𝑺𝒊𝒍𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑯𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕

𝐂𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐌𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬

Chapter Twenty-Eight: Craving Shared Moments

Geetanjali stared at her phone, biting her lip as she debated whether to call Shubman or not. Since they had decided to give love another chance, she wanted to savour every moment with him. The loneliness in her house, which she hadn't felt before, was starting to creep back in. She had been relieved when her toxic past ended, and the emptiness had brought her a sense of peace. But now, with Shubman back in her life, the empty house seemed to yearn for someone's presence besides her own.

She tossed and turned, whining softly now and then as she wrestled with her thoughts. Geetanjali didn't want to disrupt the precious father-daughter moments, especially after Shubman's wife had left him. With a pout, she gently tossed her phone aside, closed her eyes, and tried to sleep, hoping to pass the time. But it was futile; Shubman's face, his smile, and those adorable dimples on his cheeks kept blessing her thoughts. She buried her face deep into the pillow, trying to suppress her emotions. Despite finding herself falling for him all over again, she knew that acting childish like this didn't fit Geetanjali Vasisth's reputation.

Letting out a large groan, she reached for her phone, a sudden idea striking her to spend time with him without intruding on his time with his daughter and family. She knew it was perhaps too soon for such a move, but her stubborn heart wasn't offering much resistance.

After four rings, he picked up the call, his voice groggy. "Hello?"

Blushing furiously, she held the pillow tight to her chest as she listened to his voice. "Hello, who's there?" his groggy voice asked again.

"Stupid Gia, you need to speak," she scolded herself softly, patting her cheek. "Um, Shubman, it's me, Gia," she finally managed to say.

Shubman's voice perked up instantly upon hearing her name. "Gia! Hey, sorry, I must've been half-asleep. What's up?"

Geetanjali felt a rush of warmth flood through her at the sound of his voice. "Oh, uh, nothing much," she replied, trying to sound casual despite the nerves fluttering in her stomach. "I was just... thinking, maybe you, Anamika, along with your mom and dad, could join me for dinner," she said, biting her tongue, scared she was asking for too much.

There was a moment of silence on the other end, and Geetanjali held her breath, anxiously waiting for his response.

"Shubman?" she asked scared of not getting his response.

"Wow, Gia, that sounds really nice," Shubman finally said, his voice filled with surprise and gratitude. "I'd love for us to all get together. Let me check with Anamika and my parents, but I'm pretty sure they'd be thrilled."

Relief flooded through Geetanjali, and she let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. "Great, let me know what works for everyone," she replied, her voice a little shaky with relief.

"Yes," Shubman said, answering as he glanced down at Anamika, who was sleeping peacefully on his chest. Lowering his voice, he teased, "Couldn't resist staying away from me that long, huh, Gia?"

"Can't resist the high school and office heartthrob?" she teased back.

"Office heartthrob?" he questioned, running his fingers through his hair as he kept one arm under his head, partially waking up.

Geetanjali grinned mischievously, enjoying the playful banter. "Oh, come on, Gill. You know you have all the ladies at the office swooning over you."

Shubman chuckled, his eyes still half-closed. "I think you might be exaggerating a bit there, Gia."

She laughed softly, feeling a sense of warmth as she heard him. "I'm just stating the facts, Gill. You're definitely a charmer."

He shrugged playfully. "Well, I can't argue with that," he admitted, a hint of amusement in his voice. "But you're the one who has me wrapped around your finger, Gia."

Geetanjali's heart skipped a beat at his words, her smile softening. "And you have me falling for you all over again," she confessed quietly.

Geetanjali shifted the conversation smoothly as she leaned in, her voice warm with anticipation. "Speaking of which, what does your mom and dad enjoy eating? And Anamika too, since they're coming over for the first time. I want to make sure I have something they'll all enjoy, preferably vegetarian since I don't cook non-veg."

Shubman's stretched lazily, his mind picturing the dishes his family adored. "Well, Mom loves paneer dishes, especially paneer tikka masala. Dad's a big fan of aloo gobi, and Anamika enjoys palak paneer. But they all have a sweet tooth, so maybe some homemade gulab jamun for dessert would be perfect."

Geetanjali nodded, mentally noting down the menu. "Sounds delicious. I'll make sure to whip up those dishes. Anything else I should keep in mind?"

Shubman grinned appreciatively. "Just be yourself, Gia. They'll love you, no doubt."

"Hmm, hope so," Geetanjali chuckled, biting her lip nervously as she got up, changing while keeping her phone on speaker.

"So, what's my love doing?" Shubman asked over the phone.

"Changing," she replied, but before she could speak further, Shubman on the other end smirked, a teasing tone evident even through the call. "Without me?"

Laughing, she said, "Pervert, let me complete my sentence. I am changing so I can go out for groceries. My kitchen is empty."

Shubman chuckled on the other end, his voice warm and playful. "Alright, don't forget to bring some extra love in the food for me too. I'll be eagerly waiting to taste your cooking."

Geetanjali couldn't help but smile at his words, feeling a surge of affection for him. "Of course, Shubman. I'll make sure to add a generous sprinkle of love in every dish, just for you."

With a soft sigh of contentment, they exchanged a few more words before saying their goodbyes, both looking forward to the evening ahead. As Geetanjali headed out to the grocery store, she couldn't shake off the feeling of excitement bubbling within her, eager to prepare a meal that would not only delight Shubman's family but also warm their hearts with her love. Setting his phone aside, Shubman blushed, eagerly anticipating spending the evening with both his family and Gia. He glanced down and gently caressed Anamika's hair. "Ana, wake up, it's 4:30. Come on."

Anamika stirred from her nap, blinking sleepily as she looked up at her Daddy. "Hmm? What time is it?"

Shubman smiled gently, reaching over to set her unruly hair back in place. "It's 4:30. Also, Aunt Gia has invited us to dinner at her place. Do you want to go?"

Anamika's eyes brightened with joy at the mention of Aunt Gia's dinner invitation. "Yes, definitely! I can't wait to see Aunt Gia and try her cooking."

Shubman smiled warmly, his heart swelling with love for his daughter. "Good, we have four hours until we go. What does my sunshine want to do?" he asked, planting a soft kiss on her little nose.

Anamika's eyes lit up with mischief as she pondered for a moment. "How about a board game?" she suggested eagerly. "I can't wait to beat you!"

Shubman chuckled at her competitive spirit, delighted by her suggestion. "A board game it is then! Get ready to lose, little champ," he teased, ruffling her hair affectionately.

Anamika grinned mischievously, her eyes sparkling with determination. "Don't underestimate me, Daddy," she said, reaching out to pull his cheeks affectionately. "I may be little, but I'm a fierce competitor. You're going down!"

Her father chuckled, meeting her gaze with playful intensity. "Oh, is that so?" he replied, bumping his forehead gently against hers. "Challenge accepted!"