Next morning, she woke up at 4 a.m. which was her daily routine. After her daily chores, she went to the breakfast table exactly at 8 a.m. After a few seconds she heard heavy footsteps and stood at her place. Her Baba settled on his chair after that she sat back on her place. Silently both were having breakfast when he said, "Ek gantey mey apkey in-laws aa jayegey isliye khana jaldi khatm karey aur ready ho jaye!"

It was a cue for her to finish her breakfast and leave to get ready.

She stood and said nervously, "Main-- ready--"

"You can go!", Her father dismissed her cutting her off.

She nodded and left the dining room.

In her room, her dress was already placed with the jewellery. She picked it and changed it. The hairdresser and make-up artist came inside her room and she squirmed at her place looking two faces at her room. Usually, no one comes inside her room. The only time anyone comes in to clean her room.

"Ma'am we are here get you ready!", They said and nodding she stood and sat in front of the mirror. Looking at the make-up artists who were opening too many make-up things she again tucked her hair strand behind her ears.

To her luck, as the beauticians knew the event they did minimal make-up and a little curl of her hair beautified her look.

After getting ready she sat at her bed waiting for the instructions.

After two hours, she was called downstairs in the main hall where everyone was sitting.

Two of the helpers of the mansion came and took her downstairs. Keeping her eyes and head down because of her nervousness she followed them silently.

She can clearly hear the laughs and talks of a few people who she has anticipated to be her future in-laws. Slowly she reached the drawing-room where everyone was sitting. She stood at the door waiting for her Baba's permission to come inside the room. The helper with her knocks the door to grab their attention.

"Aap andaar aa sakti hai!", On getting the instruction she went inside slowly without looking up. Nervously she was fidgeting with fingers hiding it with her chunni.

"Yeh Nandini hai, Malhotra Sahab!", Her Baba introduced her.

Mr Raj Malhotra who was a strict yet soft-hearted person nodded while his wife Nyonika Malhotra gushed with happiness sitting beside him. But being the king and queen they have to maintain their aura. They waited for Mr Murthy to introduce them to her but finding no further approach both looked at each other.

After the silence of a few seconds, Nyonika stood and went to Nandini. Cupping her chin softly she said, "You're so pretty! Just like a fairy!"

Tucking her hair nervously, Nandini whispered a 'Thank you' which only Nyonika heard.

"You deserve it!",. Nyonika's next step startled Nandini as she took her in the hug which was a very new thing for her because she was not used to people touching or hugging her. Nervously she fisted her clothes on the side and flinched a little as she never learnt in her homeschool and books that 'how to respond a hug'. Her heart was thumping loudly in her rib cage which in the silent room can be heard by Nyonika.

She broke the hug feeling a little dejected that Nandini didn't respond the hug. Nyonika smiled awkwardly as other people present there looked at her because everyone knows that she is fond of hugs.

Finding the situation turning awkward Mukti, daughter of Raj and Nyonika stood and took Nandini in a side hug to which she again flinched but rubbing her shoulder silently she tried to assure her. To cut the tight coldness in the air Mukti said smiling, "Mom! Aap bhi na! Kab sey kadhi rakhi hai meri bechari soon-to-be Bhabhi! Let's sit and talk!"

Nyonika nodded smiling again and said, "Right! Main bhi na! Come na Nandini! Sit beside me!"

"Naah baba naah! Jinki pehli mulkaat hai unhey saath mein baithney dijye fir baad mey next week toh bana'ni hai apney apni team!", Mukti again said and all laughed in the hall except Nandini and one other person.

From the corner of her eyes, Nandini looked at her Baba who laughed freely on Mukti's words. It is the first time that she had seen him laughing. His contiguous laugh brought a small unnoticeable smile on her face which she hid again.

Mukti dragged Nandini where she was sitting earlier. Nandini immediately looked at her father as if asking to sit or not. Receiving a curt nod she sat.

After sitting she realised that she was sitting in between Mukti and a man whose aura was giving threatening shivers to her spine without even lifting her lashes. He was looking straight but she could see his fisted hand which was making his knuckles white. Involuntarily she scoots a little away. She didn't dare to look up at his face because the heat from his body which she was feeling sitting beside him gave her an unknown fear. Her father's voice broke her trance and she heard him fidgeting with her fingers which were hidden beneath her chunni.

"Mr Malhotra! This deal will be beneficial for both of us! It will make both our Kingdom strong!"

"That's true! But iss deal sey pehly bachon ki zindgi ka sawal hai! Aap bura na maaney toh dono ko kuch samay saath bitaney dety hai!", Mr Malhotra said and supporting him Nyonika said, "Sahi kaha Raj apney! Pehli baar mil rhey hai! Kuch deir baat kar k fisala kar ley toh acha hoga! Zindgi bhar ka sawal hai!"

"Zaroor!", Mr Murthy said and continued to Nandini, "Nandini! Give him a tour of the palace!"

Abruptly Nandini looked at him but realising her mistake she again looked down before her Baba could see. It was shocking for her that her Baba allowed us her to roam around in the whole palace. Normally she was allowed only her floor which is the ground floor.

She then looked at the man sitting beside her who stood and buttoned his kurta. He moved forward and taking it as her cue she nervously tucked her hair. It was as if he was giving her the tour while she was silently following him looking down fidgeting with her fingers hiding beneath her chunni.

As they left the view of their family, he cleared his throat looking forward to getting her attention. She stole a look at his back.

"Mainey dekha aapko!", He started while she gulped her lump as his voice was telling his dominance, "You flinched when my mom and sister hugged you!"

Nandini fisted her chunni more as she realized that he's offended.

"Aap patni k saath saath future Queen honey wali hai mery state ki! Iss tarah k behaviour sey aap ek achi Queen nahi ban sakti! Make sure it won't happen again!"

She took a mental note of the new rules.

"Yeh pehli baar tha isliye I have forgiven you! But I'm making a few things very clear, for me, my family comes first then you! In future, if any situation comes that I've to choose between you and my family I would choose them. They will always be my priority! So make sure you don't do anything which will make them lose the smile on their face. Because today my mom lost her smile when you didn't hug and flinched!"

She made more notes that his family shouldn't be offended and she should take any step before making sure that they won't lose their smile.

"Yeh deal bahut important hai mery family k liye so aap bahar jaa kar haa hi bolegi!"

She again made a note.

"Apko kuch puchna hai?", He finally asked and started moving towards the drawing-room.

She had only two questions on her mind but was unsure whether she should ask or not. If he'll get offended, then? Should she ask! Or wait till someone's answer it without asking! Will Baba be mad at her if she'll ask? Standing at her place she was trying to gather herself to ask her questions. She was about to ask when she found that he was already out of her sight.

She hurriedly follows him and finally asked slowly, "Aapka naam kya hai?"

"Manik Malhotra!", He answered without looking at her.

She nodded and again asked, "Mujhey apsey kuch puchney k liye kis k pass janna hoga?"

She asked as at her home she was not allowed to ask anything directly with her father. But he who was unaware of it took it as offence and turned to her. Taking her shoulder in a tight hold he said gritting his teeth, "It seems aap jitni bholi dikhti hai utni hai nhi! Mocking can be a big problem for you! Yeh koi aaj kal fantasy world story nhi hai jo I'll be a fan of your smart mouth! Get out of it! Got it? Next time your smart mouth can put you in a big problem so don't dig a hole for yourself!"

Nandini who was never touched by anyone was shivering in fear. She was always alone because of rules so she's not used to people touching her. He was the first man to touch her body. His stern tone was so threatening that it created a big fear in her heart. Yes, her father never talks to her unless there's an order for her but he had never shouted at her. Manik's grip and the tone was something which she had never experienced. Involuntarily a lone tear slipped from her eyes and she flinched in his hold.

Looking at her tears and flinch he left her and turned his back to her. Keeping his hands on his waist he took a deep breath to calm himself. He turned a little to see her shivering at her place looking down while tears were continuously following from her closed eyes.

Shaking his head he moved forward but finding her not following he said, "My family is waiting for us! Come fast!"

She nodded and followed him all the time keeping her eyes down.

Manik sat back to his place while Nandini was standing when Raj asked, "Toh Manik! Kya kahna hai?"

Instead of him, Nyonika answered, "Issey kya puch rhey ho aap Raj! Yeh toh haa hi bolega! Nandini ki photo dekhtey hi haa kah diya tha isney!"

She stood and reached Nandini, "You tell me beta! Will you marry my idiot son?"

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I know you guys love TSK but please try to give some love to this story and don't comment to update TSK over here. I'll update all the stories as I'll get good plot for the stories. Rushing can lead to a disaster.

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