Page 134 of Entangled Vows

“You’re with me now, Mahika. No phones when we’re together. That’s rude.”

“What? Are you joking? That’s not funny. Give it back.”

“I’m not your driver, Mahika. Don’t sit there texting your lover boy while I’m driving,” he snapped venomously.

Mahika froze.What the hell? Why was he acting this weird?

The car veered left, making her gasp. “Watch out, will you? Fine! I won’t use it now if that’s what you want.” Fear slithered through her veins as she raised her voice.

He stayed silent, dropped her phone into the door slot by his side, and kept his eyes fixed on the road.

“Karan, give me my phone back. I said I won’t use it.”

“I heard you. And you’re not getting it until we reach our destination.”

Her stomach knotted. She turned towards the window and noticed they had already passed the Mall Road. The last turn for the café was behind them.

“Where are you going? This isn’t the way to the market square.” Her voice wavered as panic edged in, though she tried to stay brave.

“It’s a shortcut to a new place I know,” he replied with eerie calm.

“I don’t want to go anywhere else. Just turn the car.”

Her unease sharpened into dread. This wasn’t what she’d envisioned when she got in the car with him. His tone was clipped, his voice different, his hands were trembling, and he had that strange look in his eyes that felt all wrong.

Was he high?The thought screeched through her brain, and nausea churned in her stomach.

“Karan, I don’t think we should go anywhere right now. I’m not feeling well.” Mahika tried to keep her tone normal, hoping he’d just turn back.

“You’ll like where we’re going.”

His voice carried no warmth. It was flat, detached. The chill of it seeped into her skin and made her stomach twist. She forced herself to keep her eyes on the dashboard, but the silence inside the car was eerie. She needed to get out.

“You’re not listening. Please stop the car. I don’t have time to go anywhere else. I just want to go home.” Her voice cracked on the last words, trembling with an unnamed fear.

“You can’t always say that.” His voice snapped into a shout, echoing too loudly in the confined space.

She flinched, her heart hammering. And then, just as suddenly, he let out a chuckle that didn’t sound normal.

“Sorry, my doll. That came out wrong. You know how much I care, right? I just… I can’t stand the idea of you leaving me. Ever.”

Fuck. The words were wrong. Too wrong. They slithered into her ears and froze her spine.

“Karan, what…W-why are you doing this?”

“I’m just correcting the mistakes of the past.” His reply was stiff.

She swallowed hard. This was going downhill too fast.

“Where are we really going?” she asked slowly, her voice careful, deliberate.

He didn’t answer right away. The silence stretched until her pulse throbbed in her temples. Then, without looking at her, he said, “Somewhere you can think clearly. Somewhere you can correct all your mistakes.”

Her blood ran cold. “What are you talking about? I want to go home. Just listen to me. Please.”

He laughed, the sound low and creepy. Mahika’s chest tightened, and she turned to the window. The familiar bustle of the city had disappeared. The road was deserted now, hemmed by towering trees that cast jagged shadows across the path. It felt like something straight out of a nightmare.

Her fingers dug into her seat. “Karan, I need you to stop the car. Now.”