Page 125 of Entangled Vows

Mahika looked confused. “I don’t understand.”

“Vikram told me I needed to work on myself,” Varsha admitted. “He helped me find a therapist in Mussoorie, and I’ve been going regularly. I feel lighter now. I think I should have done this a long time ago, when you were just a little girl.”

Mahika’s eyes widened. “Really, Mom? That’s... that’s wonderful.”

“Yes, darling,” Varsha nodded. “If it weren’t for Vikram, I am not sure I would’ve had the courage. He reminded me that I still have so much to live for. For you. For Mohit. And most importantly, for myself. I have been attending these sessions for two months now.” She paused, and her voice turned soft. “For the first time in years, I can breathe again.”

Mahika slowly turned to Vikram, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. Her expression was unguarded and vulnerable.

“You did this for her?” she whispered.

Vikram gave a small nod. “She is not just your mother anymore. She is like a mother to me too. I couldn’t stand by and watch her wither away. Not when I knew she still had so much left to live for.”

Mahika blinked back her tears, and Vikram saw the way her shoulders relaxed and her guard began to lower.

Varsha reached out and gently stroked her thumb over Mahika’s cheek. “I know I wasn’t always there for you,” she said, her voice filled with regret. “And I know I hurt you with my silence. Your father… he was a man who needed to be heard above everyone else. He wasn’t cruel, but he left no space for my voice in our marriage. Over time, I let myself grow quiet… and that changed me. I slipped into depression and started taking sleeping pills. In trying to escape my own darkness, I became numb to everything around me. And in the process, I know I lostyou. I can’t undo those years, Mahi, but I am here now. I want to try now. I want to be your mom again. Will you let me?”

Mahika swallowed hard. “Yes, of course. But... are you really okay?”

“I am,” Varsha whispered. “I am not perfect. I am far from fixed, but I am here.”

Mahika’s eyes welled up again. “That’s enough, Mom. Thank you. I am always there for you. You’re not alone.”

Her mom hesitated, her hands wringing nervously together. “I know, darling. But there’s something I need to tell you. I haven’t really been alone. You know Ratan… well, he’s been by my side for a long time. At first, it was just friendship. His quiet presence and strong support helped me, and I don’t know how, but somewhere along the way… it became more.”

Mahika blinked in surprise. “You mean, you and Ratan Uncle...?”

Varsha nodded slowly, searching her daughter’s face. “Yes. Over time, our friendship grew into something deeper. We became companions. Mohit knows, and he’s okay with it. But I was scared of telling you. But I don’t want to hide it anymore. Ratan makes me feel seen, Mahi… and cared for in a way I never thought I’d feel again. That doesn’t mean I don’t love your father. He was, and will always be, the most important part of my life. But he’s gone, and for months I lived with that loss. Loss of the person who had this power over me. Even now, a part of me feels guilty for moving on. But another part knows I can’t spend the rest of my life grieving. After a year, I realised I needed to let myself breathe again, and Ratan gave me that chance.”

Mahika’s lips wobbled before she smiled softly. “Mom, I’m not upset. Honestly, I’m glad. You deserve someone who stands beside you, and if it’s Ratan Uncle, then I’m happy it’s him. He’s a wonderful man.”

Varsha’s shoulders relaxed, her voice firmer now. “Thank you, Mahi. That means the world to me.”

She stepped into her mother’s arms, and Varsha held her close before turning to Vikram. She pulled him into a hug too. She spoke low enough so only he could hear.

“You are doing good, Vikram. Thank you for understanding me. Now… please try and understand your mother too.”

She pulled back with a smile that carried grace and quiet hope.

Vikram nodded, and from the side, Mohit joined them, wrapping his arms around them in a warm group hug. “I am so fucking happy,” he said, his voice cracking.

“Language, Mohit,” Varsha chided softly, and they all laughed through their tears.

Vikram watched Mahika glow with happiness, and he felt a myriad of emotions: a mix of pride, ache, and quiet awe. This was what family looked like. Messy, emotional, fractured, but still whole. And his wife was the heartbeat of it all.

In that moment, he made a silent vow. He would protect this version of Mahika. The woman who still needed someone to lean on. The woman who had the courage to forgive and asked him to do the same. The woman who was brave enough to choose softness when it would have been easier to shut the world out.

Out of the corner of his eye, Vikram saw his own mother begin to walk towards Mahika. Her eyes shimmered with emotion, and he knew what was about to unfold.

“Mahika,” Devika said gently, her voice soft. “I am Devika… Vikram’s mother.”

“Hi, Aunty,” Mahika replied with a polite smile.

“Not Aunty. Call me Ma, beta.”

There was a pause. Then Mahika nodded slowly and whispered, “Ma.”

Devika’s eyes glistened as she stepped forward and pulled her into a warm hug. “I heard you married my son. I am so happy he has you now. It eases something in me, knowing he is not alone anymore.”