[•Ferit's POV•]
(Starts from where Nuri has just left to attend the phone call)
Even after Nuri left, Idris was going on with the tale of how he and his friend Burak made a rainbow kite, till he got up, "I need to use the restroom" he said and went to the opposite room, we nodded.
Still, Nuri hadn't come back and I checked my watch, it was late and I had to drop her home. Seeing me anxious, my father asked, "You worried?" "Huh? Why would I be worried?" He pretended not to know but guess, "I don't know... Maybe because It's late, the girl didn't come back yet... Or something" Of course Baba! "Dad, come on" and I rolled my eyes, "Ferit, Look at me" he said, "After I am gone, who do you have, huh?" I had no reply, "She is a fine girl, well mannered, kind and beautiful too. It's obvious! Now-" "Sorry to interrupt your speech but I am really thirsty and your bottle is also empty, let me go fill it up" I said and got up, glad that I escaped from the conversation.
The filter near the counter was under repair so I went to the other one. The hospital was a funny place, in the afternoon, it was so crowded but in the evenings you don't see a single soul around, probably because most of the operations were at that time.
Suddenly when I turned to face the filter, a few meters behind the chairs, I saw Özgür, he was leaning forward and his face was hidden by the filter, but then I saw hair from the side of the filter, he was strangling somebody I thought, a girl.
"Özgür!" I called, he leaned back to face me. Then suddenly, I saw the person pushing Özgür away and she ran past me, it was Nuri. I wasn't often this mad, but Özgür, he stood there and laughed like a fanatic, he was obviously drunk. I chased after her, thinking she went to the room but I didn't see her there.
Then I went outside and saw her trying to hire a cab. I ran after her and grabbed her hand, "Nuri-" I was about to speak, "Ferit bey, your brother is a jerk! And from now on, I have nothing to do with you or your family. I quit!" She was trembling, and her eyes were red as she said that and she got into the cab, shaking off my hand. It was the first time in my life that someone cut me short, the first time when someone left me hanging.
I went back into the building. In the corridor, I met Özgür. "You fired her right? She wasn't good anyway" he said and smirked triumphantly, but I wanted to punch him in the face that very moment, "What are you doing Özgür? Huh? Are you a maniac?" "You can't call your brother a maniac!" He said and laughed, I was sure he was drunk. "You drank a lot, eh?" I asked. "No dear, I haven't drunk a drop in my life" he said and laughed again. I was frustrated by everything that just happened. "How did you get here?" I asked, "A yellow taxi" he said and rubbed his right eye, I then put his arm around my shoulder and lead him to my car. I made him sit inside and locked it and went back inside to get Idris.
When I got back to the room, I saw Idris yawning. "Abi, Where is Nuri?" He asked, "She had to go back home urgently and so do we" I said, "It's still early" "But look, you have become drowsy, come on take your bag, let's go" I said, Idris lazily gathered his things. "Baba, tomorrow I have a meeting in the afternoon so I will come in the evening" my father nodded and kissed Idris before leaving. "See you boys" he said, "Bye" We replied.
I lead Idris outside and spoke, "Your uncle is here" I said, "Where, I can't see him. Why didn't he come to meet grandpa?" "He was not feeling well, so he sat in the car" I said. When we reached the car, Özgür was already asleep and Idris got in at the back.
The drive home was silent as even Idris fell asleep. I first drove to Özgür's place, and when we reached, I made him lean on my shoulder and took him upstairs to his bed, then I went home lifting Idris and put him to bed too. The day was very tiring and I couldn't sleep well. I thought about how hurt the girl must have been when he kissed her. I knew I had to take Özgür there first thing in the morning and make him apologize.
When the day came, I realized that there was no one to cook lunch or dinner, so I called Miss Nazmiya to tell her that, she said it was difficult now in the winter, but she would try. I made breakfast for me and Idris. "Good morning my little artist" I said and smiled when Idris came in the kitchen, "Good morning abi... Abi haven't you gone to work?" "I will leave after making breakfast and you will spend the rest of your day with Bashir abi" I said, "But where's Nuri?" "Idris, she doesn't work here anymore" I said, trying to make him understand.
"Why? You surely must have done something, that's why she left last evening right? Without even saying goodbye?" "Idris, I never did anything to upset her, she was sad because of something else. Moreover, since it is winter, she felt like she needed a break" Idris is the only person in my life to whom I have lied to, but I couldn't possibly tell him his uncle was a womanizer.
I called Bashir who was Çıhan's trusted driver. He was a friendly guy and pretty fond of Idris too. "Good morning Ferit bey" "Morning... Bashir, is there anywhere you have to go today?" I asked, "Not really... Ferit bey, even Çıhan bey had gone to Ireland for that conference" "Yeah... So can you spend the day with Idris?" I asked, "Of course Ferit bey, It's been a while since I saw him. My mother is also coming to town with my sister and her son. They will really like him" he said, "Okay then, that's good to hear. You can come here now and get him... But make sure nothing goes wrong, alright?" "Of course Ferit bey" he said and hung up. After half an hour, Bashir came and took Idris and I headed out to go to Özgür's place.
I knocked on the door and he came out with messy hair, "Good morning abi" "Hey there, good morning. Come on in" he said. I went to the living room and sat on the couch, "Do you wanna have anything?" "I had breakfast, thank you" I replied. "Abi... Go on get ready, we are leaving" "Huh?" He asked, "Don't you remember? You are gonna go and apologize for what you did?" "What did I do?" I sighed, "You kissed her" "Nope, I don't remember going that far, I was going to but then you came" he said and laughed, I felt slightly happy when I heard that.
"Moreover, I am leaving for Konya today evening, I will be back after a week" "What? Why?" I asked confused, "There is a photography workshop and the sponsors have invited me. It begins after two days but I will go there today and tomorrow hang around the city and the next seven days, at the workshop. Tell Idris I will bring him something good" I nodded.
"But still, you may not have kissed her but you have hurt her. She was upset because of you, we have to go there abi" I said, getting serious. He came and sat opposite me. "I have kissed and slept with a lot of women, and till now I didn't have to apologize to anyone of them. Moreover, why do you care so much, huh? You in love?" He laughed, at this moment I sprang up and clenched my fist.
"Özgür abi, don't make me hit you. She is my worker and job security is my responsibility" I said furiously. He got up and equaled my height, "Whether you like it or not, I am not saying sorry" and he went into the kitchen.
I left the place and went to the company, the day was boring as Çıhan wasn't there and in the evening I went to the hospital. Later I collected Idris back from Bashir's place, and he was still angry at me. Even the next morning he said that he won't eat anything the new chef makes, "Idris my dear, you will love her as much as you love Nuri, Okay?" "Still, let's at least go meet her" he said, at that time the new chef came in.
"Ferit bey, good morning. I am Güliz" She said and I shook her hand, "Hello there!" She turned to Idris and started pinching his cheeks, "Oh! You are the cutest little person I have ever met, what's your name cutie-pie?" "Leave me!" Cried Idris and pushed her hand away but then she rubbed his hair, leaving his cheeks red and his hair messy. "Ahem" I pretended to cough. "Pardon" she said and looked up, "Miss Güliz, I will be back in the afternoon, till then you have to stay with Idris and cook, just lunch for two" she nodded, smiling wide at Idris. Idris glared at me, but I thought to give the lady a chance and left.
When I was back in the afternoon, Idris seemed really happy about something. "Abi, abi! Let's eat lunch" he said, "Tamam, let me go and change" "Come quickly abi!" he said, something seemed fishy. Güliz was still in the kitchen and cleaning the table before leaving. "Here you are Ferit bey" She said and kept two plates on the table. I was gonna go and sit on one side then Idris came and interfered, "Abi, can you sit on that chair, I like this plate more" he said and I was forced to shift.
She made vegetable soup, I tasted a spoon and was glad that I wasn't sick. There seemed to be more salt than vegetables. "What is this Güliz?" I asked frowning, "Ah, Ferit bey, this is a special soup my mother used to make, do you like it?" She asked and smiled innocently, "Güliz please leave here and don't come back" I said and got up, "Idris, get ready, we are going out" I said, he nodded.
Even that day passed and Idris was sad that Özgür left. The third day came after her resignation and my mind was still troubled by guilt. Then Idris came into the kitchen rubbing his eyes, "Buddy? Are you up?" He nodded, "You have drawing class from today. After breakfast, you will go get ready and I will drop you at the place then in the evening we will together go to the hospital, Okay?" He nodded still drowsy, "Guess what, Lunch and dinner will be outside!" I said hoping to make him cheerful, he just nodded.
After the meetings in the afternoon, I called Çıhan, he said he would be back the next day and finally something made me happy in days. In the evening even my father asked about Nuri and Idris said I made her upset, I denied him calmly. Then when we left the hospital he was so adamant that he won't eat anything but food cooked by Nuri, and in the car, he kept blabbering the same thing again and again, it did make me angry but I kept silent. He was trying to drive me mad and it was kinda working.
"I am sure she left because you did something abi. Why don't you go and call her back, tell her that I am not eating anything since she left and-" "Idris!" I said and stopped the car at the side. He grew silent and I could sense fear growing inside him, but his eyes always seemed to grasp me, "Fine, I will talk to her tomorrow" "Morning" he said, "Alright morning" "Promise me you won't come back home till you convince her" I raised an eyebrow, "Abi... Please..." He begged.
I sighed, "I will try" I said, he removed his seatbelt and jumped up to hug me and kissed my cheek, I couldn't help laughing. "You are the best uncle in the whole world" he said and sat back. "So will you keep quiet now?" He nodded and acted as if zipping his mouth. I chuckled and drove home.