Page 104 of Entangled Vows

“I said it wouldn’t matter. That I could do this. That I’d stay detached. What the hell was I thinking?”

Bungee touched her cheek with his nose, and she let out a broken laugh. She wiped at her face, but the tears kept coming, as though a fragile dam inside her had just burst.

“I let him in,” Mahika whispered, her hands curling tighter around Vikram’s jacket. “I let that arrogant, frustrating man in. And now look at me. I’m crying here like some tragic, helpless heroine.”

Bungee nestled closer to her chest, his soft fur pressed against her collarbone.

“He probably didn’t even feel anything when he left. And I…” Her voice cracked. “I went and fell in love with my temporary husband.”

She had never said it aloud before. Not even to herself.

“I love him,” she breathed again, her words more broken, more raw. “God, I love him.”

She didn’t hear the door open until Ishika stepped in, quiet as ever, and closed it behind her. Mahika barely turned her head before Ishika climbed onto the bed beside her. She didn’tspeak right away. She simply placed a hand on Mahika’s back and sat with her.

Mahika’s voice was barely a whisper. “Did you hear that?”

“Yes. I did.”

“God. I’m such an idiot.” Mahika sobbed.

“Oh, one hundred percent.”

“Everything happened so fast.”

“I know,” Ishika murmured. “One minute you were ready to burn the marriage clause papers, and now…”

Mahika let out a tearful laugh. “God, I sound pathetic. But it’s true. I feel like I can’t breathe without him.”

Ishika wrapped an arm around her. “That is such a Jane Austen thing to say.”

“All I need is a windswept cliff and a violin score in the background,” she sniffled. “You know, I thought I could handle this marriage like a business deal. Keep it clean and simple.”

“It was never going to be simple between you and Vikram,” Ishika said gently. “Not with how he looks at you. Not with how much you feel.”

“I miss him so much already,” Mahika whispered. “I hate that a stupid jacket is all I have to hold onto.”

“You don’t have to hate it,” Ishika said, brushing her hair back. “You just have to let yourself feel it. Sometimes, accepting things as they are is the kindest thing you can do for your heart. Not everything needs to be solved or explained.”

“There’s this emptiness. Like he took a part of me with him when he left.”

“Maybe he did. But maybe he left a part of himself behind too. Something only you can feel.”

They sat in silence, Bungee sprawled across Mahika’s lap like an emotional support expert.

Ishika leaned her head back against the headboard and let out a long sigh. “I’m here for you. Got it?”

“Yeah. Thanks, Ishi.”

“Thanking me is just plain stupid. You know we’re in this for life.” She scoffed. “Alright, now that we’ve ugly-cried and had our dramatic meltdown, can we talk about what really matters?”

Mahika gave her a tired look. “What now?”

“The sex between you and Grizzly Khurana.”

Mahika blinked. “Seriously?”

“Of course. I’m your best friend. I need to know. So, is it toe-curling, or just emotionally wrecking?”