Early Bird (Erkenci Kus)(Part 3)

42. Ground rules

The store is buzzing with people by lunch time, everyone speaking at once. There were snacks and teapots and Melihat was doing her clients' hair behind the counter. Muzaffer was still present as well, talking along and eating cake.

Mevkhibe, just returned from the city and on her way back, sees them in her store and pauses outside the window. "What is happening?" she mumbles in surprise.

"I'm telling you. I saw Mr Can drive Sanem home multiple times. Aysun only saw it once. She doesn't know as much as I do."

"True, I saw him here myself," Muzaffer says as he chews. "But from what I could tell, it looked very platonic."

The woman shake their heads at him, disagreeing wholeheartedly.

"Seriously. If it was romantic, I would have challenged him to a fight and won."

They all laugh and wave him off, continuing their own little chats. Mevkhibe steps up behind the two in the door and looks around inside.

What have they done to the store?

"This photo is very complimentary," Melihat gushes, looking at the newspaper again. "The greens and their clothes go so well... Maybe we should throw hints when we see him again, he can take her to a similar spot and propose," she laughs and Mevkhibe takes a deep breath to stay calm.

The sound of her doing this makes the women turn slowly and look at her.

"I have to go."

"Me too, I have to cook dinner."

"See you later Melihat." Every one of the women start to make themselves scarce, moving quickly to leave before Mevkhibe can explode.

"Yes run, run," Mevkhibe glares at them. "You should all be ashamed. No?" She shakes her head and then turns to Melihat. "I leave the store with you for an hour and this is what you do behind my back? Gossip about my daughters?"

"Ah," Melihat gasps. "I have not - You left me in charge and what did I do? I watched the store and chatted with the neighbors like always. What's the problem?"

"Chatted? Was it nice then?"

"Let it be Mevkhibe," one of the remaining women says, still seated.

"Yes, he's a very handsome man," another adds.

"We were discussing Mr Can not Sanem."

Mevkhibe makes her way around the counter in irritation as they babble. "Shut up all of you, shush, my head is bursting already," she snaps.

"Be silent," Melihat nods, "don't get her upset like this. Yes darling, go ahead, what happened?" she looks at Mevkhibe.

"I'm going to make an announcement."

"Yes, go ahead."

Mevkhibe gives Melihat a look that she completely misses and then she sighs and continues. "I just came from Mr Can."

"What did he say?" Melihat asks eagerly.

"The entire thing is false news. Paparazzi fudge."

"I told you, I said it was false," Muzaffer pipes in over the gasps and mumbles.

"I said the same," Melihat nods.

"No you didn't." Melihat glares at Muzaffer.

"He's going to make a statement about this tomorrow. He'll wrap them on the knuckles for spreading such lies."

"Ah see, these rich people can do that."

"Wow."

"Let him get them good."