Bound by Forever

  [The Singham Bloodlines Series]

  by

  MV Kasi

  Bound By Forever

  All rights reserved

  Copyright © 2018 by MV Kasi

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

  CHAPTER 1

  Abhimanyu Singham concentrated on the deer grazing at a distance. He was just about to press the trigger when the animal ran away.

  It was odd. Even this deer hadn’t stood up straight even for a moment like most animals did while sensing danger before they ran away.

  “Let it go, Abhi. It’ll already be late by the time we reach my place.”

  Abhimanyu looked at Raghuveer, his childhood friend whose lands they were currently on. “I promised venison for dinner.”

  “I know. But it appears the deer in my forest are not ready to comply today. We have been trying for a while, and each time, the animal ends up running away before we get to it. You should just let me hunt my way.”

  Abhimanyu frowned. He was a known marksman. He also liked to think he was a responsible and humane hunter who liked to get a single, clean shot. That was the reason why he didn’t just want to shoot at the animal with the possibility of wounding it and letting it be in a lot of pain rather than killing it instantly.

  “Wait here,” said Abhimanyu while getting down from his horse. He walked towards the spot where the deer was grazing before.

  As he drew closer, he saw a glint on the bark of a tree right next to the spot. Abhimanyu’s frown grew in size when he wrapped his fingers around the handle of a jewelled knife and pulled it out of the tree bark.

  “What is it?” Raghuveer asked, joining him.

  Abhimanyu held the knife. “This is the reason why we haven’t caught any deer yet.” He looked up towards the tall trees trying to spot the owner of the knife.

  “Good God!” Raghuveer exclaimed. “Deva!” he shouted.

  Abhimanyu looked at his friend’s agitated look.

  “I know it’s you, Deva!” Raghuveer continued to shout. “Come out from wherever you are!”

  When there was still no response, Abhimanyu looked at the tree bark where the knife was lodged. Then calculating the angle, he went towards the tree where Deva was possibly hiding. There was a blob of plain khaki-colored pants hidden amongst the dense branches. Whoever Deva was, the man sure knew how to move and hide without causing a lot of noise.

  “I can see you. Get down. Now,” Abhimanyu ordered the man in a quiet voice.

  He frowned when his order was not immediately followed. People always followed his orders, and he wasn’t used to repeating them.

  Raghuveer joined Abhimanyu and glared up the tree. “Deva, if you don’t come down, I’m going to tell Ma what you were up to!” he shouted.

  Abhimanyu was taken aback by his friend’s words. Because it would mean that the person sabotaging his hunt was none other than Raghuveer’s sister, Devasena Senani, the woman Abhimanyu was to marry.

  ***

  Abhimanyu continued to look up the tree as the person began to move in a few quick, efficient steps. Soon, she reached a low-hanging branch from where she jumped and landed on her feet right in front of him.

  Abhimanyu stared at the woman. She was of medium height. The top of her head would barely reach his shoulders. She was wearing a cream-colored shirt and khaki trousers. Her hair was wrapped with a long cloth in a turban style with one end covering the entire lower half of her face. He could only see her eyes. And currently, those eyes were dancing in amusement while watching him watch her.

  He wanted to look away, but he couldn’t. He found those eyes utterly captivating, including the tiny scar at the edge of her left brow.

  Abhimanyu wasn’t the kind to be mesmerized by the mere sight of eyes, or for that matter, by outward beauty. He had travelled enough and was used to seeing many beautiful women from all around the world. And at the age of twenty-five, he knew that outward beauty held no importance compared to the person on the inside. It was one of the reasons why he had never bothered to ask for Devasena’s portrait.

  So, then why was he waiting in anticipation to see her entire face now?

  “Deva!” Raghuveer snapped. “You are going to be in so much trouble when I tell this to Ma! I—” he broke off to suck in a breath. “Are those my clothes?!” Raghuveer’s voice sounded outraged.

  Abhimanyu was slightly disappointed when Devasena broke their eye contact to look at her brother. She let out a laugh which was equally captivating.

  “Really, Veer?” she said. “We are not children anymore. You can’t use Ma to threaten me with dire consequences. And I keep telling everyone I need comfortable clothing. But no one listens. So I have no choice but to continue to steal yours and Ram’s clothes.”

  Raghuveer shook his head in exasperation. “Fine. But do you know who spotted you just now? Abhimanyu Singham. Your intended husband!”

  Devasena didn’t appear shocked or embarrassed. Her captivating gaze was directed back at Abhimanyu. “I already know who he is,” she softly said.

  “Then greet him properly, sister!”

  She bent her head slightly to the side as though in thought. “I would have,” she said. “If I knew how to address him. What should I call him? Milord? Sir? Singham?”

  “You can call me Abhimanyu.”

  Abhimanyu expected her to return the favor by asking him to call her by her name. But she surprised him with her next words.

  “And you may call me Miss Senani,” she said in a slightly haughty tone.

  “Deva!” Raghuveer interjected.

  “What?” she asked her brother. “I might not be as well-travelled as you both, but I am well-read enough to know that’s how unmarried women are addressed in most parts of the world.” She raised her chin. “Especially by near strangers.”

  “He’s not a stra—”

  Abhimanyu interrupted his friend mid-sentence. “A pleasure to meet you, Miss Senani,” he greeted his intended wife.

  “Yes. We finally meet,” she said, stressing the word finally. He noticed that she didn’t return his politeness by saying it was a pleasure to meet him as well.

  Abhimanyu was amused by her snub. He knew it probably must have stung her pride that he had never attempted to meet her before.

  It wasn’t done deliberately on his end. He just had been too busy to be able to find time to meet the woman he knew he would eventually marry due to an age-old tradition.

  “You don’t like hunting, Miss Senani?” Abhimanyu asked. She must be sensitive like most women who enjoyed having a dish of venison but hated to watch the hunt.

  Raghuveer let out a snort. “Deva has been joining us during hunts since she was five. She is a better marksman than Ram or me.”

  Abhimanyu watched a feminine brow rise. “But I don’t like to kill unnecessarily,” she said. “And since I’ve already hunted early this morning in preparation of your arrival, I didn’t think it was necessary for you to do it again as well.”

  She looked at him quietly for a few moments before turning to look at her brother. “You should get started, or you’ll arrive late. You know how Ma gets anxious if things are not done on time.”

  She then began to walk away.

  Abhimanyu watched her disappearing behind the trees. A few moments later, she came out holding the reins of a stunning Arabian stallion that was much taller than her.

  With a graceful move, she swung and sat on the horse. “I’ll let Ma know you will be home soon,” she said before pulling on the reins. The horse reared up preparing for a ride.

  The next instant, the woman and the horse zipped passed in a blur.

  Abhimanyu saw her standing up on the stirrups while the horse was still moving with one of her arms outstretched upwards. She plucked a bunch of fruits from a branch before sitting back.

  “Be careful!” Raghuveer shouted.

  She twisted around and threw the bunch towards them before turning back and continuing to ride away.

  “God! I don’t know how you will manage to tame my sister,” Raghuveer said while he picked up the fruits. “Deva is half wild. She drives us crazy with her mischief sometimes.”

  Although the words sounded like a complaint, Abhimanyu heard the underlying affection and pride in his friend’s voice.

  Abhimanyu didn’t reply. His eyes were fixated on the woman’s back as she rode away. When the horse was far enough, she removed the cloth from the lower half of her face to bite on the fruit she had plucked.

  He continued to watch until the woman and horse disappeared from his sight.

  CHAPTER 2

  “Deva! Where have you been all day?” Saraswati Senani asked her youngest child. “I told you Veer is arriving with Abhimanyu today.”

  “I know, Ma. I met them an hour ago. They should be here soon.”

  A look of horror passed on Saraswati’s face. “Oh my God! You met Abhimanyu like this!” she pointed an accusing finger at her daughter’

s attire.

  Devasena laughed. “What’s wrong with what I’m wearing? I always dress up like this. Better he finds out early on than be shocked later.”

  Saraswati shook her head at her daughter. “I will not have the Singhams pitying their leader! I want them to feel proud of the graceful Senani beauty who will soon enter their household as the Singham bride.”

  That only made the younger woman laugh once again. But a determined look passed on Saraswati’s face. A small army of women entered Devasena’s suite to help Saraswati with her mission.

  And soon, by the time the news of Abhimanyu Singham’s arrival came, the graceful beauty coming out of the suite was a far cry from the woman donning muddied shirt and trousers.

  ***

  Later that evening, Abhimanyu was seated on a chair along the ornate dining table with forty other guests who consisted mostly of the Senani’s relatives and family friends. Shiny silver and gold cutlery and utensils along with a lavish spread were put on the table for the occasion.

  Abhimanyu listened quietly as Saraswati and Vikram Senani alternately sang praises of their daughter.

  “This meal was planned and organized by Deva. My Deva can prepare a meal by herself, too. She once fed over two thousand people at a time!”

  “Deva has won the coveted Rose Cup the last two years!”

  “No one can stitch as beautifully as my Deva.”

  “She can tame even the wildest of horses within days!”

  “Deva is well-versed in the art of healing. Why! She even discovered a few healing potions that can cure fever within hours.”

  “She can not only read, but Deva can also write! She has been writing her journals since she was seven years old!”

  Abhimanyu continued to listen quietly. Veer had told Abhimanyu that although Saraswati and Vikram Senani claimed they loved all their children equally, they secretly favored their daughter. She was their pride and joy.

  It was not the norm as most people favored sons rather than daughters. Veer and his brother didn’t mind or complain since they loved their sister a lot.

  “Where is Deva?” someone asked.

  Abhimanyu wanted to know as well. Right from the moment Devasena had ridden away from the hunting party, he was filled with anticipation to see her again.

  “Deva always ensures there is enough food for the people working for us,” Saraswati Senani replied. “She’ll join us soon… ah, there she is.”

  Abhimanyu heard the soft and rhythmic tinkling of bells from a woman’s ankle bracelets. A subtle and pleasant smell of roses filled the air.

  Moments later, a vision in gold and soft reds and greens sat on the opposite side of him at the table. A golden veil covered the top half of the woman’s face.

  Although Abhimanyu couldn’t see the entire face, he still couldn’t tear his eyes off his fiancée.

  “Deva! Why are you covering your face?” Saraswati Sena whispered to her daughter. But it was loud enough for him to hear.

  Plump, red lips spread into a bewitching smile. “I’m just being modest, Ma,” Devasena replied. “You know in some parts of the world, covering our face is considered modest.”

  That statement earned loud guffaws from both her brothers seated next to her.

  “You don’t have a modest bone in your body, dear sister,” Ram Senani added. “Did you forget how you boasted when you won races or was the first one to capture the prey during our hunts?”

  The beautiful smile widened. “Maybe I’m only modest for my intended husband.”

  Abhimanyu doubted whether modesty was making her cover her face. His feisty fiancée must be getting back at him for ignoring her all these years. She must have also sensed his sudden anticipation of wanting to see her entire face.

  “You don’t have to be modest on my account, Miss Senani.”

  Her head bent slightly to the side as she met his gaze through the veil. “Until I know you better, I insist on being modest,” she replied.

  Vikram Senani smiled at his daughter’s antics before looking at Abhimanyu. “You and Deva can get to know each other better during the games we have organized for tomorrow’s entertainment.”

  Raghuveer laughed. “Deva. You will meet your match tomorrow. You might have won the Rose Cup the two last times, but Abhimanyu has won it four times before! And later, he began travelling and became busy with other things to be able to participate the last four years.”

  Buzz of the conversations grew, and the Senanis couldn’t wait to see the couple who were to marry turn into opponents the next day during the contests.

  CHAPTER 3

  Much later that night, when most of the household was sleeping, Devasena was sneaking around like a thief in her own home.

  She stepped out of a balcony on the second floor and carefully walked along the edge until she reached another balcony. Luckily, the door to the balcony was left open with the soft breeze blowing inside the room.

  It was relatively dark since there were no softly lit lamps like how there was in other occupied guest rooms. The only source of light was the bright moon outside.

  Devasena’s eyes adjusted to the dark, and her gaze fell on the large, shadowed figure on the bed.

  With her heart thudding loudly, she stared at her fiancé’s sleeping form. Even during sleep, the man commanded attention.

  She was just about to tear her eyes away from him to go to the other side of the room towards his luggage when she saw something glinting on the night table next to the bed.

  Thank God!

  Hoping it was what she came for, she slowly went towards it. She had almost reached it when suddenly a strong arm enclosed her waist and pulled her on the bed.

  She let out a gasp when her back hit the mattress. The blunt edge of a knife was pointed at her throat while her fiancé’s powerful form covered her body.

  She froze, desperately hoping that the reputation of her fiancé of not killing a person without first demanding an explanation was true.

  She slowly noticed that he had stilled completely as well. She heard him inhaling deeply before he moved the knife away from her throat. The weight of his hard body disappeared as he balanced himself on his elbows.

  Devasena jumped in surprise when she felt his touch. His long and thick calloused fingers moved along the shape of her face. Her heart thudded hard while she continued to remain still.

  “This is quite a surprise, Miss Senani,” he said in a deep voice. He slowly moved his thumb over her cheekbones, and then a tip of his finger brushed against her small diamond nose ring.

  “How did you know it was me?” she whispered.

  “I noticed the smell of roses.”

  “I came here for my knife. Veer told me you kept it with you,” she explained. “I feel bare without my knife. I’ve had it with me since I was seven.”

  He was quiet as he listened to her, and then he spoke in a deep, husky tone that fluttered her stomach wildly. “If you want your knife back…” he said. “…First, you’ll have to give me what rightfully belongs to me.”

  The tip of his finger ran along the shape of her lips. Then his large, thick thumb rubbed against her bottom lip, making her emit another breathless gasp.

  With great difficulty, Devasena found her voice. “And what do you think is rightfully yours, Singham?” she asked. Her voice came out husky instead of being firm like she had intended.

  “For starters…” he replied. “…the right to see your beautiful face.”

  She smiled under his thumb. “I’m not that beautiful. And just because I am to marry you according to an age-old tradition, it does not mean I can’t withhold certain things until I’m ready to give them to you.”

  She felt his intense gaze. “And when will you be ready?” he asked.

  “Tomorrow,” she said. “Win the contest for me, and I’ll grant you any wish.”

  “And if I wish for something else?” His voice turned even deeper.

  Devasena’s heart was about to beat out of her chest. And she was quite sure the man lying on top of her could feel it as well. “I will still grant you any wish. I’m not the kind to back down, however tough the challenge.”

  He let out a deep, rich laugh that caused heat to spread through her.

 

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