Serendipity / صدفه

17

Nouf

Winter can be very depressing. It gets dark really early and there's only so little to do. We left Butti and Fares and walked to the apartment. Haifa's mother says that this part of Istanbul is not so safe. It's too touristy. But the other part, which i think is in Asia is safer. It's where all the mosques are, no clubs and drinking, and people sit in coffee shops to drink tea and turkish coffee till late hours. The metro that takes to Sultan Ahmet area isn't safe too as she claims. Too bad we're living on this side. Though to be honest, the safety issues only lie on a certain part of Istikalal street, where the bars and casinos are located. And it's quite far. The place seemed perfectly safe to me.

Well, we still have TV to watch and there were some movie DVDs in the living room. That will do.

I picked my PJz and headed for a shower.
"Waaaaait" Shouted Maryam as she barged into the room. "You're the only one still not in a pyjama. We don't have food and that wasn't even dinner. Its lies! the sun just sets too early. can you believe it, its already dark by five pm. We need food i'm becoming cranky."

oops, no room service too. Great.

I walked down to the mothers apartment to see if they need anything from the supermarket at the end of the road. Maryam's mother smiled, gave me a long list of things to buy and asked me to leave now before the other mothers find out. They wont allow me to go out there alone. Though she saw no danger at all. That's why i love her, no extra unneeded fear and drama.

I walked out into the open air and the frosted roads. The cold breeze just hits right in the face. I can feel my skin tightening as if i just got a face lift. That's why their women are pretty; its the weather i'm sure. The snow just makes everything so white and pretty too. I wish it would snow now, i've never been somewhere to see the snow actually fall. I would stare up into the sky like the movies and lift my hand in the air feeling every snow drop on my cheeks.

I jumped back at the person that suddenly clapped his hands inches away from my face. It was Butti.
"What are you doing out here?"

I'm still mad at him. Why is he so... sooo... i'm not sure what, but this whatever it is.
"I could ask you the same." i answered in a bother-less tone and attempted to walk past him.
"I ditched Fares and his friends, now you answer." He was walking beside me. How could he catch up so fast and effortlessly?
"I'm getting stuff to eat from the supermarket"
"ok" he said as he continued to walk beside me, i stopped.
"ok?" I looked at him, attempting to signal that yeah now you know just leave.
"I'm coming with you" His hands were in his jacket's pocket and his tone was extremely casual. Its not like he barked at me a while ago.
"You know, not everything is your responsibility. I'm 21, old enough to take care of myself and i dont need you guarding me. And who are you to say that i cant go alone or even shout at me?" I blew out all the anger inside me and stood there with pride. Now GO! i continued saying in my head.
Butti looked at me and gave me one of his usual genuine smiles. He put his hands together in an apologetic gesture, "I'm sorry that i shouted, I know that was wrong, but you scared me and Haifa's reaction, you should've seen it....." I twisted my lips to the side thinking about if i would accept his apology.
".... But Judge," he continues as he laughs obviously enjoying what he is about to say, "I never said you can't go alone or i'll guard you. I'm simply going to get food for my apartment too." I felt so stupid and he had a winners smile on as he walked in the direction of the supermarket.
"i accept your apology" i said to shred away any amount of humiliation i can.
We walked in silence. It wasn't awkward though. There was plenty of things to watch around, all the little details of the road. Nearly all the buildings had coffee shops and restaurants on the ground floor looking onto the street. When you looked closer, none of them were bars. People were drinking tea, talking and playing some kind of board game i see in Syrian series in the local looking shops. Couples were seated in the more cozy, romantic and westernized shops having dessert and coffee and simply talking. It was lovely.
"I didn't think it will be like this," i said to Butti a few steps before reaching the supermarket.
He saw me looking around, "Well, not all the areas are like that. This street has more families living here, less tourists and bachelors, so its quite safer. And even though its been dark for so long, its just 9:30 now." he opens the supermarket door for me and i walk in. Ah, i love being a girl.