Love into obsession

Chapter - 38

The next morning.

The kitchen disaster had already been handled. The burn had already been treated. The mess had already been cleaned.

And the three men who had seen the whole thing last night — Mahi, Jaddu and Abhi — were sitting at the breakfast table like nothing had happened.

Calm. Collected. Completely normal.

Because they already knew. The rest of the table did not.

Shubman was sitting beside Abhi, quiet and sleepy, his bandaged hand tucked inside the sleeve of an oversized hoodie. He was trying very hard to look innocent.

Very hard.
Too hard.

Virat was reading documents. Rohit was sipping coffee. Sanju was checking his phone. Ishan and Rishab were talking quietly. Siraj was sitting with his arms folded, looking half asleep. Shami was going through a security report with a serious expression.

Yash, Shrey and Mayank were trying very hard to look innocent too.
Then a maid entered the dining hall.
Maid- Sir...

Mahi looked up.
Maid- the kitchen renovation team has arrived.

Silence.
Mahi, Jaddu and Abhi exchanged one quick look. They knew exactly why the renovation team was here. But they said nothing.
Shubman lowered his gaze immediately.

Virat frowned.
Virat- renovation team?

Maid nodded.
Maid- yes sir. For the kitchen damages.

That was when the four guilty boys froze. Instantly.

Yash choked on his juice. Shrey dropped his spoon. Mayank went completely still. And Shubman, sitting beside Abhi, stiffened too.
Virat noticed it immediately.

His eyes narrowed.
Virat- kitchen damages?
Maid- yes sir. The kitchen fire.

Silence. Complete silence.
Rohit slowly looked up from his coffee. Sanju stopped scrolling. Ishan and Rishab both turned toward the four frozen idiots.
Siraj lifted his head properly now, his expression sharpening. Shami lowered his report and looked over the top of it.

And Mahi, Jaddu and Abhi just sat there.
Watching. Because they already knew. Virat slowly placed his documents down.

Virat- fire?

Yash tried to smile. A very weak smile.
Yash- small misunderstanding.

Virat stared at him.
Virat- misunderstanding?

Shrey immediately shook his head.
Shrey- not a big one.
Virat- not a big one?

Mayank tried to sink lower in his chair.
Mayank- tiny one.

Virat looked at him.
Virat- tiny.

Mayank nodded very fast.
Virat- you burned the kitchen and you are calling it tiny?

Nobody answered. Because there was no answer that would help.
Mahi leaned back in his chair. Jaddu took a sip of coffee. Abhi folded his arms. Shubman stayed very still beside him.
All four of them were perfectly calm. Because they had already dealt with the fire last night. They had already seen the burn. They had already changed the bandage. They had already ordered the renovation team.
Now they were just waiting for the others to find out.

Virat looked at the maid again.
Virat- how bad is it?

The maid hesitated.
Maid- sir... half the counter is damaged. One cabinet is burnt. The stove area needs replacement. And the wall needs repainting.