TASTES LIKE SHAKKAR is out today!
And I have a tiny itty bitty scene from the first draft just for you.
If you liked Dating Dr. Dil, then I hope you enjoy Tastes Like Shakkar just as much. It’s the second book in the ‘If Shakespeare was an Auntie’ series about two workaholics and family managers. It’s my eighth book and I’m so happy it’s finally here.
Buy Links:
It’s not too late to snag tickets or to make plans to come and see me at some of the events I’m scheduled to do this August! You can see the event pages linked here, but below is the run of show:
Yes, I’m very excited to spend some time talking with some of these incredible women who will be joining me on tour!
Just a quick note: the audiobook may be delayed. I want to make sure that my readers get the appropriate pronunciations from someone who can speak with the correct accent. That’s why we are reviewing the narration for Benjamin’s voice and making the necessary changes. Thanks to my publisher for their support on this.
In Tastes Like Shakkar, I got the opportunity to write about Prem and Kareena’s wedding. Or the lead up to it, at least. And what’s a wedding without a bachelor/bachelorette party?
The friend group takes a hilarious trip out to Las Vegas where they have the time of their lives. But here’s the thing: I had to cut the scene because it was all vibes and didn’t further the story for Bobbi and Benjamin. But I decided to share a part of that scene’s rough draft version!
So babes and besties: let’s go to Las Vegas!
© Nisha Sharma // 2023 // Do not distribute
Benjamin didn't know what to expect when his best friend told him that they were all going on a joint bachelor/bachelorette party to Las Vegas. At the most, he figured that they would have some good food, go see a show, go to a bar or a club, and dance a bit before they went to bed at a respectable hour. The last thing that he could've possibly imagined, was standing in a strip club at four in the morning, watching Kareena, Bobbi, and Veera trying to teach another bachelor party some Bollywood dance moves because the bride was apparently from a big Indian family.
“You have to lead with your hips!” Bobbi shouted over the thudding bass blaring from the overhead speakers. Instead of focusing on the erotic performance on stage left, the entire group of white brothers from somewhere deep in Connecticut follow the instruction like they were given by a drill sergeant.
Veera and Kareena drunkenly performed a sequence of moves that were straight from a Shah Rukh Khan Bollywood movie. Benjamin only knew the routine because his mother loved Shah Rukh Khan and always made a point to watch every film on repeat at home.
“You have this to look forward to for the rest of your life,” Benjamin said to Prem who sat nursing the same beer for the last two hours. “What do you think?”
Prem grinned at him. “It’s great, isn’t it?”
Benjamin looked back at the women, and then to his friend. “You, buttoned up, anal retentive physician, Prem Verma, are excited about marrying someone who does Bollywood dance moves in a strip club?”
Prem leaned over and clinked the neck of his beer with Benjamin. “Me, buttoned up, anal retentive physician, Prem Verma, am excited to be marrying Kareena Mann, someone who sees past the obvious and is always trying to help other people. Even if that means teaching Greg over there how to impress his Desi bride to be.”
“I dont think that answers the question,” Deepak said, as he leaned forward to look at Benjamin. His eyes were glazed over from one too many drinks, and his Taylor Swift concert shirt had mascara smudges against his shoulder.
“It definitely answers the question,” Prem said. “It’s not just any random person I’m getting married to. I’m with the person who is perfect for me. Who challenges me, and inspires me, and makes me so fucking happy.”
“I read that in a Hallmark card once,” Deepak said somberly. “Made me tear up, no lie.”
Prem elbowed him in the arm. “I’m serious! One day, I’m going to look back on this and turn to Kareena and say, ‘hey remember Greg from that strip club in Vegas? I watched you try to teach that poor sap all night how to move his hips to a rhythm.’ And she’s going to grin at me, and probably get up and do this same Shah Rukh Khan dance in our bedroom. I’m going to have these incredibly weird and hilarious memories with her, where I feel all this love for her, because she’s the one for me.”
Benjamin turned back to look at Bobbi who stood in front of one of the vacant poles now, lording over the audience and moving her hands back and forth like a conductor while the bachelor party tried to hip thrust to imaginary Bollywood music. Yeah, he thought. This was definitely a memory that he’d keep tucked inside his brain for a long time. And god damn, he wanted more of it. More of Bobbi the same way Prem wanted more of Kareena.
And wasn’t that an unsettling thought?
“My parents want me to get married.”
The somber statement was so quiet that Benjamin barely heard it. He leaned forward so he could see Deepak’s face. There was so much sadness in it, and so much defeat.
“All of our parents want us married,” Prem said.
Benjamin nudged Prem. “No, I think what he means is that his parents want him to get married right now. What the hell, Deepak? When did this happen?”
He shook his head. His jaw clenched and relaxed repeatedly. “It’s been going on for a while. Mom and Dad are negotiating with me like we’re ironing out details in a contract instead of finding a life partner for me. They think the daughter of one of their family friends is the best fit. Her name is Olivia, I think. She’s an influencer.”
Benjamin met Prem’s questioning glance and they both turned to Veera who was laughing at something on of Greg’s groomsmen told her. He spoke directly in her ear, and brushed a hand against her arm. She stepped aside, making some room between them.
Benjamin was sure that Deepak also saw the move.
“What are you going to do?” Prem asked.
Deepak tilted his bottle back and finished his beer before he placed it on the small cocktail table next to him. “I’m going to spend as much time with the people that matter to me as I can, so at least I’ll have some of the memories that people like you and Prem will have a lifetime to make.”
He stood and crossed the lounge to to the bachelor party where he smoothly intercepted Greg’s groomsmen and his advances towards Veera. In another few quick moves he ushered her away towards the bar.
Benjamin turned back to Bobbi who was staring in his direction. She tilted her head as if to ask what was up with Deepak. Benjamin shrugged, then got to his feet. With a grin, he crooked two fingers in her direction. Bobbi’s eyebrow jerked up in amusement. Instead of giving him the finger like Benjamin expected, she crossed the room and reached his side.
“You called?” she said, her voice whiskey smooth and honey sweet.
“Want to get out of here?” he said, his voice gruff. He liked her this way. Dewy with sweat, hair tumbling out of it’s high ponytail hair tie. Smudged mascara and lipstick.
Bobbi looked back at Kareena and saw that Prem was already wrapping her up in his arms. She turned to Benjamin, then tangled her fingers with his.
“Yes. But not back to the hotel.”
He faltered. “Uh, okay.”
“I ah, found this chai place. It’s open twenty four seven. Did some research and figured you might want to give it a shot.”
Benjamin’s chest tightened to the point where it was hard to breath. “Sapno ki rani, if it’s not you, it’s food that I want. Come on. Let’s get some of that chai. Then I want you to tell me what exactly you did to convince twenty dudes from Connecticut to dance to Mahe Ve.”
Bobbi wrapped an arm around Benjamin’s waist. “I can’t wait.
Thank you so much to all of my readers who have stuck with me through this journey. I can’t wait to see all of your posts, pictures and comments about Tastes Like Shakkar!
Happy TLS Release Week to all of us!
xoxo, Nisha
Swoon!!! *heart eyes*