On time! 😎

Well hello beauties, first of all congratulations to us for HUMSAFAR had been ranked as 7th in Fanfictions💕 To top it all when not only one, but many readers comment that they are re-reading whole story.... Trust me its a very big compliment for me!!

Also my dear ladies, keep your hopes a bit low as of now, because all of yours imaginations are running wild😂. But let me tell you, I won't disappoint... I'm no innocent here and I wouldn't let you be also👅 Y'll will witness the fire... But patience please 😁 One mahapurush in last update said 'Intzaar ka alag hi maza hai'... So be it!👻

ENJOYYYYY!!

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"Hello!" Mukti spoke up naughtily, as Manik cussed a bit and looked at his sister. Nandini smiled a bit, shyly.

"What were you both doing?" She asked, wriggling her eyebrows.

"That doesn't matters now, it's busted." Manik replied, making a face.

Mukti chuckled and then holding Nandini's hand walked in the opposite direction.

"We're with the girls in the bride's room, while you will join the Boys. And Bhai, make it quick because Aryaman has already asked for you twice." She added and walked away with Nandini who turned to look at him, Manik smiled at her which she reciprocated.

The ceremony which took place in the open courtyard draped with white silk, candles and red roses was beautiful.

Sharon looked absolutely beautiful in her vintage off shoulder gown and it was so obvious that Aryaman couldn't take his eyes off her.

Manik was the handsome best man and the ring bearer for his friends while Nandini, Mukti and Pallavi watched the ceremony from the audience.

There were loud claps when the priest announced them husband and wife, with the whole courtyard filling up with thunderous applause and equally loud hoots when they had their first kiss as a man and wife.

In midst of all this, Manik had introduced her to Cabir : The cowboy who was a handsome man with a good sense of humor though a bit shy for a country guy.

His girlfriend and live in partner Navya, was a beautiful lady with blue eyes and ebony hair but as friendly and sweet.

The evening was drawing in and guests had moved into the reception area. Music, Drinks and Food was in plenty and Nandini was enjoying herself.

Manik was surely with the guy group but he had kept a tab on her considering she was new to all of this and his friends circle. He had been keeping an eye on whatever she drank tonight, just once she had mistakenly picked up the glass of scotch and he had immediately been to her side taking away the glass from her.

The concoction was too strong for a delicate girl like her.

Nandini looked at him, her doe eyes soft and smiling. No one has ever cared this much about her, she wasn't used to protectiveness and safety but these days she had been experiencing it all and her heart skipped louder beats with just the thought that Manik cared about her.

"So Nandini? How is it being married to one of the most eligible bachelors in America?" Navya asked her, taking a sip of her mojito.

The girls group including the bride Sharon and her best friend Mukti were now sitting on the pool chairs beside the pool after the cake cutting and first dance.

Manik turned a bit, hearing Navya's question. The guy group was sitting just a bit away from the girls and were currently grilling Aryaman for being a married man.

"Umm, well I never thought of it that way." Nandini replied, taking a sip of her wine.

"For me, It's not like getting married to the man you've always dreamt of as a little girl. If you'll ask Mukti you'll know that I never had any preference for men. I wasn't like ooh! aah! I want a tall, dark, handsome guy with a Ferrari or with a pool of gold.

I never gave it much thought but now being married to Manik feels like I wanted nothing else but this. It's like this is all I wanted ever since I understood the concept of love and marriages." Nandini replied, smiling taking a gulp of her wine.

"Sweetheart, that was beautiful. Beautiful coming from the girl, who's perhaps the youngest from the lot. Manik is lucky to have you." Sharon held her hand, smiling.

"So let's make a toast to her!" Navya suggested and all raised their glasses clanking it together.

Manik could feel a smile gracing his lips, well his young wife was surely much mature for her age.

He turned to his group who had now changed the topic to something naughtier, sex!

Tired of the continuous grilling, Aryaman opted for the only option out.

"Have you guys planned to grill me solely, why not ask about it to our newly married Mr. Manik Malhotra?" He spoke up, patting Manik's shoulder.

"Ah! Aryaman, why do you always have to switch to your whining witch mode?" Manik chuckled, twirling the contents of his glass.

"Sorry Bro, you too need to have a taste of this medicine!" Aryaman gave him a wink.

"Yaar, you told us that you both haven't stepped into intimacy yet but don't you have the thought?" Cabir asked him, as he gulped his beer.

"Who said I didn't? I do man, I do. You know every morning when she gets ready for the day, I literally fight this urge to pull her in bed and stay in there all day long with her! I can feel my libido but I control it, because I may end up hurting her or worse her feelings." Manik replied, as he took a gulp of his scotch.

"It's hard man, I appreciate your concern for her." Aryaman patted his best friend's knee, smiling.

There in the girls group, the topic had changed to casual relationships.

"I think, before a woman is ready for a big commit these casual flings are easy for her. You know casual dates, some makeouts and then you don't see each other again." Eve, one of the bridesmaids spoke up.

"I feel casual flings are certainly not my cup of coffee." Nandini spoke up, this time making everyone chuckle.

The DJ lowered the volume of the music to a romantic number as the night grew and Manik can certainly hear his wife speaking.

"You know there are two types of women in this world. One who has some casual dates, casual sex and after that is accustomed to men walking out of the apartment door only to never call again. Second who after a passionate night of making love with her man, cuddles with him, holds onto him only to wake up in his arms the next morning. His face would be the first thing, her eyes see in the morning.

Unfortunately, Unashamedly I belong to the second category of women.

It's either this or nothing else. I'm not settling for anything less.", Nandini finished, taking the last gulp of her wine.

Mukti wrapped an arm around her best friend, she was proud of her.

Manik smiled, looking down a bit.

She surely had some beautiful ideas for Romance and he would fulfill all of them, when the time would be right.

After dinner, the list of guests have started decreasing and the group of friends sat in a circle to play truth and dare. Some rounds have already been done and it was a riot.

Manik was really happy to see Nandini enjoying in the company of his friends.

A couple of dares had been done, but mostly had been truths.

Navya had spun the bottle again for the last dare had been hers which was a 5 minute long kiss with Cabir.

And the much anticipated bottle had stopped at Nandini earning some loud hoots and claps.

"Okay, so.. Truth Or Dare? Navya asked her.

"Dare!" Nandini replied at once, as the hoots go up again and Manik took a gulp of his scotch, smiling

"I love your spirit gal. So your dare is you have to look into Manik's eyes without blinking. The first who blinks, loses!" Navya winked at her.

"Ooh la la!" Sharon hooted loudly as Mukti giggled.

Manik finished his whiskey, and got rid of his bow tie which fell down the collar of his shirt. The coat had already been discarded, and shirt cuffs were rolled up long back.

She finished her leftover wine and both walked up to the center.

"Bhai, blow her off with those eyes!" Mukti cheered for her brother.

He winked at her sister, then holding Nandini's hand pulled her close. Her breathing hitched as they collided, and this had to be the second time in the evening they were this close. The earlier instance still had her senses simmering with the heat of their closeness, and now again.

If only Mukti hadn't opened the door then..

She exhaled a soft breath as his strong arm went around her waist while her hands rested on the linen of his shirt.

His shameless eyes again reached up to her lips, and that nude pink lip color was long gone to be replaced by that slight red hue of the wine and he had to admit, it made her pink lips even more luscious.

And to worsen it more was her sweet orange and rosemary scent, which was slightly sexy, slightly naughty and a whole lot of seductive.

Ask Manik, only he knew what havoc was going on in his mind.

They looked at each other, as pin drop silence fell on the group.

As their eyes locked, it seemed as if a conversation flowed in between them.

"Your eyes are mesmerising, I can probably look into them forever without blinking once." Manik smiled.

"Well, yours are deep. I can drown myself in your eyes only to never find shore again." Nandini smiled.

"I'll take that as a compliment, Thank you. Btw you didn't tell me why do you blush in my presence?"

Manik's eyes became inquisitive.

"Because of your eyes. They reflect so much more than you would ever tell me." Nandini's heart chuckled cutely.

"Really..Like?" Manik scrunched his nose a bit.

"Like.. I love how they twinkle when you look at me or the way they turn dark when you watch me dress up every morning for a new day!" Nandini smiled, knowingly.

"You..?" Manik was amused.

"Yeah, I caught you once peeping from the duvet." Nandini replied, smiling.

"Oh Well. I love how you look like a fresh blossoming rose after shower. And damn it! Your fragrance is killer!" Manik's eyes confessed cutely.

"You never told me that!" Nandini was surprised.

"I just did. Trust me Nandini, It turns me insane and.." Manik trailed off.

"And?" Nandini asked.

"You would shy away if I'll tell you." Manik smirked.

"Try Me!" Nandini insisted.

"It makes me want to pull you in bed and make love to you endlessly." Manik let it out, finally.

Nandini's cheeks flushed with warmth as she looked away and Manik wins it effortlessly making way for hoots and claps.

Did he really think that? Nandini thought as their eyes met again and he gave her a naughty wink.

*******

Ohkay, so best part of the update was?

Next- Saturday/Sunday

Bubyee... Miss me👻