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?24?

Bulbul hesitated for a moment, clearly uncomfortable with the situation, her fingers fidgeting nervously. "Mumma, wo..." she started, her voice trailing off.

Kavya’s patience was wearing thin. She stepped forward, gripping Bulbul’s shoulders firmly to get her full attention. "Answer me, Bulbul... Kya keh rahi hain wo? What was he saying?" Her voice was sharp, demanding the truth.

Bulbul’s eyes darted around, unable to look her mother in the eye. She let out a shaky breath before speaking again, but this time her voice was quieter, almost apologetic. "Mumma, wo... she’s talking about Cheatel uncle."

Kavya froze for a moment, her whole body stiffening as she processed the words. "What??" she gasped, her heart racing in her chest. "Krishiv sir?? He called himself your father?"

"No, no, Mumma!" Bulbul cried out quickly, her words tumbling out in a rush as she tried to explain herself. "He isn’t... I mean, I lied to the teacher. I thought you’d be angry."

Kavya’s face hardened, her expression unreadable. "And he agreed?" she asked, her voice low and cold, tinged with disbelief.

Bulbul, now realizing the gravity of the situation, was caught between wanting to explain herself and the fear of her mother’s reaction. "Mumma..." she began softly, but her words were barely audible.

"SHUT UP BULBUL!!" Kavya snapped, her frustration finally boiling over. The loudness of her voice echoed through the air, causing Bulbul to flinch, her eyes filling with tears. Without giving her a chance to explain further, Kavya grabbed her by the wrist and started dragging her towards the car. "Chalo mere sath!”

The tension in the air was thick as Kavya stormed into Krishiv's office, her fury palpable. She didn’t bother knocking, just pushed the door open with force, and her eyes immediately locked onto Krishiv. His office, usually calm and organized, now felt constricted by her presence.

The employees in the room shifted uncomfortably under the weight of the situation. Krishiv looked up, his expression turning serious as he saw Kavya’s anger. The room fell silent.

"I want to talk to you," Kavya said, her voice sharp and unwavering, cutting through the silence. Her gaze was directed solely at Krishiv, but her words were meant for anyone in the room.

Krishiv frowned, sensing the gravity in her tone. "Can we discuss this later?" he asked, motioning for the employees to leave. They nodded and filed out of the cabin, closing the door behind them, leaving just the two of them and the growing tension between them. He stood up, his posture tense, as he faced her.

Kavya didn’t waste a second. "What the hell do you think of yourself?" she snapped, her anger flaring. Her chest heaved with frustration, her eyes burning with a mixture of hurt and rage. "How could you do something so reckless?" she continued, not waiting for his response.

Krishiv’s eyes flickered to Bulbul, who stood behind Kavya, her eyes red and puffy, sniffing softly as she tried to hold herself together. It was clear from her expression that she felt the weight of the situation, her guilt and confusion mirrored in her teary eyes.

"Bulbul ki mummy, is everything alright? Aap kya keh rahi hain?" Krishiv asked, his tone shifting to one of concern. He took a step towards them, but his gaze remained locked on Kavya, waiting for an explanation. He didn’t understand what was going on, but he could tell that Kavya was on the edge.

"Ohhh toh ab ye mai bataun?" Kavya’s voice was rising again, her frustration boiling over. "Kya soch ke aap Bulbul ke school gaye the uske papa ban ke?" she asked, the words laced with a sting.

Krishiv froze for a moment, his expression turning to one of confusion. He blinked, trying to process what she was implying. His eyes widened as he glanced at Bulbul, who had stepped back slightly, looking down at the floor. The realization hit him like a ton of bricks—what had been a harmless act of kindness, a friendly gesture, had been misconstrued, and now the consequences were far bigger than he had ever imagined.