Early Bird (Erkençi Kus)(Part 1)

72. You can't buy anything

"Good morning Nihat."

Nihat looks up from the crates of vegetables he was busy unpacking that morning. "Oh, Aysun. Morning."

"Do you have any organic yogurt?"

"Of course. Hold on." He puts the last of the tomatoes in and gestures for her to go inside. "Come in, let me get it for you." He hurries to the fridge and takes out the yogurt tub, going in behind the counter to ring it up.

"Do you have turmeric?"

"No? I don't think we ever have though. What do you need it for?"

Aysun opens her purse to take out the money for the yogurt. "Honestly, I'm watching my diet. Thanks to the combination of turmeric and yogurt I've lost over 6 kilos already."

"6?!" Nihat looks her up and down.

"How much is that?"

"4.75."

"Alright." She hands him the money as he looks down at his own waist.

"I think I'm about 6 kilos around my stomach alone."

"If you can get me turmeric I'll come and buy it and leave you the recipe. Not to be rude but it looks like you need it."

"Your change." He hands her the 25 kurusha coin. "I'll get some of that for you. Thank you."

"Alright. Let me know. Good day."

"I'll walk you out." He walks out with her and into Mevkhibe, who arrives just as they step outside and lifts a brow.

"Ah, Aysun, did you finally buy from us?" Aysun never shops at the store. "What happened? Did you fall on your head?"

"Oh for the love of... Is there another store around here?" Aysun rolls her eyes and starts to walk away rather than start another fight.

"I hope one opens soon so I never have to see you again!" Mevkhibe calls after her, and then turns to Nihat. "I need some butter my love."

Nihat watches Aysun while he stands in the door, his mouth open.

"I'm making burger kofti with butter for lunch Nihat, your favorite," she pats down his shirt of invisible dust, smiling. When she looks up without an answer from him, her head whips round at Aysun - whom he is still staring at. Her hips moved side to side with her long red ponytail swinging as well. Mevkhibe's eyes narrow and she glares at Nihat. "Nihat," she growls lowly.

He shakes his head and then looks at his wife, seeing her glaring, her lips pressed together. "Mevkhibe?" He blinks. "Have you seen how good Aysun looks? She's lost so much weight, she looks great! I swear, it's like I'm looking at a young girl of 25 again. She says it's because of turmeric and yogurt. She's lost 6 kilos! 6, Mevkhibe." He looks at her and then himself. "And look at the two of us, when we stand side by side it's like two artillery vehicles outside a fortress!"

Mevkhibe's eye starts twitching, her neck getting redder and redder.

"Mevkhibe?"

She looks down at her body.

"Maybe we should also go on this diet she mentioned too?"

She lifts her head to glare at him harder. "Artillery vehicles outside a fortress?" she asks in a low voice.

He stops smiling hopefully, his eyes widening. "I didn't - " Gulping he points over his shoulder. "Let me give you the butter."

"No! I don't want it anymore! I'm going to go, and I'm taking my artillery vehicle of a body with me!" She turns and storms off down the road.