Is our love strong enough?

Blessing...

Mevkibe made tea and we sat at the kitchen table. I wasn't sure how to begin so I asked straight out.

"I would like to ask for Sanem's hand in marriage, Nihat bey."

For what seemed like a lifetime later sitting in silence, I couldn't keep quiet anymore.

"Nihat Bey. Did you hear me? Mevkibe is he ok?" I asked watching towards her.

They were both speechless and in shock. After a few minutes Mevkibe clapped with her hands in excitement and smiled from ear to ear like a child arriving into the candy store.

"Oh Can." She took my hand into hers and rubbed it.

"Don't worry about Nihat. The shock will go over soon. Isn't it right Nihat?" with her other hand she touched his arm firmly, taking him out of the trance.

He cleared his throat and finally started to speak.

"Can Bey..."

"It's Can, please." I insisted.

He nodded and continued. "Tamam, Can. Look, we don't take those words lightly. A marriage proposal is not something you come up with when you like it. I know you care for Sanem but how can we take this serious? How do we know you really mean it and don't run away when the next fight comes? You two don't even know each other that long and on top on all of this, we are also from different backgrounds son."

"With all due respect sir, I don't only care for your daughter. I love her. More than anything. I didn't fall in love with her because I was lonely or lost, I fell in love with her because after getting to know her, I realized that I wanted to make her a permanent part of my life.

I have never felt that I belong somewhere like I do now. I'll be honest with you. I never considered myself marriage material or that I would want to marry someone someday. The thought about marriage never crossed my mind before because I had no one to look up to.

My parents divorced when I was young and you know the history with my mother. I always thought I am better off by myself. I never learned to communicate when it got hard. The only solution I knew was to run.
Run away from your problems and don't face them. This was the easy way, it has always been like this...

But this was all before your daughter came into my life. She changed everything. She changed me. I never thought I needed someone in my life before her. I love her and I need her in my life more than I need my next breath. I know that I need to work on myself and I need to learn to communicate better.

I am aware that you don't know the whole history of me and Sanem but I have lost her twice already and I would rather die than to lose her again. I want her to be my wife. I want to build a family with her. I want what you have with your wife.

I learned from your family what it means to grow up in a loving household, what it means when everybody takes care of each other. When you make each other crazy but then hug the next minute and everything is forgotten. I never learned that but I know that I want this, with your daughter, sir.

And we are not so different Nihat Bey. I don't care if my father has a company or not. That doesn't make me and Sanem not fit together. We found each other and I know she is my soul-mate.
All I want is to spend the rest of my life with your daughter and I know that she can be tough sometimes, stubborn and that she can't cook but I don't care about any of these things.

I don't ever want to lose her again and I will promise to always love and protect her above everything else. I never want to hurt her again."

Mevkibe was trying to hide her tears during my love declaration but once Nihat started to have watery eyes, she didn't care anymore. I saw the way she squeezed Nihat's hand and they both shared this look for a few seconds before they turned to me.

"Son. We both appreciate that you came to ask us first for our approval. We know you didn't have to and we are thankful that you follow our costumes..." he took a pause and stretched out his hand to me and said "welcome to the family son. You have our blessing."

I wasn't sure if what I heard was my imagination or the reality. I sat on the chair, not being able to talk or to move. I noticed Nihat stood up and walked towards me, stretching out his hand and the only thing that came through to me was
"You have our blessing."

I had tears in my eyes and took his hand into mine and hugged him. Mevkibe hurried from the end table and hugged the both of us from the side and her tears were freely running down her face.

"Thank you both so much, this means the world to me. I never had the feeling I belonged somewhere but your family has always been so nice and welcoming to me. All of you."

"Son we haven't seen Sanem happier in our entire life. You two belong together and who are we to stay in the way. Come let's sit down and eat something and you can tell us more."

----

When Sanem was missing, the only thing that kept Mevkibe away from bad thoughts was when she was cooking. She prepared so much food since yesterday that their fridge was full from top to bottom. 25 people could come to dinner and still so much food would be over.

"I don't know anyone who cooks as good as you do. I love every single dish and your börek. It is melting in my mouth. Thank you."

"Our house is always open for you my son. Whenever you are craving some traditional food, I will make it for you. Now tell us, what did you had in mind for the proposal? How long do you want to wait before you ask her?"

"You will see me way more often in your house now, I promise you. No one can say no to your cooking..." I smiled and then continued.

"Regarding the proposal, I know where I want to ask her but I am not quite sure when. I didn't know that she wants to move out and into her own apartment. I thought to ask her to marry me and she would move after the wedding to me but I see that she needs some time for herself.

We can also be engaged first for some time and then prepare the wedding when she feels it is the right time. There is nothing that stands in between us now, no lies, no hiding, nothing. I want to ask her as soon as possible but I might wait until she finds her new place.

I also need some time to get my plan into motion. I need to make a few phone calls and plan everything out into the tiniest detail. And I would like to ask you to not mention our conversation to anybody, tamam?
Not even to Leyla, Ayhan, Melihat or Sanem. Can this be only between us for now?"

"We promise Can. This will only stay between us. Mevkibe you need to keep quiet especially in front of Melihat. I know you are very happy and excited so don't let it slip ok?"

"Oh how I wish I can tell everyone but of course I won't. This will be our little secret and I want Sanem to be as surprised as she can."

We talked a little more and I left the house with 6 Tupperware's of food. I was on my way home and couldn't be happier. I finally found everything that has been missing in my life. I can't wait to ask her to marry me.

Once I arrived home, I started on my to-do list. One very important point on this list was Sanem's apartment of course. I will help her search but she shall chose on her own.

I want her place to be hers, it should feel like her but I would like that it is a bit closer to me. I was so excited and full of hope for the coming days. Soon to be Mrs. Divit, that was all I was thinking about before I fell asleep.

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The next chapter will have some "hotter" stuff if I may say so 💁‍♀️😳 and I will publish it within a week. You will not have to wait this long anymore 🙏😘😘.

Have a nice weekend you all! 

- M.