[•Ferit's POV•]
"To Kerala?" I asked and they both nodded in unison. Now what was I gonna tell Idris? Or for that matter, my father? I sighed, "Hmm... Okay, then I will leave now, have a good evening" "See you" they said and I went home.
×××
Idris was at Özgür's and I was sitting and drinking alone outside. Did she leave the country because of me? The more I thought about it, the more guilty I felt. At that time Çihan came, "Partner! are you drinking without me?" He asked grinning and poured himself a glass.
"Welcome" I said, "Yeah thanks, did you talk to her?" He asked remembering and sipped his glass. "She left" I said, "Where did she go?" he asked, "To Kerala" I said. He seemed shocked, "Her home?" I nodded and poured myself another glass. "So you didn't see her?" "I went there and Yeşim said she left a few hours ago" I said.
"Now what will we do?" "Now there's nothing to do" I said and leaned back with my glass. "What about Idris, does he know?" "Not yet, he's with Abi now. I will have to tell him, just when we made peace..." I mumbled. "Idris will ask you to go there!" he said and laughed. "By the way, so won't she come for his birthday?" he asked, "I don't think so now"
"Idris will really hate you if she doesn't come for his birthday, you have to get her back" he said, "Çihan, don't talk nonsense, now will I go all the way to Kerala for the sake of a mad girl" "No, not for the mad girl, but for the girl you are madly in love with" He said and sat down near me, "Sure, I am dying of love" I said and rolled my eyes.
"Well, can you deny it?" he asked again, "Çihan, please... Moreover, we have an even bigger problem" I said. "What?" "Mom" He sighed, "What did Tahir uncle say about it?" "He is calm... as usual" I said frowning. "Then why are you so worried?" "I don't like that woman" I replied.
"But Ferit, it is sure that she will stay till Idris' birthday, and there is nothing you can do about it" he revealed the harsh reality. "So don't bother about her now, think of what you are going to do about the girl" he said, I nodded hesitantly. "If you get on a flight tomorrow, you will reach there by New Year" he said.
"You mean to say I really have to go there?" "Well, you don't have much of a choice, do you?" he was right. "But what about Idris?" "Özgür will take care of him" he said. "Then what about the company?" "Oh come on! I am there right? I will take care of things" he said and looked at me expectantly.
"But dad?" Çihan sighed, "Özgür is here, I am here, even Idris is here! Tahir uncle is in safe hands" he said and got up, "Anyways, you decide tomorrow, I will come early and we will have breakfast. Is that fine?" "Okay" I said and got up to hug him.
"Good night" "Good night" I replied as he walked away. I sat back down and thought. Even if I did go there, how was I gonna find her? I remember her, telling my father that, her father owns a lodge. Maybe I could ask Miss Nazmiya to do a full search on her.
I called her and asked her to do it. "Okay Ferit bey" "Thank you Miss Nazmiya" I said, "No worries Ferit bey" "Good night" I said and she hung up. I will figure the rest tomorrow, I thought. I reached the company early and Miss Nazmiya greeted me. "Ferit bey, I found out relevant details about Nuri"
"Good, let's talk in my room" I said and she followed me. Çihan was already present and was reading the newspaper when I entered. "Good morning Ferit" He said looking up, "Morning" "Did you decide?" He asked me, "Partly... Okay Miss Nazmiya, go on" I said turning to her.
"Ferit bey, Nuri's father owns a lodge in the state's capital, Trivandrum. It is called 'Evergreen Quarters' a beautiful place. She lives with her parents and little sister" she ended, "Ferit, did you ask Miss Nazmiya to do an investigation on Nuri?" Asked Çihan, I nodded.
"Well if I have to go there, I need to know where she is" "Ferit bey, are you going to Kerala?" Asked Miss Nazmiya. "Yes Miss Nazmiya, I need you to book a flight at the earliest" "How long will you be gone?" "I will surely come back before Idris' birthday" I said.
"Hmm... Okay" said Miss Nazmiya and went out. "So won't you be here for New Year?" "I don't think so, I will reach there at midnight hopefully if I board a flight before lunch" I said. "Is there a meeting now?" I asked, "Yup, one with the directors" he said getting up, "After that, I will go to Özgür's" I said.
"Okay... Ferit, going after her is one of the best decisions you have made so far" he said and smirked. "We'll see" I said and went to the boardroom. After the meeting, Miss Nazmiya said she booked a flight and that my bags will be ready, she even rescheduled all the upcoming meetings and wished me good luck, I smiled.
I went to Özgür's soon after. "Abi, welcome!" Said Idris and came running to hug me. "How are you, my little artist?" I asked and kissed him. "Hey there Ferit" said Özgür, "Hey" I replied. "Abi, Abi, did you talk to Nuri?" Asked Idris impatiently.
"Uh... Not yet, I couldn't see her" "Why?" He asked frowning. "She went back to Kerala" Idris was shocked. "But she didn't say goodbye..." He mumbled becoming sad. "I wanted to ask you about that, Yeşim told me" said Özgür. "But Abi... What will you do now?" Asked Idris still sad, "I will go there" I said.
His face lit up immediately, even Özgür was surprised. "Are you serious!" I nodded smiling, he jumped up to hug me. "You really are the best brother in the whole world!" He said and hugged me tightly, there was nothing better in the world than making a child happy!
I talked all the details with Özgür and promised Idris to be back on time for his birthday. I said goodbye and left, in the car I called Miss Nazmiya, "Miss Nazmiya can you also book a room at that same lodge? Business suit" I said. "Alright Ferit bey" She said, "I am on my way to the airport and will reach in half an hour" "Have a safe flight" she said and hung up.
[•Nuri's POV•]
I was called to the living room to meet the neighbors. "My god! Nuri? I barely recognize you! Look how you have grown!" Cried Shyamala aunty, "But aunty, I was just gone for four months..." I replied giving an unsure smile. "But your hair has grown longer" said Indu aunty.
"Uh-huh, that's right" said my mother touching my hair. "But leave that, when are you going to marry?" Asked Omana aunty, the most vicious of the group. I just smiled, she turned to my mother, "Saroja, it isn't fitting for such a grown girl to roam the world without a husband" she said.
I hate that lady so much, she has been asking me to marry her son since I was fifteen! Her dear son, Ashok is the stupidest guy I have ever met, but my mother wants me to marry that idiot, and thankfully my father is on my side. He wants me to decide whom I will marry and when I will marry, well I don't plan to do it in this life.
"I have told her a thousand times, but her father won't allow" said my mother, "He wants her to be willing" "What sort of a father does that?" Asked Omana aunty getting up, "The most loving and caring father" I said, she turned to me with cold eyes.
"Girl, listen to me, you are going to be my future 'in-law', you better use that tongue wisely!" She warned and left. I didn't reply, the other two glanced at me, and to change the topic Indu aunty asked, "When did you reach here, Nuri?" "Today morning, the flight was late because of a snowstorm" I said.
"It's already evening, I have a serial now. I am going, see you tonight" said Shyamala aunty and got up, even Indu aunty left. I took the teacups and went to the kitchen. My mother followed me. "Nuri dear, haven't you really not thought about marriage?" "Mom, when I think I will inform you" I said and began washing the cups.
"At least go and see him. He was so excited when he heard you were coming today" she said. "Mom, I will never marry him, if he wants he can come to see me here" I said and returned to my cups. She sighed, "Anyway, there is no milk for tomorrow morning, your grandmother will kill me if she doesn't get her tea, go and buy two packets from the market, okay?" I nodded.
I was really happy to be back, everybody was glad to see me and I loved them all, except of course Omana aunty. I thankfully didn't have to face Ashok or any of his friends, they all might be busy with the new year's preparation. But among them all, Gobi was most excited to meet me.
Yesterday when I came, he looked up and sniffed as if I was a stranger and barked at me, I laughed and went near him and held out my hand, he sniffed and started wagging his tail, he leaped up like a mad dog and licked me all over. I loved him so much! Gobi was my father's trusted assistant, Everybody loved him and fed him and he enjoyed every bit of attention!
The daily routine had come into play again, going to the market, taking a bath and spending the evening with the neighbors. Customers were less as during New Year, everybody preferred their homes best, because of that the chores were also less.
×××
Just fifteen more minutes for New Year, I was so sleepy but Ankita made me stay up. I suddenly got a text from Yeşim and I got up to answer it. "Where are you going?" "I will be in my room, call me if you need anything" I said.
I was lying on my bed and browsing through my playlist with headphones plugged in my ears, at high volume. Suddenly I heard a knock on the door, Ankita was saying something, I didn't hear the whole thing, just a few words- Father... Asked to check... The first class... Suite of lodge or something like that.
"Okay" I said and got up, why does he want me to check it now? Anyways I headed to that suit with the key from the reception. I still had my earphones and the music played on, I opened the door and went in. It was the best room in the whole lodge, it had a big bed, a big bathroom, and a big everything.
It actually had three parts, the living room, the bedroom and the bathroom. The living room looked alright, but I noticed water in the glass near the jug. Ankita is so careless, she shouldn't leave it like this. I will take it after I check the bedroom, I thought. I entered the bedroom and was surprised to find a blue shirt on the bed and a belt and pants were hanging on the stand.
I started to freak out, I then heard the bathroom door being turned, I quickly hid behind the wall. I took off my earphones and prayed not to be caught. I peeped out, there was nobody there but the bathroom door was open, I didn't dare to go near the bed and silently headed towards the living room.
Suddenly I was pushed to the wall by a very strong arm and a very familiar face. The fireworks began inside me and outside too. It was New Year and I was face to face with the most unexpected visitor. "F- F- Ferit bey?" I asked completely stunned.