"It's getting crowded. Be careful. Don't fall and hurt yourself.", Ali called out to Kiraz who was zipping ahead on the skating rink. "I'll be fine Commissioner.", Kiraz glanced back and promptly crashed into someone. "Whoa whoa.", a deep voice laughed somewhere above her head and Kiraz looked up at a very handsome dark-haired man smiling down at her.
"Are you okay miss?", the man's smile did not fade. "I am fine. I am so sorry I crashed into you. Did I hurt you?", Kiraz apologised hastily. "Don't worry about it. By the way, I'm Baris. What's your name?", he held out his hand. "I am Kiraz.", she shook his hand with a big smile.
Ali almost tore his scarf in half at that sight. What in the world was going on in front of him? Kiraz being clumsy as usual had crashed into someone and the man seemed to be happy rather than pissed off that she had crashed into him. "What are they doing?", Ali's hand clenched into fists as he saw Kiraz shaking the man's hand. "Okay that's enough.", Ali fumed and skated towards Kiraz.
"Are you here alone Kiraz? A beautiful girl like you should not be here alone.", Baris smiled his dark eyes twinkling. Kiraz blushed slightly. Baris was such a handsome man and Kiraz was rather flattered that he was paying her so much attention. "I'm here with someone. He's..", Kiraz stopped short when she saw Ali skating up to her his jaw clenched tight.
"Kiraz.", Ali stared at her promptly ignoring Baris's presence. "Oh is he your husband?", Baris's face fell. Kiraz opened her mouth to say no but Ali answered for her. "Yes, I am her husband. Let's go dear. Our kids are waiting on the other side.", Ali took Kiraz's hand and pulled away from Baris leaving the other man staring after them. "What are you doing Commissioner?", Kiraz was still in a state of shock. Ali came to a stop after a few minutes and steadied Kiraz who was tottering unsteadily beside him.
"Tell me something Miss Kiraz. Do you have to talk to every random stranger in the rink? Have you not learnt anything from what I told you? Don't talk to random people Kiraz. He could be a criminal for all we know.", Ali whispered angrily to Kiraz.
She seemed taken aback. "He is not a criminal Commissioner. Baris bey is a lawyer.", Kiraz replied much to Ali's chagrin. "Baris bey?", he glowered at Kiraz. "Look, Commissioner. He gave me his visiting card.", Kiraz held out a shiny visiting card resting in her palm.
"When did THIS happen?", Ali's voice rose a few decibels. Kiraz backed away from him. "Relax Commissioner. It is just a visiting card.", Kiraz tried to calm him down. "You don't need this.", he grabbed the card from her hand. "What? Give it back Commissioner.", Kiraz tried to grab it back but Ali was too tall.
"Why?? Do you want to call him?", Ali's expression was one of disbelief. "What I want to do with the visiting card is my wish.", Kiraz tried to reach for the card again.
Ali shook his head. " No way. You are my responsibility. I need to keep you safe.", Ali's answer only made Kiraz angrier. "Commissioner, why are you being so nosy??", she gave up and glared up at him with her hands on her hips.
"Am I interrupting something?", a soft amused voice broke the tension between Ali and Kiraz. They both turned around to find Melek standing close by trying to suppress her laughter. "No.", they both replied together angrily. Melek smiled.
"I'm going off to skate by myself, far away from him.", Kiraz glared at Ali before skating away. " You still have to go home with me. Don't forget that.", Ali yelled after her. "Goofy.", he muttered under his breath and shook his head when Kiraz almost lost her balance in a haste to get away from him.
"You genuinely love this woman, don't you?", Melek watched Ali staring at Kiraz his eyes glowing like embers in the dark. Ali did a double-take. "What?", he asked Melek in shock. "I said you genuinely love this woman and don't even try to deny it Ali. Save me the bullshit.". Melek held up her hand to silence Ali when he opened his mouth to protest.
"You. love. this. girl. Even if you don't tell her this at least admit this to yourself Ali.", Melek said and with a final knowing smile she skated away.
Ali bit his lip thoughtfully as his eyes went back to Kiraz's form in the distance. She was skating by herself a huge grin on her face as she held out her hand to catch the little snowflakes floating down towards her. A happy little girl. That's what she was at the heart and her infectious happiness made Ali's heart feel strangely light and complete.
His feet automatically started skating towards her. Kiraz was still trying to catch snowflakes in her little hands not noticing Ali coming up behind her. She was so caught up in her snowflake chase that she didn't notice the curve of the rink coming up till it was too late.
"Be careful.", a familiar voice called and Kiraz felt two arms encircle her waist and pull her away from the metal railing. Kiraz looked up to find Ali staring down at her worriedly.
"Are you alright?", he seemed genuinely concerned. Kiraz nodded and tried to move away but he held onto her waist firmly. "You can let me go.", Kiraz stared pointedly at his hands.
"You will fall again.", Ali said quietly. "I won't.", Kiraz struggled to get free. "You will but I will be here to catch you.", Ali finally freed her from his grasp and saw Kiraz staring up at him her green eyes holding multitudes of questions.
"Do you want to tell me something?", Kiraz asked after they had stared at each other for a few minutes in complete silence. Ali inhaled. Could that be the moment that he faced up to the facts that he had been denying even to himself?
"Kiraz.. I..", Ali met her eyes and swallowed noisily. It was now or never.
~ End of Part 3 ~
![](https://img.wattpad.com/cover/251049714-288-k767846.jpg)
YOU ARE READING
The Clumsy Princess - An AlKir Short Story
RomansaAli takes Kiraz out for an ice skating date that ends up with hilarious results.