[•Nuri's POV•]
I saw my parents sitting at the porch, mom was reading the newspaper and dad was busy using the calculator. Ankita was also sitting near them, her eyes glued to her phone. I walked over to them, "Mom, Dad, I have to go back" I said, they both looked at me shocked.
"What? Where?" "I have to go back to Turkey. My course has been resumed again, It starts on the 5th" I said, Ankita looked up at me and smiled secretly, she knew I was lying. "But how will you go there, we already have to pay so much debt" said my mother, "Uh... They will pay for it" "What do you mean?" she asked.
"They said that, for all the students who have gone outside the country, they will pay for our return trip so tomorrow is the flight" "How did they agree to pay for all these children?" she asked, well that was an obvious question. "Uh... Even I don't know how, but they sent an email and mentioned the details, so I have to leave tomorrow evening"
"My poor girl! You just arrived and you are already leaving..." said my mother, I made a sad face. "So mom, I will leave early tomorrow" "The flight is in the evening right?" she asked, "Yes but, I couldn't go around town and all, I have missed this place so much" I said.
"No no, you stay here" said my mother, my heart sank, "Mumma let her go, chechi really wants it. Even I can go with her" said my darling sister, "I don't wanna send the both of you, fine Nuri can go but you will stay here" said my mother. I loved Ankita so much!
My father sighed looking at me and nodded in agreement, but then turned to his calculator and pen. I went and asked my mother what he was doing, "He is calculating the money left to pay Jaleel" she said, "What? we paid him back last summer right?" "Yes, but he said there are 40,000 rupees left, and with interest, it's almost 50" said my mother.
I can't believe it, that greedy dog! how much more does he want? "So should I stay, if you want, I will stay" I said, my mother smiled, "Don't worry about it, you go and pack your bags and sleep well" said my mother caressing my face. She was the sweetest woman ever, I nodded and went back up to my room, right then Ankita caught up with me.
"You agreed didn't you?" she asked, I nodded. "I have to be there for his nephew's birthday, so I agreed" "Okay, but why are you gonna leave in the morning?" She asked and I told her the whole plan. "I knew you were lying!" She said clapping, "Shhh! If they find out, I am dead. Moreover, how did you know that it was a lie?"
"Your eyes always wander around when you lie" she said and smiled, "So is this the first date?" She asked excitedly, "My dear sister, you are not living in a movie" I said, "Oh come on! It's definitely a date, it's at least the first step to marriage, you are making progress" she said slyly.
"You are worse than Yeşim" I said, "Who's that?" "Why are you this curious?" I asked getting mad, "Don't forget that I helped you" she warned, "Fine, fine, I am gonna go pack my bags and sleep. Good night" "Hmm.. good night" she replied.
Breakfast was done and Ferit bey left early as planned, he shook our hands before leaving and glanced at me as he entered the taxi. I left soon after, "Be careful, call every day, okay?" "Okay, but if there is any issue regarding Jaleel, you should call me immediately" I said.
My mother laughed and kissed me. I hugged Ankita and kissed my father and grandmother, and waved before leaving. I told them I will walk till the junction and hire a rickshaw from there.
I got out of the gate and a few meters away, I saw the taxi parked. I was really excited to do this but I still can't believe how Ferit bey agreed, anyway, I went near the cab and knocked. I got in at the back with him, I trusted him more now I guess. "Where are we going?" Asked the driver.
"Museum" I said, "You are going to take me to a museum?" Asked Ferit bey, "Well we call it a museum but it has a lot more things in it. You don't worry about that Ferit bey, You just lay back and relax, and this time, I will do the planning" I said. We soon came to the gigantic gate of the museum.
We got out and stood in front of the wide gates, and he glanced at me, I guess he regretted coming here, "You will thank me later" I said and went ahead, he sighed and followed me. The place was fairly crowded, there were people walking around, a few jogging, "So there is a zoo, the museum, an aquarium, an art gallery, and a park, where do you wanna go first?" I asked.
He looked at me and then at his surroundings and then again turned to me, "The place seems pretty big, can we just walk first?" He asked, of course the log would say that. "Ferit bey, isn't there anywhere you want to go?" I asked, "I will see Nuri" he said and began walking.
[•Ferit's POV•]
I took off my coat as it was kinda hot, even during winter. She followed me silently, there were a lot of trees and bushes around, a few even carved into the shape of elephants. There were a few police officers at the gate, they were staring at us but I ignored them and walked ahead.
"Just think of this as a free tour package along with your stay at the lodge" she said and smiled, she was too naive to realize that this was more like a date. We walked around the place, as I guessed, it was very big and was getting hotter by the minute, clouds were also forming in the sky so probably it was gonna rain.
I stopped in front of a small building, "It's the aquarium, do you wanna go there?" Asked Nuri, "Yeah, it looks fine" I said, "Then let me go and get the tickets" she said, "Nuri wait, you can take this money" I said and handed her my bundle of rupees which Miss Nazmiya had given me before arriving.
She was stunned suddenly, she grabbed my hand and lowered it as if to hide the cash, "Ferit bey you shouldn't walk around with so much cash! What if someone robs you? They might also hurt you, even the police will suspect you, give me a single ₹500 note and keep the rest inside!" She whispered cautiously.
I glanced at her and then at my hand, she was keeping my hand hidden inside her palms. She suddenly let go, seeing me glance at her hand. "Okay" I said and took a note and handed it to her. She went to the ticket counter and after a few minutes came back with two tickets. I still can't believe I agreed to do this, and she lead me inside.
There were just a few people inside, a guard and a few men and women, everybody was dark-skinned with varying hues, they also had coal-black hair, except Nuri. Her hair was a shiny black, but sometimes seemed brown in the sun and her tan was a very mild brown.
A few people kept staring at us rather looking at the fishes, it was kinda annoying. At that time, Nuri touched the glass of one aquarium and the security guard scolded her a lot for it, "Sorry..." She mumbled and stayed silent for a long time. I grinned to myself, she was like a child sometimes, and sometimes as bold as a lion.
She returned back to her old state when she said she saw a fish similar to me, it was a beautiful fish but less active, it seemed to stay in one place. It took almost an hour to get her out of the aquarium, she was fascinated by everything, the fish, the growing weeds, even the aquarium frames.
"Did you like it?" she asked me, "It was fine" "So you don't regret coming here with me?" she asked, she really thought that? "Well not yet" I said and headed forward. "Where do you wanna go next?" "You said something about an art gallery?" she lit up and nodded and lead the way. The art gallery was really good, there were tons of pictures of Raja Ravi Varma, a great Indian painter.
We spent a lot of time there, it was
very peaceful there too. "Idris would have loved it!" said Nuri, "You are right, I will bring him here once" "Here?" she asked giving a confused smile, "Yes" I said and returned to the paintings.
"What is your hue?" she asked suddenly, "My hue? What do you mean?" "You know a color which defines you most" she said, "Uh... I don't know" I said, "I think that it is blue, you know cool, cold and clever" she said. "You think I am clever?" "And cold" she said, "Then what's yours?" I asked, "Umm... I don't really know" she said.
"I mean, I have just thought about others' colors but not mine" "You are golden, like your name, like light" I said. She glanced at me and I, at her eyes. I gazed at her hoping she would realize, I could sense her heart getting warmer by the minute. "Uh... Ah! You haven't seen the pictures in that section!" She said all of a sudden and turned to go to the next room. I chuckled to myself and followed her.
It was deep into the afternoon when we got out of the museum and the art gallery. "Ferit bey, are you hungry?" she asked, "Even if I say no, you will take me to have lunch, won't you?" I asked, she laughed, "Of course I will, I am very hungry, so come on" she said and turned back.
"So is the tour done after that?" I asked, "You didn't really like it, did you?" she asked getting kinda gloomy, "No Nuri, I really liked it, the paintings were just marvelous. I am glad I came here, really" I said and placed my hand on her shoulder she glanced at me and smiled warmly.
"So you just appreciated me?" I smiled and nodded, "Hmm... Then I know a fantastic place for lunch, but it's kinda expensive" she said, "Don't worry about that, I trust your choice" I said and smiled. She froze for a moment when I said those words, but then smiled and lead the way. I finally start to realize that Çihan's words might be true... And I followed her, again.