Chapter 13 - There Are No Mango Permits in Dubai

It was a peaceful afternoon in Mango Oasis™. The Camel Stables shimmered in the sun, camels were lounging in mango-scented hay, and Mango-chan was humming while gluing googly eyes on mango pits to make "Mango Warriors."

Then trouble arrived.

Not on horseback.Not on camelback.But in a government-issue sand-colored sedan, with the words "Dubai Revenue Enforcement Division" etched on the door in official font.

Out stepped a man in a stiff suit, sunglasses so sharp they could cut glass, and a clipboard of doom tucked under one arm.

Hari, who had been sketching mango-themed theme park rides (including a ride called Mango Mountain Madness), looked up with mild dread.

"Good afternoon," the man said, not smiling. "I'm Inspector Fareed. We've received reports of an illegal crop… growing on unregistered sand."

Hari blinked. "Excuse me?"

"There are no mangoes in Dubai," Inspector Fareed said, flipping a page on his clipboard. "And yet… there are mangoes here. Explain."

Before Hari could open his mouth, a dramatic gust of wind blew through the Oasis, and Mango-chan descended from the Mango Tower wearing a black robe, a white wig, and holding a mango-shaped gavel.

She pointed dramatically. "Objection!"

Inspector Fareed raised an eyebrow. "…Who are you?"

Mango-chan straightened her wig. "Mango-chan, Supreme Defender of the Mango Realm™. And you, sir, have trespassed into a legally confusing, semi-magical agricultural jurisdiction."

"…What?"

The Mango Court Begins

Mango-chan snapped her fingers. A nearby camel brayed and trotted over with a foldable table and mango-shaped chairs. She slammed the gavel on the table (which made a satisfying thump!).

"Let the Fruit Court commence!"

Inspector Fareed looked utterly bewildered, but Hari was already seated, sipping mango juice from a coconut like it was completely normal.

"Your mangoes are unregistered," Fareed repeated. "They do not exist in any Dubai agricultural database. That is a violation of—"

Mango-chan slammed the gavel. "Overruled! You cannot penalize what was once considered fantasy!"

"Ma'am, that's not how the law—"

"Counter-point!" she yelled, pulling out a stack of printed mango memes. "Did you know mangoes reduce stress? Do you really want to be the man who banned happiness from the desert?"

Fareed stared at her. Then at Hari.

Hari just gave him a slow shrug.

A Tangy Turn of Events

"Look," Hari said, stepping in, "these mangoes grew under divine mango intervention. Technically, I died. This is my second life. There's a system. And a talking camel. So… maybe just let this one slide?"

Fareed rubbed his temples. "Do you even have a permit?"

Before Hari could answer, the System chimed in:

[System Notification: New Quest Completed – Defend the Mango Name in Court]– Outcome: Technically Not Guilty– Reward: Legal Mango Recognition (Limited License)– Bonus Reward: Mango Law Library (Mango-themed bookshelf + books that make no legal sense but smell great)

A glowing license appeared in Hari's hand, embossed with gold letters:

"Certified Mango Grower – Special Existence Clause"

Inspector Fareed took the license. Read it. Stared at it.

"…Is that a mango hologram watermark?"

"Yup," Hari said. "Lick it. It tastes like Alphonso."

He didn't lick it. But he sighed and tucked the license into his folder. "This never happened."

Aftermath

As Fareed's car drove off into the dunes, Mango-chan flopped onto the grass.

"Phew. That was stressful," she said, tossing off the wig. "I need a smoothie."

Hari looked at the Mango Law Library now awkwardly growing out of the side of his mango hut.

"…Should we be worried about the next visit?"

"Probably," Mango-chan said cheerfully. "But hey, at least we're legally confusing now instead of completely illegal!"

Hari nodded.

Progress.