Wherever You Go

Chapter 20

"Hazan. I wanted to call you actually" Yagiz says as a greeting and Hazan just revels in those words. She is dying to see him but neither of them had dared to initiate a video call as yet.

"Then tell me.." Hazan says in her soft voice and Yagiz feels his tensions draining away. He wants to see her, he thinks. Even if he is still angry with her, being away from her is proving to be impossible.

" I need a favour from you. Can you hand over my apartment keys to the real estate guy who will come tomorrow?" He says and Hazan feels her breathing stopping. He had handed over the keys to her before leaving , stating it is for any emergency.

"Oh Yagiz, are you going to sell the apartment.." Hazan blurts out and stops with great effort. Not before Yagiz hears the sadness in her voice. He had been thinking long and hard about the apartment. He has already concluded that Tuzla house will remain, simply because it is one place he bought to declare his independence from his father. 

He really doesn't need the money, specially now he is back in US and living a much simpler life than he was in Turkey. But it seems too extravagant and foolish to keep two prime properties idle in a place that he is almost sure that he will not live again. The apartment holds bittersweet memories for him. He is reminded of all the times that he cleared up Sinan's and Celine's messes, all the times that they bonded as siblings, all the times his mother and father has come looking for him to discuss their problems and issues. His mother had come often to visit him when he accidently got to know about her terminal illness. It was one place where they could grieve and reminisce the good times without being disturbed. 

Then Hazan entered his life and moved to his building and now virtually every inch of that floor, the gym, the elevators , the corridors and even his bed had countless memories.

"Ok Yagiz. I will give" Hazan says in a subdued voice and Yagiz comes back to the real world.

"Yagiz, I too want to ask for a favour from you." Hazan says, trepidation clear in her voice.

"Go head" He says, already knowing that this is something which will test his patience.

"Can you help me to find accommodation, I mean when I come there?" Hazan asks in a stronger voice and Yagiz rolls his eyes, even though there is no one around to see. He knew that she will bring this up sooner or later. He is not about to let her stay alone in US and in Hollywood of all places. She is a danger magnet and no way is he going to take upon the headache of worrying each minute about her safety. He has enough worries as it is. He had been thinking hard and fast about this when his lawyer basically solved it for him.

"Hazan the lawyers think that since we got married and applied for the visa next day, the credibility of the marriage should be maintained in case there is a check afterwards." Yagiz says trying not to sound patronizing. The system has seen many fake marriages in the bid to obtain green cards and it was prudent to live in the same address at least for a reasonable amount of time. If the authenticity of the marriage is challenged, as a citizen he would be facing problems too.

"Oh" was what Hazan managed to utter, making Yagiz almost laugh aloud. He has to commend his lawyer. He had style, style enough to silence Hazan.

" Are you having second thoughts now Hazan? When you learnt that you will have to live with me? I hate to point it out that you are a little too late for that" Yagiz taunts her, this time laughing openly. He cannot seem to help it; he always enjoyed riling her up. Though he was supposed to be mad with her, it was so easy to forget everything with her. Hazan tried to ignore the lightening feeling in her stomach that appeared the moment he said that she will have to live with him. In truth, she could not have asked for anything else and the feeling she is experiencing can only be described as nervous joy mixed with love and desire. It was so heartening to hear him laugh after a long time, even if it is at her expense.

" No no. It's not that. I don't have a problem of living with you. It's just that you are so used to living alone and I do not want to encroach your personal space and disturb you" Hazan says carefully, with more confidence than she actually feels.

"Ah.. so you are not bothered about living with me. In vain I went to great lengths to make you feel at ease. I should have just cleared a part of my wardrobe in the bedroom" Yagiz says and Hazan gulps and stutters. Is he alright? Did he just say his bedroom? She feels herself turning dark red to the tips of her hair and so grateful that this is not a video call. 

If only her heart would stop beating so fast and loud. Hazan was sure that Yagiz could hear it even over the phone. Yagiz listens to her silence and wishes that she makes some reaction. But what sort of a reaction he is expecting is a mystery to him. It was a cheap shot to mention the bedroom, but he just could not let go of the chance to silence her for once. 

Having said that, he was finding it difficult to concentrate on the conversation, because his mind was trying to wander in places that it absolutely should not. He found himself loosening the collar of his shirt around his neck, like he was compelled to do many times before around her, despite the cool Californian breeze.