Page 57 of Entangled Vows (Destined Diaries #2)

It had been raining all day, but now the downpour had eased into a light drizzle. Outside, everything was quiet. The hills were blanketed in mist as the scent of wet earth travelled through the open windows.

Inside the Khurana Mansion, the warm amber glow of the lamps softened the sharp edges of the evening. Vikram leaned back on the couch, a glass of wine in hand. Across from him, Suraj mirrored his brother’s stance, his eyes fixed on the shifting shadows on the polished wooden floor.

Mahika had disappeared into the bedroom after dinner, but not before shooting Vikram a look that said, Talk to your brother.

She was wickedly intuitive like that.

After their talk on the terrace, Vikram had gone off to the office, but Mahika chose to work from home so she could stay with Suraj and spend time catching up.

She still hadn’t gone to meet his mother and had promised she would wait until Vikram met her first. She had held him close that morning, whispering those words into his ear like she was filling some cracks in his heart that no one else saw.

Vikram cleared his throat. “I’ve been a cold bastard to you, Sunny. I am so sorry for that.”

Suraj didn’t respond immediately. Then, slowly, he looked up. His expression was tired, but not guarded.

“You were hurt,” he said quietly. “And you had every right to be. If I could go back, I would have told Mom that I wanted to stay with you and Dad.”

Vikram shook his head. “It wasn’t your fault. You were just a kid then. Even now, you were only trying to figure things out. I should have spoken to you. Instead, I let the silence grow and filled it with resentment all these years.”

Suraj let out a hollow laugh. “You weren’t the only one who fucked up.

I ran away, Vicky. I ran because I was overwhelmed.

I left without a word, and it wasn’t just for one reason alone.

” He met Vikram’s eyes and exhaled sharply.

“There were so many reasons to run… and one of them was jealousy. I was jealous of you.”

“You were jealous of me?” Vikram’s face was full of disbelief. “Why the fuck were you jealous of me?”

“Because you had a life outside this house. You had your friends and your own space. You looked happy, like you had figured things out. And I was stuck here. I was literally trapped in a role I didn’t want to play.

The pressure of the business, the burden of everyone’s expectations, the burden of carrying Dad’s legacy.

.. and the constant lie of pretending to be someone I wasn’t. It was suffocating.”

Suraj stared into his glass, the wine catching the soft light, then continued, his voice quieter.

“Then came the call. Mom was in the hospital, fighting for her life. And she was alone. I didn’t stop to think.

I just packed my bags and left. I told myself I was doing the right thing, that I had to be there for her.

But the truth is, I was also running. Escaping from the shitty life I had here. ”

The room fell silent for a moment. Outside, the rain tapped gently against the windows, almost like it was listening too.

“I’m sorry, man...” Suraj said, his voice rough with regret.

“For not calling. For cutting you off. I’d sent Dad an email.

Told him I loved him, and asked him not to try and find me.

I thought that would be enough. But it wasn’t.

In the end, I even snapped at him when he brought up the clause or anything related to business.

I wasn’t a good son to him at all. Also, I knew I couldn’t marry Mahika.

I just didn’t know how to say it without hurting everyone. ”

Vikram’s eyes sharpened. “You knew about the clause? Since when?”

“I’ve known for a long time,” Suraj admitted.

“I just never believed it would come to that. But when it did, when everything spiralled... I knew Mahika and I weren’t meant to happen.

And now she tells me that everything I did was in vain…

that it was always you who was meant to marry her.

Apparently, I had missed reading the fine print.

” He exhaled heavily. “But I didn’t want to hurt Mahika. And I do love her...”

Vikram’s body went still.

Suraj smirked. “Relax, dude. Not like that. I love her as a friend. But don’t for a minute think I didn’t notice the way you looked at her when you thought no one was watching.”

Vikram quickly looked away. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Come on,” Suraj said with a small grin.

“You liked her all along. You were jealous because you thought there was something going on between us. Don’t think I forgot how you warned me off her at her eighteenth birthday.

” He paused, then added more quietly, “So I told myself maybe it was better this way. Maybe I wasn’t needed.

Dad had you. At least, that’s what I tried to believe.

But it doesn’t make it right. It doesn’t change the fact that I wasn’t there in his last moments. ”

His voice cracked, and this time the tears came. Silent at first, then harsh, jagged sobs that shook his chest.

Vikram stood and crossed to him without a second thought. He sat down beside him and pulled his baby brother into a firm hug that said all the things he wanted to say but couldn’t.

“Sunny, you fucked up. But we can’t turn back time now,” Vikram murmured. “I was there with him, right till the end. And I wished every damn day that you had been too. But I get it. You were doing what I couldn’t. You were taking care of the other part of our family.”

Suraj gripped Vikram’s hands in his and sniffled. “Still… I’m sorry. So sorry.”

“So am I,” Vikram said, his voice raw. “For not being there for you. For not checking in. And for not being the big brother you always deserved.” He pulled back and met his brother’s tear-streaked gaze. “We both fucked up. But I am done holding that against you.”

Suraj sat back as he wiped his face with his palms and blinked at Vikram. “So... we’re good?”

Vikram gave a slow nod. “We’re brothers. That’s never going to change.”

They laughed, and it felt real for the first time since they were kids.

Vikram leaned back, drained the last sip of his wine, and looked over at Suraj. “I’ve decided to meet Mom tomorrow. First thing in the morning.”

Suraj’s head shot up. “Are you serious?”

“Yes,” Vikram said. “For my own peace.”

Suraj looked stunned for a moment, then deeply relieved. His voice shook. “That will mean everything to her. And to me.”

Vikram rested a hand on his shoulder. “We’re not perfect. But we’re still here, together. And that’s what matters.”

Suraj gave him a watery smile. “Brothers forever, Vik.”

“For life,” Vikram said. “Even when you’re being a pain.”

Suraj rolled his eyes. “Says the emotionally constipated one.”

They laughed, and the sound settled between them like a warm hug.

After a pause, Vikram asked, “So, how is Mom?” The words seemed foreign on his tongue. “Anything I need to know before I meet her?”

Suraj sighed. “You just need to know that she’s been through hell.

When her husband passed away, it broke her.

She stopped taking care of herself. Her heart is weak, and her health has been fragile, but with treatment, she’s better now.

She will be on cloud nine when she comes to know you’re meeting her.

She’s been wanting to see you and Mahika. ”

“She knows about Mahika?” Vikram asked.

“Of course, she does. Mahi is my best friend. And she saw your reception photos when she was recovering in the hospital. She said you and your wife looked like poetry together.”

Vikram swallowed hard. Those pictures had gone viral months ago, and still, his mother had only seen them from a distance.

“Was she incapable of calling me even then?” he spat, his mood shifting in a heartbeat.

“Vicky,” Suraj warned, “it wasn’t like that. She just didn’t know if you would even want to talk to her. She only wants to meet you and Mahika to congratulate you properly.”

“It’s not necessary,” Vikram muttered. “But if that’s what she wants.”

“Look,” Suraj said, trying to reason with him, “if you really don’t want to meet her, I’ll tell her no. I won’t even lie and say that you’re busy. But Vicky… she’s our mom.”

Vikram looked up at the ceiling as if searching for an answer, then let out a long sigh. “Fine.” He poured more wine into his glass. “So, little brother… are you seeing anyone?”

Suraj grinned. “Yeah. I have a boyfriend, Henri. He lives in Paris.”

“Long-distance?” Vikram arched an eyebrow.

Suraj laughed. “Yeah. We met on a dating app, chatted a few times, and met in person when I was in Paris for work. Mahika knows about it.”

“What do you do now? I mean, for work?”

“I work for a Dubai-based fashion brand. It’s a good, cushy job, and I get to meet different people. So, works for me. And where was I... Yes, I went to Paris to meet Henri, and we just clicked. After that, he came to Dubai for a week, and we made it exclusive.”

“I’m glad you found someone you like enough to be in a serious relationship,” Vikram said with a nod.

A few moments passed before Suraj tilted his head. “So... you and Mahika. This marriage is…”

“A one-year thing. The clause said one year, and then… we could resume our old lives if we wanted,” Vikram explained.

“Oh yeah? But it doesn’t look like that. It looks serious. That one-year thing seems completely null and void in this case.”

Vikram’s gaze lingered on the swirling wine in his glass. Then a quiet smile tugged at his lips. “I really like her. That’s for sure. By the way, this wine is really good. Thanks for getting it.”

“Good deflection, but man... marriage looks good on you. It’s doing what I’ve failed to do all these years.”

“Oh yeah? And what’s that?” Vikram asked, curious.

“Making you live out of your comfort zone… with a pet rabbit. And just making you fucking normal.”

“Asshole,” Vikram muttered, tossing a small pillow at Suraj. It bounced off his chest and landed next to Bungee, who was happily snuggled near the couch near Vikram’s leg.

“See what I mean?” Suraj shook his head, grinning. “Deny it all you want, but you’ve taken her pet bunny under your roof, and he sits by your legs the whole damn day. You’re not always the cold-hearted Khurana everyone thinks.”

Suraj scooped up the bunny and softly petted him as he spoke. “Enjoy the hospitality while it lasts, Bungee buddy.”

Vikram scoffed and stood up, placing his wine glass on the side table. “I have an early morning tomorrow. Good night, brother.”

“Come on, Bro. Keep me company. It’s been years since we sat like this.”

“Tomorrow, Sunny. I need to get to my wife now. Good night.”

Suraj let out a hoot of laughter as Vikram walked away. “Look at you… Mr. I-Don’t-Do-Feelings can’t wait to crawl into bed with his wife. Who would’ve thought?”

Vikram flipped him the bird and just smiled as he walked upstairs to his bedroom. Deep down, he knew one thing for sure. He and Suraj… they would be alright. They were Khuranas. And they had found their way back to each other.