As promised, your update is here.

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Another Week Later..

The oven beeped as it's timer indicated the completion of task as Nandini wore her gloves and took out the tray full of delicious looking vanilla cupcakes baked till golden.

Mukti, who was sitting on the kitchen counter dangling her legs sniffed the air.

"These smell so so delicious! I actually can't wait to sink my teeth into them." She spoke up, and was about to take one but Nandini swatted her hands away.

"No! Not until, they're cooled down and I'm done with my topping." Nandini replied, firmly.

Mukti gave her puppy eyes but it didn't seem to work on her.

"Boo? They're your favorites and you'll get the most. Just have patience till I'm done." Nandini shook her head at her friend's impatience.

"Fine!" Mukti mumbled cutely and watched her best friend decorate the cupcakes beautifully with the tooti frooti topping and arranging them neatly on the plate.

The doorbell rang just then and both could hear Manik getting up to open it.

Pallavi must be back, she had gone to the weekly prayer session organized by the local community in nearby Mandir.

But they heard, laughs and talks in the drawing room and Nandini could see Mukti's face light up.

Before Nandini could ask her, she jumped down the counter and ran into the drawing room.

She shrugged and got back to her task of decorating the cupcakes amused by her friend's antics.

She had just finished decorating the last cupcake when Manik came in.

"Chalo, I have to introduce you to some people." He smiled and holding her hand, tried to pull her along but Nandini pulled back.

"Main?" She asked cutely conscious.

"Obviously, you don't expect me to introduce Angelina Jolie as my wife do you?" Manik chuckled a bit and again pulled her along, but she pulled back again.

"I don't look my best! Aap samajh nahi rahein hai, I just can't go out like that." Nandini added.

(Nandini's Attire)

Manik looked at her, his thick eyebrows furrowed and his walnut orbs took in her beautiful form in a peach anarkali. Her gorgeous ebony locks tied up in a loose bun, soft wisps of hair framed her face. She looked perfect except for the speck of flour on her milky cheeks which actually makes her look adorable.

Before he could stop himself, his hands went ahead to unclasp her hair from the pin as it fell in gorgeous ebony tresses till below her waist aweing him.

Manik's fingers gently moved through her locks and Nandini looked at him, her eyes soft.

His thumb brushed against her cheek and she sighed softly. Though he wanted to dust off that speck of flour from her cheeks but the softness of her milky skin enchanted him. She wasn't even concerned about vanity, Manik didn't see an ounce of makeup on her. Just her clear, glowing soft skin which made her so different from all the women who surrounded him. Shimmery Makeup, Top Label Dresses and High Heels.

All of this made him claustrophobic, and perhaps that's why he kept running away from such women.

But she was different!

Nandini's fist curled up to the edge of her dupatta. She may be inexperienced with men, but she wasn't unaware of those little sparks of raw electricity that travelled down her nerves every time he touched her.

What did the future hold for her when they would be a man and his wife in true sense?

She didn't had boyfriends nor felt the need but what to do about the man who was her lawfully wedded husband?

"You look beautiful. And for God's sake, don't ever pin up your hair." Manik smiled and pulled her along.

In the spacious drawing room, her eyes fell upon a lovely couple sitting in the beige colored plush sofa and Mukti was animatedly telling them something.

"Aryaman Sharon? Meet my wife, The unseen, unnamed and not to mention beautiful Nandini. Or rather, Mrs. Nandini Manik Malhotra." Manik introduced her to them as she shook her head a bit at his description of hers.

"And my best friend. Not to mention, they're just married. Ting!" Mukti added from the back, making Manik roll his eyes.

"Why do you have to add that every single time Mukti?" He asked.

"Can't Help. I love you both so much." Mukti exclaimed dramatically making everyone laugh.

Aryaman got up to greet Nandini, and he was every inch of gracious. Curly jet black hair, grey eyes , sharp jawline and a handsome built, He shook her hand and she reciprocated it.

"It's actually a pleasure to meet Mrs. Manik Malhotra finally." He smiled and Nandini reciprocated.

"That's actually sweet of you to say." She replied, smiling.

Sharon got up next and she was beautiful. Rich Brown Hair till the smart length of below the shoulders, cookie brown eyes and porcelain skin.

Nandini took a liking to her instantly as she gave her a warm hug and she reciprocated it happily.

"Nandini, you're so beautiful! I love your hair, and I absolutely love those earrings you're wearing." Sharon gushed as they broke the hug.

"Thank you so much. You're beautiful too." Nandini smiled.

"You're too sweet. Manik? I'm already loving your wife." Sharon replied with a bubbly smile to which Manik bowed his head a bit.

"Btw, you need to tell me from where did you get those earrings? I love them absolutely!" She added, touching that delicate piece of jewellery.

"I don't know actually, Perhaps Manik or Daima selected them." Nandini confessed, sheepishly.

The maid brought in the cupcakes with some chocolate mint fudge, Nandini had made that morning for she and Mukti had felt the chocolate craving and arranged it neatly on the table.

Nandini thanked them politely, something that hit everyone for she was just so gentle with the servants too.

She served them and Mukti was the first to jump on her plate making everyone laugh.

"Ah! My darlings finally! How much I've waited for you! Aryaman Sharon, lemme tell you these cupcakes are the most heavenly ones you've ever had!" Mukti exclaimed, dreamily.

"Being my best friend, she loves to flatter me!" Nandini rolled her eyes at her best friend's drama.

"Babe, I'm stating the fact!" Mukti spoke up, as she took a bite of the cupcakes and closed her eyes in utter bliss.

"I second Mukti on that! She's an excellent cook, makes the best Blueberry Cheesecakes in the world! And look at me, I've definitely gained weight. I have to work out extra every morning at the gym and my trainer calls it the perks of having a wife because he himself is married!" Manik laughed cutely as everyone joined him while Nandini shook her head at all the praises.

Aryaman and Sharon take a bite too, and it was Sharon who spoke up first.

"Ummm.. These are warm, gooey deliciousness! Nandini sweetheart, I can literally kill for cupcakes like these!" She gushed again as Manik gave her a 'I told you!' look.

"I love the fudge, it perfectly moist and creamy!" Aryaman replied, licking the back of his spoon.

"Nandini? Why don't you give Sharon some baking lessons too? She doesn't knows the B of Baking and it would be nice to be back home to such goodies after a tiring day at work." He suggested.

"What? I just baked a batch of cookies for you on Christmas."

Sharon countered, before Nandini could answer.

Aryaman gives her a narrow eyed look.

"Alright! Alright! It was a ready made batter, so what? You know Nandini? He said he would cook a chicken risotto for me on Thanksgiving and you know what happened? I couldn't even see chicken, there was just this sticky burned rice in whatever he served me!" Sharon snapped back making everyone laugh out.

"Stop it you two. Sharon? You can come up to me anytime. I'll be more than happy to help you." Nandini replied, sweetly.

Sharon gave her another hug, adoringly.

"You my mate, are a lucky man!" Aryaman patted Manik's back who smiled.

It was revealed amidst this chit chat and laughter that Aryaman and Sharon have their wedding in three days and Manik was supposed to be the best man for Aryaman.

Sharon wanted Nandini to come too, and they had specially visited to invite her.

Sharon helped Nandini to carry up the dishes to the kitchen while the men and Mukti talked in the living room about the wedding.

"You know Nandini? When I initially got to know that Manik got married, I was shocked." She spoke up, as warmed up the electric kettle for hot water to prepare coffee listening to her.

"Manik is an adorable man. Very loving, very caring and very protective about the ones he love. He has a beautiful heart and a kind soul.

I've known him since college with Aryaman, he is a lot on the fun side and that's difficult considering the untimely demise of his parents but I've never seen a human like him who faces all his difficulties, problems headlong with a smile.

The way he has established himself is commendable, along with Mukti's responsibility. So I and Aryaman didn't blame or pressurize him for settling down with a woman knowing how much he hates women with whom he's surrounded by day and night. He's had have girlfriends before but all in a casual way, nothing serious because we knew that he isn't the commitment type of a guy."

Sharon spoke up fondly of her friend, as Nandini listened to her with a smile.

Sure, Mukti had told her about Manik's dating history to make her jealous perhaps.

And it had worked, Nandini had felt a prick in her heart as Mukti told her about it and her best friend had actually enjoyed seeing those cute jealous expressions.

"But trust me, he never crossed the line. And now today, When I've met you I'm so happy that everything worked out for you and him.

Being a wife you can give him the happiness, stability and security he's always been looking for. And the love which he is unaware of, that true pure love which he deserves. As a lover, As a wife, As his equal half.

I can already see the happiness glowing at his face, you're everything he ever needed in a woman." Sharon held her hand lovingly as Nandini nodded smiling.

"Though you know, his marriage left so many women heartbroken!" Sharon chuckled as Nandini switched off the kettle and poured the hot water into coffee mugs.

"Really? She asked, amused.

"You Bet! Have you ever looked at your man, Sweetheart? He's a bomb!
Those supermodels who strip in front of him for the beach photoshoots won't mind stripping for him behind the camera! If you're only aware that you're the most envied woman in America right now!" Sharon whistled making Nandini laugh.

Well, she didn't have any second doubts about Manik's handsome, scratch that! Scorching Good Looks!

She has herself heard and seen some of the young maids drool on him.

"Enough about me, where are you guys going for Honeymoon?" Nandini asked as she took out coffee powder from the cabinet above.

"Aryaman originally decided on Paris, but I wanted something more romantic and private. I mean yeah Paris is the city of love and all of that but it's the same old! Also We're going for our Honeymoon, not some fashion week so I came up with Pataya." Sharon shared, excitedly.

"That's a gorgeous place!" Nandini agreed, impressed.

"And we've booked a private romantic villa! My Birthday is also falling in those two weeks, so yeah! It's my birthday and Aryaman gets the return gift." She winked making Nandini laugh.

"You know, I'm so excited for our first time! I've chosen the perfect nightie, the perfect lingerie. Some Wine, Candlelight, Roses and we're ready to roll onto the silk sheets!" Sharon added naughtily, and Nandini can actually see her happiness and her excitement twinkling through those gorgeous cookie brown eyes.

"You guys thought about anything?" She asked, nudging her.

"Nope. Actually, It all happened so fast that we ourselves hadn't predicted it to be like this. Guess we still need time!" Nandini smiled as she filtered Manik's coffee.

"I understand Honey, and ofcourse you guys need time. And as it is you guys are just married, you have your whole lives in front of you. Compatibility and Love is important in intimacy, I understand if you both need time.

Though I can say, as far as I know Manik once you guys do it you're in for some strenuous, passionate nights! I can happily and proudly say that Manik will be one hell of a passionate lover!"

Sharon winks naughtily and Nandini could feel hot blood rushing through her veins and gathering up at her cheeks.

Well, she wasn't wrong! Those sparks of raw electricity were still inexplicable, what in the world would happen when he would touch her or worst devour her?!

Sharon adoringly watched her blush.

"I say, try kissing him once! You'd know yourself!" She nudged her naughtily making the crimson on her cheeks deepen.

Just then, Manik walked in initially wanting to ask for coffee but noticed his wife's flushed face.

"Is everything okay?" He asked Sharon, amused.

"Yeah! You know, we were just talking... Woman To Woman Talk!"

She replied, coyly as she picked up some coffee mugs walking out of the kitchen and Nandini followed her leaving a confused Manik.

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I bet y'all want her to comply Sharon's wish. Am I right or am I right? :P

Will Nandini initiate?

Do lemme know through your comments and votes if you liked it!

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• Thankyouu for this. Tbh this is too much!!! But you guys be the best... So much pyaar for y'all ❤❤❤