By Candlelight

Vasundar sat on the edge of Akki's bed and stared at the little velvet box in his hand.

Yes.

She had said yes.

He fell back onto the mattress, arms flung wide, feet still on the floor. Rainwater dripped from his hair and soaked into the sheets. He didn't care.

He was grinning at the ceiling like a fool.

Happiness. Love. Bursting so hard inside his chest he thought it might crack open.

Feelings he had buried nine years ago, along with Shradha. Feelings he never thought he would feel again. And now they were all rushing back at once, flooding every corner of him.

His mind kept replaying the evening. Her back turned to him in the living room, phone in hand, Navneet's face on the screen. That blouse clinging to her wet skin. Raindrops sliding down her neck. Those soft, full hips that begged to be gripped.

And…