Page 66 of Entangled Vows (Destined Diaries #2)

Mahika stirred, her eyelids fluttering open to a blinding white light. The sharp smell of antiseptic filled the air, while the steady beeping of monitors echoed around her. Her body ached, her head throbbed, and panic rose in her chest as the memories came rushing back.

Then, she saw Ishika sitting beside her, clutching her hand tightly, her eyes swollen from crying. Her mother was on the other side of her bed, silently wiping away her tears.

“Mom…” Mahika’s voice was hoarse, barely a whisper.

Her mother leaned in instantly. “Mahi. Thank God, you are okay. You’re in the hospital, darling.”

“How long… long have I been here?” she whispered, her voice breaking, her throat so dry it hurt.

“One day. You were in and out of consciousness,” Varsha said softly, brushing Mahika’s hair away from her face. “Now that you’re awake, I’ll update Vikram. He made me promise to call him the moment you opened your eyes. I’ll also let Ratan know. He’ll be so relieved. You rest, my sweet girl.”

Mahika watched her mother leave, then closed her eyes, whispering a silent prayer of gratitude for saving her.

“Hey, Mahi…” Suraj’s voice came from the corner, and she turned slowly towards him.

“Sunny…” She hadn’t even noticed him sitting quietly on the couch, tucked into the far corner.

He crossed the room and gently brushed his hand across her forehead as if trying to soothe her. “You’re so brave, Mahi. So incredibly brave.”

Tears filled her eyes, and when he bent down to kiss her forehead, she saw that his eyes were glistening too.

“I was so stupid to go with him,” she whispered.

“No, darling. None of this is your fault. That bastard was a predator. A sick, dangerous man. The police have him in custody on multiple charges. Vikram wasn’t bluffing when he said he’d make sure that monster never walks free again.”

“Where’s Vikram? And Mohit? What time is it?”

“It’s eleven in the morning. They’re both at work, doing everything they can to destroy the Excel Group. Vikram’s been by your side the entire time. He only left because Mohit needed him. He didn’t want to go.”

Before she could respond, there was a knock at the door. A young woman in her twenties entered with a clipboard and a kind smile.

“Good morning. I’m Dr. Heer. How are you feeling, Mahika?” she asked softly.

Her throat was parched, but she managed to speak. “Okay… I guess.” Her voice faltered. “Doctor… am I alright?”

“Yes. You’re safe now,” the doctor said gently. “Just a few scratches on your hands and some bruises on your face. Internally, everything looks fine. You’ll heal fast.”

“I mean… am I pregnant?” Mahika whispered, her voice uncertain.

The doctor nodded with a smile. “Yes. I was going to talk to you about that. The baby is safe. You both are perfectly fine. All you need now is rest. Sometimes, trauma can slow down healing, so it’s important you give yourself time.”

The doctor continued explaining recovery care and told her she’d be discharged the next day. But Mahika barely heard the rest. Relief hit her like a tidal wave, and a sob escaped her lips as she placed a trembling hand over her stomach.

Ishika climbed into the bed beside her and hugged her. “Now that it’s confirmed by the doctor, I’m so happy, Mahi. You’re going to be a mom, and I… I’m going to be the coolest aunt ever.”

Suraj froze for a beat, his eyes going wide.

For a second, he just stared at her. And then a huge grin spread across his face.

He sat on the edge of the bed, his voice filled with wonder.

“Wait… you’re… you’re pregnant? Mahi, that’s…

” He broke off with a laugh, shaking his head like he couldn’t believe it. “I’m going to be an uncle. Oh my God.”

He pulled both women into his arms and held them close. Then he looked at Mahika and asked, “Does my brother know?”

“No. I found out yesterday. I was still thinking of how to tell him… and then everything happened.” She sighed. “Do you think he’ll be angry, Sunny?”

“I don’t think so. Not after yesterday.”

Mahika leaned against Ishika’s shoulder and asked, “What do you mean?”

“Mahika Khurana, you should’ve seen your husband when we reached that nightmare of a location.

We were all terrified when we saw you in that condition.

But Vikram… oh girl, he just lost it, went crazy.

He turned into this insane hybrid of Hulk and Akshay Kumar as he beat the life out of that bastard Karan.

He punched him, slammed him, and the most important part… he shot him… right in the arms.”

“He did what??” Ishika gasped, her eyes wide, while Mahika just stared at Suraj in shock.

“Is Vicky fine? Did the police arrest him?” Mahika asked, her voice laced with worry as she tried to sit up.

“Hey, hey… no. That’s Vicky we’re talking about.

He’s 200 percent fine. And the police can’t touch him.

He told them he shot that creep in self-defence.

You know, Mohit and I were with you in the car Mahi, but we both wanted to rip that Karan into pieces.

Vikram just did it on our behalf. Babe, my brother went into an alternate world where all he wanted was to kill that fucking bastard for even looking at you.

And when he pulled that gun from his jacket, I swear I almost shouted, ‘Yes!’ The way Vik shot him in the arms and then had his hands around his neck until Max pulled him back…

I mean, he went full-on berserk. Total alpha mode. It was… magnificent to watch.”

Just then, the door burst open with a deafening bang, making all three of them jump.

Vikram stood in the doorway, breathing hard. His suit was rumpled, his hair tousled, and his bloodshot eyes blazed with emotion. Ishika and Suraj immediately stood up and walked towards the door.

“We’ll leave you guys alone,” Ishika said as she and Suraj stepped out. But not before Vikram and Suraj exchanged a loaded look, a silent conversation passing between them.

Now, it was just the two of them.

Vikram stared at her, fire burning in his eyes, and Mahika’s heart cracked as she saw his lips quiver.

Before she could speak, he rushed to her side, dropped onto the bed, and wrapped her in his arms, burying his face in the crook of her neck.

His entire body was shaking as he clutched her tight, his breath coming in shallow, uneven gasps.

And then she felt his hot tears sliding down her neck.

That shattered what little control she had left, and she exhaled sharply.

A sob caught in her throat as she clung to him, her own tears slipping free.

Then came his kisses. Soft, desperate, and tender.

He kissed her neck, then peppered kisses along her jaw.

She turned her head and pressed her lips to his forehead.

His breath grew ragged as he slowly pulled back, his voice raw and gutted as his tormented gaze met hers.

“What the hell were you thinking?” he asked, his voice breaking. “Did it even cross your mind what would happen to me if anything had happened to you?”

“Vikram…” she rasped.

“No. You don’t get it. When I got that alert from the device you swore you’d never need, I went numb with fear.

And then I heard the audio... heard that sick bastard talking to you like that.

I swear, I lost half of my life right then and there.

And when that swine hit you…” he paused, his jaw tightening with fury, “it ignited a rage inside me I didn’t even know existed.

All I wanted to do was kill him over and over again. ”

“I’m sorry for causing you so much pain,” she sobbed, and he cupped her face, wiping her tears with his thumbs.

“Don’t cry. Please. I can’t see your tears. I want my baby dragon back.” His voice was hoarse.

She was laughing and crying at what he said, but then paused, sniffing as she realised she had to tell him about the baby. “Vicky… I need to tell you something.”

“Tell me, love. What is it? Are you feeling okay?” He checked her forehead for fever.

“I’m fine now.” She grabbed his hand in hers.

“I just... yesterday morning I started feeling nauseous, but I brushed it off, thinking it was only acid reflux. Then I noticed my period was late by ten days. And I’m always on time.

So, I went to the mall, bought a couple of pregnancy tests, and took them.

I… I’m pregnant, Vikram.” She closed her eyes and shook her head. “I’m so sorry.”

Something primal flickered across his face. The softness was gone, replaced by something darker, something intense. “You’re… pregnant?”

“Yes,” Mahika said quickly, her voice trembling. “Please don’t be mad. We can get a divorce if you’re not okay with this. But don’t pretend to care about me just because I’m pregnant. I didn’t do this on purpose. I am not trying to trap you or anything.”

“Momo.”

“I think the pill failed… maybe because of the medications for that stomach bug, or the stress. I don’t know how, but the pill didn’t work…”

“Momo.”

“You know, contraceptives aren’t foolproof. We should have been more careful. I know we have only four months left until the clause is up… and you can go back to your old life if you want. This is nothing—”

She didn’t finish her sentence, because his mouth crashed down on hers, a punishing kiss that stole her breath away.

He cupped her jaw, and she clutched his shirt collar, a soft moan escaping her as he deepened the kiss, his tongue sliding into her mouth with desperation.

This was precisely the solace and comfort she longed for.

Even when she was hospitalised and the machines beeped around her, one kiss from her husband made all the pain go away.

A baby’s cry echoed down the corridor, and they pulled apart, both gasping for air.

“What was that for?” Mahika asked, still dazed.

“To shut you up, you crazy woman. Let me talk for once now. Just listen.”