Zara got up earlier than Deniz. She looked at his face which looked so calm. But she couldn't forget the scary last night. It was the first time of her to see him in that way. So, she thought of him deeply. His left hand was around Zara's waist hence she couldn't get up. When Zara tried to take it away Deniz woke up and clutched her tightly.
"You can't leave that easily even though you try hard." He murmured.
"Then let's stay hungry. No one else is here to prepare food." Zara replied back.
"Do you think, you're that great? Anyone can cook."
"Then can you cook too?" Zara asked.
"You decide it today." Deniz said and ran out the room. Zara was looking at him amazingly. His change of behavior was mysterious. But still Zara loved his that childishness. His phone rang and Zara picked up the line. It was Julie on the other side.
"Deniz is in the kitchen. Is there any message for him?" Zara asked from Julie.
"I want to speak to him. Don't act like his owner. He has a shoot today. Ask him to call me soon."
Julie hung up the phone harshly. Zara wasn't in a mood to argue with her furthermore, she didn't like Julie's behavior from the beginning. Julie always wanted to come between them. And Zara could identify her intentions better than anyone. After having a hot shower Zara went to the kitchen.
Deniz was preparing egg sandwiches. Zara loved the aroma there and she was happy to see her furious husband making them so lovingly.
"Smell is wonderful."
"It should be.. Not only you, I can cook well." Deniz proudly said. Zara couldn't stop her laugh.
"Why? Don't you trust me? Sit I'll serve you. Then you'll have answers." He made her sit and brought sandwiches and tomato-juice.
"Try them." He fed her a bite. "How is it?"
Zara didn't say anything. She took another bite and ate silently. Then she kissed his hands.
"It's so good Deniz. Scrumptious."
"Isn't it a bit salty?" He asked again like a kid. Zara nodded 'no'.
'Everything is perfect when you're around.' She whispered to the air.
"Julie called you. Do you have a shoot today?" Zara asked while having breakfast.
"Ah.. I forgot that. I'll cancel it. Today, I have another thing to do."
"What's that?"
"You eat first. Then we have to go somewhere." Deniz said and went.
Zara had her breakfast cravingly.
Deniz drove to the hospital. Until they arrived, Zara didn't know that they were going there.
"Hospital? What's the problem Deniz? Aren't you feeling well?" Zara enquired.
"Fool girl. I'm fine. You go and meet your dad. Then, we'll go somewhere."
He dropped Zara there and drove away. Zara went to her father.
"Dad how are you feeling now?"
"I'm totally fine Zara. Don't worry."
"Sorry dad. I couldn't bring anything today. I was.."
"What happened my baby? You are hurt." He stroked Zara's head. And her hands had few bruises too.
"Ah. That's nothing. I slipped in the bathroom."
"You're so careless since childhood. How many times have you fallen in the school? Even I can't count." Emmanuel was upset.
"It's not a big deal dad. Even I don't feel a pain."
Before Emmanuel speak, someone knocked the door and entered. Both father and daughter got surprised seeing Deniz there with lots of bags.
"Deniz you? why did come?" Zara questioned suddenly.
"Why? Can't I visit my father in law?" Deniz gave her the bags without considering her words then walked towards Emmanuel.
"Hi dad. I'm Deniz, I'm your daughter's husband." He introduced himself and gave his hand to shake.
"Family doesn't shake hands son, they hug with love." Emmanuel warmly embrace his son in law. Deniz did the same happily.
"I asked Zara to bring you here many times. But she didn't listen." Emmanuel said looking at Zara.
"But she never told me." Deniz spoke back.
"Because you're a star. You can't roam like us." Zara explained to both of them. but they didn't heed her and continue their men-talk.
"Sorry. I came late. I didn't know, you were her dad."
"Do you know me son?"
"Why don't I? You taught me how to play piano when I was in college?
"Oh! You went to the music college."
"Ofcourse. And you always told me if I didn't learn well, you would make me marry your daughter."
"Ha..ha..ha" Emmanuel couldn't stop his laugh. "David's son?"
"Yes."
"I'm sorry Deniz. I couldn't recognize you earlier. David was my childhood friend. I taught him piano too."
"It's ok dad. If my dad knew about you, he would visit you."
"Finally, you did what I asked for. Right? Finally, you got married to Zara." Emmanuel said while smiling. Deniz smiled too. Zara was happy to hear that.
"May be, you two are fated." He said again. Deniz felt happy. He looked at Zara who was looking at him. Both had eye-lock and had been lost in their thoughts. Emmanuel saw their romance and was glad to see Zara's happiness. Even though he had fears about her future, he thought Deniz would be the best companion to share her life.
After feeding lot of fruits that was bought by Deniz, they left Emmanuel and went. On the way to their next destination, Zara started uttering like a parrot. Deniz could easily remind her childhood looking at that attitude. Suddenly Zara found him smiling alone and enquired about.
"Why are you smiling like this?"
"Can't I smile? What a fate!" Deniz said mocking at her. "I never knew that ugly chatterbox was you."
"What? Ugly chatterbox? You're bad Deniz." She became upset.
"When you were small, you come to the music college with your dad. Always babbling, you were so frisky, sometimes you ran after us with a rod."
"Really?" Zara couldn't remember anything.
"Of-course really. Once you hit on my head, I cried too. Still I have that scar." Deniz tried to show her his head. But she didn't see any scar.
"There's not. You're lying."
"Then why don't you ask from your dad? He hit you for that. You cried a lot that day. Since your father was angry, he didn't want to console you, so finally I had to sing a lullaby for you." Deniz proceeded his talk. Zara was bashful. She tried to divert the talk.
"Why did you want to meet my dad today?"
"Zara, don't be reticent. I know you better than anyone. Sometimes more than your friend Noah." He was happier than Zara.
"Ok. I don't say anything. But is that true my dad asked you to marry me?"
"He didn't ask. It was the punishment I was given. I wasn't good at piano but my dad wanted me to learn that. So, I was sent to your dad. Your dad told me frequently he would get me married to you, if my piano results were bad. So, I learnt hard and got a credit pass."
Zara laughed, "Were you that much afraid of me?"
"Why not, you were scary. You always fought with me."
"Dad have told me that I was roguish in my childhood."
"Yes yes. I think you were just five or six years old at that time. I was in my 9th grade."
"Even though you did well in the piano test, you had to fail right?" Zara asked curiously.
"What do you mean by that?" Deniz became curious too.
"Because you had to marry me eventually."
After hearing her words, Deniz stopped the car and parked adjacent to the 5th avenue. He glanced at Zara making her worried.
"I never knew that was you and I never wanted to marry you from the beginning. But I never failed in my life Zara. You are not my failure."
"But because of me Esmee…" She tried to speak but Deniz didn't allow her. He closed her mouth with a kiss.
"Shh…you've spoken too much already. Let me speak now. Whatever our beginning was, however we've started it, forget everything and let's create a happy future together." Deniz's words were loyal and pure. Zara was enrapt. She started dreaming like a kid. It was fairy but wonderful. Even though, they were in the middle of a crowded city, they dreamt together without considering about the world.
Julie was angrily throwing her stuff in her room. She was mad at Deniz because he postponed all the programs along with the shooting. On that time, Esmee came to her.
"What happened Julie?" She was surprised to see the mess.
"Zara. She should be the reason. Deniz cancelled all his appointments today."
"May be, he has something else important. Don't get angry. I know him better than you. He doesn't postpone his schedules easily." Esmee explained Julie.
"No Esmee. You're wrong. He told me himself that he wanted to cancel everything as he was going to spend whole day with Zara alone."
"What? My Deniz said that?" Esmee was furious too.
"He is no longer yours Esmee. That ugly duckling controls him." Julie said in anger.
"We have to execute our plans sooner Julie. I don't want to lose him." Esmee was about to cry. Julie agreed nodding her head.
Zara and Deniz returned home after their shopping schedule. They had bought all most all things that newly-weds want. Even ceremic items were there. Deniz helped Zara to place them in the kitchen. After spending more than an hour, they could finally arrange their house as they wished. Zara switched on the kettle to have a cup of tea. She was totally exhausted with the long day they had. Since they had their lunch earlier outside, she was a bit hungry too. So, Zara took out cookies from the drawer until the water boils.
"Deniz, do you want some?" She asked loudly from the kitchen. But Deniz wasn't in the salle. He was having a shower while singing Zara's favourite song.
'Girl came from heaven..
Turning dark into sunshine..
Lilies blossomed the love..
That I could die in ecstasy....'
While having tea and cookies Zara prepared the dinner. She first baked garlic breads, then prepared salmon salad with broccoli and cheese. After that she fried some boiled potatoes and corn. Fried potatoes and corn with Indian spices were Deniz's childhood favourite.
Deniz was decorating their room with white roses. Their bed, dressing table even the bathtub was full of rose petals. While Zara was in the hospital with her father, he had gone to buy roses and kept them secretly in the car dicky. For the first time in his life he was happy with roses rather than lilies for Zara's sake.
When Zara entered to the room, she was surprised with roses all around the room. Deniz hugged her behind and asked, "Do you like my surprise?"
"Hmm…our room looks like a fantasy."
"But you smell spices." He mocked at her. Zara pinched his waist and went to the bathroom.
"Come soon, there are many more to explore." He fell on the bed.
It was like a dream for Zara. She hadn't received such a wonderful amazement in her entire life. So, she didn't want to spend much time on bathing and returned to Deniz soon.
Deniz found her prettiest and got stuck with her natural beauty.
"Deniz" Zara smiled lovingly at him. Hearing her squeaky voice, he got into some senses and showed her the bed to sit. Zara followed him and sat beside. Deniz got closer and wore her a diamond ring.
"Deniz?" Zara was amazed.
"This is not a payment or a gift for being my manager. This is our marriage ring for being my wife." Deniz said before Zara uttered something unusual.
"But I have a ring." Zara showed him her ring which was worn on their wedding day.
"You're always ruining my mood Zara." Deniz got sad and went towards the window. "When I try to do something for us, you always take them opposite. Even you didn't look at it well. This is not a normal diamond ring Zara. I have customized this specially for you."
Deniz was bemused and angry.
Zara walked to him and said, "I'm sorry, I became confused. I haven't received such an expensive thing earlier Deniz. So, I didn't know how to react."
"You don't know how much I like the ring. It doesn't shine alone it makes me elegant as well." She proceeded her talk as Deniz remained silent.
"Deniz." She called him again.
"Do you know the meaning of this ring?" Finally, he spoke taking Zara's hand. "No right. You can't still understand me even after we're living together for six months." Deniz released her hand and was about to leave her there.
"What's the use of living like this Zara. You can't even remember our marriage day. Today's our six-month anniversary and you say, you're confused with my gift." Deniz left the room sadly. Zara was totally upset with her foolishness. She started hitting her head on the wall blaming to herself.
Deniz came back to take his pillow but stopped seeing Zara's act.
"Are you mad or something? What the hell are you doing?" He angrily walked to Zara and pulled her towards him.
"I'm sorry Deniz." Her voice was remorseful. Deniz stroked her head.
"I have already hurt you yesterday. Do you want more bruises?"
Before he left her again, Zara embraced him tightly. She didn't want to be away from him even for a moment. And her heart, it had already started beating for her love for Deniz.
"Deniz, I don't know how to do a confession. I haven't tried it before too. But to me, you're my everything. My day starts from you and ends with you. You don't know, how much I love you. Yes Deniz, I love you. I love you more than my life. If you fight with me, blame me, hit me, I can never get mad at you, I can simply forget everything but I can't stop loving you."
Deniz didn't react or speak. He was looking into her eyes, which were showering love with warm tears, even without winking his eyes. He wanted to surprise Zara but he didn't wish to be surprised by her. His body veins were vibrating highly with the shock he got. He felt hot even in that cold windy night.
Zara couldn't take away her eyes from him either. She was glancing, for his reply. Since it was the first time in her life to say those magical words to someone, she was a bit confounded too. When she narrowed her head, Deniz lifted it up and showed her the letter 'Z' in the gifted ring. That ring's diamond was crafted into the 'Z' shape.
"Oh Z! Z for Zara?" She asked happily.
"No, Z for us. Z is the common letter of our names. So, it belongs to both of us." He explained while remaining in her espousal.
"Hmm.. Zara starts with Z. And Deniz.." She wanted to add further. But Deniz put his finger on her silken lips and said, "And Deniz ends with Zara."
Zara kissed his finger which was on her lips. Deniz took out it and said,
"May be your father is right. We may be fated to be together. Like, I'm fated to love you."
Zara heard his words resounded. She looked at him curiously like she couldn't believe her ears. She never knew he would love her back.
Deniz raised his eye brows and asked, "Why?"
Zara moreover grasped him and kissed his chest. At that time all she wanted was his steady body to lean on.
"Deniz is fated to love Zara." She murmured with intense happiness. Her joy could be seen in her sparkling brown eyes too. Deniz was extremely happy as well.
He kissed her eyes and then her lips. He lifted Zara to bed. They both were deeply stuck in their dalliance with much of love and lust in that calm night. When the moon's golden rays were spreading around the room, Deniz's muscular, nude body was seen, shining over Zara. And that was the ecstasy in their marriage life.