The chapter contains a little mature content if you are not comfortable just skip it.

After 4 years

The moonlight was the only thing lighting up the dark room. On the bed, Vikram was moving fast and deep, his body pressing hard against Ananya's. 

She was twisting under him, her breath coming in short gasps. Both were completely naked, with only a thin blanket kicked down to their waists.

Vikram leaned down, his lips finding the sensitive skin of her neck. He bit her softly there, making her back arch off the mattress. His hands were everywhere—gripping her hips one second, then moving up to squeeze her breasts. He began licking her nipples, swirling his tongue around them before sucking them deep into his mouth.

"Vikramhh... please..." Ananya moaned, her voice thick and shaky. She wrapped her legs tight around his waist, pulling him as close as possible. As they both got closer to that peak, Vikram's thrusts became faster and more powerful. Just as they were both about to lose control and reach their high, a loud, sharp cry rang through the quiet room.

Ananya's eyes snapped open. The passion vanished instantly. She shoved Vikram's chest so hard that he tumbled back onto the bed, startled and out of breath.

Ananya didn't wait a second. She grabbed the blanket, wrapped it hurriedly around her body, and ran to the cradle. She picked up their five-month-old son, rocking him gently against her shoulder.

Vikram sat up, running a hand through his messy hair, trying to calm his racing heart. It had been four years since their marriage, and life in Mumbai was a constant whirlwind.

When Vikram first got transferred to Mumbai, it wasn't easy Ananya found the city huge and scary. Vikram's duty hours were long, and he often didn't get home until midnight.

 She spent hours alone in their apartment, waiting for the sound of his key in the lock. It was hard, but she stayed strong because she loved him.

Things got even more intense when Ananya got pregnant. The hormones made everything feel like a roller coaster. If Vikram was even a little bit late, she would burst into tears the moment he walked through the door.

 Even though he was tired from work, Vikram never complained. He would go straight to the kitchen to cook whatever she was craving—sometimes making three different dishes until she was happy.

He would spend his late nights sitting at the edge of the bed, massaging her aching legs and swollen feet until she finally fell asleep.

Now, standing in the dark with her son in her arms, Ananya looked at Vikram. He was looking back at her with a mix of exhaustion and love. The heat of their night had been interrupted, but the bond they built during those hard months in Mumbai was stronger than ever.

Ananya stood by the cradle, swaying gently until the baby's cries turned into soft whimpers. "Edvaku nanna, amma vacchindhi kadha choodu choodu," she whispered, her voice sweet and calming.

 She walked back to the bed and sat down, adjusting the blanket to feed him. Little Devansh immediately calmed down, his tiny hands reaching out to pull at the stray strands of hair falling over Ananya's face.

Vikram had pulled on his shorts and was sitting back against the headboard. He didn't say a word he just watched them. The way the moonlight hit Ananya's face as she looked down at their son made his heart ache with love. He moved closer, sliding his arm around her shoulders and pulling her into his side.

Ananya looked up and smiled, leaning her head against his chest while Devansh continued to drink.

"Ananya gariki na meedha prema thaggindhi anukunta," Vikram teased, his voice low and vibrating against her. He leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead.

Ananya let out a little giggle. "Are you jealous of your own son, Vikram?"

"Maybe a little," he admitted with a smirk. "He gets all the attention these days."

Devansh, having finished his milk, pulled away and looked up. Seeing his parents talking, he started bickering in his baby language, making loud "ba-ba" sounds and waving his tiny fists. He looked from Ananya to Vikram, his big eyes bright in the dark.

Vikram laughed and reached out, taking Devansh into his arms. He lifted the baby high and then brought him down fast, blowing on his stomach. Surya let out a loud, high-pitched squeal of delight, his small feet kicking the air.

"You are taking all my time with your mother, Devansh," Vikram complained playfully. He kept kissing the baby's chubby cheeks and stomach. 

Devansh started clapping his hands together, let out a happy "da-da!" and reached for Vikram's nose, squealing with every tickle. He was wiggling so much with joy that his whole body was shaking.

After a few minutes of playing, Devansh's energy started to fade. He let out a big yawn, rubbing his eyes with his tiny fists. He slowly leaned forward and rested his heavy head right on Vikram's bare chest, his small hand gripping Vikram's finger.

The baby's cries finally softened into rhythmic, tiny snores, the crisis of the midnight wake-up call averted. Ananya took devansh in her arms and made him sleep on the cradle. She stood by the cradle for a moment longer than necessary, her heart still racing—half from the passion that had been interrupted and half from the adrenaline of motherhood.

She felt a warmth press against her back. Vikram had stepped off the bed, silently crossing the room to wrap his arms around her waist. He tucked his chin into the curve of her shoulder, his skin still hot against hers.

Ananya leaned back into him, the silk of the blanket she had thrown around herself the only thing between them. 

He let out a soft, breathy laugh, his lips brushing against her neck. " I remember a time not too long ago when it was you keeping me up at 2:00 AM because you absolutely had to have hot jalebis."

Ananya turned in his arms, her eyes reflecting the moonlight. "I cried for an hour that night because I thought you'd be annoyed. But you just put your shoes on and went out into the Mumbai rain."

"I could never be annoyed with you," Vikram said, his gaze dropping to her lips. "Even when you were throwing pillows at me because your back ached, or when you made me cook late-night biryani just to take two bites and fall asleep. Seeing you like this... with him... it made every sleepless night worth it."

The tenderness in the room began to shift back into something more primal. Vikram's hands slid down to her hips, pulling her flush against him. The memory of her pregnancy—the way he had massaged her legs and stayed awake just to make sure she was breathing comfortably—had only deepened the desire she felt for him now

"The baby is deep asleep," she breathed, her hands reaching up to tangle in his hair.

Vikram's eyes darkened, the playful husband replaced by the man who had been worshiping her body moments before. "And I believe we were right in the middle of something," he murmured, his voice dropping an octave.

He didn't wait for an answer. He lifted her easily, Ananya wrapping her legs around his waist as he carried her back toward the bed, the blanket falling away in the shadows. The Mumbai skyline glittered outside, but inside, the only world that existed was the one they were reclaiming between the sheets.

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The excitement of the sankranti festival was already in the air as they hurried to finish their last-minute packing.

 Vikram stood by the door, checking his watch, while the sound of Ananya moving around the bedroom filled the house.

"Anu, ready ayyava?" Vikram called out, his voice full of anticipation for the trip back to their roots.

"Haa bava, vasthunna! Devansh ki milk bottle lo vesava?" Ananya shouted back, her voice slightly muffled by the rustling of clothes.

A moment later, she walked into the living room, looking a bit tired but glowing with a smile. In her arms, little Devansh was already wiggling with energy. The second the boy saw his father, his face lit up. He let out a happy squeal and reached out his tiny arms, leaning toward Vikram.

Vikram laughed, stepping forward to take the heavy little bundle into his solid grip. "Come here, my little champ!"

As soon as he was in Vikram's arms, Devansh started planting messy, wet kisses all over his father's cheeks, his tiny hands patting Vikram's face. Vikram closed his eyes, soaking in the love, before kissing the boy's forehead.

"We are going to see your great-grandpa today. Are you ready, Devansh?" Vikram asked, looking his son in the eye.

Devansh paused for a second, then gave a firm, serious nod as if he understood exactly what his father was saying. Ananya stood there, watching the two most important men in her life, her heart feeling completely full.

The railway station was buzzing with excitement. When Radhika and Ananya saw each other, they shared a long, tight hug. The whole family was finally together to board the train for their village.

 Kavya and Arun coming from Hyderabad with their two-year-old son, Arjun. Kavya was four months pregnant with their second child, and Arun was being very protective of her.

Vikram and Ananya, along with Anand and Radhika (who had their one-year-old son, Arvind), had all traveled from Mumbai.

The train ride was filled with non-stop talking, sharing snacks, and the cousins playing together. When they finally reached the village and the car stopped in front of the ancestral house, the elders were already waiting.

Suryakantham, Raghava, Krishna Murthy and Raghuram came outside with huge smiles.

 As soon as they got out of the car, Vikram and Anand went straight to Raghava. They bent down to take his blessings, and he pulled them both into a warm hug. "Ela unnaru Thathaya?" Vikram asked. Raghava smiled and patted both shoulders, "Nenu bhavunnanu meeru Ela unnaru?"

Suryakantham was eager to get the family settled. "Randi lopaliki velli matladukundham," she said, gesturing toward the door. But before they could step across the threshold, Sita came rushing out, holding a shimmering Harathi plate.

"Aagandi, aagandi!" she insisted. 

She circled the Harathi to welcome them home properly, warding off any "evil eye" after their long journey. Once the ritual was done, everyone finally moved inside, and the men sat down in the main hall to talk.

Suryakantham went straight to Ananya and reached out for little devansh. The baby giggled the moment he saw his Ammamma, his tiny hands reaching for her face. She showered him with kisses before carrying him over to Raghava.

"Arere bangaram, ila raa thatha dhaggaraki," Raghava said, opening his arms wide.

Devansh didn't hesitate for a second. He practically threw himself into Raghava's arms, squealing with joy and planting wet kisses all over his great-grandfather's cheeks.

Vikram watched the scene from across the room and laughed, "Oh, so my boy likes his Thathaya very much!"

 The house was officially bursting with life as the second car pulled up to the entrance. Raghava was still busy playing with little Devansh, while Suryakantham had moved on to cuddling Radhika's one-year-old son, Arvind.

Arun stepped out of the car first, carefully carrying his two-year-old son, Arjun—the first grandchild of the house. He immediately rushed to the other side to open the door for Kavya.

Kavya, who was four months pregnant with their second child, tried to step out on her own. "It's ok Arun, I can manage," she said, trying to show she was still independent.

Arun just shot her a serious look. "No, you should be careful, Bujji," he insisted, reaching out to hold her hand firmly. Kavya pouted at his over-protectiveness, but she let him lead her toward the house.

The moment they reached the door, Vikram walked up and gave his sister Kavya a warm, protective hug. "Ela unnav akka?" he asked gently, checking in on her.

Ananya couldn't resist little Arjun. She reached out and took him into her arms, kissing his chubby cheeks. "Arjun, how are you nanna?" she asked with a big smile.

 Seeing everyone fussing over the kids and Kavya, Arun stood there with his hands on his hips. "Nannu evadu pattinchukoda? (Does no one care about me?)" he joked, pretending to be hurt.

Before he could complain any further, Anand came running up from behind and pulled him into a playful bear hug. "Bava! How are you?" he shouted, shaking him around until everyone in the courtyard burst out laughing.

While Devansh was safe in Raghuram's arms, the moment he spotted Ananya lifting two-year-old Arjun, his face crumpled.

  Seeing his "Mumma" with another child was too much for him. He started wailing, reaching out his tiny hands toward Ananya with a heartbroken look.

 Ananya tried to calm him down. "Devansh, see here... see Bava, say hi!" she said, showing him Arjun. But Devansh was just as stubborn as Vikram. He didn't want to say hi; he wanted Arjun out! He actually tried to use his small hands to push Arjun out of Ananya's arms.

  Seeing the struggle, Vikram stepped in with a smirk. He took Arjun from Ananya and gave the boy a playful kiss. Devansh immediately jumped back into Ananya's arms, satisfied—for about two seconds.

 As soon as he was settled with his mom, he looked over and saw Arjun comfortably settled with his father. Suddenly, he wanted Vikram too! He started reaching out toward Vikram, wanting to be wherever the action was.

The whole family burst out laughing. "Choodu, veedu entha telivainodo (Look how clever he is)," Raghava Thathaya chuckled, shaking his head at the little boy's tactics.

As the sun began to set over the fields, the house settled into a cozy, busy rhythm.

 They all gathered in the large dining area. The floor was lined with mats, and the scent of hot rice, ghee, and traditional Andhra curries filled the air.

 They sat for hours, sharing plates and stories. They talked about Vikram's work in Mumbai, Kavya's pregnancy cravings, and how much the village had changed since their last visit.

The elders watched their children and grandchildren with misty eyes, happy to have the house full of noise and love once again. By the time dinner was over, the kids were rubbing their eyes, exhausted from all the excitement.

The air in the village was quiet and cool, a far cry from the constant noise of Mumbai. Standing in front of Ananya's old bedroom door, it felt like they had stepped back into their younger days. They looked at each other and smiled, a silent understanding passing between them before stepping inside.

Vikram dropped the heavy bags by the wall with a thud. Ananya didn't even wait to unpack she collapsed onto the bed, feeling the familiar comfort of her old mattress. Vikram lay down right beside her, and she immediately pulled herself onto his chest, wrapping her arms around him tightly.

Vikram started slowly massaging her hair, his fingers working through the tangles from the journey.

"Antha dream la undhi, Vikram," she whispered, her fingers nervously playing with his shirt buttons. She hugged him closer, breathing in his familiar scent.

Vikram leaned down and pressed a long, tender kiss to her forehead. "Hmm... what happened to Hari Narayan? Is he still in jail?" Ananya asked softly, her voice carries a hint of old fear.

Vikram's expression hardened for a split second. "Yes. I made sure he stays in jail until his last breath. I investigated all his past cases myself. He won't be bothering us ever again."

Ananya hummed, feeling a wave of relief wash over her. "Where is Devansh?" Vikram asked, noticing their son wasn't in the room.

"He is with Amma. She said she missed him so much. Arjun and Devansh are sleeping in her room tonight... Nanna was already playing with them when I left," she explained.

A slow, mischievous smirk spread across Vikram's face. "So... we actually have our own time tonight?"

Ananya looked up, confused. "Mana time enti? Roju untundhi..." She stopped mid-sentence when she saw the look in his eyes. Her face turned a deep shade of red. "No, Vikram... not today."

"Anu... please, Anu," Vikram whispered, his voice dropping into that husky, deep tone that always made her knees weak. He started leaning closer, his breath hot against her skin.

"Vikram, stop... not here... someone might hear," she stuttered, but her hands were already pulling him closer.

Vikram didn't listen to her protests. He knew she wanted him just as much as he wanted her. He moved his hand from her hair to her waist, pulling her flush against his body.

 He started by kissing her neck, his lips moving slowly from her jawline down to her collarbone. He bit her softly there, making a small gasp escape her lips. With steady fingers, he began to unbutton hooks of her blouse.

As the fabric fell away, the moonlight through the window hit her dusky skin, making her glow. Vikram groaned low in his chest. He leaned down, his tongue tracing the curve of her breasts before taking a nipple into his mouth. He sucked hard, his hand moving down to grip her hip firmly.

 Ananya's fingers dug into his shoulders, her back arching off the bed " vikramhhhhh". She forgot all about the family in the other rooms as Vikram moved over her, his weight heavy and familiar. He stripped away their remaining clothes, his skin hot against hers.

 When he finally pushed into her, it was slow and deep. Ananya wrapped her legs tight around his waist, pulling him as deep as possible. They moved together in a steady, powerful rhythm, their breaths coming in short, desperate gasps. 

The old bed creaked softly with every movement, but neither of them cared. They were lost in each other, the passion burning brighter in the quiet of the village night.

Afterward, they lay tangled in each other's arms, their hearts still racing. Vikram pulled the thin cotton blanket over them, kissing the sweat off her forehead.

"See? I told you no one would hear," he whispered with a playful grin.Ananya gave him a playful slap on his arm, her face turning red as she tucked her head into his chest to hide her smile. Vikram laughed softly, his deep voice vibrating against her, and pulled the blanket tighter around them both and they slept in eachother arms.

                            --------THE END-------

My heart is so heavy right now I can't believe this journey has actually come to an end! When I first started writing this book, I honestly didn't know if anyone would connect with it. Seeing all the votes, the beautiful thoughts you shared in the comments, and the constant support from each of you has truly made my day, every single day.

Thank you so much for the love you've shown. Your encouragement kept me going, and I am so grateful to have such an amazing community of readers.

This might be the end of this story, but I promise I'll be back soon with another amazing journey for us to go on together. I love you all so much!