Have you read Chapter Sixty Three?
If yes, then proceed :)

____________

Their home was decorated with beautiful flowers. The crepe pastel fabric was used for some parts of the wall for decor. All the close family members were present at the godhbharai (baby shower).

Gita was dressed in a traditional saree with floral jewellery adorning her forehead, her arms, her wrist and waist. The ladies did the rituals first and then everyone asked her to open their gifts.

The plates were filled with unlimited Indian sweet dishes and food. Ami asked Anand and Gita to sit together as she clicked their pictures.

Isha was still not talking much to Anand however Rohan who was present at the function smiled a bit to Anand. It was awkward for Rohan to be amongst the family. When Gita had invited him, he had refused to come but Isha insisted him to come saying it's a small family function and as he is Gita's friend as well, he should be there.
Rohan who was still not convinced, hesitantly said yes.

Anand saw Gitanjali eating her fourth gulab jamun and a rasmalai in her plate. He snatched it out of her hand, earning a scowl from Gita.

"What?! Let me eat. Give me my plate back." Her cute face had anger evident on it.

"No! Enough now. How much unhealthy do you want to hog?" The health freak in him said.

"Give the plate back to me. Otherwise there are many people here to whom I can complain. You are not letting your pregnant wife eat! Bad man." She loved desserts of all kinds except the laddoos her mother made her eat during pregnancy. She loved everything sweet especially Indian desserts from Barfi, ladoo, pedha to gulab jamun, rasmalai, sandesh.

"Complain to whoever you want. I won't let you eat this. You have eaten two plates of diabetes, now enough. If you want, eat something healthy." She rolled her eyes but let him take the plate away.

Isha came to her and sat beside her, sneakily giving her a bowl of rasmalai. Gita squealed with joy, "Yes! Thank you Isha."

"I heard what he said to you. I am only giving to you because you are pregnant."

"Thank you!" Gita hugged her with a broad smile on her face.

The most emotional people in the room were Gita's parents. They couldn't believe their baby was having a baby! There was nothing more they wanted than Gita being happy in life. Seeing her smile and so happy made their hearts full.

"Anand ji, Gita, we are leaving now. But as per traditions, the first pregnancy should be at maternal house, I want no excuses. Gita, come to us after two weeks." Gita's mom said. She wanted Gita to be home in the sixth month itself but Anand didn't listen at all. He wanted his wife with him.

Gita knew Anand didn't want her to go or agree to his. She looked at Anand who was already shaking his head in "no". She giggled and said, "Okay Maa. But I won't be able to come after two weeks. I will come at the end of next month." She knew Anand would be alone if she went to her maternal house plus she would miss him too if she stayed at her maternal home for such a long time.

As everyone was leaving, Gita got a call from her mother in law. She excitedly picked her phone and complaint, "I am not talking to you! I told you to come, aunty. You should have been here."

"Beta, try to understand. I can't be there. But I promise, I will meet you and make it up for this. Even I have to give you your baby shower gift." Nandini said.

Gita understands her situation. There was Daddu, Anand's aunts and most people who would have not welcomed Nandini. Anand and Nandini are also not on good terms despite having love for each other.

"Okay. Meet me soon!" Gita said and hung up.

*

She got ready in a simple kurti. Although she was tired due to the function, Anand had told her prior that they will go for a long drive after the baby shower function.

The city was so quiet, so free from the all the noise of the day. The sea view, the breeze in the air, everything was beyond beautiful. And the most important part? Anand's hand in her hand. They just stood at the corner in silence.

Anand wanted to do his grand romantic date tonight but he considered Gita would be too tired for that, so he postponed it for 2 days later.
But this night drive was mandatory. In his busy schedule, there were few days he got to himself and today was one such day. He didn't want to waste a single hour sitting at home, like they usually do. He wanted to do something and night long drive was the best option.

"I expected you to cry today, asking me again when will the baby be with us." he was used to this question from her every once in a week.

She laughed at his words, "I heard some new moms saying that they miss the pregnancy stage. So, from the past few days I am focusing on enjoying this phase. Feeling the baby and keeping it all to myself." He kissed her hand.

"Just a request," Gita was shocked to listen to these words. She looked at him, his eyes were close to tears, "Don't leave me and go to your maternal house. I know it's a tradition but don't go leaving me and the house. You have no idea how lonely it gets." He confessed for the first time.

"Bass,bass. If you request me so cutely, ofcourse I will agree. Don't worry, I won't go to my mother's place for long. Just 2 days. She shouldn't feel bad that I ignored her words." The negotiation was successful because Anand agreed to it.

"I want to say something, I fear that it would spoil your mood. But, today I feel like I want to talk to you about everything. I don't want to stop." She felt tonight she should speak her heart. Anand replied her to go ahead, saying who's stopping her.

"Anand, I know that you had to go through a lot during your growing up years and I am not asking you to forgive or forget until you want to. But since, we are going to begin a new phase, almost a new birth as parents, why don't you let go of the grudge you have for your grandfather. Even you won't deny that he has looked after you the most, cared for you and truly loves you. I absolutely don't like what he did with Nandini aunty and you but with you being so aloof from him, it's hurting him. Just whenever you go to meet him, be a bit nice." She requested him.

"No, Gitanjali. I care for him and I am indebted to him for all he did for Isha and I, but I cannot show him love or be like before. He broke my trust, he did wrong with my mother and he will forever have to live with this grudge of mine. I don't think about it much, but I don't forgive or forget, never. The only thing I can do is see to it that he is healthy and provide him incase he needs anything." Gita didn't insist on this further.

He sighed and continued, "You know what is your biggest problem? Well, it's not ...a flaw...but something that you do wrong. One is that you are a big people pleaser and second is that you want a picture perfect life. But my dear, some people like me can't have a picture perfect life and I am okay with that. So, stop taking efforts to make that happen. I have you and our child and that's enough for me."

His last sentence melted her heart.

"I love you, Anand."

They kissed as the sea and the silent city witnessed their love.

**

Today was the day! Finally the day arrived when he was going to surprise her with the most romantic date ever!

He just had to wait a little longer as he planned to take her on the date at 8 pm and it was just 12 pm in the afternoon. More 8 hours to go! He didn't know why was time so slow today.

Priti and Prakash, who helped him plan this, saw their boss impatient. Anand was very level headed and never displayed his emotions, especially impatience. He always knew to be patient with things, the biggest of deals, the belief that things would happen at the right time. That's what he also taught them when they got excited or impatient with things. So, today to witness his restlessness was unusual.

"Guys, she will like it, right? I mean is there anything we should cancel?" He asked for their advice.

"No sir, it's perfect." They said. All 3 of them had taken efforts and time to execute this and Priti and Prakash knew Gitanjali is too kind to dislike anything that took so much efforts.

"I am just feeling something. Something that is making me want to pace this room. I am not feeling good." Anand said.

"This usually happens. Especially when some people are getting married. You are feeling giddy. Little nervousness is fine." Prakash said.

Anand nodded and asked them to continue with their work. He pondered over what Prakash said. Giddy? Yes, he heard some people had nervousness before big events. But he never experienced it. Does it really feel like this?

He drank water and calmed himself but his heart was beating too loudly. He looked at the time. When will it be 8 pm?

He just ended a business call but only three hours had passed. Time was too slow. When he was on call, his mind was engaged but now, he again felt the same thing. The feeling in his stomach as well. Was this what they called butterflies? Then, he never want them.

He thought about it logically. Why was he nervous? It's not that he is proposing Gitanjali for marriage, that she would say no. They are already married, so she is not even going to reject him. Plus, it was just a romantic date. He shouldn't feel this way. This logic helped and his mind calmed down.

He was going through a business report when his phone rang. His hand shook looking at the caller id. How did she have his number?

His mother was calling him.

Like him, did she save his number but never contact him?

What is he going to talk to her? Should he even pick up her call? Did she dial him by mistake?

He cleared his doubts and picked up her call.

"Anand...Anand." He expected anger in her tone but she sounded frantic.

"Mom, what happened?" He could hear a lot of commotion.

"Anand, I came to meet Gitanjali near her ...her school. Gitanjali, she...she got into an accident." His mom said and he could hear her sobs.

His heart dropped listening to her words. The "giddy" feeling, the restlessness stopped. Did his heart knew something bad was going to happen?

"Anand, I am taking her to..." He heard the hospital name but he was not in the state to respond.

_____

Please VOTE and Comment!

Gonna try to upload as soon as I can.
Please point out grammar mistakes or spellings. Haven't checked.

Take care guys.

Please Vote!