Not One Sided

35. Kına gecesi

  Elçin's POV

The sun had set, I freshened myself up and stood opposite the mirror staring at my glistening golden silk outfit and speaking to myself,

"Isn't it lovely?"

"Elçin, who used to be very pessimistic about her love, who had thought that such pleasures would never be a part of her life, maybe because she doesn't deserve it. Elçin, you're different today although you're still afraid. There're going to be a lot of hardships that you've to overcome. But you know that Allah has promised, 'Indeed, with every hardship, comes ease.' "

A while later,

"Elçin hatun, may we come in?"

"Gel.."

Two of our Anatolian girls, Miray and Melike. They'd come in to get me ready for the night.

"Elçin hatun, this outfit suits you so much. Maşallah."

"Sağol, Miray."

"Ama I could do it on my own. Why did you both simply get bothered?"

"Elçin hatun, we know there's nothing much but we were excited and wanted to get you ready." Melike replied.

"Tamam."

I sat on the chair right in front of the mirror and they stood by my sides.

"Should we braid your hair?"

"Let it be loose, it's still wet."

She took the 'sürme' and applied on my eyes.

"Kızlar, forgive me if I've wronged you in any way, I might've done it unintentionally."

"Hayır, Elçin hatun. We're always going to remember you at our good and worse. But we hope that you don't forget us once you leave." They chuckled.

" 'Forget' is a very strong word. One doesn't forget the silliest things of her life, how 'd she forget her own people.?"

"What an exquisite fragrance!" Miray told holding the small perfume bottle in her hand.

"Here, I'll apply it on your wrists."

A smile grew on my face as she applied the perfume on my wrist.

"Neoldu? Why are you smiling?" Melike asked smirking.

"Just got reminded of something."

Just then, Safiye hatun came in.

"Has our bride gotten ready?"

She came ahead and lifted my chin with her hand,
"Maşallah, çok güzel. Çok!"

She drew a beautiful and finely embroidered red veil over my face.

"Even more beautiful. Hadi, let's go now."

Melike and Miray had already left the yurt.
I turned my face towards her and thanked,
"Safiye hatun, Teşekkürler..."

"Why are you thanking me?" She chuckled.

"For always being there for me and understanding me more than anybody every did. Also, being a guide to me."

"Kızım, thank Allah, not me."
She smiled and took me out of the yurt just where they had decorated.

There was a circular red carpet and a chair placed on the middle of it where I was supposed to sit.
Everybody was dressed in their best red and maroon shades of clothes.
I sat on the chair and could see through my translucent veil the candles in their hands. Mâhmelek approached and stood beside me.