Page 50 of Entangled Vows

Mahika groaned. “No. Not ever.”

Ishika raised a brow. “Really? You don’t even haveoneinappropriate thought about him?”

Mahika picked up a pillow and wielded it like a weapon. “Drop it, or I swear—”

Ishika just smirked. “Fine, fine. Butif, hypothetically, youdidchange your mind—”

“I won’t.”

“Uh-huh.”

“Ishika, Imeanit.”

Ishika sighed dramatically. “God, you’re so boring. Here I was, hoping for some scandalous newlywed gossip, and you’re telling me you just plan to be hisroommate?”

“Yes,” Mahika huffed. “A strictlyplatonicroommate. There isnothingbetween us. Never was andneverwill be.”

Ishika gave her a long look. “Famous. Last. Words.”

Mahika groaned again and buried her face in her hands.

Ishika grinned, but then let the teasing settle, her expression softening. “I reallyamgoing to miss you, though.”

Mahika exhaled. “Me too.”

The noises of the movers shuffling around in the background made everything feel real.Tooreal. But, as expected, Ishika wasn’t one for too much sentimentality.

She shot Mahika a wink. “At leastoneof us is about to live the life straight out of asteamybillionaire romance novel.”

Mahika flung a pillow at her head. “Get out.”

Ishika just laughed. “Youget out. You’re inmyroom.”

∞∞∞

Finally, it was the day Mahika moved into Vikram’s home after visiting the Jaykar Mansion. That brief, half-hour visit had infuriated him more than words could say.

Vikram closed the car door with a thud and walked around to the passenger side to open Mahika’s door.

He replayed the visit, the entire encounter leaving a bitter, acrid taste in his mouth. Mahika’s mother had behaved more like a petulant stranger than a parent. What truly grated on his nerves, though, was Mohit revealing that Mahika hadn’t received a single call from her mom since the wedding.

Vikram finally understood the magnitude of Mahika’s anger and quiet sadness over her mother’s behaviour. Her mother had looked at her with the detachment of an acquaintance. Mahika had been the first to step forward and offer a hug. They exchanged forced, polite greetings, and the only thing her mother asked was about the business. Nothing about how her daughter was doing. And as they were about to leave, her mother had simply smiled at them. No hugs, no kisses.

And yet, despite everything that had happened, Mahika had gently cupped her mother’s face and kissed her forehead with a grace that completely wrecked him, shocking him in away he hadn’t expected. It was like watching a mother soothe a child… only the roles were reversed.

He couldn’t bear to see Mahika so upset. He’d seen enough. He had thrown Mohit a sharp, accusing look, but Mohit merely shook his head slightly, silently telling him to let it go. Then, being the caring big brother he was, Mohit spent the next ten minutes cheering Mahika up, which really touched Vikram. He joked around, teased her, and actually made her smile.

A minute later, Mahika glanced at Vikram, and without a word, he knew she was ready to leave. She didn’t say the words, but he understood her with unexpected clarity.

Vikram remained tense even as they entered the polished foyer of the Khurana estate. He was furious at her mom’s indifference towards her.

He had always considered himself a cold and logical person, someone who never let emotions cloud his judgment. But today, that façade had crumbled. Seeing Mahika’s mother so detached and unaffected by her own daughter had shaken him to his very core. It was just plain cruel.

And yet, Mahika hadn’t cried. But as her mother walked away, he caught the fleeting expression of hurt in her eyes.

Hell. That girl was stubborn as fuck. She deserved so much more. She deserved the world. Was he the guy who was meant to give it all to her? Probably not. But the thought of anyone else even trying made his chest constrict, and a hot wave of anger washed over him.

He shook away the angry thoughts and flung open the car door for her. She stepped out, and he immediately went around to lift her heavy luggage.