Page 44 of Entangled Vows

Everyone vacated the room until only four remained: Mahika, Vikram, Mohit, and Uday.

Mahika’s palms pressed tightly against the smooth fabric of her saree, trying to wipe the dampness of the sweat on her palms. She was anxious, of what… even she didn’t know. Her eyes kept darting to Vikram, who sat rigid, his arms crossed, exuding an air of calm authority. His gaze was impossibly sharp, as though trying to burn through the walls of silence surrounding them.

Even Mohit, usually steady, looked tense.

“I suppose you’re all waiting for me to tell you the truth about the clause,” Uday said, his voice low and disturbingly calm.

Mahika swallowed hard. Mr. Rao’s words came back to her mind. He had told her that if anyone could explain the ‘complications’ behind this merger, it was Uday Jehangir.

“This entire arrangement,” Uday continued, almost as if speaking to himself, “...the unequal partnership between Vikramand Mohit, and the marriage clause binding you now…” His eyes locked on Mahika and Vikram. “It all traces back to one man. Ajay Thakkar.”

At the name, both Vikram and Mohit sat up straighter. Mahika had heard the whispers. Excel Group, the rival of the JK group, was always spoken of in hushed tones.

“What does Ajay Thakkar have to do with this?” Mohit asked.

“If my assumptions are correct, then everything,” Uday said crisply.

Vikram’s voice cut in, sharp and commanding. “I will need you to explain further, Mr. Jehangir.”

Uday’s gaze narrowed, and he spoke bluntly. “Excel Group was, and still is, a rival of JK Group. It’s no secret that they’re neck-deep in shady dealings. Behind the glamour of their hotels, resorts, and business fronts, they are into shit like smuggling, money laundering, and illicit businesses, all neatly hidden beneath layers of respectability.”

Mahika frowned. “What does that have to do with the clause?”

“Everything,” Uday replied. “For years, Ajay Thakkar had been pressuring Om to accept a business merger and a marriage proposal between you and his nephew.”

“What?” Mahika forgot to breathe for a moment.

“That’s… that’s bullshit.” Mohit snapped. “I would have known about this. Dad never hid anything from me.”

“That’s where you’re wrong, Mohit. Your dad was anything but transparent. Not just with you, but even with hisbest friend and business partner, Sanjyot.” Uday shot them all a measured look.

“I don’t understand. What are you implying?” Vikram’s jaw stiffened. “We don’t have all day, Mr. Jehangir. I assume you know the importance of time.”

“I do,” Uday answered, his tone clipped. “And I’m doing you a favour by offering my time. So let me finish without interruption.” He stared at Vikram for a second longer before shifting to Mohit.

“Ajay Thakkar had approached Om with the proposal for a merger multiple times. Every time, Om refused. He and Sanjyot had an agreement between them. Come what may, there would be no merger, ever, and Mahika would never be married into that family. They stood their ground. They knew exactly who they were dealing with.”

Uday paused and took a measured breath. “And yet… everything dangled on a fragile thread when Om fell into the wrong company. He started gambling. At first, small bets. A game here, a wager there. But soon, addiction took hold of his senses and his judgment eroded, pulling him deeper.”

Mahika’s chest tightened. Her father had always seemed upright, so disciplined that it was difficult for her to believe this.

“I… I can’t believe this,” she whispered, trying to wrap her head around it.

“Gambling?” Mohit’s voice was sharp, filled with disbelief and raw rage. “But… how could he? How could he risk everything like that?”

“He didn’t want to. I’m sure he tried to fight it. But in the end, he just couldn’t.” Uday’s tone became colder than ever.“When Sanjyot called me in a panic, Om was there. He had just confessed that he’d embezzled money from the company funds. He called it a mistake, born out of desperation, but he couldn’t put the money back in the company. And worse… Om was already drowning in debt. Not bank debt,” Uday emphasised, “but debts owed to the Mafia. Dangerous people.”

“That’s the missing money everyone keeps talking about? No one else knows about this?” Mahika asked.

“Yes. The amount was substantial. No one could just put that kind of money back so quickly.”

Mahika sat motionless, absorbing every word. The tension in the room was palpable, as if it seared her skin.

“And then… Ajay Thakkar made his move,” Uday continued, “with the same proposal he had chased for years, but with a twist. A merger between JK and Excel…under the condition that all of Om’s debts would be cleared in exchange for Mahika’s marriage to Thakkar’s nephew.”

Her heart stopped at the words. She flinched when Mohit almost yelled.

“WHAT??” Mohit’s voice rose. “How could he agree to something that put Mahika’s safety at risk? And what I don’t understand is how could Ajay Thakkar refuse to take no for an answer?”