Early Bird (Erkençi Kus)(Part 1)

66. What the stones mean

Nihat looks over Mevkhibe's head at Osman as he walks on her right side, with Leyla on her left and Osman at the end next to Leyla. They were heading back home, Mevkhibe now timid between her husband and daughter.

The fight was finally over after threats of arrests were made. Muzaffer was removed from the billboard and actually arrested for vandalism. He would have to spend the night in jail.

"Osman, son, what is going on with you and Sanem?" Nihat asks, wanting once and for all to know the truth.

"Nothing uncle Nihat."

"What do you mean nothing? Everyone thinks you're engaged.
Are you or not?"

"No uncle Nihat! I don't even have a ring," Osman holds up his hand. "I'm not engaged to anyone and neither is Sanem."

"I made all that food for nothing then," Mevkhibe says, looking at Osman. "All those grapeleaves for the dolma..." She closes her eyes. "I'm so tired," she sighs. "I spent all afternoon on my feet, my bones are aching..." She frowns then. "I don't understand something, maybe you can tell me... How does that woman manage to make me so angry? I'm such a calm, quiet woman, but when I see her I turn into a raging bull? Why?"

Nihat looks at her dryly, and stops walking. "Mevkhibe, you jumped on the woman like she was a part of the Anatolian wall and you had to claw your way up!" She looks up at him and winces, shrinking back a little.
He makes claws with his fingers. "Clawing! And with cameras on us! All of Turkey saw you tonight Mevkhibe! I bet if we hurry we'll get to see ourselves behaving like animals on primetime! It was disgraceful!"

"But you were - "

"Mevkhibe!" he scolds and she looks down, pouting.

Leyla gives her mother a stern look with a raised eyebrow when she looks at her. "If Sanem's home, I'm going to grind her bones into - " Nihat clears his throat causing Mevkhibe to stop talking and they continue to walk.

Leyla glances at Osman and gestures with her eyes. He frowns and shrugs in question before she snaps her fingers. "Oh no, I completely forgot," Leyla huffs loudly, "Sanem sent me a message earlier." They stops again. "She won't be coming home. She needs to stay at the office to finish some work overnight."

"What?! What is she doing that needs her there all the time?! Why don't you work all night too?!"

"I'm staying too daddy, she asked me to come and help her, because she's a little stuck. I'm planning to go to the office from here and we'll be back early tomorrow morning."

"You watch your sister," Mevkhibe narrows her eyes. "I don't want her coming home with yet another walk in fiance taking advantage. I will kill her this time, I promise you."

"Taking advantage? I'm offended aunt Mevkhibe," Osman frowns.

She sighs. "Don't be, Osman, I didn't mean you."

Osman looks at Leyla then after nodding. "Leyla, you shouldn't go alone this late, I'll take you."

She winks at him, turning all the way. "Thank you Osman." She hugs her parents. "Good night mom. Dad."

"Give me a kiss too son," Mevkhibe smiles and Osman kisses her cheeks.

Leyla and Osman start walking away quickly, Leyla worrying her lip.

"You have no idea where Sanem really is do you?"

"I'm worried sick," Leyla admits and shakes her head, hugging her arms around herself. "I was hoping I could hide out at your house until she comes home or until we hear some news?"

"Of course," Osman nods and she smiles sadly in thanks, walking ahead while he takes a moment to look at her back. He didn't mind her staying at his house at all, but seeing her this worried made him a little angry with Sanem. She needed to be talked to.