Loving You

Chapter 27 : Adventures in Istanbul (Part 2: Date Night)

Zahra's POV
We got into a disabled friendly taxi and Ali gave the driver some directions in Arabic until we arrived in the heart of Istanbul. We got off and paid the kind man before he drove off. "Ali where are we?" We walked for 5 minutes to get to a really beautiful restaurant called Taste of Turkey.

"Ali, you don't have to impress me by taking me to such fancy places, I would be just as happy with a takeaway." "Eshgham, please don't worry about that, I just want to enjoy our first date night together." He smiled at me and held my hand. We entered the beautiful restaurant where several chandeliers were hanging from the ceilings and other adornments decorated the walls. We went into the main dining area of the restaurant and Ali whispered to one of the waiters, "A table for two in the hospitality suite, courtesy of the manager and chef."

"Are you the special guests of Mr Hayes?" The waiter enquired. "Yes." We were escorted to the hospitality suite and seated at the best table. I looked around the room in awe. Ali smiled as he saw my reaction and replied. "This restaurant belongs to an old friend of mine who I'd like you to meet. His name is Adam Hayes. He was my best friend in university and he went on to make a big name for himself in the food industry."

As if right on cue, a young guy of the same age as Ali, with long brown hair tied up in a small man bun , eyes, a deep shade of emerald and a stubbly beard, his arms decorated with tattoos in an immaculately clean Chef's uniform appeared before us and tapped Ali's shoulder. Ali turned around and smiled brightly as he stood up and gave his friend a big, manly, brotherly hug and shook his hand firmly.

"Adam bro, I was just talking about you. How you doing my brother." Ali asked enthusiastically. "Not bad, man. What about you, it's been a while since I've seen you. My boy Al." His friend replied, patting him on the back before he smiled towards me. I lowered my gaze in modesty and let out a small, polite and respectful smile. I could feel this young man looking at me in a very peculiar way, his smouldering gaze making me feel uneasy and his sheer curiosity, unnerving.

"That must be your Missus?" He asked Ali, a hint of confusion in his tone as he examined me, analysing my appearance from head to toe, which I noticed yet felt was understandable, given the circumstances. Ali must have noticed too as his eyebrow was arched and his demeanour shifted suddenly.

Ali walked towards me and held my hand, squeezing it gently in reassurance. "Yes Adam, I'd like you to meet my beautiful bride, Zahra Reza-Ahmadi, the love of my life." I began blushing at my husband's words, my heart fluttering.

Adam must have noticed the shift in Ali's tone as he cleared his voice and offered his hand to me, requesting for me to shake it as was customary when greeting someone. I had to say something because my entire life, I'd never really intentionally touched someone of the opposite gender who was not a close family member, especially when we had literally only just met. Ali could see how uncomfortable I was and wasn't quite sure what to say. So I looked up and opened my mouth.

"Mr Hayes, it's really nice to meet you. My husband has told me so much about you. Thank you so much for your excellent hospitality. We both really appreciate it. I must apologise however as due to our faith, I do not touch the opposite gender unless they are my family members. I hope I have not offended you or disrespected you in any way, I just don't feel comfortable." "Ok, in that case, let me get you both menus." Adam rushed to a nearby table and delivered us two menus. "I'll be back in ten minutes bro." He said to Ali.

Ali sat down again next to me, running his fingers through his hair. "Habibti I'm so sorry, Adam has never been like this before, I honestly don't know what has happened." I kissed Ali's cheek and whispered, "it's ok, you have nothing to apologise for because nothing happened. Relax hubby."