A few days have gone by since Ismail and I had that talk. Ismail might have seemed like he agreed with my decision of staying by his side, but he did not. I can tell he wishes I would stay far away from him as much as possible, but I can’t. The love I have for him won’t let me. It doesn’t help that Ismail has become more caring and protective of me during these past few days. He calls me every day after I leave the office, checking if I have gotten home safely. He also calls during the weekends checking if I am doing fine. These little acts make my heart flutter for him more and more every day.
“As salama alaykum, Eman, Aayan, your favorite uncle is here,” Ismail calls out walking through the front door.
Ismail came to the house today to pick up the kids to spend the day with him. They have been missing him and have been asking to see him for the past few weeks. Ismail decided to take them out today.
“Uncle Ismai
I left Ismail’s house an hour ago and I am on my way to Emma’s house to visit her with Fatima. I am driving while Fatima has been on her iPad since I picked her up from her house. I don’t know what she is doing, but whatever it is, it has her full attention.“What are you doing? You have been using your iPad since I picked you up,” I say, but it takes Fatima minutes before she answers me.“Oh, are you talking to me?” Fatima finally responds giving me her attention.“Nooooo, I am talking to someone else I am in the car with,” I reply sarcastically.“Sorry, I have my mind wrapped up with wedding stuff.”“It’s fine and why don’t you hire a wedding planner?”“I did, but there are a few things a wedding planner can’t do for me.”“Like what?”“Picking out a cake, the type of flowers to be used, the colors the
I wake up to the sound of my phone ringing. I wonder who is calling me this beautiful Saturday morning. I don’t open my eyes, and answer the call, not caring to check who is calling.“Umit, where are you?” the voice belonging to Fatima asks.“Why are you looking for me this early in the morning?”“Why am I looking for you? Umit, have you forgotten we have a dress appointment this morning?” Fatima says, sounding furious over the phone.Oh, my God! Subhan Allah (Glory be to Allah), I can’t believe I forgot. I didn’t forget, really. I knew Fatima had a dress appointment on the 22nd, but I hadn’t realized that was today.“Fatima, I swear I didn’t forget. I just did not know today is the 22nd. I will quickly shower and be on my way.” I say getting out of my bed.“Alright, be fast because I don’t want to try on a dress when you are not here.”&ld
Two hours later I am done with a quarter of my work. I have only read a few of the feedback comments and have a thousand more to read. I will continue tomorrow because right now I must hurry to the salon. Fatima already called me to ask where I was. She and Emma are already there. I shut down my computer before taking the elevator to the parking lot and be on my way.I arrive at the salon a bit late. I almost lost my own appointment with the hairstylist. I had my hair washed and braided. I didn’t paint my nails this time. I am praying, and I don’t want to. I only had a manicure and pedicure. I still remember the first time I went to the salon with Emma. She asked me why I bother to do my hair in elaborate styles since I always cover it. I explained to her that the reason I do my hair is for me to feel beautiful, not for anyone else to see. I don’t need anyone to see my hair to know it’s beautiful. When we are done at the salon I drive bac
“Move it,” he says using the gun to direct me which way to go.I comply and walk towards where he says, without struggle as I don’t want to get him angry. We step into a room, and my fears and questions are answered.“Umit what are you doing here?” Ismail asks sounding very worried and surprised to see me. I can’t believe I was right; they have Ismail. They tied him to a chair.“Ismail are you alright? I have been looking for you,” I say trying not to sound scared, but glad at least I found him.“You can’t be here right now. You have to leave,” Ismail says trying to remove the ropes around his hands to get to me.“HEY! Enough talk. You! Fine lady, follow me. Ismail shut your mouth before I shut it for you,” the scary man says.Ismail and I don’t say anything, but I can tell he wants nothing more than to get me far away from here as soon as possible. The scary
“Now tie her to the chair, and make sure it’s tight because if it’s not, you won’t like what I will do to you,” he tells Ismail. I sit on the chair Ismail sat on before as he uses the ropes to tie me up.When he is tying Ismail up a plan pops to my head, but I will need Ismail’s help to make sure it goes well. A wonderful idea also comes to me that will work perfectly with my plan.“Ismail ti fidi di me? (Ismail do you trust me?)” I ask in Italian praying I said the right words.“Lo faccio, ma perché stai chiedendo e perché parli italiano? (I do, but why are you asking and why are you speaking Italian?)” Ismail replies in Italian. I am about to reply, but the thug responds instead.“Vedo che voi due potete parlare la mia lingua (I see you two can speak my language)” the man interrupts. I can’t use Italian to say the things I want to say to Ismail. If I say it in a
We drive for what seems like an hour before coming to a stop. I get out of the car, expecting to see a house or something, or anything else but what I am seeing right now. We’re standing in front of a helicopter!“Ismail, where are we going?” I ask not understanding what is going on.“We have to leave the city for a while,” Ismail says as he walks over to the helicopter, and start pressing and checking all kinds of stuff.“Why do we have to leave the city? Is that really necessary? Can’t we stay at a hotel or something?” I whine feeling like leaving the city is a bit too much.“Yes, we do. It’s risky staying here, so we have to leave.”“Are you sure leaving is the best idea?”“Do you trust me, Umit?”“Yes, I do.”“Then we have to leave and now.”“Alright”We step into the helicopter, trusti
I don’t know if what I heard was right or not, because I have dreamt of the day I would tell Ismail about my feelings and he would share the feelings back. But now hearing him say it, feels like I am still having that dream. I can’t believe all these weeks when I thought my feelings were one-sided, they were not. I am so happy right now; words can’t even describe it.“Yes, Umit, I am in love with you.”“Oh, Ismail I clearly understand how you feel, but you are not the only one with feelings here. I too have feelings, that’s why I can’t bear to watch your life being in danger and not do anything to help. That’s why I want to stay by your side and help because of the feelings I have for you.”“Umit, what are you trying to say.”“What I am trying to say is, Ismail Uthman. I, Umit Isa, am in love with you too,” I tell him, smiling the brightest smile I have ever smiled in my l
We both finish eating breakfast and walk to David’s study. We walk in and take our seats. Once we are all seated, David is the first one to speak up.“Thank you both for coming...” David says, but Ismail cuts him short.“Why are you being so formal? It’s not like this is a business deal or something,” Ismail chuckles.“Shut up and let me talk, Ismail,” David replies.“Sorry, go on,” Ismail says making a hand gesture, smiling sheepishly.“As I was saying before ‘Mister I know it all’ spoke. I want...”“I am not ‘A know it all’. I just asked why you spoke so formal,” Ismail interrupts again.“Ismail, let the man talk,” I say holding back my laughter, because seeing the two of them bicker is fun to watch.“Thank you, Umit, and Ismail don’t open your mouth until you a