"Sir, we could have been traced because of him!" she exclaimed with frustration.
"I just wanted to call home once and let my wife know that I love her and my daughter. I wasn't certain if we could have made it out of that mission," he retorted, defe...
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Chapter Five: Lilies in Moonlight
As they both stood at the doorway, a woman in her 60s opened the door in response to the ringing bell. Her eyes, though wrinkled with age, glowed with kindness as she welcomed Shubman and Geentanjali.
"Mum, this is my colleague, Gia," Shubman introduced Geentanjali.
Geentanjali initially had a confused expression, but she quickly composed herself, understanding the use of an alias. She looked at the elderly woman, smiling as she joined her hands and bowed respectfully. "Namaste, Aunty."
"Namaste, beta," the elderly woman replied, gently caressing Geentajali's hair.
"Mum, it was getting late, and her tyre was punctured. She also seemed tired, so I offered her to come home for dinner," Shubman explained, shrugging as he looked at Geentanjali.
"Not a problem, beta," the elderly woman replied warmly. "I'll heat the dinner for all of us." With a reassuring smile, she turned and headed towards the kitchen, leaving Gill and Vasisth alone in the living room.
Gill gestured towards the sofa. "Why don't you have a seat, Vasisth? Make yourself comfortable. I'll just freshen up quickly."
Vasisth nodded, acknowledging his suggestion. As Gill disappeared down the hallway, she settled onto the sofa, taking in her surroundings. The room was cosy and filled with the warmth of family photos adorning the walls.
Despite the seriousness of their mission, Geentanjali couldn't help but feel a sense of peace in this unexpected moment of respite. She leaned back against the soft cushions, closing her eyes briefly as she allowed herself to relax for the first time in what felt like ages.
She heard footsteps approaching and quickly straightened up, expecting Gill to return. However, instead of Gill, she was greeted by a tiny human standing in front of her, looking at her with big, curious eyes. She couldn't help but notice the resemblance between the child's tiny nose and dimples, which mirrored Gill's features.
The little one, in a sweet, baby voice that sounded like music, asked, "Who are you?
Geetanjali replied with a gentle smile, "Hello there, little one. I'm Gia, a friend of your daddy's. What's your name?"
The little girl's eyes sparkled with curiosity as she tilted her head, responding in her sweet, melodic voice, "I'm Anamika! Daddy calls me his little sunshine." Anamika glanced at Gia with a grin, eager to share her world with this new acquaintance.
Geentanjali chuckled, charmed by the little girl's enthusiasm. "Anamika, that's such a beautiful name! I can see why your daddy calls you his little sunshine. It suits you perfectly."
Anamika beamed at the compliment, her dimples deepening. "Thank you, Auntie Gia! Are you staying for long?"
Vasisth glanced towards the hallway, expecting Gill to return. "Not for too long, sweetheart. I'm here just for dinner, but I'll make sure to visit again."
