Cüneyd's face turned red, his eyes flashing with defensiveness. "I left you for your own good, Zeynep. You wanted to study, to make a life for yourself, and I couldn't hold you back." Zeynep's eyes blazed with tears and anger. "My own good? You call abandoning me for four years my own good? You, an Imam, a spiritual leader, and you couldn't even lead your own family? You left me to suffer, to wonder if I was even worth existing." Cüneyd's voice rose, his words laced with a Sufi fervor. "I was trying to find my own path, Zeynep. My mother's death when I was a child...it left a hole in me. I thought I was doing the right thing by leaving you to your studies." Zeynep's voice cracked, her words pouring out like a river. "You thought only of yourself, Cüneyd. Your own pain, your own struggles. You never thought of me, of what I needed. And now, you expect me to just accept everything as it was my own fate?" Cüneyd's face paled, his eyes searching for words to heal the wound. "I...I didn't know what else to do. I was lost, Zeynep." Zeynep's laughter was bitter, her tears falling like rain. "You were lost? You? What about me? What about my life, my happiness? You never considered it, did you?" The silence that followed was heavy with unspoken words, the weight of their unresolved issues hanging in the air like a storm waiting to unleash its fury. Cüneyd's eyes dropped, his gaze fixating on the floor as if searching for answers in the intricate patterns of the rug. His voice was barely audible, "I was blinded by my own pain, Zeynep. I didn't know how to escape the darkness that consumed me after my mother's passing. I thought leaving you would set you free from my suffering." Zeynep's tears continued to fall, her body shaking with sobs. "You thought only of yourself, Cüneyd. Your own pain, your own struggles. You never thought of me, of what I needed. And now, you expect me to just accept it as it is?" The silence that followed was oppressive, the weight of their unresolved issues crushing them both. Cüneyd's eyes remained fixed on the floor, unable to meet Zeynep's gaze, as if he knew he had no excuses, no justifications for his actions. The storm of their unresolved issues hung in the air, ready to unleash its fury at any moment. Suddenly, Zeynep's sobs ceased, and she stood up, her movements fluid and graceful. She towered over Cüneyd, her eyes blazing with a fierce intensity. "I won't accept it, Cüneyd. I won't accept your excuses. You abandoned me when I needed you most, and now you expect me to forgive and forget?" Cüneyd's head jerked up, his eyes wide with fear, as if he knew he was staring into the abyss of Zeynep's anger and hurt. "Zeynep..." But his words trailed off, lost in the face of her fury. "I am back but I'm not forgiving you for anything neither I will forget anything!" Her voice was clear and tone was stern. Cüneyd swallowed hard but before he could say something, there was a knock on the door. They both looked at the door.
Feyza rushed into her room, slamming the door shut behind her. She locked it, as if trying to trap her emotions inside. Her mother, Hasna, sat on the couch, worry etched on her face. She heard the lock click into place and knew her daughter was hurting. Just then, the front door opened, and Sadi entered the house. He could sense the tension in the air and immediately asked, "What's wrong, Hasna? Where is Feyza?" Hasna sighed, her eyes welling up with tears. "It's about Cüneyd, Sadi. Feyza's been in love with him for so long, and now...now Zeynep's back." Sadi's expression turned grave. He knew the complicated history between Cüneyd and Zeynep, and he could imagine how Feyza must be feeling. "I see," he said, his voice was clear and full of anger.
Sadi's expression turned stern as he entered the room. "What's this I hear, Feyza? Are you still pining after that man? And you're enabling her, Hasna?"
Hasna trembled, "Sadi, please understand—" "No, I won't understand! Cüneyd is a troubled soul, and Feyza deserves better. She's been warned before, and now Zeynep's back? It's a mess waiting to happen!" Feyza cowered under her father's glare. "Father, please—"
"Don't 'Father, please' me! You're nearly 25, and it's time you listened to reason. No more of this nonsense, Feyza. You'll focus on yourself and find a suitable husband, not waste your time on a man who's mentally unstable. The room fell silent, the weight of Sadi's disapproval heavy in the air. Hasna and Feyza exchanged worried glances, knowing Sadi's strictness wouldn't budge.
The knock on the door broke the tension, and Cüneyd hesitated before opening it. He wasn't prepared for the woman who stood before him - Meryem, Zeynep's mother. Her presence was a shock, especially considering she had left the sect and married Levent, a psychologist, after divorcing Naim, Zeynep's father. Meryem's eyes blazed with determination as she pushed past Cüneyd into the house. "Zeynep, come with me. Now." Zeynep's eyes widened in fear, but she didn't move. Cüneyd stepped forward, protective instincts kicking in. "Meryem hanim, What are you doing here?" Meryem's gaze turned venomous. "You! You're the reason my daughter's back, aren't you? You and your twisted beliefs, poisoning her mind again!"
Cüneyd's face remained calm, but his voice was firm. "Meryem hanim, that's not fair. Zeynep's an adult, making her own choices." Meryem sneered. "Choices? You call this a choice? Coming back to a man who abandoned her, who kicked her out? No, Cüneyd, this is obsession, and you're to blame!" Zeynep's voice trembled, but she stood firm. "Mom, please...I belong here, with him, I don't want to go back with you."
Meryem's expression turned livid. "You belong with me, with Levent, in a life free from this sect's shackles! Come with me, Zeynep, before it's too late!" The scene was escalating, and Cüneyd knew he had to intervene before things got out of hand. But Meryem's anger and determination were formidable forces, and he wondered if he could calm the storm brewing before them.
Cüneyd's eyes met Zeynep's, and he saw the fear and uncertainty there. He knew he had to act.
"Meryem hanim, please understand," he began, his voice calm and gentle. "Zeynep's an adult, and she's made her choice. We're not forcing her to stay. If she wants to leave with you, she can." Meryem's expression turned scornful. "You think you're so clever, don't you, Cüneyd? But I know your tricks. You've brainwashed her, made her dependent on you and your twisted beliefs."
Zeynep's voice rose, firm and clear. "Mom, that's not true! I'm here because I want to be, because I love to be here, and I am also back to change the future of girls in the sect." Meryem's face twisted in anger, and she reached out, grasping Zeynep's arm. "You're coming with me, young lady. Now."
Cüneyd stepped forward, his eyes locked on Meryem's. "Let her go, Meryem hanim. You can't force her to leave if she doesn't want to." Meryem's grip tightened, and Zeynep winced in pain. Cüneyd's expression turned stern, and he firmly removed Meryem's hand from Zeynep's arm. "Leave now, Meryem hanim. And don't come back until you can respect Zeynep's choices."
Meryem's eyes blazed with fury, but she knew she was outnumbered. With a final glare, she turned and stormed out of the house, leaving behind a tense silence.
Zeynep's eyes met Cüneyd's, and he saw the fear and uncertainty there. He opened his arms, and she stepped into his embrace, seeking comfort and protection from the storm that had just passed. Cüneyd held Zeynep close, feeling her tremble with fear and uncertainty. He stroked her back, whispering soft reassurances, trying to calm the storm within her. For a few moments, she clung to him, seeking comfort and protection. But then, suddenly, she pulled back, her eyes flashing with determination.
"Cüneyd, I have to go," she said, her voice firm. "Cüneyd, I have to stay," she said, her voice firm. "I can't let Mother dictate my life. I belong here, with you, and I won't leave again." Cüneyd's face lit up with hope and relief. "Zeynep, are you sure? You're not just saying this because of what your mother did?" Zeynep shook her head, her eyes locked on his. "No, Cüneyd. I'm sure. I want to be here, and I want to be with you, no matter what my mother thinks."
Cüneyd's heart soared, and he pulled her back into his arms, holding her tight. "I want you too, Zeynep. I'll be with you on your every road."
