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“You are sweeter than any mango I’ve ever tasted,” he murmured when she finally opened her eyes and looked at him.

Her cheeks flushed, knowing exactly what he was talking about. Words didn’t come right away. Not when she was still in a daze, somewhere between half-satiated, yet still aching, still trembling with anticipation for what was yet to come. But then, a slow, teasing smile curved her lips.

“Now who’s bringing mangoes into our intimate conversations?” she purred.

Shaurya gave her a half-smirk before kissing her forehead, his eyes seeking permission once more to continue.

When she nodded, he brushed a strand of hair off her face, before his hand moved to the bedside drawer. Nandini was still too sensitive from the sensations he had stirred within her, showing her exactly what her body was capable of. She looked at him lovingly as he quickly sheathed himself.

In a beat, he hovered over her, his eyes locked on hers, and then slowly, carefully, he sank into her. His thumb caressed her cheek as if engraving the moment into their souls. Nandini met him halfway, both needing and giving, their hearts racing in rhythm as they melted into each other. They moved slowly at first as if savouring the moment.

The room was quiet, except for the faint rustle of the curtains, the distant hush of leaves from the mango tree outside, and the soft, desperate sounds of their moans and gasps.

He leaned closer and whispered into her ear, his voice betraying his emotions. “You okay?”

Nandini smiled through the haze of pleasure. “More than okay,” she breathed, “But it’s all too much. You’re driving me insane with all these different positions.”

He grinned before thrusting in deeper, making her feel every inch of him.

“What? Never read about these positions in your dark romance novels?”

She opened her eyes, only to see his darkening with mischief.

“Those books can never do justice to reality. This…” she swallowed hard, “this is far better than anything I’d imagined while reading them.”

He lowered his head to press kisses along her jawline before capturing her lips again for a quick kiss. He then shifted, adjusting their bodies and thrusting again, this time from a different position that made her gasp.

“Better?” he asked. And all she could do was nod as her lips parted again as a rush of sensations curled through her body.

“Hmm...just don’t stop,” she whispered against his lips.

He nodded, his forehead damp with sweat, his breathing uneven. “I could do this forever, baby,” he rasped, lost in her and the feelings she evoked in him.

As the night deepened, so did their connection. They began their first night as husband and wife with their hearts full and their souls intertwined.

When they finally fell into each other’s arms, utterly spent, the silence spoke more than any words could. It wasn’t just their bodies that melded into one another… it was their lives.

For Shaurya, who once believed love had turned its back on him, it was the resurrection of hope. For Nandini, who had loved boldly without knowing her grumpy neighbour would become her everything, it was the beginning of everything she’d ever dreamed of.

And outside, the mango tree swayed gently in the breeze, its leaves rustling softly in the night, the first silent witness to the love that had trespassed boundaries and had now found its rightful place.

EPILOGUE

Almost a year later – Raichand Villa

The old mango tree still stood tall between Raichand Villa and Shaurya’s villa, its branches stretching wide, unapologetically dropping leaves into Shaurya’s pool every now and then. That part hadn’t changed. And honestly, he didn’t mind it anymore. The fight between him and Grandpa over the tree had ended long ago. The solution? Simple. Now, the pool was cleaned twice a day, and Shaurya could swim whenever he liked, no longer needing to visit the community centre pool in Serene Meadows.

It was a beautiful day. Though it was the tail end of May, a gentle breeze stirred through the trees, offering a rare and welcome respite from the heat. The sun hadn’t set yet, casting a warm, golden glow over the rooftops.

Shaurya crossed the threshold of the Raichand Villa to check if Grandpa was ready for the evening’s main event. It was Varun and Priya’s engagement today.

Yes. Finally, it was happening.

Dressed in a deep jade kurta embroidered with fine silver detailing along the collar and cuffs and paired with ivory churidar pants, Shaurya looked the picture of suave elegance. His sleeves were rolled just enough to reveal a luxurious watch,and the lean muscle on his forearms. Classic and still every bit the showstopper.

Gone was the brooding, buttoned-up businessman Serene Meadows had once nicknamed‘grumpy neighbour.’Marriage had done him good. He carried himself with ease now, the corners of his eyes crinkling with happiness and contentment. Even Grandpa had noticed the change. There was something about him that felt... settled. As if life had finally given him everything he’d once thought he couldn’t have, and now, he’d learned exactly how to hold on to it.

Grandpa stood in his bedroom, adjusting his silk kurta in the mirror, when Lakshmi entered.