Page 10 of The Escape

She rolled her eyes before taking another sip.

“I’m f*cking serious, Vishnu. I want one more.”

Something softened in Vishnu’s expression. He reached for the bottle in her hand, gently took it from her and placed it on the sand beside them.

“One more?”

She nodded. “Yep. Until your entire NEP party is filled with our children,” she said, her lips curving into a mischievous smile. “I don’t think I want to stop.”

Vishnu laughed. “That sounds like a terrible idea to me.” Before she could argue, he reached for her waist and pulled her closer. “But even I’d love another baby with you.”

Every other thought disappeared from her face for a moment. Her expression softened as he continued, “Because I don’t think I’ve ever regretted anything that gave me more of you.”

Simran’s eyes lingered on his face. For all the years they had spent navigating politics, family, responsibilities and everything that came with their lives, there were still moments when Vishnu would say something so simple that it reached somewhere inside her that no grand declaration ever could.

She grinned before pushing the wine bottle farther away.

Vishnu noticed. His eyebrow lifted. “What are you doing?”

“Making sure I don’t spill it.”

The next moment, she shifted closer and climbed onto his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck.

His smile deepened. “Simran…”

“Hmm?”

“You’re sure this isn’t the wine talking?”

“No.” She shook her head before leaning closer. “This is me.”

Before he could say anything else, she kissed him. Vishnu responded instantly, one hand settling around her waist while the other moved to the back of her neck. The kiss began softly, almost teasingly, but neither of them seemed interested in keeping it that way for long.

When they finally pulled apart, she grinned and looked around once.

“This is scandalous,” she whispered. “A minister like you sitting on a deserted beach in Maldives, making out with a woman openly?”

Vishnu pulled her closer. “Not just any woman… my wife. And for once, I don’t care who sees.”

“That’s like my man,” she said, laughing softly before kissing him again.

The ocean continued crashing against the shore. The wine remained forgotten beside them. And for one night, neither of them cared about the world waiting beyond the beach.

They had escaped it. And they had each other.

Krish and Trisha

Their light dinner had stretched longer than either of them had planned because there had been no reason to hurry. For once, it was just the two of them, sitting across from each other, talking over dinner, stealing food from each other’s plates, and enjoying the rare luxury of having an entire evening without anyone else demanding their attention.

By the time they stepped out of the restaurant, the resort had grown quieter. Trisha glanced towards the row of waiting resort buggies and was already turning towards one when Krish caught her hand and gently pulled her in the opposite direction.

The resort had provided bicycles for every couple, and they were parked neatly outside the main reception area. Krish led her towards them.

“Absolutely not.” Trisha stopped, looking at the bicycles then at him. “I am not riding that.”

“Why?” Krish turned towards her, amused.

“Because the last time I rode a bicycle, I was eight. Maybe nine.”