Page 38 of Entangled Vows
Mahika looked down, her voice barely a whisper. “I don’t want to think about that. He’s a cocky control freak and totally unreadable. I’m not sure how this’ll pan out. I’m just… winging it.”
Mohit’s eyes flicked between her and Vikram, as if he was trying to read them both. “I don’t think you have to worry about that at all...” He paused, then asked softly, “Ready?”
She wasn’t, but she nodded anyway.
Inside, the building carried the musty scent of old paper and the sharp tang of ink. The high, sloping ceilings made the faint hum of ceiling fans seem louder, their rhythmic creak mingling with the soft shuffle of clerks moving around.
She hadn’t expected the unexpected warmth she felt when she looked at the registrar’s desk. There was a small bouquet of fresh lilies and roses, tied with a golden ribbon. On a tray sat two lovely garlands made from orchids and dark red roses. And there was a young man by the desk, adjusting the lens of a high-end DSLR.
A cheerful, middle-aged clerk greeted them with a wide smile.
“Hello, Mr. Khurana,” he said, gesturing towards the flowers. “We wanted to wish you good luck with your new life, so here’s a little something from us.”
Vikram acknowledged it with quiet appreciation. “That’s very kind of you. Thank you, Mr. Gupta.”
It was a small gesture, but it stirred something in Mahika, pushing away the tension that had gripped her all morning.
“My pleasure. Even a small wedding deserves forever memories. We’ve set up a photoshoot for you. I hope that’s alright.”
“Of course.” A rare, genuine smile lit up Vikram’s face as he replied, “You’re absolutely right.”
Mahika was taken aback. For once, he didn’t seem like the arrogant, overly sharp, guarded man she was used to. He appeared composed, gracious, polite, and even warm. And in that moment, she realised Vikram Khurana was farmore complex than she’d ever imagined—someone who revealed different shades of himself depending on the moment.
She tried to shrug off her nerves, convincing herself she was fine… until her hands betrayed her, trembling for no reason. Her eyes landed on a man in a white shirt at the desk, shuffling through papers, and her stomach churned.
This was it.
She gripped her bag strap tightly, feeling suddenly overwhelmed. Then, without warning, a strong hand covered hers, and her mind went blank. She looked down and saw Vikram’s hand covering hers, firm yet gentle, as he loosened her grip on the strap. Without a word, he took her bag and handed it to a young man standing nearby.
She barely registered the other dude. It was Vikram’s assistant, Gaurav, quietly standing in the corner. She had seen him at work before, but they had never formally met.
“Gaurav, can you hold this?” Vikram’s question was threaded with command.
Gaurav smiled politely at Mahika and said, “Yeah, sure.”
She didn’t know why, but Vikram taking charge calmed her in a way she’d never expected.How the hell did he pull that off?
“Shall we begin?” the man behind the desk asked, adjusting his spectacles. He looked at them both expectantly.
Vikram nodded, and the man continued, clearing his throat, “Sign here.”
Mahika’s pulse raced as she bent over the page, her hand trembling ever so slightly as she signed her name. Vikram wasnext, signing his name with his usual confident flair, as though he was just sealing another deal.
Then the man across the table turned the register toward the witnesses.
Mohit and a man Mahika didn’t recognise came forward and signed quietly. A moment later, the clerk added his signature and then stamped it with the official government seal, finalising the document.
Looking up, the registrar announced, “With this, you are now legally married. You can exchange rings and garlands now.”
Gaurav handed Vikram a small velvet box, while Mohit passed another to Mahika. She blinked at it, realising, absurdly that she hadn’t even thought about the rings. The signatures, the silence, the tension…it had all been a blur, and now this.
She opened the box meant for Vikram and found a plain, gold band nestled inside. Clean, classic, no-nonsense. An odd feeling tugged at her heart, but she brushed it off. This wasn’t an actual wedding. There was no reason to feel disappointed.
And then Vikram opened his box.
The ring inside was vintage, unmistakably so. A delicate gold band with intricate filigree, catching the light with a quiet, old-world shimmer. Her heart stuttered.
She knew that ring.
