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The enormous private jacuzzi of their water villa felt like another world with the view of the Maldivian ocean ahead. The faint sound of waves mingled with the soft music playing somewhere in their room creating the perfect romantic vibe.
Meher sat at one end of the jacuzzi, her back resting comfortably against the curved edge, a champagne glass loosely held between her fingers.
Across from her, Ayaan sat with his shoulders above the warm water, looking far too relaxed for a man who had spent the better part of the last few years surrounded by dangerous missions, family responsibilities, and two children who seemed determined to keep him constantly occupied.
He gently wrapped a hand around her foot beneath the water, his thumb moving slowly across her sole in an absentminded massage.
Meher closed her eyes for a moment. “Oh, God.”
Ayaan smiled. “That good?”
She opened one eye and looked at him. “Very. Just keep doing that.”
“Then I expect to be rewarded accordingly.”
Meher raised a brow. “Greedy.”
He pressed his thumb against her sole with a little more pressure, and she let out a soft moan.
“Only when the reward is worth it,” he winked.
She laughed softly and took another sip of her champagne. For a few moments, neither of them spoke. There was something almost strange about the silence.
They were so used to the chatter of their twins, of their sweet innocent arguments and demands. Tonight, there was nothing. Just the two of them.
Meher looked at him over the rim of her glass. “I still can’t believe we actually did it.”
Ayaan raised an eyebrow. “You mean leaving Arnav and Myra behind for this getaway?”
“Yes.” She shook her head. “I thought I would spend the entire flight worrying about them.”
“You did.”
“I did not.”
“You called Rukmini Aunty twice before we even left India, Meher.”
“Alright.” She frowned. “And who was checking the phone every fifteen minutes?”
“I was checking my emails.”
“You were checking on the children.”
“Maybe.” Ayaan smiled. “I miss them.”
“So do I.”
She looked at him for a moment as he continued, “We’ve spent years building a life where they’re everywhere. It feels strange when they’re suddenly not.”
“Remember when it was just us?” She asked. “Those initial days of our marriage?”
Ayaan’s smile turned a little more nostalgic. “That was a long time ago,” he replied. “When we could leave the house whenever we wanted, sleep whenever we wanted, have dinner without someone asking for dessert before having their food.”
“And we could actually finish a conversation,” Meher added with a laugh.
“Yeah. That too.” He continued to massage her foot beneath the water. “But I wouldn’t trade this life for anything.”
Her smile faded. “Neither would I.”
