Locked in the memory

Chapter 15: Vita, guarda chi c'è qui

Wednesday morning:

Hayat POV

I guess we fell asleep while watching the movie. The next thing I remember was bell ringing. Well I looked around to find Cihangir already up and about. I asked him why couldn't he just get the door. "What door? Hayat are you half asleep? That was your alarm!" He said chuckling. "I know what my alarm is. That wasn't mine." I retorted. "Well I'm pretty sure you hit snooze. So now when it rings again, we'll see." Why is he so annoying in the morning. "I'm not annoying. You are just cranky till you get your coffee. Now don't look at me like that.  I'm not a mind reader but I'm definitely your face reader. Now go wash up. I'll have your coffee ready till then." he said while laughing. Sure that annoying person would find it funny I thought while getting up to wash myself. I quickly washed up and went to the kitchen to find a hot latte cup on the counter. I hugged Cihangir saying, "You do know you are the best brother in the world?" He laughed. Wow. I really am cranky before I get my cup of coffee. Well we were having a normal conversation at the counter. He just finished making us waffles and as soon as he was about to sit down to eat with me, the door bell rang. For real this time.

"I'll get that. You dig in, Vita" he said. After about a minute I heard Cihangir shout, "Vita, guarda chi c'è qui." He spoke Italian. I hope we have a good company for him to use Italian to tell us we have company. I walked in to the door. And time stood still. 

Murat's POV

Wednesday early morning.

Tuval called me early in the morning that the plan had changed. Hayat messaged her late at night to forget the surprise and bring in the whole clan in the morning. I called and woke up Kerem and Doruk to gather their respective lady loves at my house. I had a surprise for them. They sure did arrive on time. Tuval joined us too. I drove with Kerem, Ipek and Tuval in my car. Doruk and Asli followed us in Doruk's car. We reached the address Tuval had given me. I made them stand next to each other a few steps away from the front door. I said "Ipek and Kerem, I know you are getting married soon and Asli and Doruk, you will follow along. So I have this surprise for you. I hope you like it. Especially Ipek and Asli, since this is super importance for you." Well they all rushed me to cut short whatever I was saying to reveal the surprise. I turned around and rang the doorbell. 

I could hear the footsteps approaching. I turned my back towards the door and stood facing these people proudly. I wanted to observe their reaction but to my surprise it was nothing what I expected. They were confused? clueless? So I turned towards the door only to see a handsome well built man standing in sweatpants and unbuttoned checkered shirt exposing his well toned abs. I guess he understood my confusion and shouted, "Vita, guarda chi c'è qui." while buttoning up his shirt. Out walked Hayat in her night shorts and a loose T-shirt. Looks like she just woke up. Her face went from sleepy, irritated, confused to shock and happy squealing real soon. The next few moments I turned deaf as Ipek and Asli screamed while hugging her. I mean sure girls I get it but please just don't shout.

The screaming party soon headed inside while Kerem and Doruk came to me. They both were happy for their partners but expressed their concern about this guy to me. Doruk had studied Italian for few years in college and he said as far as he remembered the guy just said, "Life, look who's here". I shook off the thoughts and headed inside.

Ipek POV

I was angry at Kerem to wake me up but when Doruk called and basically said the same thing to Asli, I knew something was up. We met Murat and he drove us to some unknown house. he claimed his so called surprise would be very special but the first human who walked out of that door was a man, a hot - good looking man, but a stranger. After he said something in some unknown language, out came HAYAT. HAYAT. I and Asli shot each other a glance and then ran towards her screaming and taking her in a bear hug. We moved inside when Hayat lead us to the living room first but looked like she had slept there. The bedding was still on the floor in front of the sofa with two pillows. Hayat was sleeping here with this handsome guy? I shot Asli THE glance and she had the same look in her eyes. We turned around to find Tuval with the same look. So Hayat made us sit on the dining table, where the boys joined us. 

Asli POV

Doruk looked at me and asked why were we at the dining table instead of the living room but the question was intended to THE GUY in the room. I guess he did realise that and said, "Oh, Vita is cleaning the room. We slept there last night and didn't clean up the space after waking up." I looked at the girls with the knowing look and then at Doruk and Kerem who were kind of sad and Murat who looked broken.

Murat POV

That sentence broke me. I guess I did lose her after all. Over my anger and my ego. I've lost her. Put on a happy face Murat, you don't want to ruin there happiness.

Hayat POV

I went to the dining table after cleaning up the living room. Cihangir had the coffee brewing and was serving it to them. I studied every face in the room. The girls gave me a look that screamed "WHO IS HE? Introduce him", Kerem and Doruk were feeling sad and Murat was completely heartbroken. I looked at Cihangir who winked at me and then realisation hit me. I decided to play along.  So to introduce him I said "This is Cihangir. I met him at the Giresun airport and ever since then we were inseparable." Doruk asked, "So are you Italian?" to which Cihangir said, "My mother is Italian so I'm half Italian and half Turkish. Also Tuval, I could see that my little girl here couldn't stop talking about you both Asli and Ipek. So I had texted you from her phone after she slept to change the plan and bring the entire gang." For the last statement he earned a smack on his arm. We then moved to the living room, I & Cihangir munching on our waffles, the girls were filling me up about all the things I had missed in these past year with the boys adding tit-bits here and there. Cihangir then announced he had to leave and taking the hint I walked him to the door where he hugged me and whispered, "Thank you for playing along. I want to test Murat. Before you argue, I ought to say, I'm your bigger brother. I need to look out for my little sister. And I know as much as you deny, deep down within your heart you still care about him. You will realise that soon. Take care, love you Vita." "Oh God. Vita means Life. Your name also means life. So I am going to use this nickname for a while miss dumb-pants." I really am an open book for my brother it seems.

I returned back and the topic was me. I guess this was my chance. So I took it and narrated the entire story right from the text Doruk sent to Asli that night to me meeting Murat on Saturday. I did take every precaution to not reveal that Cihangir was my brother. In the end they were astound I guess. Asli said, "I remember you ranting about how you know only 5 words of English the day you were hired as Suna Pektas. But girl look at you! Now you are fluent in English, French, Turkish and know a little bit of Italian and Japanese. You glow. You look no less than a model Hayat. Your cheekbones, your attitude, your poise, your clothing style. You rock girl. I may be overstepping on this but on behalf of everyone I will say: Although we missed you terribly these past years, we are very happy with where you stand in life today. I don't think you could have achieved that if you were here." That made me emotional and I hugged everyone. Yes everyone including Murat. We chit chatted for a while more and then everyone left for their work.