Compensation

Couple days after the fire incident happens, the owner of the place which my father rent for the restaurant comes to our house with some officers that investigating the fire.

"Sir Bao, I'm sorry I can't properly welcome you in my house. My leg and arm are injured because of that fire. I can't even stand properly"

My father leg and arm that broken during the fire is bandaged with the stick to support the bones. the doctor who treated him said need couple months before my father can fully heal. He can't walk and only can sit on the chair with my mother's help.

"It's okay mister You, no need for pleasantries, I came here because I have something to discuss with you"

"Is it about that shop, sir?"

"Yes, I will straight to the point, how much you will compensate me because my shop burned like that?"

"Compensate? But sir, isn't the cause of the fire still under investigation?"

"That's why I come with officer Ling there, he's the officer that responsible for the investigation. He already decides the source of fire that burns my shop is because of the fire in your kitchen"

"Yes, from the eyewitness who saw the fire for the first time, he said that fire comes from the back side of the shop which is your restaurant's kitchen. My investigation concluded that before you close your restaurant, you forget to put down the fire in the stove"

"WHAT! That's impossible! I can't make such a basic mistake like that. I'm sure I already put down the fire in the stove before closing the restaurant"

"Mister You, fire comes from the backside of the restaurant, It's only kitchen in there, the place where you cook using fire. Maybe you not completely turn off the fire in the stove, which after you left, start getting bigger and finally burn your restaurant"

"That can't be!"

"Mister You, are you saying that this officer Ling tell you lies? Are you trying to evade to pay compensation because your mistake causing me lost my shop?"

Mr. Bao starts speaking in a threatening tone to my father.

"No! No! I don't mean that…I just ask for further investigation. Please don't decide that so quickly"

Officer Ling looks irritated with what my father said

"Mister You! Are you saying that I'm not working professionally? I've in charge of fire investigation in the capital city for ten years. Do you doubt my words?"

"No! No officer Ling, all I ask from you is re-investigate the fire. I swear in the name of Gods that I already put down the fire on the stove. There's can't be a fire come from there"

"So, are you saying someone burn your restaurant on purpose? Why did someone do that? Do you have enemies? You're not even own that shop that you used for the restaurant"

"That's….That's why I want you to investigate once again officer Ling. That's fire is too weird to happen"

"Silent! You just want to escape from your responsibilities to pay compensation for Mr. Bao here. Do you want to send to prison? Your carelessness already makes other people suffer and lost his property. Is that what you want?"

Hearing about sent to prison makes my father pale. My mother also starts crying and beg my father to not too stubborn anymore about the cause of the fire.