The Brownie and The New Bonding

5 days after the events of the previous chapter

Harish just got married to Lux in the presence of the rest of the EFS.

Now that it’s late evening of the same day Harish got married to Lux. They have just got a new house within the EFS headquarters, and inside they go while they are completely sweating in their respective wedding attires which are like in the pics given below.

(Note:- Please assume that they are clothes made of synthetic silk. Not of actual silk.)

Harish and Lux are fascinated by the interiors.

The door to the new home closes softly behind Harish and Lux. They are still in their ceremonial wedding attire (which is now clearly wrinkled and damp with sweat from the long day).

Harish, momentarily forgetting the EFS rules, instinctively reaches to scoop up Lux.

HARISH: Come here, Mrs. Harish. Time for the traditional…

Harish lifts Lux briefly and then grunts after he’s being reminded of the EFS rules. Then he gently sets her down.

LUX (laughing and holding Harish’s arm): Nice try, Deputy Leader. You just spent 12 hours smiling through a photoshoot and a feast. You look more like you’re ready for a stretcher than a threshold ceremony.

HARISH (massaging his own neck): You are absolutely right. I feel like I’m still wearing three extra layers of silk. And the quiet… the quiet is deafening after the music.

LUX: It’s beautiful. Look at this living area. (She walks over, her eyes scanning the room, already in logistics mode.) The natural light during the day will be excellent for map reviews. But we’ll need blackout curtains. We can’t afford light bleed during mission planning.

HARISH (smiling at Lux’s planning focus): Of course. Always three steps ahead, Lux. That’s why I married you. I was thinking this corner is perfect for the communication console. Better line-of-sight to the main antenna.

LUX (shaking her head, pointing to a different wall): No, that’s where the small medical kit goes. If we need quick access to supplies, it has to be next to the entry door. Console goes near the power outlet.

Harish and Lux share a fatigued, affectionate look. The planning provides a stable, calming focus. The latter then gestures towards the two separate doors leading to the bathrooms.

LUX (in a slightly teasing tone): First things first, deputy leader. I think our current outfit is a biological weapon in this humidity. Let’s initiate ‘Operation Fresh Start.’ Two separate bathrooms, five minutes, go.

HARISH (nodding his head and speaking in the same tone as Lux): Roger that, logistics leader. May the fastest shower win.

They both then head towards two separate bathrooms to have a shower.

5 minutes later

Harish emerges first. After drying himself up with a towel after a short but intensive shower, he wears a white casual collar-necked T-shirt and a striped shorts just like in the pic given below.

(Note:- Please ignore the wristwatch and the cap.)

2 minutes later

Lux emerges our of bathroom. After drying herself up with a towel after a short but intense shower, she wears a comfortable white T-shirt with the caption “Good Vibes Only” and a comfortable beige cargo shorts just like in the pic given below.

(Note:- Please ignore the shoes and the wristwatch.)

HARISH (whistling softly and in an appreciative way): Now that is better logistics. Comfort achieved. You look like you’re ready for a beach trip.

LUX (chuckling softly): And you look like you’re ready for a bonfire on the beach. Perfection. I feel like I shed ten kilos of sweat and extra weight from the wedding clothes in that five minutes.

Harish and Lux share a light-hearted laugh. The latter then notices a small package near the main door of the house—a note from Nivi and Dheena, and a small box of freshly baked vegan walnut brownies.

Lux then picks up the note and reads the following words:

HARISH (picking up the box of brownies): A proper dessert for an EFS wedding. Vegan, of course. Come on, Lux. Let’s have a seat. We earned this.

LUX (with an excited grin): Of course.

Harish and Lux sit close together on a small vegan sofa in the hall, sharing the brownie slieces and enjoying the sugar rush after the long day.

HARISH (in a serious but slightly flirtatious tone): You know, seeing you today, standing beside me… I realized all the risk, all the missions, it’s worth it just for this. A piece of peace.

LUX (reciprocating the same tone as Harish): It’s the prize we fight for, Harish. The right to be this comfortable, this open, this free. And the right to eat brownies without judgment.

A few seconds later

Lux finishes her portion of the brownie, brushes the crumbs from her lips, followed by Harish. The former then turns to face the latter with a playful glint in her eyes in order to indirectly say that it’s time for the intimate First Night session.

LUX (leaning in and whispering in a teasing tone): Deputy Leader, logistics are handled, comfort is achieved, and treats are consumed. Now, what’s the next critical mission on the agenda for our first night in our home?

HARISH (his expression shifts, becoming gentle but serious, recalling the EFS rules): Lux, I know what you are calling me for. But wait. Before that, I need you to understand something. I love this freedom, but our discipline must always come first. (taking Lux’s hands into his, and looking directly into her her eyes with more seriousness) I have to warn you that Operation Purge Protocol could be launched again if any member, even us, forgets what we are fighting for. Purity must be paramount, even here. (taking a short pause) Do you remember Santosh? He corrupted the very cause we fight for by seeing a woman’s bare Thoppul as an excuse for perversion. That’s why I killed him. Our freedom is about respect, not abuse. Touching or viewing the Thoppul in a way that disrespects the mission… it would be a betrayal of every member we lead. It includes Ponnila who suffered because of a lapse in discipline.

On listening to Harish’s words, Lux nods slowly. Her playful demeanor gets replaced by the conviction of an EFS officer.

LUX (pointing her finger towards the caption “ONLY GOOD VIBES” in her t-shirt and nodding her head): I understand, Harish. We fight for the right to express ourselves, not for the right to exploit. I am Lux, the Leader of the Logistics Team of the Elite Flower Storm. I know the rules. (taking a short pause) Don’t let your official duties cloud our moment. You are safe here. The intimate session can begin without any fear of discomfort. I trust your discipline completely.

The fear leaves Harish’s eyes, replaced by deep, loving relief.

HARISH (smiling with a sense of relief): Thank you, Lux. Thank you so much for giving me hope that one can adhere to the ground rules of the EFS even during the intimate sessions like the ones we are about to have.

LUX (chuckling softly and caressing Harish’s face): Hey!!!!! No worries!!!!! I’m happy to help.

HARISH (placing one of his hands on top of the very hand of Lux that’s caressing his face): Alright, Lux. I’m ready when you are.

Lux wastes no time before proceeding to grab Harish’s hand and lead him to the master bedroom. They both, with an equal excitement, lie on the bed together.

While lying on the bed, Lux’s tummy is exposed just like in the pic given below.

Harish immediately gets up and then plants a kiss right on Lux’s bare navel.

LUX (startled due to the kiss): Hey!!!!! What did you just do?

HARISH (pulling away and looking embarrassed): Umm…..I just felt an urge to kiss your Thoppul. So I did it. I’m sorry if you don’t like it. I won’t do it again.

LUX (feigning disappointment): You should have warned me before proceeding.

HARISH (still looking embarrassed): Yeah. Ummm…. Sorry about that.

LUX: It’s okay, darling. Can you do it again? Plant some more kisses on your wife’s Thoppul.

HARISH (looking surprised): What? Seriously?

LUX (feigning annoyance and speaking in a teasing tone): You think I’m joking? Yes. I do play around. But this time, I’m dead serious. Give me some more. Deeper kisses needed.

HARISH (smiling after a short pause): Okay, my love. I will plant deeper kisses on your Thoppul.

LUX (smiling and ruffling Harish’s hair): Good. Don’t make me wait.

Harish nods his head and plants some more kisses right on Lux’s navel, this time a bit deeper.

After planting a good number of kisses on Lux’s deep navel, Harish slowly pulls away. He has been aware of the rules all along. And he not even once did he touch her navel with his tongue. He sees considers those kisses he just planted on her navel as a powerful physical declaration of both his love and his commitment to the EFS’s anti-taboo mission.

Lux then pulls Harish towards her face, maintaining a minimal distance so that both can look into each other’s eyes.

LUX (in an appreciative tone with an appreciative smile): You didn’t use your tongue at all. You have sticked to the EFS rules, especially refraining from touching a Thoppul with tongue and genitals. Kudos to you for adhering to the rules even during intimate sessions like this.

HARISH (smiling confidently): Yes. Discipline has to be ensured even during intimate sessions like this. And since I’m the Deputy Leader of the EFS, I have to ensure that its ground rules are being followed. (the tone then becomes teasing) If I don’t follow the rules, then I don’t deserve the title “Deputy Leader”.

LUX (chuckling and playfully ruffling Harish’s hair): You are still adhering to the rules. Make sure you don’t break them.

HARISH (nodding his head confidently): Of course, my love.

The lips of Harish and Lux meet in a tender, deep kiss that is held for about 75 seconds—a silent, intense affirmation of their bond.

After 75 seconds, they break the kiss, breathless but deeply connected. They collapse onto the bed, wrapped securely in each other’s arms, the heavy weight of the wedding day finally lifted, replaced by the comfort and commitment of their shared future.

HARISH (whispering): Goodnight, my dear Lux.

LUX (whispering back): Goodnight, my darling Harish.

They both close their eyes and eventually drift off to sleep.