"Entire water of the sea can't
sink a ship unless it gets inside
the ship. Similarly negativity
of the world can't put you down
unless you allow it to get
inside you."
~saadi ~

!!!___________________!!!

Chap 7: Desi tastebuds

Çağlar stayed there for a long time starting at Fatin's door.
While looking at Fatin's condition, he felt guilt buildup in his heart. She was in this condition because of him.

He wanted to talk to her, instead he tried to ignore her and decided to go inside his door but it seem like his feet and heart have their own accord, he found himself walking towards her door and knocking.

She opened the door after a while and stood there questioningly. "Can I talk to you for a while?" His eyes pleaded. Without saying a word she turned inside giving him some space. Taking two steps forward she halted, arms folded on her chest. She arched her brow, asking him to shoot his TALK.

"Are you alright?" Brainstorming about where to start, when nothing came to his mind, he blurted. His own voice sounded strange to him.

Giving Çağlar some space to move inside, she stopped in the doorway. She was not the type of person to welcome a male even though he's a friend inside her house at this hour without a solid reason but his question infuriated her.
How come he ask her if she is alright after all what he did to her? Is he here to make fun of her while seeing her in this condition? Turning around she reached for him, standing face to face.

"Why do you care? Who am I to you?
What if I'm dying why would you care?"
She shouted while pointing her finger towards him. Tears welled in her eyes.

"Listen.... I... I w..." he tried to speak but was stopped by her voice.

"You...You just took care of your fu*** ego, which is large enough to make you leave a person whom you call your friend, behind in the middle of nowhere when it's raining and cold and dark and she even don't know her way to home.
It made you so blind that you did not even thought about what could have happen if Faadi wasn't there at that time?
What if I got lost? What if somebody kidnapped me and killed me?
I don't want to see your face again. Go away. Just Leave me alone and go. I don't want you to come near me." She was yelling while bawling uncontrollably, her face covered with fresh tears. Her hold tightened around his shirt like she is saying him to leave but don't want him to go.

"Look. I....I'm s..sorry. I know ......." He tried to speak again but she didn't let him finish.

"Shut up and listen to me.
You are saying that you are sorry. Huh...Sorry? Do you think every time you'll do this without thinking of consequences and when you'll get your mind back, you'll come and say that you're sorry and it'll work?
No... it won't because you don't know what it is when you are left behind. What is the feeling of being left.
You have not experienced the feeling when you are alone and lost, in the middle of night. When there's no one except you and the darkness along with the sound of roaring thunder and pounding rain, I was alone, there was no one with me, I was afraid. That whole situation was frightening me. I was terrified to my bones.

Her head now leaning against his strong chest, her tears soaking his shirt which was in the tight grip of her hands.

His arms slowly moved to hold her petite body but she jerked away, tears storming down her cheeks. Instead he held her hand in his and felt her burning hot due to fever. Guilt took over him. She was now trembling. He look at her face which was pale and her eyes were slowly closing. He moved to held her when she was about to fall. Panic took over his face.

Thinking what to do he took her inside her apartment, helping her to lay down on sofa. She closed her eyes, not able to find enough energy in herself.

"Fatin." He tried to call her but she didn't answer.

Nothing came to his mind so he called Zynep, afraid of Fatin's condition.

••••••••••••••••••

While waiting for Zynep, Çağlar's eyes were continuously glancing at Fatin's pale face. Her breathing was slow. She was still wearing Faadi's clothes.
He noticed the shape of her long-arched eyebrows, and how her trembling long and thick lashes were causing his heartbeat to shag with them. Image of her doe like eyes, merged in the back of his head. Some lose strands of her silky hairs were touching her cheek, his hand arched to touch them, to remove them from side of her face, to feel their softness but he controlled his urge.

She was beautiful. He had seen many beautiful girls in his life, he work with models and actresses who were beautiful and attractive but  there  was something in this girl that was not letting his eyes to see and his mind to think anything else. It is not like he never dated, he recently broke up with his girlfriend. He dated many girls even some from his school, it was casual thing to do in his work line and society but he never slept with anyone, he set his limits and always respected and valued them.

His eyes traveled down towards her pink lips then towards the mole on the right side of her neck. Before he could think anything else, he heard sounds coming from down stairs.
He came out of the room to check and found Zynep in her sleeping clothes, ascending two steps a time.

"Where's Fatin? What happened? Is she alright?" She asked breathless.

"She is inside her room and i guess she fainted because of fe..." before he could complete, Zynep pushed-passed him and went inside to check Fatin.

He stood there with his mouth opened and rolled his eyes. What's with these ladies and not to letting him speak Today!

He then followed Zynep.

•••••••••••••••••

After many efforts of Zynep and Çağlar, Fatin's temperature lowered in the morning.

Nearly 5 am Çağlar left as he didn't get enough sleep, Zynep told him to go as he had work and said that she'll be here with Fatin as it was her day off.

After getting 2 hours of sleep, Çağlar headed for his work but before that he didn't forget to check on Fatin, who was still sleeping. He informed Zynep that he'll be late and to look after Fatin on which she just rolled her eyes.

•••••••••••••••••••

Zynep texted Zehra and told her about Fatin's condition and she told everyone else, so by noon everyone was present there including Faadi, Deniz and Fazilet Auntie, mother of Zynep.

After explaining them thousand times that she was fine, she wasn't able to satisfy them until Sinan came and checked her. Then she explained them how she came up in front of Faadi's car when she went with Çağlar after the lunch, she tried to save his face by  saying that she had a small fight with Çağlar and she left him behind at the ice cream parlour, Zynep just rolled her eyes and mouthed "I won't leave Çağlar off the hook that easily knowing the truth."    Overprotective Friend!

And now her house was a mess!!!
Her lounge was in its worst condition right now which she didn't mind at all. Cushions were spread all over the floor with the jacket of Sinan which was also laying there. Empty drink cans and pizza boxes were on the table. Zynep and Deniz were in the kitchen making dinner for everybody. Sinan was lying on the carpet watching tv, his head on one of the cushion and his legs resting on the central table. Fatima was yelling for her phone which was lost between the mess. Fazilet Auntie and Faadi were playing chess by the chairs beside window and Fatin was laying on the sofa, watching Zehra and Fatima fight over each other's phones, a small smile playing on her beautiful face which was now also home for dark circles beneath her eyes.

She was glad that they're all here for her but he didn't came. Thinking about him, sadness curtained her face. She saw him last time 16 hours ago, after her outburst, after that there was no sound from him. Okay, she knows that he was busy but he didn't even called her once.

She came out of her thoughts by Deniz's voice who was calling everyone for dinner. Fatima help her to the table, Zynep offer her to bring her food but she denied saying she'll eat with everyone else.

After having dinner and staying a little bit longer, playing games and watching TV, everyone left at 10:00 pm except Zynep, who was staying with her, but before leaving they brought her apartment back to it's organised and neat form.

She laughed hard on the faces made by Sinan and Faadi when they were told to do dishes which they hate doing. Man! they were looking so cute.

When she was left alone with Zynep, she again asked her about the fight between her and Çağlar to which she came up with some reasons to let Zynep change the topic but from the looks on Zynep's face, it was evident that she wasn't satisfied. Fatin was happy that she changed the topic.

•••••••••••••••••••

Fatin's night went by tossing and turning in her bed, thinking about him. He is so cruel that he didn't even called her to know if she was okay.

Next day Zynep had to leave for work because of an important meeting. She wasn't ready to leave Fatin alone as she wasn't feeling well. She can't even leave her with her mother because she went to the Island early morning to meet someone. Fatin told her not to worry about her and she'll be fine but Zynep didn't listen and called Çağlar to came and stay with her as he was the only person free on that day.

•••••••••

She was sleeping when Zynep left. Waking up she found that Çağlar haven't arrived yet because her apartment was empty and silent. She decided to have some "her time" and after taking shower she changed into a huge oversized T-shirt pairing it with the some shorts. She never use shorts clothes around people, she didn't feel comfortable but when she's alone she wore them.

After drying and tying her hairs into a messy bun, she went to the kitchen to make food for herself. Zynep made soup for her before leaving but she was tired of eating 'recommended by doctor' food which was tasteless for her  Desi Asian tastebuds, so she decided to make pasta. Tasty Spicy pasta. Even thinking about which was mouthwatering.

Hour passed and her pasta was ready. She was taking it out in the plate when suddenly the door of her apartment burst opened.
She was surprised, only Zynep knows her password. Is she back early? She came out of the kitchen to check.

"Zynep! Is that you? Why are you back earl....."
Seeing horrified Çağlar standing in her door way, her rest of the words got lost, her eyes enlarged and her mouth hung open, with the thought of Çağlar seeing her like this in her shorts, she shrieked and ran towards her room.

                            ****************

W/N:
Hello everyone!!
Hope you all are doing great.
I'm so happy that we reached 500+ views. It's all because of you guys. Thank you so much for being there. ♥️♥️♥️
Love you guys.
Special thanks to AamaraShah , she was always there for me whenever I was in need.

Read, enjoy and don't forget to vote and comment.

Stay blessed.
Lots of love.♥️
Hamna

Published: 10/11/2018
Edited: 04/02/2023