Wherever You Go

Chapter 7

It was a whirlwind of activity afterwards, both of them on their phones non stop, pulling every stop they could, now that they do not have Erdal or others at their beck and call to arrange everything. Turned out that Hazan knew a higher up government employee, through the fateful gymnasium she worked, who could pull stops to get a marriage license in complete confidence. She talked to him and put Yagiz through, and there wasn't a person born yet whom Yagiz could not convince. They will have to get married in the marriage office, witnessed by two strangers and Yagiz will have to fly off within two hours.

When everything was arranged Hazan felt absolutely drained and overwhelmed, like she ran a triathlon. She glanced at the clock and it was close to 11 pm, time to make a move. Somehow she felt reluctant to leave this tense, but safe bubble that they seem to be in, smack in the middle of busiest part of Istanbul. No one knows where they are and they have not spoken to anyone they know closely since leaving the cemetery. It feels like bliss to be isolated from all the toxic elements that have surrounded them for months and even though he hates her right now, as always it was bliss to be with him. Her throat constricts when she acknowledges that he is flying tomorrow, leaving her here for a month at least, possibly more. She has made a lot of bold decisions tonight and she makes yet another one.

Yagiz sighs and looks at the colourful vista two stories below, trying to relax his cramped shoulder muscles and even cramped up mind. He already misses the serene and soothing view from his apartment in the plaza, perhaps the only thing that he will miss in Turkey, except for Hazan of course, he finally let his heart tell him. However much he is unhappy with her or reluctant to trust her fully, he cannot deny that. Leaving her and flying tomorrow, even knowing that she will join him soon, will be extremely tough. He senses a presence behind him and see Hazan few feet away, with her bag on the shoulder, jacket on.

" Are you going home?" he asks trying to keep his voice normal and she shakes her head.

"I will stay on the couch tonight if that is ok with you. She says peeking at him through her long lashes, not quite facing him. But I need to go downstairs to buy a few things " Yagiz is stunned yet again. She doesn't want to go home and stay here? Does she not want to leave him tonight or does she think that if she leaves now he will go missing again? His face must have given more away than he wanted to for he can see a faint blush creeping up her cheeks.

"Mmm, as you said I don't want to go now and get distracted by anyone or anything. And risk any of them finding out where you are and what we are doing" she says timidly, not looking at him, aware that this was what she should have done all along, tell the truth and be on his side, rather than keep lying to him imagining that she was protecting him from being hurt. He was quite for such a long time Hazan risk a glance at him. His eyes are full of pain and desolation, but he nods and asks her to be careful and not to go very far.

Ever the caring man, even when he hates me , Hazan thinks with an aching heart whilst boarding the lift. She finally calls Ece, to prevent her mother going to police to report her absence. She just tells Ece that she will not come home tonight and that she is safe and to manage their mother. Ece seems distracted and subdued and says ok and to take care. Hazan feels that just as Yagiz has said something is wrong again, but doesn't probe because honestly she cannot process any of it right now. If she is to last another day here she will need at least one outfit and other necessities. She sure as hell not going to ask anything from Yagiz and aggravate the level of bulldozing already happening.