Lovestruck

Suspicion?

'Why is she taking a long time?'

Adhrith wondered why Andrea didn't call or text him after that text. Even though he talked harshly, he apologized later through a text message as he didn't feel like calling back. Also, he didn't want to hurt Samvrutha by doing so. He sighed in frustration, thinking about his pathetic situation where he couldn't stand by anyone. 

Surprisingly, Andrea responded to his apologizing text that day. She behaved like nothing happened and didn't pester him on meeting her soon. Adhrith wondered why she was waiting for a long time since that. Anyhow, he didn't want to take the first step by himself. He left it to her and decided not to ponder over it.

The day after their shopping, Samvrutha was back to normal; that's what Adhrith thought. Samvrutha knew that Adhrith was in a great dilemma and trying to be fair for both women. She felt sorry for his situation even though she was hurt deep down to some extent, yet she didn't want to make him worry further. She decided to face it all herself whatever it is, not knowing that her husband was going to stand by her at any cost.

Adhrith jerked out of his thoughts when his phone pinged with a notification and checked it to notice Richard's text and clicked his tongue in frustration. He forgot that he had to handover an important document at the office that day, but he was working from home and automatically, his mind was clouded with various other thoughts so he completely forgot his task. He had to hand over the signed hard copy to the department which he brought home the previous day, but he stayed back home, not remembering it.

'Che! I have never been this careless!' he huffed and walked towards his cupboard. He opened the cupboard and fetched the document and something fell on the ground, grabbing his attention. Adhrith took the pen drive in his hand and that's when he remembered where he got it.

The day he left their house in India, he noticed Meena standing at the door of Andrea's room in confusion. 

'Meena Aththai? inga enna pannitu irukeenga?' Adhrith asked, bringing her out of her thoughts,

'Ila pa, andha Andrea ponnu thangi irundha room ah suththam panalame nu vandhe, apo mesaiku adila idhu irundhuchu..pakradhuku edho velayatu porul mari iruku..' she showed it to Adhrith who frowned.

It was a penguin shaped pen drive and Adhrith realised that it was Andrea's. 

'Aththai, idhu Andrea odadhu dha..kudunga, na avakita kuduthudre..' he received it from her and kept inside his bag.

He reminisced that he kept his things inside his cupboard in a hurry and totally forgot it. 

'Ada, annaiku kondu vandhu apdiye vachuto..why didn't she search for it?' he thought for a moment and kept it on his table. He thought to return it during their meeting or if she asked for it.

'You should have been careful Andrea!'

Her father Nicholas shouted in frustration while Andrea tried to calm him down,

'Chill dad, I might have missed it somewhere in the airport or on the way to our house..I am sure that I didn't miss it at Ree's place..' she said firmly,

'How are you so sure about that?' Nicholas raised his eyebrows,

'Ree would have definitely informed me if he saw that..don't worry dad..there's nothing in that pen drive except some general documents regarding my research on the factory equipment..I have already transferred them to my laptop and that's of no use..' she said while Nicholas rolled his eyes,