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Siya looked at the message for a moment before a smile slowly touched her lips. Of everyone in the group, she knew exactly what that one word meant. Raghav wasn’t interested in discussing the itinerary or deciding what they would do once they got there. He simply wanted the trip with her. An entire day with his wife, without the children, work or anything else demanding their attention, was more precious to him than any itinerary could ever be.

Krish: @Raghav You agree to do nothing for one whole day? That’s a miracle.

Trisha: Screenshot this.

Meher: No, someone pin his message.

Ayaan: Already done.

Raghav: Very funny.

Vishnu: I think we should have one dinner where everyone dresses up.

Simran: Yes!

Trisha: Definitely.

Meher: I’m in.

Siya: Me too.

Krish: And @Raghav, black doesn’t count as dressing up, okay?

Raghav: It does when it looks good.

Siya: Unfortunately, he’s right.

Trisha: Unfortunately?

Siya: I was trying to be modest.

Simran: Don’t bother. We know what him wearing black does to you.

Siya sent another blushing emoji before Ayaan typed.

Ayaan: So, it is decided? Maldives.

Meher: Maldives.

Simran: Maldives.

Trisha: Maldives.

Vishnu: Maldives.

Siya: Maldives.

Krish: Finally. Raghav?

Raghav looked at the last few messages on the screen, shook his head faintly, and instead of typing his response, changed the WhatsApp group name to THE ESCAPE.

That was his answer. They were going to escape from their normal routines for a few days.

The group erupted into hearts, celebration emojis and messages about finally getting some time together. The plan started taking shape. They decided to leave the following month, giving everyone enough time to arrange for the children to stay together at RK Estate with Rukmini Vardhaan, Pratap Walia, Kailash Shergill, and Krish’s father Ratan Rajvanshi, with Esha and Haider as backup, along with the other elders.

Ayaan volunteered to take care of the tickets. Raghav took responsibility for the resort and accommodation. Vishnu said he would handle security and make sure there were no loose ends before they left. And Krish decided to handle whatever else was left.

And that was how the Maldives trip finally became real. Not with an itinerary, but with eight married people arguing in a WhatsApp group, teasing each other like they had never grown up and making plans for the first holiday in years where they would leave everything behind.