"I have something to talk about with you," Salim told Arsia.
Arsia who was just about to say something gagged her mouth. Not because of Salim's words but because Salim suddenly pulled her arm.
Continuously sensing the strangeness of Salim and Behram, Arsia tried to fight Salim. With all of her strength, she defended herself so that Salim couldn't take her. Arsia lowered her knees so now she was only as high as Salim's belly. She looked like a child who was forced to go home by her mother when twilight arrived.
"Let go of me!" Arsia shouted.
Of course, nothing came of it. Salim who had been able to reply to her every word was suddenly deaf. That man didn't even look at her once and still took her -- dragged her -- into the living room.
Arsia kept trying. She pulled her arm, threw herself to the right and left, tromped her feet... She tried everything as long as she could to free herself from that weird man named Salim. Maybe if it was possible she would try to fly too.
Her appearance looked like someone who was just possessed. Her face reddened, her breathing was restless, and her hair was so messy that covering all over her face. Unluckily, none of her efforts worked. She couldn't fight Salim even with all of her strength.
It wasn't because Arsia was weak. As a woman, she was strong enough, more than the average woman. But Salim didn't look like what he looked or what Arsia thought about.
Salim's well-groomed appearance made Arsia measure his physical strength wrong. Arsia thought that because Salim was a man who took care of his appearance, he wouldn't have more attention to physical strength-building activities such as martial arts, boxing, or so. But now Arsia felt his strength like he was a part of special forces.
'What special forces, geez! He must be a mobster or something!', Arsia pecked.
Arsia tried her luck once again. She pulled her arm back. However, due to her unbalanced position, she ended up hitting Salim's back. Not too hard but enough to make her lips kiss that man's back.
'Of all the bad luck that could happen why should I kiss his back?!', Arsia cursed her luck.
When Arsia was 'enjoying' her misfortune, she was startled by Behram's voice. That old man called out Salim as 'My Lord'. It made Arsia turn her head to Behram instantly.
As for Arsia, how Behram addressed Salim was more shocking than the sound of his voice. Arsia was so surprised that she didn't know what to think or feel. The only thing that she knew was both Salim and Behram weren't normal.
"You guys must be crazy," Arsia spoke softly to herself.
That way Arsia felt more and more threatened. Arsia had to save herself from them, ASAP. Let alone another week, she won't stay in that house even for a second.
Seeing Salim focused on Behram now -- Salim glaring at Behram, tho -- Arsia found her chance. With one movement Arsia managed to release her arm from Salim's grasp. She ran to the main door immediately.
Unfortunately, both Salim and Behram didn't let her go. They were trying to catch her.
Since Arsia was good at running, it wasn't easy for Salim and Behram to catch her. Moreover, for the old Behram. His breath was unsteady. Seeing him, Arsia became worried that Behram would be eliminated to the afterlife.
"Enough! Enough! Stop!" Arsia shouted with her eyes closed. She didn't have the heart to see Behram like that. In addition, if Behram died, there would be more problems later.
The situation turned calm. Slightly opening her eyelids, Arsia peered down. She was on top of a cupboard filled with decorations right now. Just don't ask how Arsia could get there, even she didn't know the answer.
Behram looked at Arsia. His right hand pressed against his left chest because of breathless.
'Oh, my God, is he about to die?!', Arsia panicked.
"Mr. Behram, are you all right?" Arsia asked.
Unable to speak, Behram nodded his head in response.
"You're not going to die, are you?" Arsia asked again.
Behram nodded again. Arsia felt at ease. Then, still peeking, Arsia looked at Salim.
Salim stood not far beside Behram. That man looked like nothing was happening. Salim didn't look tired at all nor anything like that. It was very surprising how he still look hot as hell after what was happening. Seeing him Arsia was more convinced that Salim wasn't an ordinary human being.
"What are you doing there? Are you a langur? Come on down quickly!" Salim called Arsia.
"But I'm afraid!" Arsia replied. Then in a sulking voice, Arsia said, "I'm afraid of height..."
"Stu--" Salim stopped himself. He was about to call Arsia a 'stupid girl', by the way. "Then how did you get up there?" Salim asked expressing his amazement.
"I don't know!" Arsia shrieked annoyed. If it weren't for the embarrassment, she would have started crying by this time. Arsia was really afraid of the height.
"We will not harm you," Salim persuaded.
"Are you mafia? Or gangster?" Arsia asked.
Salim sighed. He tried to be patient after receiving such a question again from Arsia. "No," he answered.
"So are you a maniac?" Arsia made sure again.
"Maniac?" Salim repeated. It was the first time Salim heard that word. Salim looked at Behram then.
Behram opened his dictionary again. His index finger moved down tracing every word he had written. After founding it, Behram looked so surprised. He glanced at Salim.
"M-My Lord..." Behram whispered falteringly. He didn't know how to tell Salim.
Impatiently, Salim grabbed the note. He read the meaning of the word 'maniac' spoken by Arsia just now. Salim handed the book back to his servant. While Arsia from the top of the cupboard watched the movements of Salim and Behram.
'Huh? They took out that note again', she thought.
Salim cleared his throat. Being suspected as a maniac hurt his pride. But he still tried to act cool -- after his pupils widened in surprise -- and returned to showing his noble expression.
Salim understood that Arsia misunderstood him so now she got the wrong impression about him. He was sure that Arsia wouldn't come down and would try to escape again if that girl's perception of him hadn't been straightened out.
Fast, Salim created a virtual chart in his mind. He planned what he had to do to solve his current problem. And straighten out the misunderstanding between himself and Arsia to be the first on the list.
"Arsia, do you hear me?" Salim made sure. Because Arsia was in a panic now, Salim needed to make sure that her work was working.
"What do you want to say?" Arsia responded.
Ensured that Arsia would understand him, Salim continued, "As for what I just said--"
"Which one?" Arsia interrupted harshly.
Salim took a breath. 'Why this girl can't be a little bit polite?', Salim complained inwardly.
"I'll stay here. If you don't mind living with a stranger man, that's your business. But I do mind about it," Salim repeated. "That one," he continued.
"That one..." Arsia responded cynically. Then she talked about Salim with herself, "It was so rude yet he said it twice."
Salim could hear it, of course. But there was nothing that he could do other than to try to be more and more patient with her. He needed Arsia now. At least until Yıldıray's return. So Salim had to be careful not to make Arsia even angrier.
'Didn't she ask me to repeat it?' Salim complained inwardly. It seemed that his journey with Arsia wouldn't be easy.
"So what are you going to say about that?" Arsia continued their conversation.
"You just misunderstood me. I didn't mean to humiliate you at all," Salim said.
"I don't understand what you mean. Say it more clearly!" Arsia was getting impatient.
"We aren't family. I just don't want to cause any misunderstanding because of it. Especially because you're a girl. It will be more unfavorable for you."
Arsia digested Salim's words.
"Can you understand me?" Salim asked cautiously when he saw that Arsia was still lost in her thought.
Arsia looked closely at Salim. She didn't say anything. Salim looked back at Arsia, waiting for that girl to say something.
"Then why did you say that I couldn't go? Are we a family now?"