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میرے یار ، میرے دوست
میری کائنات مدہوش

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graphics credit: _habibaaa123

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MAHIN ARSALAN HATED winters.

There was something about the cold nip in the air and harsh winds that always seemed to sour her mood thoroughly. May it be the idea that layering of clothes bored her or the fact that cold weather was never merciful on her health didn't matter. The verity of the situation stood - she hated winters.

"Come on, M, will you please stop shivering?" Alara Demircan spoke from beside her just as another shudder tore through her body. "Allah, Allah, there are already two blankets around you!"

"I'm sorry to disappoint you, Aşkım, but I can't control my reflexes." Mahin mumbled, inching towards the lit fireplace while its glow crinkled against her eyes.

"I see your sass still hasn't quite left you." Alara spoke, finally propping herself down on the floor beside her best friend.

"I majored in keeping the sass intact forever - literally." Mahin laughed as she replied, the warmth of the fire seeping into her bones and liquidating the cold that had gripped her.

"That you did." Chuckling, Alara handed Mahin her cup of coffee she had picked on the way here - a double shot Iced Mocha that Mahin worshipped, earning a sheepish smile from her friend in return.

Mahin and Alara had been best friends for the past decade now, ever since Mahin had moved to Istanbul after completion of high school. Enrolling in the same college, despite majoring in different subjects, had cemented their friendship. Heartbreaks, fights, late nights and gossips - their friendship had seen it all, all the while standing tall and proud.

Sitting opposite each other on the hardwood floor of Mahin's apartment, the two best friends conversed, Mahin narrating some work story to Alara who divided her attention between her friend and the phone.

"...was the prosecutor, he was so fucking sure but the judge overruled the objection, citing hearsay. Can you believe that?" Mahin exclaimed, sounding exasperated for some reason and Alara nodded, despite not understanding a word.

"You don't say!" Alara widened her eyes in disbelief in an act worthy of being displayed in a soap opera and Mahin scoffed.

"You didn't get it, did you?"

"Obviously not," Alara shrugged and Mahin only managed to throw a cushion at her before she vacated her seat. "Let's watch a movie."

"What did you come here for, though?" Mahin asked, suddenly remembering Alara showing up at her doorstep on a Saturday night with Mahin's favorite coffee in hand - it was only the latter woman's cold that had distracted their attention for the time - otherwise, Alara Demircan was a woman with intent.

"Oh, I almost forgot," Alara shook her head before turning around and digging into her purse with Mahin left to stand up and take a seat on the couch.

Turning with a sheepish grin sliding across her face, Alara handed Mahin an invitation card, all the innocence of the world coming to rest on her face as she did. Mahin scoffed as she studied the contents of the card. "What's this?"

"It's the invitation to a gallery opening. Next Sunday." Alara informed and distaste colored Mahin's cheeks as she handed the card back to her friend.

"How am I invited? You know I'm not interested in these things, Al."

In these past years, Mahin had forgotten the number of times Alara had tried to drag her to these events and openings. Being a fashion designer, she was always invited to one every other day and somehow, she'd convinced herself that such events would do good to her stuck-in-a-shell, reserved best friend. Mahin, however, had contradictory opinions.

"I got one for you," Alara sheepishly added. "You might not be interested in this but you're interested in me, so you're going."

"Yeah, so not happening." Mahin snickered, leaning back while flipping her sleek jet-black hair to the side.

"M, please. There are some people coming there that I have to meet for work and I want you there to keep me sane through the night. Please." Alara almost begged, all the efforts of innocent eyes and pouting lips going to waste because Mahin knew this woman a little too well.

"And you can't take someone else?"

"No, I can't. I only trust you with this." Alara replied, eyes beseeching and Mahin shook her head.

"You never insist. What's so special about this one?" Mahin turned her head to the side as she observed her best friend, eyes narrowing.

"Well, putting it mildly, it's going to be the biggest night of my career if I nail it." Alara's voice had all the world of thrill and excitement in her voice and Mahin felt herself giving in slowly.

"That's putting it mildly?" The woman with earth as eyes shook her head as she asked.

"Yes, there are going to be very important people in the opening and you have to be there to help me out with stuff." Alara added and Mahin felt her eyes narrowing in question - again.

"What stuff?"

"Just helping with notes and confidence-boosting amongst other things." Alara sounded genuinely worried about the upcoming opening and the mere thought had Mahin in fits.

"Khodaya, never thought I'd see the day where Alara Demircan will need my help with confidence." Mahin, by then, was a mess of laughter and Alara, if not in need of help, would have let her hand let loose.

"You're always level headed and I need that in the opening," Alara added dryly, although eyes still pleading. "So, will you come?"

"I don't know, Al, it's on Sunday. You know I don't move on Sundays." Mahin said, sipping on her coffee as she grinned with pure mockery.

"There's going to be someone there." Alara's words halted Mahin's grin for a second just as confusion replaced it.

"Who?" Mahin asked, curious and intrigued.

"I'm not telling you now, it'll ruin the suspense." Alara shrugged her shoulders, her turn to lean back into the sofa with a Cheshire grin on her face.

Knowing Mahin for over nine years, she knew the woman didn't handle surprises well. Curiosity had managed to kill her best friend in more places than one and as expected, the woman let out a hefty groan. "Alara!"

"You can come and look for yourself, M." Alara smirked, barely biting back the laugh.

"How do I know you're not lying?"

"When have I ever dared?" Alara shrugged but soon after Mahin shot her a murderous glare, she hurriedly added. "I'm not, okay? Someone is going to be there that you'll be absolutely ecstatic to meet."

"Fine, I'll come." Mahin dropped her shoulders in defeat. "But if I start to get bored, I'll leave."

"You won't get bored, I promise." Alara said and Mahin could only hope that unlike the other parties Alara had carried her to, this wouldn't disappoint.

"And we'll go to my favorite places to eat for the next whole month." Mahin said, raising the bid and Alara only raised her arms up in surrender.

"Whatever you say, girl," Alara said before a mischievous glint sparkled her eyes. "Although, for a lawyer, you do give in pretty easy."

"Yeah, keep up those words and you won't find yourself a company next week." Mahin scoffed, nodding the head in warning and the storm-blue eyes only tipped in surrender.

And then, they both let out a laugh.

TIMES WHEN MAHIN Arsalan hated her job were few and far between - law being her one and only passion for as long as she could remember.

There were still moments, although rare, when the client insisted on deals well out of hand or the parties refused to cooperate or sometimes even a call to her boss' office to explain the proceedings, that she wanted to smash her head on any hard surface in the eye field.

Right now, it happened to be exactly one of those.

"Alkan Bey, the suit cannot be fought. It's a done deed if taken to the court. All we can do right now is cut a deal." Mahin explained in her position as Senior Associate, the professional tone of her voice hardening as the old man in front of her refused to budge.

"I promised a court case and that's what's going to happen - my word is on the line here." Alkan Bey - a man in his mid-fifties and one of the most important clients of their firm - said and Mahin felt a headache brewing - the only thing on the line here was the man's ego, she internally scoffed.

"I would still advise against it. Not only will it be a difficult win, if we even win it, that is, but it will cost you a fortune." Mahin added, patience blended into her tone.

"I do have fortunes to spare, Mahin Hanım," the man added sardonically. "And where is Koray Bey? I was supposed to see him."

"He'll be joining us shortly. I'm assisting him in this case."

Reminded of her boss who had left such an important client to her, merely stating that he trusted her guts, left a bitter taste in her mouth. Mahin Arsalan didn't doubt her capabilities, no, but art forgery wasn't her area of expertise. She was a corporate lawyer through and through and as of now, this man was confirming her choice of field.

"Alright, fine," he shook his head before beginning. "What does happen if the case goes to court?"

"The painting was confirmed as a forgery, we can't play around that. The buyer is entitled to choose from two option - either rescind the contract and seek reparation or replace the asset with something similar which I -"

"But I didn't know the painting was a forgery."

"-­ The buyer," Mahin stressed, eyes hardening. "Is entitled to claim compensation according to general provisions unless we prove you are not at fault. Which we will try our best and even if we do, the ball's in his court. Our best shot is to cut a deal and not provoke him into filing a fraudulent lawsuit."

"Fraud?" Alkan Bey looked appalled, his eyes widening.

"There is no proof of you not knowing the painting was a forgery besides your word, Alkan Bey, and that can be dismissed in one court hearing." Mahin replied, as patiently as possible, with the professional seriousness on her face never wavering.

"And what if we can prove it?"

"That can save you from fraud charges and a hefty compensation interest but won't -" Mahin hadn't yet completed her statement when the glass door was pushed open and Koray Atan entered the confines of Mahin's office.

"All well, Hanımeffendi?" Her boss asked but Alkan Bey was quick to turn to the man in the room to utter his disapproval.

"Koray Bey, your associate disagrees with taking the case to the court. It's defamation of character, Allah, Allah. I had no idea the painting was a forgery before putting it up for sale!" Alkan Bey added heatedly and Koray Bey only nodded in head as he took a seat by the client.

"What my associate is saying is the truth, Alkan Bey..." Koray Bey began and the next hour was spent convincing the man of settling the case outside the court.

Alkan Bey was a difficult shell to crack but Koray Atan and Mahin Arsalan were a team to reckon with. After back and forth bouncers over the proposed deals and managing to find the ideal solution, they not only managed to convince the man of dangers the court could unleash but also left Mahin Arsalan royally drained.

"Khodaya, he's some pain in the ass." Mahin muttered as she gathered the files scattered on her desk, exhaustion seeping into her bones.

"You handled it quite well back in there, Mahin." Koray appreciated and Mahin felt utter satisfaction dimming the headache forming behind the temples.

"Thank you," Mahin replied, gathering her belongings from the table, ready to end the day. "But remind me to never volunteer in cases involving such rich brats."

"They do good on papers," Koray Bey laughed, holding the door open for her as they walked towards the elevator at the end of work day. "And besides, have some heart. His respect was at line here."

Koray Atan - a man in late-thirties with a maintained profile, greying hair but nevertheless dressed to perfection and utter class - was a man Mahin had always admired in her workplace. Be it his ability to close the deals or handle the jury like a pro - he'd never disappointed and for a woman such as Mahin who was damn difficult to please, he did the job with utter grace.

"And we were helping him do some damage control, we're not the enemies here," Mahin rolled her eyes, entering the elevator Koray Bey had called. "You're not coming?"

"No, I have some files to go over." Her boss responded with a smile and Mahin nodded her head just as the elevator doors shut closed.

The moment Mahin Arsalan encountered solitude for the first time in the day - peace and loneliness engulfed her simultaneously. With those mixed emotions at heart and deep, wandering thoughts in mind, she made her way through the basement towards her parking space. The weekend was in full sight and after a terrible week that she had - she had every intention of claiming every second it.

Sliding behind the wheel of her white Porsche, Mahin easily glided the vehicle through the basement parking space, out onto the Gümüşyolu Caddesi. Halfway through turning on her playlist, her phone vibrated and she slid a thumb across the screen, Burak's name flashing.

"Hey, you, done for the day?" Burak's deep voice rang through the interior of the car and Mahin felt her exhaustion slipping.

Burak Demircan, Alara's twin brother, had been her best friend for almost as long as his sister. Having gone to the same university in Ankara, despite him majoring in Business Administration, had allowed their friendship a chance to blossom. And now, after ten years, it had found its root.

"Yeah, on my way back."

"Care to stop at our place for a while? Al is eating my head off about the opening." He asked, obviously annoyed at his sister, and a rich laugh left Mahin's plump lips.

"No, I think I'll pass. I'm already fucking exhausted."

Mahin could imagine Burak rolling his gunmetal eyes in irritation, running hands through his dark caramel locks. "Anyways, are you going to the gallery opening this Sunday?"

"Yeah, your sister is very persuasive," Mahin shook her head as she sped the car on the Bosphorus Bridge to the European side of the city. "You're going too?"

"Maybe, I have a meeting the same day so I'm not sure right now." Burak replied, and Mahin felt herself nodding.

"It's better if you don't, we corporate people never quite fit-in at in these parties," Mahin laughed, taking a plunge at Burak Demircan's business ventures. "Anyways, I have to go. Let me enjoy my car ride in peace."

"Gule, gule, Aşkım." Burak replied, voice soft this time, and Mahin ended the call with a hum.

Caught up in Burak's phone call, the time flew and a good fifteen minutes later with Googoosh's rendition of Man Amadeam blasting through the radio, familiar, paved Cevdet Paşa Caddesi came into view and a sigh escaped past her. Driving towards her apartment complex with magnificent Bosphorus straits on the left, she entered a basement once again, parking her beloved Porsche in the designated lot.

Ascending to her floor, Mahin waited patiently in the box, the four-inch pumps grinding against the carpeted floor. All she could look forward to right now was a deep slumber in her bed and a cue of movies she'd listed on Netflix. Silently moaning at even the thought, she unlocked her front door and entered the main entrance hallway.

Getting out of the stilettos, another whimper left her lips as she discarded the keys in the tray by the door. Her seafront apartment was located in Bebek, the most upmarket and posh neighborhood of Istanbul, and the interior certainly alibied to the words. With the hallway leading to a sprawling, high-ceilinged center room boasting Scandinavian-styled living area and dramatic glass windows, it provided the most magnificent views of sunsets and seas.

Admiring her home for probably the hundredth time ever since she'd moved into it a year and a half ago, she walked on the hardwood floor deeper into the place. However, movement to the right caught her eye and she stopped, heart in her mouth for a split second before a long sigh left her.

"Baba!"

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and we have officially started the story!

do tell me your theories and don't forget to vote!

till next time,
salam