Page 48 of Entangled Vows
Mahika flopped onto the plush cushions of Ishika’s bedroom couch, her arms crossed as she watched her friend pace in front of her. The rich aroma ofbuttery dal makhani, garlic naan, and smoky tandoori momosfilled the air—the remnants of the takeout dinner Mahika had picked up from her favourite dhaba. In the background, the steady thud of boxes being stacked and the distant voices of movers filled her house. Yes, it was stillherhouse, though only for a few more hours.
“So, let me get this straight,” Ishika said. “For weeks, they’ve been strong-arming you into this deal, all because of your father, who, even from the clouds above, is still playing his favourite game: ‘Let’s ruin Mahika’s life.’ And, on top of that, he secretly sold his shares to Vikram’s father, keeping the whole transaction hidden from everyone?”
“Right,” Mahika nodded.
“So, you’re telling me you actually married Vikram...legally, papers signed and stamped, all to save a business you don’t have a share in, after all the hard work you’ve put into it? And also to protect yourself from some imaginary bad boy who’s still hung up on you?”
Mahika groaned, the sound muffled as she buried her face into a cushion. “Well, when you put it like that, it does sound awful. But I only did this to save the beach house.”
Ishika threw her hands up in exasperation. “Mahi, that’s because itisawful! Why are you so obsessed with the beach house? You could have simply bought a new one in the same place.”
Mahika sat up, looking tired and annoyed. “It’s not the same. You know that beach house is special. If I can’t have it, then no one else can. And besides, I had no choice! Think about Mohit and all the employees depending on the company. You think I want to be bound to that overbearing, arrogant, insufferable—”
“Sexy as hell—” Ishika interjected with a smirk.
Mahika shot her a glare. “—control freak.”
Ishika shrugged, unfazed. “Okay, but you have to agree Vikram is objectively hot.”
“This is not about his insanely good looks, Ishika!” Mahika huffed. “Or his stupid, stupid muscles.”
“Or the way he looks at you like he’s about todevouryou?” Ishika teased, waggling her eyebrows. “I swear, when I saw you two talking this morning—”
Mahika grabbed a pillow and launched it at her. “Focus!”
Ishika caught it with a dramatic flourish and plopped down beside Mahika. “Fine, fine. Let’s focus.” She narrowed her eyes.
Mahika groaned again. “So, I am Mrs. Mahika Khurana now, and I can’t even pretend it’s a bad dream.”
Ishika agreed, rolling her eyes. “It’s a pretty crappy situation.”
Mahika sank deeper into the couch. “Exactly.”
“Unbelievable,” Ishika sighed, leaning back. “God, I leave town for one month, spend one glorious night with my date, and come back to… this madness?”
Mahika gave her a dry look. “Well, at least someone had a fun night with a sexy stranger.”
“Yeah. It was good,” Ishika smirked, then dismissed it like it didn’t matter.
The sound of packing tape being ripped somewhere made Mahika jump. She turned around to see the movers packing her books into a box. They were almost done. Soon, her things would be sent to the Khurana estate. Her new home.
“Isn’t it weird that all these movers are in black business suits?” Ishika asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Totally. Like James Bond’s army of minions.”
Ishika snorted but then leaned in, mischief written all over her face. “Anyway, all that aside, tell me one thing. Have you kissed your husband yet?”
Mahika sat up so fast she nearly gave herself whiplash. “What?! No! Have you lost your mind? Why would I kiss him?”
Ishika cackled. “I’m just saying! You two have this whole‘I hate you, but let’s bang each other against the wall’vibe, and I need to know if I should be buying popcorn.”
Mahika groaned and shoved her friend’s shoulder. “You are the worst best friend ever.”
Ishika grinned. “And you love me anyway. But seriously, what’s the plan now that you’ll be living with the antichrist?”
Mahika exhaled, running a hand through her hair. “I don’t know. Every part of me is screaming to fight. Or at the very least, to run.”
Ishika’s smirk softened into something more thoughtful. “Because of him?”
