Price of Passion

Chapter 1: Wildfire

Being one of Istanbul's busiest places, the Örtaköy square is constantly foaming with life - tourists, street vendors, artists, buskers, the whole lot. Located adjacent to the constant buzz is Bolu Café, a great spot that boasts of multiple TripAdvisor recommendations and the signature dishes that left people craving for more. Sitting at her usual corner in the café, 65-year old Handan Adakli frowned as she read the newspapers. One headline dominated all of the newsstands in Istanbul: CORRUPTION AND EMIRHAN SCANDALS. Even 5 years after her brother's disgraceful downfall, she still thinks of herself as one of Istanbul's prime nobility. Realising she'd again finished her pot of tea, she beckoned for her daughter-in-law Gülsüm, who was busy serving other tables while her son Abidin was preparing another order of Menemen (poached eggs with tomatoes and peppers).

"Had I been the President, all this nonsense wouldn't have happened," said Handan.  "Look at this ridiculousness. Corruption in the hospital? Ha! Tövbe tövbe..."

Gülsüm rolled her eyes as she served Handan tea for the umpteenth time. From the corner of her peripheral vision, she could tell that Abidin was also annoyed with his mother's never-ending narcissistic comments.

"Allah Allah," she groaned. "Enough with your nagging already, Tezye. Yeter artık ya!" 

"Well, I think it's better we read about this in the news than not know anything," said Abidin. "It means the problem is being solved."

"Do you even hear what you are saying, Abos?" said Handan. "This is a scandal. A scandal!"

"Teyze," said Gülsüm sternly. "Ferhat Abi is trying to make things right in the company but here you are, nagging non-stop and drinking up all the tea and coffee we have. You should be ashamed of yourself."

"Shut your smart mouth Gülsüm Hanım." Handan snapped.

Gülsüm was about to throw curses in Handan's face when she felt a gentle pat on her shoulder. She felt a gush of relief when her mother gave Handan a disgusted glare. Yeter had always been the rock of refuge for her children, including her son-in-law Abidin. Just like everybody else in the house, her daughter never got along with Handan. She knew Handan all too well – this old hag never gets tired of being mean to others, including her own children.

"Tamam, Gülsüm," said Yeter. "Why not you come with me to pick up the kids from Kindergarten? It's almost time."

"Uff, If I stay here I will go crazy," said Gülsüm. "Hadi, Annecim."

After a walk, Yeter and Gülsüm arrived at the Kindergarten where all the other parents were waiting for their kids. Nejdet and Ömer came running from afar the moment the boys saw their mother. Following behind them was a scrawny, brown-haired boy, sulking as he approached Yeter and Gülsüm.

"Mert?" Yeter asked. "N'oldu? What is this face?"

"Nejdet? Ömer? Did you boys bully Mert?" Gülsüm asked her boys. They shook their heads furiously.

"Anne, we didn't!" said Ömer. "Alihan and his gang did it!" 

"We were with Mert the whole time," said Nejdet. "Alihan called him names and said many bad things about Ferhat dayı and Aslı teyze." 

"Mertcim, canım," cooed Yeter, stroking his soft hair. " Tamam. Sakin ol, and talk to me. What did Alihan say?"

"Grandma," said Mert, his face red with anger. "He took my marbles and called Babam a thief and Anne a gold-digger."

Upon hearing this, the other parents gave them disgusted looks and walked off with their children. Some of them gasped, realising who Mert was talking about. They've read or heard all about it in the news. Tabloid journals exaggerated the rumours and twisted them. Ferhat Aslan, the new President of Emirhan Holdings, was involved in a corruption scandal. Gülsüm and Yeter exchanged worried looks, despite knowing the whole truth that it wasn't the case.