Page 21 of Entangled Vows

And now, here they were, crammed into a booth at the club, pretending this was just another guy’s night out, as if a few hours of forced distraction could blunt the knife of this responsibility on him. The women had chosen the saner route, retreating to the resort for a night of calm with poolside drinks, a sauna session, and some much-needed peace.

“So,” Arjun finally said, breaking the silence. “Are you going to tell us what happened, or are we supposed to guess why your face looks like you went ten rounds with a heavyweight?”

Vikram ran a hand over his jaw, the faint bruise still tender beneath his touch. “Like I told you, Mohit decked me.”

Adil sighed warily. “Start from the beginning.”

Vikram dragged a hand down his face, his frustration clear as he recounted everything—from the events of that day to the hidden clause that Mr. Rao had revealed. By the time he finished, his friends were all shaking their heads in disbelief.

“So let me get this straight,” Vaayu said, exasperation dripping from his voice. “Your father left everything to you, both the Khurana Empire and the JK Group. Suraj must have got wind of it, and after years of busting his ass trying to prove himself, he must have finally realised the position would never be his. So, in a fit of rage, he walked away, leaving you to clear the mess. He didn’t give a damn about the business, your father’s illness, or anyone else. And now, you are the one stuck with the business you never wanted, and a marriage that came with it.”

“Pretty much sums it up,” Vikram replied flatly. “What I don’t understand is why my father left it all to me. Suraj was the one who stayed, who put in the years, who worked hard. He was the one everyone expected to take over. It was an obvious choice.”

“But Vicky, I read the fine print you sent Arjun,” Adil said, his voice calm and matter-of-fact. “The will clearly saysKhurana heir. Heir doesn’t mean the most capable son; it means the eldest by birth. That’s how inheritance works, in both law and in legacy. You were always meant to inherit the business and marry Mahika. Suraj was never even in the running.”

“Exactly,” Kabir said with a grin. “Adil’s always knee-deep in legal jargon. Nothing gets past him.”

A heavy silence settled over the table before Vaayu muttered, “Damn. So Suraj walked away thinking he’d made some grand sacrifice... when, in reality, it was never his to begin with.”

Vikram had never seen it that way. What Adil said was the unvarnished truth. And now, for the first time, he found himself wondering why Suraj had really left.

“I’m only clarifying this so…” Adil paused, glancing at Vikram, “…so our friend here doesn’t get the wrong idea.”

Vikram frowned. “I don’t understand.”

Adil shrugged. “Because when you do fall for your wife, I don’t ever want you, even for a second, thinking you weren’t meant to be with her. I’ve told you before, Vicky… even the smallest crack of doubt can mess everything up.”

The table went quiet for a beat, the tension hovering like smoke… until Kabir let out a low whistle. “Damn. Adil, we had no idea you were moonlighting as a love guru.”

Adil flipped him off right away, and everyone burst out laughing.

Vaayu snorted. “No offense, Vick, but your dad might have been even crazier than ours. Just ask Adil.”

Adil grinned. “V has a point.”

Vikram rubbed the back of his neck. “Thanks, everyone, for listening and for the advice. But I’m not so sure about love. Mahika and I... we’re like oil and water. We just don’t get along.”

“What about Mahika, though? Is she taking this well? And Mohit?” Arjun asked.

Vikram gave a forced laugh. “Not even close. Mohit just threw punches at me instead of talking. Then she stormed out after we ironed out the terms of the marriage between us, and now we’re getting married in two days!”

Kabir smirked. “Marriage, man. That’s not small. That’s life-changing shit.”

“It’s only for a year, Bira,” Vikram reasoned, his tone sharp and pragmatic, each word precise like a hammer strike. “Mahika gets what she always wanted, and I save the family business. By the time the ink dries on our contract, the Khurana and Jaykar empires will be untouchable.”

“And what if she catches feelings?” Vaayu raised an eyebrow, a teasing glint in his eyes.

“If’?” Vikram’s smirk was cocky.

Arjun scoffed, shaking his head. “What an arrogant jerk.”

Vikram shrugged. “What can I say? Women can’t resist me.”

A sly smile played on Arjun’s face. “Good God. It must be fucking exhausting, carrying that egoandthe package you’re smuggling below the belt.”

Adil chuckled. “This brings back memories of Vicky being quite the heartthrob.”

Vikram’s “Fuck off” made the table erupt in laughter.