Müdafaa-i Hukuk-i Nisvan

Chapter IV

In the 164th Edition of Kadinlar Düyasi (women's world)

I complained about low wages women get who got

Recruited by the Ministry of Post and Telegraph

And demanded higher wages.

For some reason, some men got scared of my simple wish.

They concluded that all public service areas (...) will be occupied

By women and (men) will end starving helplessly.

And some men even proved their weakness

In writing letters to our magazine, asking for help (...)

One of those letters awakened our deep compassion...

Nuriye Ulviye Mevlan Civelek

Hilal once again checked the letters, dividing them in to 4 piles- one stack for each of them. Waiting for the others to get ready, she gazed upon the leaflets with the information. In three days they would make it to the local newspaper again. Inspired by their sisters in England Hilal and some other women planned to hold a speech on different points of the cordon and city. This way they would reach more people and it would make it harder for the Inspector to impose law and order. The young woman smiled pleased.

"Hilal where are the buttons and the flags?" Hava was looking at her questionably.

"They are under the desk in a box. Put it there again after counting them, Hava. Better to keep them hidden." Hava nodded her head as she went over to the desk and pulled the heavy box out. Lütfü helped the young girl to carry it to the shop counter, while Eleni cleared away the mess they had created. They were bustling as all of a sudden, the door smashed open.

Leon entered the pharmacy with Andreas and two other police officers. His eyes swept through the room till they rested on the rebellious woman. He knew that his warning would fall on deaf ears. But hearing that the Daruhane had been close for two days, Leon knew that that their time to take action had come. Finding all members of The Violets here, confirmed his concerns.

Hilal tried to keep calm, she knew that the Inspector was observing them- that was why they had met here in the middle of the night, trusting the shady protection of candle-lights. Her gaze wandered to the others; Hilal felt relived as she saw that Eleni and Lütfü were on an even keel but seeing Hava, her concerns rose. The girl was not used to such things yet, being still the new one in the group. She smiled cheeringly at her as Hava found her gaze. Turning back to the Inspector she said:

"And we were wondering where you have been, dear Inspector? But you didn't disappoint us as I see!"

Leon kept a straight face, ignoring her. "Andreas, search thoroughly and confiscate everything that could cause the Little Miss and her sweet friends headaches."

Lütfü turned to his wife "Did the Inspector called us sweet, my love?" His voice was clear, meant to be heard by everyone in the store.

Eleni chuckled "Looks like he did, my love. He is not wrong after all, you are very sweet." She winked at her husband. Hilal who observed their barter chuckled herself. A smirk on her face she raised her chin as she met Leon's gaze. But he was not to be provoked.

Andreas instructed the other officers before he went to the young girl who was staying by the counter. She had been pulling out some fabric and little buttons from a box as they had barged in to the Pharmacy. The officer tried not to impede her; Unlike her friends, she seemed to be scared and Andreas felt sorry for the girl.