Wherever You Go

Chapter 22

Hazan collected the passport with visa on a busy and dusty afternoon. They handed over the passport to her with grave and poker faces and she did not let out her breath until she saw the visa stamped on it. In her sheer excitement she immediately dialed Yagiz, forgetting even the 11 hour time difference.

"Hello" Yagiz sounded very curt and abrupt. Even when he was at his worst mood with her, he always answered her calls with either "Hazan" or "Tell me Hazan".

"Yagiz, the visa came through" She says, somewhat deflated by his curtness and cold voice.

"Ok. The lawyers will talk to you" Yagiz says, still sounding distracted and indifferent. What did you expect? For him to cry out of joy? Like her stupid self was doing at that moment? Hazan thinks wiping down tears from her eyes.

" Ok. I will talk to the lawyers then" Hazan says and disconnect the line. She stops and sits on a bench by the road side and try to get her bearings. With a start she realizes that it was almost 11.30 pm in California. But it did not sound as if she woke him up. His voice was too alert for that. The call was answered in the second ring and he did not sound muddled at all. He sounded curt and indifferent. When she thought about it, Hazan realized that she cannot childishly expect him to be thrilled by the news. She has hanged on to him and basically blackmailed him into getting her to US. Sure he seemed eager enough, since he did everything through his lawyers, but in hindsight may be he had pity on her inexperience and also the lack of funds. He was so used to taking charge and clearing up other peoples messes and this would have been one such thing for him. However much she thinks about it, Hazan finds it difficult to come into terms with his sudden indifference. He would not be that abrupt with her, however much he hates her.. unless Hazan automatically gets up from the bench as the realization hits her. 

It was 11 pm over there, was he otherwise occupied? His indifference could be due to him having company. A girl friend that he could not explain about her? Hazan feels herself burning in jealousy. Get a grip and have some dignity Hazan, she reprimands herself. It is true that she is at fault here and she had taken upon herself to correct it, in her own twisted way. But she should be strong not to hang on to him and suffocate him, she thinks.

Yagiz places the phone not so gently on the granite counter before pouring another neat shot of scotch. The sound was enough for Jason, a business partner and friend for a decade to raise his brows at him.

"Still no answer? "he asks casually and Yagiz almost splutters on his drink.

"What?" he asks stupidly. Of course Jason would have seen him repeatedly trying to call Hazan the minute the meeting was over. He inwardly curses himself again. The team was in a tense discussion regarding a problematic project when the call came through. He hasn't even looked at the phone when he answered it and nothing really registered properly in his brain within the first few seconds. It was almost midnight and the day was never ending. But that was not an excuse for him to be so abrupt with Hazan. There was no way that she could have known he was in this condition. Who else was there for her to tell this? He was sure that she hasn't told her family anything yet. She must be offended, for her phone had been switched off since then.

Yagiz had not been sleeping properly and drinking too much, specially since the day he learnt of Sinan manhandling Hazan. Yagiz was so livid that he asked the lawyers if there was any way to expedite the visa process. The lawyer seemed surprised at his naïve request, since he himself knew that the embassy procedures cannot be tampered with once started. He almost laughs at the irony. He had been trying to expedite the process to get her here and he acts like a moron when she calls to say that she has got the visa.

"C'mon bro. It does not take a rocket scientist to deduce that you are desperately trying to call someone" Jason says, sliding him the dish of assorted nuts. He eyes Yagiz's hefty drink critically but does not address it immediately. The senior team is winding down by having a drink in the small kitchenette of the office after the stressful day and Yagiz knows that having been with him for a decade or so Jason knows that something has changed drastically.

" I don't want to pressure you, knowing how tight lipped you are. But you are not fine this time and something has changed. Just remember that I am here if you want to talk. " Jason says lightly, probably afraid that he will totally shut down.

" Hmm.. tight lipped? I know someone else like that" Yagiz smiles, shaking his head. Jason was like his twin in more ways than one. Introvert, reserved and a refrigerator in Hazan's vocabulary. He is also extremely smart, smart enough to realize that Yagiz was bluffing.

" Oh brother. I know you do not like discussing things. Believe me I am not keen on that either. But looks to me that you are suffering since you came back from Turkey" Jason says and Yagiz sighs. He wishes he can share the whole sordid tale with him.

" Maybe one day Jason. Not right now though" Yagiz says softly and he sees Jason's eyes widening.

"At least will she be able to provide some relief?" Jason asks indicating his phone by his head. Yagiz tries another feeble laugh.

"She? What makes you think it's a she I am trying to call?"

" You have that desperation in your face" Jason says and both laugh aloud.