Page 18 of Entangled Vows

“Mahika?”

She spun around. It was Mohit.

“Mahi, wait. Are you okay?” he asked, concern etched on his face.

She just shrugged, unable to form a single word.

He stepped closer and rested a hand on her shoulder, his touch warm and gentle. The kind of touch that made the world feel safe. A big brother’s touch.

“What do you need?” he asked softly. “Just tell me.”

His voice was so soothing, so full of concern that it cracked something in her. She was no longer the girl trying so hard to hold herself together. In that moment, she was just Mahika. Overwhelmed, insecure, and scared.

Like when they were kids, when things were tough at home, he’d always been there for her. He was her anchor, her safe place.

“I… I don’t know,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “Alcohol. I need alcohol. A lot.”

“Are you serious? Alcohol?” The question came again, quieter now, tinged with worry.

“If you were me, you’d have done it too. I’m getting married in two days, Mo. I’m freaking out, but at the same time, my mind keeps telling me... it’s fine. It’s only a year, right? No big deal.”

Mohit’s jaw clenched as he glanced at her, looking both annoyed and gentle. “Mahi, itisa massive deal.”

She clutched the strap of her mauve-pink Fendi bag, twisting it between her fingers to stop herself from breaking down.

“Did Mom say anything?” she asked, changing the subject.

“Nope,” Mohit replied, his voice tight. “She’s just... not into anything lately.”

Mahika pursed her lips and snapped. “She’s battled depression forever, but she’s never sought help. When was the last time she went to therapy, or took anything besides sleeping pills to deal with this?” Mahika’s voice cracked. “I’m not trying to be mean, but she’s never supported us, has she? Not me, at least.”

She choked up, trying not to cry, but her eyes stung. “She never did a single thing that a mother is supposed to do for her daughter. Not one thing.”

“Mahi...” Mohit’s voice softened, caught off guard by her outburst. He hadn’t expected her to explode like that.

Her voice lowered, sounding hurtful than mad. “Seriously, what kind of mother lets her daughter throw her life away in a marriage she doesn’t even want?” Her lips quivered, tears trailing down her cheeks. “Mo… she didn’t stop it. Didn’t even utter a word. Not one goddamn word.”

“Mahi,” Mohit murmured, hugging her close. “You’re not okay.”

“I have to go,” she whispered, her voice trembling with a desperate edge. “I need to get drunk. Completely, recklessly drunk.”

Mohit said nothing, just grabbed the bag off her shoulder and slung it over his like he’d done it a million times.

“You got it, sis,” he murmured, his voice a low promise. “So, if getting hammered is what you need right now, I’m game. Let’s go.”

His words were simple, but the way he said them, with a fierce protectiveness, made her shoulders sag in relief. In that moment, his love and support were all she needed to remind her that maybe, just maybe, she wasn’t as alone as she thought.

8

Vikram stood on the mezzanine, half-hidden in the shadow thanks to the dim light behind him. He hadn’t meant to eavesdrop. He was feeling restless and was just leaving for the day when he overheard Mahika. The raw hurt in her voice stopped him in his tracks.

And then he saw her, a mess of tears, slumped against her brother, her body trembling as tears streamed down her face.

The sight made his heart ache, and he balled his hand into a fist. He’d never seen her so emotionally vulnerable, had never imagined she could break down like this. Although her father was distant, he had always thought Mahika and her mother were close. He had no idea of Mahika’s suffering. He’d always believed she was strong and unshakable, but seeing her fall apart like this broke him in a way he couldn’t explain.

He wished he could absorb her pain, wipe away the stress from her face, and make her happy again. He didn’t want her to feel so broken, trapped, and desperate. But that wasn’t his place. Not now. If he wanted this marriage to work, he had to keep his feelings in check.

He pushed away from the railing and walked with heavy steps, his mind in turmoil. Every instinct screamed at him to goand console her, but he forced himself to walk the other way, his feet carrying him towards the exit instead.