Winning Pursuit ✔

|| 48: The Vacation ||

Daksh

The moment Daksh saw the notification pop up on his phone—a message from Bhumika—his heart raced. He had been waiting for this exact moment, pacing his living room, eager to hear the news. With a quick swipe, he opened her text, and the words "leave approved" jumped out at him.

"Yes!" he shouted, jumping off the couch like he'd just won the championship game. His excitement knew no bounds as he danced around his apartment like a goofball, his grin stretching from ear to ear. This was it. The perfect chance to whisk Bhumika away from the chaos of her job and give her the break she desperately needed—and maybe a little more than that.

Without hesitation, he hit the call button, waiting impatiently as the phone rang.

"Hello?" came Bhumika's familiar voice on the other end.

"Pack your bags, Officer," Daksh said, trying to keep the excitement out of his voice but failing miserably. "We're going on a trip!"

"A trip?" Bhumika replied, her tone a mix of confusion and amusement. "Daksh, what are you talking about?"

"You, me, a beach town, four days away from everything. No cases, no criminals, just sand, sun, and relaxation. Your leave just got approved, right?" He said in a breath.

"Well, yes, but—"

"But nothing!" Daksh interrupted, grinning from ear to ear. "This is long overdue, Bhumika. You're packing your things, and we're getting out of the city. You can sleep all day, get pampered, and just... breathe."

There was a pause on the other end before Bhumika finally sighed, her tone softening. "You're really serious about this, aren't you?"

"Dead serious," Daksh replied, his voice dropping playfully. "And trust me, I've got everything planned out. First two days are all about you. Sleep, massages, maybe a little makeover if you're up for it. And then... well, let's just say I've got a surprise waiting for you on day three."

"Daksh..." she began, but he could hear the smile in her voice.

"No arguing," he said firmly, though his tone was still playful. "Just pack your things and trust me. I'll pick you up tomorrow morning. Deal?"

"Fine," Bhumika relented, a laugh escaping her. "But only because you're so annoyingly persistent."

"That's what I like to hear!" Daksh said, grinning like a kid. "Alright, get started. I'll see you tomorrow."

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

The next morning, Daksh pulled up outside Bhumika's apartment at exactly 9 AM, his car loaded with snacks, travel pillows, and a playlist carefully curated to match the mood of the trip: relaxing, fun, and just a little bit romantic.

When Bhumika emerged from her apartment, dragging her suitcase behind her, Daksh honked the horn playfully, waving out the window with a wide grin.

"Ready for the best vacation of your life?" he called, his enthusiasm contagious.

"It's a four-day trip, Daksh, not a life-changing event," Bhumika said as she threw her suitcase into the trunk, though there was a small smile on her face.

"That's where you're wrong," Daksh said dramatically as she climbed into the passenger seat. "This trip will be legendary. By the time it's over, you'll be so relaxed that you won't even remember how to arrest people."

"I'll never forget how to arrest people," Bhumika replied, buckling her seatbelt. "And if you keep acting like this, you might be the first one I practice on."

"Promises, promises," Daksh teased as he started the car and pulled away from the curb.

As they drove, the city slowly faded into the background, replaced by stretches of open road and the distant scent of the ocean. Daksh kept the conversation light and goofy, throwing in random trivia about the places they passed, making Bhumika laugh with his off-the-wall observations.