Not a Monday, I know but I owe you! My health is completely okay now, I was on medication and finally, fit and fine ;) thank you so much for your kind wishes!

First of all, thank you for being SO PATIENT, sacchme yaar thanks! :') I'm overwhelmed by the support <3 I know I know, I can give your enthusiasm no explanations as to why I have been so irregular lately. I've been shifting homes so I'm going—not just hours—DAYS without WiFi, and trust me it sucks.

Because you guys are like extended family, I wanted to let you know that this week, my 12th results were out and I have performed exceptionally well, like beyond MY expectations, so hurray! Hehe... Thank you for being so supportive! :3

Now onto the update, compensation for Monday! I'll be regular in a while again, cut me some slack this week please :* gareeb ki dua hai yeh 😂 I love you guys! I love how you all are so vocal about your opinions, I love participation! Yaay! Thank you <3 You want a heads up? Happy update!

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Nandini

"See, the back has a wider padding, and the front is shorter. So lay the diaper flat first..."

I was taking every little instruction and advice imaginable on this planet from her. Half of them were, and worse because I had questions about them too! I literally had to know why there were cartoon prints on the diapers when the babies couldn't see those cartoons when they wore them. Neither could the babies play with them, so to me it was useless. They were just plain cute.

Navya and I were in the baby's changing station next to the women's bathroom. I pulled out a clean diaper from her baby bag, and opened the compressed pack. Our baby was happily confined into a reclined seat which allowed her complete access to move around without having to worry about falling down or hurting herself. It wasn't any of her concern either. It was always her Daddy and I who were obsessed with protecting her. She didn't have any worries, not even to take care of herself.

"...now lift her legs and place the diaper under her, such that her pelvic bone aligns with the base of the diaper..." Navya was being extremely patient with me, a big hats off to her! Despite that, Naina wasn't finding those lessons fun for her.

Since her Daddy wasn't around her, she had to adjust with pestering just her Mommy. She held both her feet with her hands and then lifted them together, and moved them around playfully, not even worried that she was on display! The slightest disagreement and apprehension from my daughter bothered me on exponential levels, distressing me.

"No! No baby, you have to co-operate. See it's Mommy's first time changing you, you have to be a good girl, okay?" I tapped her hands that held her feet, but that didn't stop her. She just giggled and repeated the stretching, smiling wider when my breathing pattern changed and movements became evidently jagged. I was getting worked up. It was just the reaction she wanted from me.

"Navya..." I whined as if she could save me. Navya was smirking at the two of us. We were one ridiculous family! Everyone we knew were unduly entertained around us. Navya was no exception. She assisted me in lifting the lower body of our child. Excitedly, for getting the opportunity, I shoved the diaper under her hovering bottom.

"Like this?"

She pressed her smile when the diaper was folded along our baby's butt cheek. She still didn't want to point it out, which was nice of her. She adjusted the flap and lowered our baby's legs. "Perfect! Now try putting the flaps on, they'll stick properly."

I pulled the front over between her legs and to hold it secure, I fastened the tabs on the sides. Once I was done, my baby kicked in excitement, as if cheering for me! Wow! What a package! My eyes glistened with exuberance at the little one who remained awestruck when I locked eyes with her. Her tongue slipped out of her mouth occasionally, while her bright brown eyes watched me in an intense manner.

Pulling our baby's onesie tag over the diaper securely, with caution, I lifted her little frame and held her against my chest, with my entire hand around her back and one supporting her bottom. Her mouth captured the buttons on my shoulders that acted as a design attribute to my blouse, leaving a cute wet spot there. I smiled, retracting my head to see her better. Why was she so cute?

Navya adjusted her dupatta over her neckline, and observed the two of us bond beautifully. She was a working mother; she knew how much it sucked for a mother to be away from her baby even if it was just for eight hours. After I was done adoring my child, my attention shifted to Navya, my new friend who helped me when I was in need. "Thanks Navya!" She smiled warmly. Manik was right, she was a wonderful person.

"That's all right. Naina is like my baby too!" I tapped my baby's back affectionately, counting the number of people who loved her so much. She was such a blessed baby. Navya scurried to the front of my baby's face, and planted a little kiss on her chubby baby cheeks.

I was in the kitchen, on a stool, trying to clean an untouched cabinet but stupid height of mine, I couldn't reach. I clung to the base of the cabinet, jumping on the stool to see inside, but I couldn't. I figured I'd look for the immediate next source of help. "Manik, idhar help karo na meri! How much will I only do?" (Manik, come and help me here!)

Manik was in the living room, holding our newborn like he'd never seen her before. Newborn skin is never tender, but after a few days, when they're hydrated, they look so much healthier and more beautiful. Her supple baby skin and the size of her limbs fascinated Manik so much. "I cannot look away from her, Nandini. Look at her, how beautiful is she!"

"Yeah, that's exactly why you and I don't spend time together alone anymore."

I heard approaching footsteps. "Have you seen her eyes? Her cheeks? Her cheeks are like yours only!" When he said 'yours only', he flicked one of my cheeks, making them wobble. I was flushed.

"No..." He smirked, getting closer to me. I was a little taller than him with the stool but that did not boost my confidence the way it should have. "No, they are not!" I reiterated in a possibly stronger tone, resting my hand on his shoulder.

Instantly, he grabbed my waist, making me hit into his body. Our baby sat on his left arm, and I was hanging on his right both with gaping eyes. My arms bound around his neck as I smiled shyly at Manik. I wasn't shy around him, or anyone for that matter, but it was his trigger point. Whenever I shied, he wanted to do more.

"Do you love me, Manik?"

"Do you doubt that, Nandini?" Our smirks gave it all away. He shook me gently, eyeing my lips and then my long hair that he always loved, finally halting at my eyes. "You know to what extent I can go to prove it to you, and you know we cannot do it... right now..."

"You are my humesha." (You are mine, always.)

"You are my forever." Slowly and steadily, our faces aligned. The way he held me told me how much he meant it, and the way I smiled gave away my authenticity. We were really so in love. Manik and I were a tale people told their families and friends, and a tale our child was going to learn too, sooner or later. Our lips just brushed together, until...

"Nandini..."

I was startled. "Haan..." Tapping my baby again, she giggled mercilessly at me. Probably she could read my mind. Hey! As such I don't get Manik's kisses anymore and it's a crime if I cannot even recollect them in peace. "Kya?"

"What were you thinking?" Navya's smirk was highly challenging, making blood flow faster through my cheeks.

"Nothing! Nothing, just... work stuff." She nodded sarcastically, as if she believed that.

"Anyways, I was thinking maybe we could have dinner together, my family and yours." Family. My heart buzzed. I cuddled closer with the little one, who'd found her way through my hair. She fisted a random little bunch, bringing it close to her mouth like it was a dedicated profession, then sucking on her thumb and hence, wetting my hair strands. She couldn't keep off my hair, could she?

"Yeah sure! Yeah, that would be a great idea!" I moved my head, which disturbed our baby from her mission, giving Mommy's hair a thorough saliva conditioner, so she turned around to gape at me for doing that. Aww...

"Tonight, at my place?"

"Let's go somewhere outside, so we all can enjoy! I'll discuss with Manik, and then we'll decide?"

"Awesome! Thanks! Bye, sweetpea!" She fluttered a kiss to baby Naina. After adjusting her bag strap over her shoulder, she exited the tiny changing room with a smile.

"Thanks again!" I held my baby's head between my palms, allowing her to recline along my arms.

"Naughty girl, huh?" She put her fist in her mouth shyly, and then punched her wet fist in the air while squeaking.

The door flew open and out stood a panting Manik, heaving with relief after seeing the two of us safe. His hands rested on his knees, and he bent and exhaled heavily, feeling tortured. I cuddled my daughter and then strenuously leaned to lift the baby's bag. Manik jumped to my rescue the moment he saw me struggling.

Jerking the bag out of my hands, he sulked and made some disapproving noises. "Kabse tumhe phone laga raha hoon, aur tum yahan... yahi settle ho gayi ho kya?"

"I was helping our baby!"

"One hour to change a diaper?" The way he spat angrily made me want to laugh. It was like he was questioning my skills. Yeah, I agree I suck at diaper changing, but Manik was not allowed to comment on that.

"Manik, you're mean!" My frowns put him off too.

"Acchha baba!" (Okay [affectionately]) He tried to take Naina from me to help him cajole me better. My strict apprehension, and glares made him think twice. "Listen, ab tum shuru mat ho jaana. I'm already trying to handle Mr. Mehta, he's behind my life now since yesterday." (Listen, now you don't start some drama.) He cited to carry her baby bag, which I let him.

"Serves you right!" Everyone was right. We were the most entertaining family in the campus! "Oh and by the way, yeah... We're going for dinner with Navya."

***

Manik

Nandini was standing in front of her closet, which was left ajar. Huge stacks of clothes sat on our bed, arranged by color. Nandini was busy rearranging those ironed outfits in her closet. While she hung one of her dresses on a hanger, Naina and I made an entry into the room.

I was carrying our child, holding under one of her arms while Naina held a red plastic hoop, sucking it. I tried to take it away from her, but she screeched her lungs out when I did that, making my heart bleed. I helplessly let her have it and ever since, she was happier than ever, with teardrops still stuck to her waterline.

"Nandini, Naina ko kya pehnaaye?" (Nandini, what do we make Naina wear?)

Nandini didn't even bother turning. She was so busy in keeping her cupboard organized that she didn't have a moment to spare with me and my daughter. Sometimes, she really knew how to test my patience. "Make her wear that new dress we bought the other day. That yellow tutu frock, she looks like a fairy in that!" I rolled my eyes. Nandini's obsession with that dress could never be rightly understood.

Personally, I didn't like that dress. Naina looked like an angel in it, but the material it was made of was highly irritable. In Mumbai's humidity, if that material brushed against our baby's skin, there was surely going to be a rash! I groaned, and exhaled heavily. "Fine. You also get ready quickly, we have less than an hour left."

"Main toh aise-aise ready ho jaaungi, dekhna!" (I'll get ready in a jiffy, just watch!) Her fingers snapped against each other, as if she challenged me. Let's see how 'aise-aise' you get ready! I hopped over the bed with my knees, holding our child, and got to Naina's cupboard. Pulling out the yellow dress Nandini mentioned, I gave it a second thought, and also grabbed an off-white ruffled dress with lace knitted on the torso, and a big satin bow around the waist. I held both in front of her eyes and asked for her opinion.

"Baby, which one do you like?" She was busy in shaking the hoop that she hardly paid heed to me. I knew if I were to nudge her further, she'd again create a scene and yell at me so I didn't even take a chance.

Minutes later, I came back to check on Nandini, who was crouching and dusting the bathroom cabinets. She wasn't dressed, and neither was she worried about it. The little ounce of patience left in me flew out of the bathroom cabinets she was dusting! "I cannot believe this, Nandini! It's 7:40! If we don't leave now..."

She turned to me, sighed, and then dropped the cloth she was holding. "Manik... Women take time!" She was soft, as if she was lecturing me. What a ridiculous woman! I couldn't hold it within.

"Notice the hypocrisy here! Are you even trying?" I snapped just like she did a few minutes before. I was trying to mock her for being so casual about everything. For a second, I thought she was doing all of that to just get on my nerves.

"FINE! I'm going to try now! It's not a big deal, Manik!"

"When Naina grows up, I'll ensure she doesn't learn your habits! She won't take tons of time to dress up, and she won't nag for everything!" The closet she arranged opened and closed. I was following her like an idiot after which I settled on the bed.

"I don't nag unless you act stupid and come up with weird ideas or resolutions."

"No, you always nag!" Our baby cooed and smiled, and I manipulated that response to my advantage. "See, Naina agrees!" She chuckled.

"I don't NAG, I just like things done a particular way." I rolled my eyes and mouthed 'blah-blah-blah' in the air, which irked her. Wasn't she doing everything that was possible in her capability to irritate me? Anyways, I triggered her, and I had to bear the consequences. "Oh, and you should be the last one pointing fingers at me, tumko khudse tie tak pehnna nahi aata tha!" (you couldn't wear a tie on your own!)

"Ab seekh gaya hoon, na?" (Now I've learned, right?) She turned around, and her hair flipped onto her shoulders as she made her point. She buttoned her shirt in front of me, and I avoided looking. She was trying to tease me and I couldn't give in. She was wearing a white open-necked shirt with the first button undone, and a peach frilled skater skirt that began high waist and reached a little below her knees. In short, she looked like a sophisticated Vero Moda model. She smirked, turning back to the mirror, side-parting and gathering a bunch of her hair that was naturally of different shades, and creating a reverse braided headband on one side. She left the rest of her hair free, while I sneakily admired her a few times but then diverted myself with our baby in my lap when she almost caught me.

Naina was also doing her bit to tease me, by handing the hoop out to me only whenever I looked at Nandini. When I offered to hold the hoop though, she'd snatch it back and give me one of those innocent smiles. Those two women knew how to play their games with me. God knew when we were going to reach the dinner hall at that pace.

***

Nandini

Manik parked the car and Naina and I stepped out. We were welcomed by an olive green board with bright lit white letters in cursive that spelled: Little Italy. Manik and Navya decided the cuisine and I had no say in food, because that was Manik's department. Overall, our family was crazy about food, be it Manik, me or even Naina!

I was walking slowly behind Manik, whispering words of wisdom to my baby. I was teaching her some manners and giving out a few lectures on etiquette until we met Navya and her family. "Vinod, this is Manik. Manik, Vinod." They shook hands and met each other with smiles. That Vinod guy was quite tall, but not as tall as Manik. For once, could my neck get some rest?!

"Hey, nice to meet you." After one of Naina's gestures of excitement, Manik did the honours to introduce me and our attention-seeking baby to the family. "This is Nandini, and Naina."

"Hi! Hey, beautiful baby!" He tapped her cheek, and she buried her face in my hair shyly. I muttered a 'hi'. Focusing on all the tallest monuments, I missed out on the toddler who stood before Navya's legs, shyly hiding behind her.

"And this is Aarav." I waved at him, which he ignored and hid again. This is why I hate kids; well, all kids except mine. We settled on a table, led by a friendly waiter. Manik wanted to keep Naina but I didn't let him. We took a couch seat, to stuff our naughty baby between us and keep her off playing with some dangerous stuff. The well-dressed men engaged in conversation while the mommies were busy with pacifying their kids.

"Have you been here before? I've heard it's a beautiful place." Manik was tackling both conversation and our little one with ease. He'd pulled her into him, placing her in his lap and caging her in it. She sat quietly, quite pleased with spending time with her Daddy. She pulled on his thumbs and leaned to lick them, which made Manik purse his lips in admiration while still looking at Navya's husband, who was finding them distracting.

"Why don't you put her in the stroller?"

"No, trust me, the aftereffects of that are horrendous. She gets very cranky when we separate her from us." I explained the drama our child created, and she smiled at me sheepishly, surprised by the amount of information we knew about her. I reminded myself earlier that day that we had to behave like a normal couple, and I was trying to do just that. We were interrupted by a waiter.

"Hey, hi! Would you like me to read out the specials?" I nodded, disregarding the rest of them. I was hungry! I was given a menu card. Navya and I began reading them, while the men listened to what the waiter had to say. There was one starter option that began with 'boiled potatoes' and I didn't read further.

"I'll have this boiled potatoes and cheese thing, with bread and all." I muttered to Manik, but the waiter heard it.

"PATATE TAORMINA?" By the Italian accent and tone, I could tell the waiter was offended by the way I referred to the exotic dish. Manik was smirking. I pressed my lips together, annoyed.

"Yeah." The rest of them discussed and bought one of each to share. Great! I'm already excluded from the group! The fact that even Naina was busy with her Daddy and the new company he'd found upset me. Aarav was also given extra attention for being a toddler: he was given a high-chair and a separate menu for himself. I couldn't believe I was comparing myself to a child. Nobody likes me.

On the other end of the room, I saw a very familiar face, but not the entire face. I could see a few features, but I couldn't point out who exactly that was. I spotted a pair of lips kiss another cheek, and ah! Here, Manik doesn't even care about me.

Manik nudged me secretly, finding me lost. "What's wrong?" I crossed my arms to act tough and indifferent, but tears were already making their way through my eyes. Everyone was right, when it came to Manik, I was the stupidest person alive. Why was I crying, just because he wasn't giving me attention? That's so needy, I don't need his attention. I can live by myself and care for myself and pay my own bills. I motivated myself a bit, and then took a deep breath. I blame the hormones for this!

"Nothing." I made sure I looked 180 degrees away from Mr. Manik Malhotra. He found that adorable that I was fighting with him over nothing, and nudged me again. I wiggled him off.

"What were you seeing over there?" Both he and I knew exactly what he was referring to. His obsession with PDA had rubbed onto me all of a sudden, because of all the distance between us. The attitude and smirking wasn't helping. I got up finally, excusing myself to go to the washroom, without creating a scene.

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I read the character insight opinions and BAM! Accuracy levels ;) I'll be getting back to everyone real soon, trust me on this! Please shower some love this update because I really need it now :3

Question: Who is your favorite character so far and why? Is there something about them that should change?

Can I rant a bit? So the results are out, 94%, not the hardest part yet. College worries are striking upon me now and tbh, I don't know where I'm going to go or what I'm going to do.

In all this mess, writing this story relieves me a little and what you guys say matters because it is you guys who've brought me here. That's why I'm still here. All your support really helps, to come online here and know that about 200+ people really want to know what's going to happen next in a world I've created, it motivates me SO much. I'm so sorry I couldn't dedicate myself to you for the last couple of weeks, I missed you people :( I just need to gather myself a bit.

Thank you for understanding. You people are wonderful :3 Please drop a vote if you liked this or a comment if you have anything you'd like to share too! <3 so much love to you!