.”

  The man dragged her into one of the cars. Her head continued to reel from the blow, and it was getting hard to focus. She stopped struggling, but jerked at his grip. She tried opening the lock on the car door next to her, but the child locks were enabled.

  She turned her head back to watch the abandoned car with Ravi inside moving further and further away. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered with tears in her eyes. This was her fault. The Senanis killed Ravi because she put him in danger by asking him to help her escape.

  Will Abhay find out what happened? He’ll know she drove away to escape using the pretext of picking up a friend.

  Will he hate her? Or mourn her?

  She shook her head refusing to accept whatever was happening to her passively. The Senanis had no leverage on her.

  “If you kill me, Abhay won’t like that,” she said confidently.

  The man next to her barked out a laugh. “Oh, I’ll be happy if he doesn’t like it at all. But don’t worry, I’m not going to kill you.” His eyes roved over her face and body lingering on her chest. “I’ll just fuck you and send you back to him.”

  She inhaled a sharp breath at the threat. “He’ll come for me. You won’t get the chance to send me back to him.”

  “Ah,” he said. She recoiled as he ran his thumb over her lip. “Yes, definitely. With a face like this, especially the lips, he’s going to come for you. Did he teach you how to suck a cock and make a man happy?” he asked with a leer.

  She didn’t open her mouth to answer, fearing he’d push his thumb inside her mouth. Instead, she stared stubbornly ahead until there was laughter from the man next to her.

  He moved his thumb away. “Has Abhay Singham mentioned me to you?” he asked.

  “No.”

  “Well, then let me introduce myself. I’m Hemant Senani, your future lover, and if you are lucky, the father of your child.”

  Her nails dug into the seats as anger and fear warred within her while snickers filled the car. The car kept taking them further and further away from the Singham lands.

  *****

  After what seemed to be an eternity, they stopped in front of a large warehouse, and the man dragged her into it, as she struggled.

  Tears burned her eyes and all the emotion she’d kept bottled up inside exploded from her. “You are a fool! What the hell are you going to accomplish by this? More feud? Half of your people are already dead due to senseless violence and stupid ignorance. Stop this madness right now!”

  “Shut up.” The man said with rage in his eyes. “This is not senseless or ignorant. Our pride is our life, and if anyone dares to hurt that pride, they will have to pay with their lives.” He dragged her closer. “Singhams’ pride is in your dignity, which I’m going to enjoy stripping out of you.”

  Her heart pounded so hard she could barely breathe. She had to be smart and think of a way to stop that man from raping her, but she was clamming up as he ripped the material of her clothes.

  He leaned forward, held her breasts, and pressed his body against her back grinding his erection against her. A wave of nausea rolled up her throat and she struggled to control it.

  She felt his lips on her ears. “I’ll show you what a real man feels like.”

  She heard the sound of his zipper, and then she began to struggle. It only excited him further. He brought out a sharp knife and began cutting through her clothes while the rest of the Senanis began to make lewd remarks.

  His hands began to run up and down her sides making her skin crawl. She let her body go completely slack making him think she gave in. She turned her head back to look at him. He was nearly half a foot taller than her.

  She threw her head back slightly baring her neck. Slowly, he relaxed his hold on her continuing to grind against her. Soon he took up the invitation, and sh
e felt his lips on her neck

  The next minute, she bent her head down and reared slamming her head back hard into his nose, until she saw stars once again. He let out a roar, but before he could recover, she turned and slammed her heel into his bare crotch.

  The man began to scream violently, and all the men drew out their weapons and pointed at her waiting for an instruction to kill her.

  She closed her eyes shut, and thought of Abhay. Her heart clenched at the thought of never having to see him or hold him again.

  There were gunfire sounds that sounded like explosions, but her body didn’t experience any pain. There were several screams, and then something sliced through her arm making her hiss out in pain. But the pain wasn't significant enough to drop her on the ground.

  “Anika!” She opened her eyes when she thought she heard Abhay’s voice through the noises.

  She saw him and felt immense relief. He was shouting something at her, but everything around them was too loud to hear him. Her head was throbbing, and her ears continued ringing with the sound of gunfire.

  There was so much blood around her she didn’t know which family it belonged to. Abhay moved towards her, and she met him halfway.

  He pushed her on the ground and covered her body with his. She could feel his movements as he lifted his hands and continued to shoot at people around him.

  After sometime, the gunfire stopped. Everything was quiet, except for a wheezing noise made by a man lying a few feet away from her.

  Abhay rolled away from her, and immediately her eyes fell on her tormenter, Hemant Senani.

  Anika’s heart began to thud. Why was he kept alive?

  “Did this animal touch you?” Abhay asked quietly, his eyes on her torn clothes.