Turkish Love

Stuck in Elevator

Cann stood on his terrace, watching as Ritika walked away. His eyes then fell on the man he had seen yesterday, picking her up again today.

“Come on, Cann. You can't think about this. You’ve got bigger problems in life,” he muttered to himself, shaking off the thought as he turned away to take a shower.

Meanwhile, Ritika greeted Oziya with a smile.

"Oziya, you really didn't have to do all this for me," she said, her voice light.

"Well, we’re friends now, and I have to help the most beautiful girl in town," Oziya replied, grinning.

Ritika giggled, looking away shyly. She climbed into the car, and they began chatting. Even as she talked, her thoughts drifted back to Cann—the way he had stood so close to her last night and the brief moment their hands had touched.

“Are you lost?” Oziya teased, waving a hand in front of her face.

Ritika blinked, snapping out of her thoughts. “Sorry! Please drop me here. I’ve got some research to do at the old age homes.”

She thanked Oziya as she got out of the car.

“If you’re free later, we could have dinner,” Oziya suggested with a hopeful smile.

"I can't promise, but I’ll try my best to be free by evening. I’ll text you," Ritika replied, offering a polite smile before heading to her work.

At the old age home, Ritika struggled with the language barrier. Most of the elderly residents only spoke Turkish, and her limited knowledge of the language made communication difficult. Thankfully, the manager came to her rescue, translating for her and helping her complete her research.

As evening approached, Ritika considered Oziya’s offer. Maybe dinner wouldn’t be such a bad idea. Deciding to give herself a new chance, she returned to her apartment and changed into a grey silk slip dress. She tied her hair into a loose bun, leaving two strands to frame her face, and applied minimal makeup to keep her look natural, though her eyeshadow still managed to captivate.

Just as she locked her door, she heard loud music from Cann’s apartment. The moment she stepped into the hallway, the music stopped. As she made her way to the elevator, she noticed Cann stepping out of his room, getting ready to leave for his shooting.

Cann’s eyes locked on Ritika. She looked stunning, and for a moment, he couldn’t think of anything else but her.

“Come on, Cann. Don’t get mesmerized. You know your limits,” he muttered to himself.

Ritika, engrossed in her phone, hadn’t noticed him staring. As she entered the elevator, Cann quickly slipped his hand between the closing doors.

Ritika looked up and smiled, though she wasn’t sure why.

“So, looking all pretty. Got special plans tonight?” Cann asked casually, stepping inside.

“No, just a small dinner with a friend,” Ritika replied, still smiling.

“The one who picks you up?” Cann’s voice tensed slightly, though he tried not to show it.

“Yes, his name is Oziya.”

Cann didn’t want to hear more, though he didn’t understand why. He was about to change the subject when the elevator suddenly jolted, a loud crackling noise filling the space. The elevator stopped abruptly.

The noise startled Ritika, and before she knew it, she had grabbed Cann’s arm, holding on tightly. She was so close to him that no space seemed to exist between them. Cann could feel her heartbeat as she kept her eyes shut, trembling slightly.

"Hey, Riti, relax. It’s just the elevator. Nothing to worry about," Cann reassured her softly. His tone was gentle, and he used the shortened version of her name, which made her feel surprisingly calm—like she was home.

Ritika slowly opened her eyes, looking up at him. Something felt different in that moment, a feeling she hadn’t experienced in a long time. She pulled away slightly, regaining her composure.

“Sorry! That was just... really loud,” she said with an embarrassed laugh.

“I think the elevator’s stuck,” Cann replied, trying to meet her eyes. “I’ll call Feliz.”

After a quick phone call, Cann assured her that Feliz was on his way to fix the elevator. "But you might be a bit late for your dinner."

"That’s okay," Ritika said, glancing away.

"So, you’re off to work?" Ritika asked, trying to change the subject.

"Yeah, shooting schedules."

"Oh, so you’re an actor?"

"Yeah, a little," Cann laughed.

"That’s why the doctor knew your name," Ritika remarked, recalling Oziya’s familiarity with him.

"They’re probably fans," Cann joked, and they both laughed.

"So, you’re just here for work?" Cann asked after a pause.

"Yeah, just for research. I’ll head back by New Year’s."

"Go back where?"

"India."

"You live with your parents?"

Ritika hesitated, the weight of the question hitting her. She gathered herself and softly said, “They’re not with me anymore.”

Cann felt a pang of guilt for asking. “I’m so sorry, Ritika.”

She smiled, though there was a touch of sadness in her eyes. "Don’t be. It’s not your fault. They died in a car crash."

Cann looked at her sympathetically. "Your parents would be proud of you, Ritika, being here all by yourself, doing your research."

"I hope so," Ritika whispered. "I chose Turkey because my parents met and fell in love here."

She pulled out a picture from her bag, showing it to Cann. "Here they are."

Cann looked at the photo and smiled. "Now I see where you get your beauty from."

Ritika laughed softly, her sadness momentarily lifting.

Just then, the elevator jerked to life. Feliz had fixed it. As the doors opened, Feliz greeted them with a grin. “Sorry for the trouble, Miss Ritika. You look beautiful tonight.”

“Thank you, Mr. Feliz,” she replied.

As they stepped out, Cann glanced at Ritika. Both seemed hesitant to say goodbye.

"You don’t want to be late for your dinner," Cann said quietly.

"Yeah, you too. Enjoy your shoot," she replied, about to leave when Cann called out, "Wait! It’s getting cold. Are you sure you won’t catch a chill?"

Ritika paused, realizing she’d forgotten her coat.

“Oh no, I forgot in the rush…”

“No worries,” Cann said, shrugging off his long brown coat and handing it to her. "Here, take this."

"But Cann—"

“I’ve got an extra in the car. Don’t worry.”

Ritika hesitated but then smiled, putting it on. "Thank you, Cann. I’ll return it later."

"You look even more beautiful now," he teased, making her laugh.

Ritika waved goodbye, climbing into her cab. Cann smiled as he watched her leave, heading to his car for the shoot.