Page 20 of Entangled Vows

“The mushiest marshmallow,” Ruhi chimed in. “Now, where the heck are you?”

Vikram sighed, shaking his head, still unable to believe they were all here. “I’m leaving now. Be there in a few minutes.”

“Good,” Mira said firmly. “And Vick, don’t hold back this time. We came all this way for the real you, with all the drama included. Tell me you understand that.”

“Mira, I—”

“Tell her, Vicky,” Adil cut in with a laugh, “or she’s never going to stop bugging you.”

“Howdareyou, Adi? Are you saying I bug people?” Mira shrieked in mock-outrage, and then the call cut off with a burst of static.

The line went dead, leaving Vikram staring at his phone in stunned silence. They had dropped everything for him without hesitation or expectation.Just for him.He exhaledslowly, a mix of laughter and a sigh escaping him. How did he get so lucky to have friends like that?

Pulling himself together, he dialled home.

“Hello?”

The voice on the other end was Dipesh, his house manager. He was Sandhya’s nephew, the woman who had been the Khurana household’s caretaker and cook for years. Everyone fondly called herSandhya Ma. In her late fifties, with a round, gentle face and kind eyes, she was far more than a housekeeper. After twenty-five years of working here, she was family. To Vikram, she had been more of a mother than the one who had walked away long ago. Vikram trusted them both wholeheartedly, knowing Dipesh ran the house with the same quiet efficiency as his aunt.

“Dipesh, it’s Vikram,” he said, his voice calm yet commanding.

“Yes, sir. How can I help you?”

“My friends have arrived from Mumbai. They mentioned they’re at the house.”

“Yes, they are in your study right now.”

“Very well. Take good care of them. I want them to be comfortable. And get them moved to the executive suites at the resort right away. The ones with the killer view of the valley.”

“Understood, sir. I’m on it right away. I’ll coordinate with the front desk at Crown Valley.”

“Excellent. Keep me posted once it’s done.”

As Vikram stepped into the parking lot, the cool night air washed over him, bringing a rare sense of calm. He still couldn’tbelieve his friends were here, in his hometown. Couldn’t believe he had ever left those idiots behind. Sure, video calls and endless phone conversations had kept them close, and that thought had always grounded him. But nothing compared to being with them in person.

He’d spent years mastering the art of not getting involved, keeping his world small, safe, and detached. However, this amazing, loud, and chaotic clan had bulldozed right through his walls.

And he couldn’t even be mad about it.

Because they were his people. His family. And they were absolutely irreplaceable.

9

If someone had asked Vikram what nightclubs were good for, he’d have said overpriced drinks, pretty women, and a whole lot of regret. That had been his life until he’d moved to Dehradun to manage the family business. He was done with that phase of his life.

Yet, standing under the flashing of strobe lights and the pulsing music tonight, he realised nightclubs offered something else too: a noisy, chaotic distraction that provided a temporary escape from reality.

Verve, the town’s most sought-after club, was JK Group’s crown jewel. It was swanky, exclusive, and perched dramatically on a cliff that overlooked the valley below. It’s rooftop bar was insane, the view alone worth far more than the price of entry. It was a spot designed for dreamy diversions and pricey getaways.

The music throbbed loud and clear. Laughter and flirtation filled the air like a delicate perfume. Everything glowed in the warm, golden light, making every surface shimmer. Vikram sat in a dimly lit corner booth, his thoughts loud enough to show on his face.

With a light grip, he lifted the whiskey glass to his mouth. The liquid burned its way down his throat… the only burn he wanted that night. But even that couldn’t touch the cold ache lodged deep in his chest. It couldn’t silence the thoughtsspiralling in his mind, a storm that refused to pass, drumming hard against his skull.

His friends were their usual selves, but he could feel their eyes on him. Arjun leaned back, his movements relaxed as he swirled his drink slowly, stealing glances at Vikram. He was worried, but played it cool.

Adil seemed just as relaxed, though his gaze kept drifting to Vikram’s face, noticing the fading bruise even in the dim light. Across the table sat Vaayu and Kabir, nursing their drinks and looking worried, like they had a million unspoken questions on their minds.

It had been three weeks since that disastrous meeting with Mr. Rao. Back then, Vikram had given his friends the shorter version of his life’s mess… just enough to stop the endless personal questions. All he wanted from them was silence, not their pity. But what he got instead was a series of robust backslaps and bear hugs, as if those could magically solve his life’s problems.