Sudden decisions

21 - More sudden decisions

Can

I laugh heartily together with Sanem's parents and realise, almost with amazement, that I am not making an effort to do so, I am not doing it to please them, I am laughing heartily because I feel really at ease with them.

Entering the Aydin house tonight was very different from the previous morning, in a completely different situation.

I can say this time that I felt warmly and spontaneously welcomed by these clear-eyed and sincere people.

From the first moment I set foot in their home, I felt as if I had entered an ancient and benevolent dimension where that tradition of welcome reigns, for which the Turkish people have always been distinguished throughout the world.

I have travelled a lot and nowhere have I known such helpfulness as in my own country, in the working-class neighbourhoods more than in the world in which I grew up.

I shift my gaze from one to the other, to those open faces in a smile that makes me feel at ease and somehow at home, a feeling I have rarely experienced in the past.

And even more I am convinced that these people do not deserve to suffer, I do not want them to have to be ashamed in the eyes of their lifelong neighbours because of what was nothing more than my own carelessness. It was my duty to bring Sanem home at an acceptable time and I didn't do it just because, selfishly, I wanted to keep her close to me for as long as possible.

We hear the front door open, Mrs Aydin invites Sanem to join us in the kitchen and I can't ignore the quickening beat of my heart preparing to see her arrive as my gaze searches impatiently for her.

Her head pops hesitantly from the door at the moment when  I and her parents are laughing about a funny anecdote I have just told them.

Her stunned expression makes me laugh even harder, her face is too expressive, I love those funny faces of hers and at this moment her stunned expression is nothing short of hilarious.

An exchange of jokes with Sanem's mum and my heart skips a beat when she says:

'What Mrs Aydin, I already told you that you can call me Mevkibe oğul, son'.

And that 'son' has a meaning that I cannot and do not want to analyse at this moment, it is an unexpected gift of inestimable value for someone like me who as a child missed so much a woman's voice calling me oğul, son.

I hardly swallow an unfamiliar emotion when Nihat brings me back to reality, urging me to continue with my story as I watch Sanem's silent escape as he disappears to get changed.

Mevkibe invites us shortly afterwards to follow her into the garden to sit down at the table already set with inviting-looking dishes, especially for me who hardly ever gets a chance to taste home-made food.

We continue joking and laughing until, from the kitchen door, I see Sanem coming out into the garden with a bowl in his hand. I can't help but be enchanted by the sight of Sanem probably in her truest form; her hair tied up in a ruffled tail on top of her head, a sweater with a wide neckline that falls to one side leaving one shoulder uncovered, and a pair of comfortable short shorts that leave her beautiful, toned legs exposed.

She has not dressed up, she has not tried to impress, it is just and simply her and for me she is the most sensual creature I have ever seen.

I cannot explain the effect she has on me either, I just know that everything about her attracts me in a way I have never experienced before with any other woman.

Behind Sanem I also see Layla coming out into the garden who freezes in her tracks with a look clearly amazed to find me sitting at the table in her house, no one must have informed her of my presence apparently.

She takes the seat opposite me leaving the chair at my side free and I can't help but be happy about that unlike Sanem who, returning from the kitchen with a jug of water, shoots a murderous glance at her sister for the arrangement that has been imposed on her.

As her mother starts passing the serving dishes, she is then forced to sit next to me on the only chair left free.

The first dolma is for my palate pure delight and I do not hide it.

"Mevkibe, I think I have never eaten anything like this, it is very, very good. "

She gives a jaunty nod of her hand, as if to downplay, but I see her at the same time blush with complacency.

The dinner then proceeds in a cheerful mood with Nihat and Mevkibe, who turn out to be a real hoot, but what surprises me is discovering a comic streak in Layla as well, something I would never have imagined given her always serious and composed attitude in the agency.

I watch out of the corner of my eye as Sanem remains silent, seemingly on tenterhooks; rigid in her chair, she gives the impression of being ready to snap at any moment to run away from me.

So I decide to poke her a little and under the table I reach out a hand secretly from the others to grab hers. If possible she becomes even stiffer as she gives me admonishing glances trying to retract her hand from my grasp inconspicuously.

I am amused too much by her reaction so I decide to dare even more and firmly bring our intertwined hands to rest on my thigh.

Her alarmed look is too funny and I can't help but burst out laughing, luckily right in conjunction with a joke by Nihat, so no one seems to understand the real reason for my hilarity.

Sanem humours me for a while then her expression suddenly turns serious and, retracting her hand forcefully from my grip, she squares her shoulders as if preparing for battle.

'Babam, anne, dad, mum I need to talk to you about me and Can.

I have no idea what she plans to say, but I know I must not allow her to speak, not after learning from Emre about her unhealthy idea to leave Istanbul.

So I decide to act on impulse, I must stop her.

I lean towards her, take her hand from under the table to bring it gallantly to my lips and look at her with an adoring gaze before starting to speak as if I want to continue her speech.

"Evet, yes we want to talk to you.

Sanem and I have made a decision, as agreed I will come on Thursday to ask for his hand but if it is okay with you, we would like to proceed very quickly with the marriage."

I turn to look at her and to say the look she gives me is shocked is putting it mildly.

Another adoring kiss to her hand and I resume speaking.

"We are looking forward to starting our life together and, with your approval, within a couple of weeks we would like to celebrate the wedding."

Where this idea came from I cannot say, I only know that ultimately it is exactly what I want.

I realise, almost with surprise, that I am more than eager to have every right to have her by my side every moment, day and night.

Nihat and Mevkibe seem over the moon, Layla is literally speechless while Sanem... Sanem seems on the verge of protesting. I decide once again that the best defence is the attack so, before she can say anything, I lean towards her to place a kiss on her cheek and hug her tightly.

I hear her hold her breath as she whispers in my ear "Caaan???..."

"Shhh, this is not the time to contradict me Sanem.
You don't want to disappoint your folks?",