-When falling was easy for broken hearts
Lina
The Next Morning.
Mehdi had some work to do, and since Zeba was sick, Feri was to spend the day with me today. I couldn't really skip work, so I had called Marina to ask if Feri could come to work with me today. She was more than overjoyed. In fact, she even offered to send a car to pick me up and later on have me dropped at home. With a little child by my side, the alleys and the food street were not safe enough for me to walk through. I was still vulnerable and awkward.
Grateful, I accepted Marina's offer. Having Feri by my side always put me in a tremendous mood. Having spent days without her, I would spoil her...pinch her cheeks all the time...refuse to stop hugging her.
My baby...my love, she was growing up to fast. I had been missing so many bits of her life. It was usually on weekends or the evenings of weekdays when I got to meet her because of her school. I couldn't really visit Mehdi's house now, and I couldn't stay with my baby at the apartment bought for our visits because I now knew that this would add more to Mehdi's financial crisis. The added electricity bills, gas and water bills...he had to borrow more for us, and I had no right to make him do so.
Now having Feri squeeze on to the furry pink cushion I had brought for her, I grabbed her hand and had her hop out of the car that was sent to pick us up from the apartment. She had been intrigued by the strange streets we had driven through. She had especially adored the colourful pieces of fabric displayed by Madam's Sheila's shop. My daughter was so innocent and oblivious to the darkness lingering in these streets. I prayed that she never in her life got to learn about these realities.
My baby...I would protect her!
Smiling as she started swinging our joined hands, I walked up to the entrance of the restaurant and pushed its door open. There were some customers sitting around...Dania working on the main counter, Hania taking orders and Alizeh looking bored in one corner.
Hesitantly, I pulled along Feri as I stepped inside the restaurant.
Dania's gaze trailed towards me. She seemed surprised at the sight of Feri shyly sticking to my legs.
"Aww...who is this cutie pie?" Literally abandoning the customers who seemed so annoyed, Hania rushed towards me and lowered down on her knees, holding her hand out to Feri. I was glad to see her smiling again.
"This is my daughter, Feri," I introduced, patting Feri's hair and slightly pushing her to come forward, yet my shy baby only pressed her face against my legs.
"She is so cute. Aww, look at those chubby cheeks, dimpled hands..." Hania began pinching Feri's cheeks, earning a few shy whines from her. Alizeh had taken over the order shift now. She seemed like she wanted to come and meet Feri, too, but knew that someone had to carry on with the job.
"Thank you. Let me go and introduce her to Marina now," I smiled, causing Hania to jump up and beam.
"Sure."
I walked around the counter, ignoring Dania staring curiously at me, and stepped inside the kitchen. Only Marina was inside.
"Marina," I called her out. "I would like you to meet my baby Feri."
To say Marina was overjoyed would be an understatement. She literally gushed over my daughter and presented her with a jar full of candies and cookies as a gift. Feri was literally offered to take anything from the dessert fridge free of cost. I was so awed by this gesture.
After settling down, Marina demanded that I should go back home and spend a relaxing day with my daughter. She claimed that she had only wanted me to come in today because she wanted to meet Feri. Yet, I refused her offer. I couldn't take advantage of Marina's kindness. I needed to earn my money. So, much to my persistence, Marina gave in and assured me that Hania could take care of my daughter while I worked as her morning shift was just about to end. I couldn't help but feel so grateful.
Marina was such a kind woman.
All day long, I kept on checking on Feri and giving her meals while I worked. My shy daughter refused to do anything else but silently sit next to Hania and play games on her mobile. My daughter was just like me. I could see her liking Hania.
Today, Kivanc hadn't shown up at work, so there was extra work to be done. Soon after washing the last dishes of the day with Marina by my side, I stepped out of the kitchen only to find Dania standing in the middle of the kitchen and carrying Feri. Hania and Alizeh standing on her right and left side and Kivanc (who had probably just arrived) standing in front of her. I kept my gaze entirely away from him. My heart was bursting with joy. Everyone seemed to be smitten by my daughter.
"Okay, Feri. Tell your aunt Hania that you like Aunt Dania the most." Dania cooed, causing me to feel so surprised by this side of her. The cold and bitter girl seemed so warm, right now. Feri quickly shook her head and pressed her head against Dania's shoulder. My daughter was turning shyer in the coming days. I felt slightly worried. Problems were weighing hard on my baby, too.
Deciding to simply listen for a second while standing behind the counter, I felt so amused as the girls started teasing Dania about being bluntly rejected by my daughter. I would have to reprimand Feri for being so blunt. It could really hurt people's feelings.
"Then whom do you like the most?" Shyly, still hiding her face, Feri then pointed at Alizeh, causing Kivanc to let out a hearty laughter.
"High five, princess," He raised his hand out for her. I didn't look in his direction, only focusing on Feri who shyly returned back his high five.
"Very fun. Okay, my turn. So, cutie, do you like Uncle Kivanc?" Hania then spoke in a sweet tone, turning the attention towards Kivanc. Feri shook her head again, this time making Dania burst into a fit of laughter.
My daughter was so me.
"Ooo...burn! High five, girl!"
"Nah, the princess is just shy," Kivanc tried defending himself. "Wait! I will show her a trick that will make her like her Uncle Kivanc the most." Feri's tiny hands then were grabbed and she made me close her eyes. It was different listening to a man trying his best to get on the good side of some random child. Mehdi...he never really had to make an effort. He was one of those people who were popular and adored by everyone.
Deciding it was time to give these guys a break, I walked around the counter and called out for Feri. Immediately all eyes were on me. Feri turned so overjoyed by my sight.
"Mama," Breaking out of Dania's hold, she rushed towards me and hugged me tightly.
"Did you have fun, sweetie?" I quietly spoke to her, picking her up.
"Yep, I had Uncle Kivanc show me so many tricks." She started gushing. Her smile...grin...made me hug her so tight. My daughter's happiness meant so much to me. I couldn't help but feel happiness bursting in my heart. Despite whatever, these guys had made my daughter happy. I owed them so much.
"Oh, and it wasn't nice what you said to Aunt Dania and Uncle Kivanc," I spoke in her ear, making her giggle and resting her head against the nape of my neck. I looked up to see the girls looking at me with a gentle smile. Even Dania had such a warm look on her face. Her eyes, they were filled with warmth and slight pain.
"Go and say thank you to your aunt and uncle. It is time for us to go home now." Putting her down again, I watched as she quickly said thank you, goodbye and came rushing back towards me.
This day had been so wonderful.
Upon heading out of the restaurant, I was just about to step outside when I heard Dania call out to me.
"Lina," There was a hint of emotion in her voice. "Please, do bring her again."
I nodded. "Of course."
Kivanc
Every person has a different side. There are facades...secrets...but sometimes learning about those sides can be so alluring, so mesmerizing. With a tilted head, Kivanc watched Lina leave with her tiny little princess. A soft smile appeared on his smile; his cold heart feeling squeezed by a confusing mess.
This girl was strange. She was soft, kind, strong and just strange. The way she loved her daughter, the way her whole personality had shifted and mellowed into this warm person as she bonded with her daughter...it strangely consumed his heart. He couldn't just stop staring, even when she had left.
For some reason, his soul felt unsettled, quiet and thoughtful now. Emotions were something he just couldn't afford. This girl was making him feel something. There was this weird suffocation...irritation...noise echoing in his heart.
He had just returned back from his father's mansion, had tortured one of the prisoners in the infamous dungeons of the centre, but that coldness, that hard-edge beastly ferocity, it had so easily got vapoured by this girl.
Retightening his bandana, he then twisted his rings and clenched his jaw.
He realized that he was definitely not enjoying this sudden chaos inside his heart.
a/n: thank you so much for reading, commenting and sharing...
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So Kivanc's heart is melting. Oh, and the next two or three chapters might be interesting! Hint, hint...who likes jealous and possessive moments?