Wrath of Andrea

SIX

                            SIX

Lucas's POV

I finally found the restaurant, it was a quaint little diner named Thalaasa but it was bustling with people. It gave off a homey vibe to its customers. As I entered, the waiter ushered me to a booth near the window. He said something, but I didn't understand the local language so I translated 'I don't understand Konkani.' with the help of Google translate.

Nodding his head, he left a menu, went to the backroom and came back with a lady in tow. She was perhaps the manager here.

"Hello sir, I am Sunitha. Sorry but some of my staff do not speak English. How can I help you?"

"I do not know much about the cuisine here so what would you suggest?" I asked her, the menu was in English, but I had no idea what the dishes contained.

"We have many options, sir. Chinese, Italian, Gujarati, Punjabi, Continental, etc. Our speciality is the traditional Konkani or Goan cuisine, I would suggest that if you want to get a taste of the food in Goa. You aren't vegetarian, right?"

"No, I am not. I want the traditional Konkani food you mentioned."

"Yes sir, any appetisers or beverages- we have water, buttermilk and coke?" I liked the service here.

"Do you have any wine?" I asked though I doubted they had any.

"Sorry sir, but the restaurant is alcohol-free."

"I would like to try the buttermilk." She noted it down in the tiny notepad she had with her.

"Ok, sir. Which flatbread- roti, naan, paratha or kulcha?"

I was confused by all the options but awed by the different varieties of food available. "Uhh, the first option?."

"Ok sir, your food will be ready in around fifteen minutes." She smiled and walked away. As I waited for the food, I searched up the tourist places here in Goa. I had come here in a hurry so I had not brought a return ticket. That was nice as I decided to spend two weeks here. The place entranced me. I messaged my family with the pictures I had taken so far. It was a night back in the states so I did not get any reply back.

True to her word, food was delivered to my table in fifteen minutes by another waiter. I was so hungry that I gobbled up all the food. All the etiquette manners my mother taught probably went down the drain. The food was so damn tasty that I could eat it every day. I should quit as CEO and become a food taster here in India.

After I finished, I called for the waiter. He took away the empty dishes and brought the bill and a bowl filled with hot water and a slice of lemon in it. I looked at him confused so he said, "For wash hands, sir." and gestured to clean his hands.

Cleaning my hands and drying them, I checked out the bill. I was only four hundred fifty rupees taxes included. It was quite cheap if you convert it into American dollars. Thanking the waiter and leaving a hefty tip, I left the restaurant. As I reached some shops, I saw a familiar silhouette.

It was Andrea, and she was heavily pregnant. I called out to her and she stiffened. She suddenly started walking away quickly and crossed the road haphazardly to a medical shop. I was quite far away from her so I couldn't catch up to her. I called out to her again.

By the time I reached the shop, she was gone and I lost her among the crowd. On the front desk, I saw a familiar diary.

I gestured to it and asked the shopkeeper who was heaving, "Where did you get this diary?"

"A lady was in a hurry and dropped it here. I ran after her but she was gone by then." 

I took out my phone and showed him a photo of me and Andrea, taken at the mall after our marriage. "Is this the lady?"

"Yes sir, such a sweet little girl. She always buys her medicine here. Poor girl, I don't think the baby's father is in the picture. How do you know her?"

"She is a ... friend." I rubbed the back of my neck.

"She sure needs some support with her."

I nodded my head at his response and said, "I am taking the diary with me."

"Just tell me your name so I can tell her if she comes looking for it."

I grabbed the diary and told him, "Lucas, Lucas Rivera."

With the diary in my hand, I walked back to the hotel. There must be an address or contact in it to reach Andrea. At the hotel reception, I saw Mr Jadeja conversing with his staff. As he saw me, he waved me over.

I was not in the mood to talk with anyone so I told him to tell his daughter-in-law to cancel today's plans as I had an emergency. Before he could ask more questions, I walked away to the elevator to go to my room.

Opening the door, I placed the key in its holder to start the light in the room. Undressing and freshening up quickly, I sat on the bed only in my boxers with Andrea's diary in my hand.

I did not know what to expect. Almost eight months ago, she aborted our child and now I see her at least six to seven months pregnant. Did she have a one night stand? Did she cheat on me when we were married? Was there a chance that the baby was mine? Did she perhaps never abort the baby? 

I had so many questions and the answers were in the diary. I know I should not read her diary and I never peeped into it when we were married, though we are legally still married. This was a different situation now, she was running from me, and she was an expert at hiding. I needed to know the truth.

Taking a deep breath, I finally opened the diary.

~~~~~

What do you think about the chapter? 

A bit short compared to other chapters, but this was the perfect ending. If I continued, the chapter would have probably lost its charm.

Rate it on a scale of one to ten.

So you must have realised, the next few chapters are going to be full of drama.

What will Lucas do after he reads the diary? All of Andrea's nitty-gritty secrets are in there and don't forget, she has also written about her hidden emotions for Lucas.

~~~~~