Page 3 of Entangled Vows (Destined Diaries #2)

Mahika was boiling with anger but forced herself to remain calm, wearing indifference like a shield.

Deep down, she was super frustrated and kind of hated how much his presence unsettled her.

He shouldn’t be here. Yet there he was, radiating power and confidence, moving around as if he owned the place.

Without uttering a word, he carried a distinct air of authority.

When their eyes met, he sized her up with a sharp look, his gaze lingering just long enough to make her spine tingle with unspoken tension.

Vikram Khurana.

Sanjyot Khurana’s eldest son. The man who neither seemed interested nor cared about the Khurana Empire, the JK Group, or its legacy.

Mahika didn’t really know why, but Suraj often said that Vikram had just handed him the CEO position without a second thought, much to their father’s disapproval. Why he had done it, no one really knew.

But being away from home had done him good.

He’d had really outdone himself. In Mumbai, he’d built his own empire, making his fortune through bold investments and ventures she’d never bothered to track.

His presence here was not only unexpected but also impossible to ignore.

He carried himself with a regal air, and his gaze conveyed a sense of immense control.

It made her blood boil.

“Vikram?” Mohit’s brow furrowed in confusion as he looked at his childhood best friend, as though trying to figure out his sudden arrival.

Mahika almost rolled her eyes.

Vikram and Mohit may have grown up together, but that didn’t mean he could just barge into what was clearly a private family matter. Ratan Pattnayak’s presence made sense, as he had always been tied to the business. But Vikram? He had no place here.

Irritation flared through her, and Mahika shot to her feet, her voice full of venom. “Excuse me, what’s he doing here? This is a private family discussion.”

Vikram barely reacted. He only lifted an eyebrow, studying her with that familiar air of detached amusement that always made her want to chuck something at him.

“Guess it’s a good thing I was invited, then,” he drawled, his deep voice dripping with arrogance.

Mahika gave him a sharp look. She couldn’t remember a time when they weren’t fighting.

Vikram Khurana had always been a condescending jerk.

And yet, the way he was watching her now, measured and intense, made her heart race with awareness.

She hated her reaction and wished she could dunk herself into ice-cold water to cool herself.

Instead, she masked it by simply rolling her eyes.

Vikram’s presence had always unsettled her.

As Suraj’s elder brother, he was always around, and for reasons she couldn’t quite explain, he seemed to take a perverse pleasure in making her his favourite target.

What frustrated her most was how deliberate it always felt, like he’d made it his personal mission to get under her skin.

Maybe it all went back to when she was fourteen and had the most ridiculous crush on him. She’d quickly outgrown it, but the memory still mortified her.

He took a step closer and locked eyes with her. “At least I dressed appropriately for the occasion.”

“Arrogance seems to be a staple in your wardrobe. Must be so nice to have a personality that’s so flexible. NOT,” Mahika snapped.

“Now that you’ve finished your little outburst, Momo, can we get back to the real purpose of this meeting?”

Fury flashed in Mahika’s eyes. That dumb nickname, Momo, never failed to piss her off. The sheer audacity of him. She clenched her fists, and a fire burning inside roared.

She stepped closer to annoy him and shot back, “As you wish… Grizzly.”

She felt a twinge of satisfaction when she saw him stiffen.

Well, he should’ve thought twice before reviving that nickname for her.

He had started it, and she had simply returned the favour.

Vikram was up to his old mind games, and Mahika was more than ready to retaliate, but Mohit’s voice cut through the tension.

“Mahi, Vicky. Enough,” Mohit said sharply, his jaw ticking with irritation. “What the fuck is wrong with you two? This isn’t the time or place for this.”

Mohit looked like the picture of a stressed-out principal forced to break up a kids’ argument.

Mahika scoffed, turned away, and took a deep breath to calm down, but immediately wished she hadn’t.

That familiar expensive cologne, which she both knew and hated, filled her senses.

Rich, smoky, and way too tempting. It had been a long time since she had smelled it, and it was super sexy… just as she remembered.

She held her breath, her cheeks flushing against her will. She absolutely hated the way her body reacted to it.

Seriously, how did he smell so amazing?

It felt almost criminal. He couldn’t just walk in, insult her, and then act like he hadn’t completely ruined her day simply by being in the same space.

He had no idea about the craziness of the past few months—the chaos, the stress, the relentless phone calls. She’d barely slept on those nights. He had no clue she was surviving on fumes, chocolate, and the occasional hormonal meltdown. And yet, there he sat, cool as ice, and calm as a cucumber.

Her mother’s gentle voice broke in. “Vikram.”

From the other couch, Varsha Jaykar’s expression softened with concern as she watched him. “You seem tired, honey.”

Mahika froze. Seriously? Her mom hadn’t once noticed her own daughter’s exhaustion in the past year, hadn’t once asked how she or Mohit were holding up. But now, suddenly, she was all concerned about Grizzly Khurana?

She turned to Mohit, and the moment their gazes met, she knew he was thinking the same. It was a sibling thing. They knew exactly what the other was thinking right away.

As Vikram turned towards Mahika’s mother, his usual air of arrogance seemed to slip for just a moment.

“It’s been... a lot, Aunty. But I’m okay,” he said quietly, his voice low and subdued.

“I understand,” Varsha replied gently. “The pain of losing a loved one is something that never goes away so easily. Pretending you’re fine when you’re left to carry it all alone just makes things worse.”

His jaw tightened. For a split second, a flicker of something crossed his eyes—real and raw pain. However, it was gone just as quickly. She felt a fleeting moment of sympathy for him, but then her attention quickly returned to her mother’s next words.

“Vikram, you’ve always been good at keeping things to yourself. I only wish Suraj hadn’t left. He should have shared the responsibility with you.”

Mahika felt a pang in her heart upon hearing her mother’s words.

How could she say those things about Suraj?

Her mother failed to realise that Suraj had borne the burden of the business for years, and he’d done it quietly and without complaint.

Vikram might have disregarded the family legacy, but Suraj had owned up and shouldered it all alone.

Yes, it was irresponsible of Suraj to run off, and the reasons behind it were still a mystery. But no one… absolutely no one had the right to judge him for choosing what he thought was right. No one knew him as well as Mahika did. There must have been a compelling reason for his actions.

Her mother’s lecture on responsibility rang painfully hollow. It was like a drowning person was trying to give swimming lessons. This was the same woman who had barely noticed the emotional strain Mahika and Mohit had been carrying for months.

Yet, her mother was showing compassion towards Vikram, as if he were the one most in need of it. Mahika simply wished for her mother to be present in her life too. Just once.

“I’m doing okay, Aunty. Thanks,” Vikram said with a thin smile.

“You’re allowed to not be okay,” Varsha murmured gently. “You’re allowed to grieve as well.”

He nodded, went up to her, and gave her a quick hug. “Understood. I appreciate your kind words.”

“Being kind is free, honey,” Varsha said. “It’s the bare minimum we can do for each other.”

Mahika blinked, a funny feeling tugging at her heart. Damn it. How come her mom was so compassionate towards everyone else when for her it always felt like a privilege she had to earn? A bizarre wave of jealousy and anger washed over her, making her grit her teeth.

She tried to push it down, but not for long. Vikram turned back with a cool look, that familiar mocking glint sparking in his eyes.

“Being kind isn’t easy for everyone. Right, Momo?”

And just like that, she remembered why she hated him so much.

“Arrogant prick.” The words just slipped out of her mouth before she could stop them.

Was this the perfect opportunity to tell Vikram Khurana off? Probably not.

Did she even care? Not at all.

She wasn’t going to put up with his attitude anymore. If Vikram thought he could just waltz back into her life, treat her like a child, and get away with it, he was in for a rude awakening. He didn’t know her anymore, and she’d be damned if she let him underestimate her again.

“Alright, shall we get started?” Mr. Rao interrupted, clapping his hands sharply to diffuse the growing tension and bring the room back to order.

“Is he actually supposed to be here?” Mahika asked, her voice sharp.

“Mahika,” Mohit hissed, his expression tight with disapproval as he shot her a warning glare.

“What?” Crossing her arms, she snapped at her brother with an indignant glare. “He doesn’t belong in this family.”

“And the same goes for Ratan Uncle,” Mohit countered, gesturing towards their father’s longtime assistant seated quietly nearby. “But you are not complaining about him.”

“That’s different,” Mahika retorted, her eyes darting briefly towards Ratan Uncle before whipping back to her brother. “He’s not—”

“Just sit down, Mahi. Let’s listen to what Mr. Rao has to say,” Mohit said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Mahika bristled but obeyed, her eyes narrowing at Vikram.

He looked far too comfortable as he leaned back, behaving like he’d already secured victory.

This was going to be a long meeting, and she wasn’t sure what would push her over the edge first. Her father’s hidden secrets or Vikram’s smug arrogance.

Mr. Rao carefully laid out the papers on the desk.

His face was quiet and guarded, as if he already sensed the trouble brewing in the room.

Clearing his throat, he began, “As you all remember, we went through Mr. Jaykar’s will about a year ago.

Back then, no one knew about the hidden clauses both partners had written into their wills.

Those were meant to remain confidential, and were to activate only if both men passed away.

With Mr. Khurana’s passing, that clause has now come into effect. ”

He looked around the room, his eyes briefly resting on Vikram. Mahika saw the subtle nod Vikram gave in return, and her stomach twisted. Did this jerk already know about the clause?

Mr. Rao cleared his throat. “The house and the majority of Mr. Jaykar’s personal wealth have been left to Mrs. Varsha Jaykar, as expected.

” He turned to the next page. “Mohit Jaykar shall continue as Co-CEO of the JK Group, but his equity stake will now be reduced to thirty percent. Vikram Khurana will assume the position of Co-CEO with a sixty percent stake, granting him majority control.”

The words hit Mahika like a blow. Her mind struggled to catch up. Her brother, who had dedicated years to the company, had held fifty percent ownership until yesterday. And now… this.

What went down after Sanjyot Khurana’s death? And what could possibly have caused this kind of change?