"Did you change the bandage?" Tayyep asked when they were having coffee in the car.
"Why are you acting like my wife?" Mehmet said curtly.
"Because the wife you wanted is busy snapping paperweights at you," Tayyep laughed. Mehmet gave him a shut-up look.
"What? I'm not lying," Tayyep said in his defense, eyes still laughing.
"I met her today," he added.
"So? What can I do?" Mehmet said curtly, looking out the window.
"Nothing, bro, nothing..." Tayyep playfully said. "You can't do anything. You can't stop her from inviting Eric for lunch at her place..."
He was teasing him, trying to break the fake wall.
"I gave you one task this whole damn year, and you failed," Mehmet yelled in a low voice.
"The only task I gave you was to keep Eric away from her, but you're busy teasing and taunting me, Tayyep.
I swear if you don't do anything about Eric, I'll find my way, and he doesn't have the power to handle my ways," Mehmet added in a stricter tone.
"But as you said, you won't disturb her again. Ever," Tayyep provoked him.
"So it doesn't matter if she invites him to her place or to her house in Pakistan to meet her parents..." Tayyep said and regretted it immediately as Mehmet shot him a look.
"Um, I mean..." Tayyep tried to explain.
"I'm just tolerating you because you're my friend, my brother from childhood. But if you ever dare to say that thing again, I swear I'll smash your head through the window," Mehmet said harshly. Tayyep waved his hands in surrender.
One step closer…. Tayyep thought. The next step...
He unlocked his phone and messaged Aniya.
________________________________________
The next evening, Aniya came back tired from office. She wanted to sleep, but Sarah was disturbed too.
"What do you want to know?" Aniya asked her.
"Nothing. How was your day and the office?" Sarah asked, looking at her palm.
"Good enough," Aniya replied.
"How's Kerman?" Sarah asked.
"He was good too. He asked about you," Aniya said with a small smile.
"I think it's enough now. You should rejoin," Aniya said while opening a bottle of nail polish remover.
"Are you sure he won't ask me to leave?" Sarah asked, playing with the lamp nearby.
"No, he won't," Aniya paused for a moment before answering.
Shadows of night fell over Istanbul and the tulip pot in the window, leaning outward as if trying to escape.
________________________________________
Past
The rain tapped against the café window, soft but steady. He sat hunched over the folder, eyes scanning the scholarship papers with deliberate precision.
"You've been sitting there forever. Are you actually arranging it, or just staring?" his friend asked, leaning back, curiosity flickering in his eyes.
"Arranging it," he muttered without looking up.
"For… her?" the friend pressed, raising an eyebrow.
He shrugged slightly, fingers drumming on the table. "Doesn't matter."
"Doesn't matter? Don't you care who she is? Tell me who she's. " the friend prodded.
He finally glanced at him, eyes dark and unreadable. "I care about the result, not the details."
The friend hesitated. "You've been weirdly quiet about this… why? Who even is she?"
He leaned back, expression flat. "She's… just a student. Focus on your own work."
" Just a student Huh. For just a student you are arranging it. I got it," His friend smirked.
No further words came. The folder was important. The rain kept falling.
________________________________________
Present
The next day, Sarah entered the library nervously.
Kerman welcomed her with a big smile and a cup of kehwa. She glanced at Mehmet's office. I don't think he's here, she thought.
But she was wrong. The next moment, Abdullah walked into his office, and she caught a glimpse of Mehmet sitting in his chair. The bandage wasn't there now—or maybe it was. She couldn't see properly before Abdullah closed the door.
She finished the file quicker than usual and knocked on his door.
"Come in," she heard his voice.
She entered and placed the file in front of him. He didn't even look at her. He just grabbed the file and started examining it.
The bandage was gone, but the scar remained.
He should still use a bandage. The wound isn't fully healed, she thought.
"You can go," he said in his usual tone, no softness.
"I emailed you some files. Edit them," he instructed.
"All of them?" she asked.
He shook his head and lifted his gaze from the file to her.
"Two for now," he said while looking at her. Her heart skipped a beat. He looked away, and she glanced at his scar once more before leaving.
"Did he say anything?" Aniya asked her at her desk.
"No. He didn't even bother to look at me," Sarah said curtly.
"So what were you expecting?" Aniya had a point.
"He should use a bandage. His wound is still fresh," Sarah said.
"Tell him," Aniya laughed.
"Where's the paperweight? I think you deserve it more than him," Sarah said, eyeing it on her table.
Aniya laughed, then her phone rang. She excused herself and stepped into a corner.
"What? Now?" Aniya said, sounding tense. "Okay, I'll try. Don't worry."
She hung up and rushed back to Sarah.
"Sarah, I have to go," she said.
"Where? What happened?" Sarah asked.
"Pakistan," Aniya said. Sarah's heart stopped for a moment.
"What happened?"
"Nothing to worry about. Just Rahim's in-laws are asking for the nikah this week. I can't miss my brother's nikah," Aniya said, sitting in a chair.
"Congratulations. You should definitely go," Sarah smiled.
"But they could've told me earlier. They're only informing me after confirming the dates," Aniya said.
"Doesn't matter," Sarah brushed it off.
"And you'll come with me, of course. You're invited," Aniya said, holding her hands.
"Sorry, Aniya, but I don't think I can. I have to go there in two months, and you know I can't visit twice in three months," Sarah said hesitantly.
"I'll be there for his wedding, I promise," she added.
"Will you stay here alone?" Aniya asked.
"Yeah, it's totally fine," Sarah said.
"Charge your phone. Don't wander unnecessarily, and don't do anything reckless," Aniya warned.
"You're leaving now?" Sarah snapped back, and Aniya laughed.
"Tomorrow," she replied.
"Let me tell Mehmet," Aniya said, standing up. She was happy for her brother's nikah.
She went to Mehmet's office and knocked at the door.
"You want four weeks off?" Mehmet frowned. Aniya nodded.
"And your friend?" he asked without saying Sarah's name.
"Who? Sarah?" Aniya acted innocent.
"How many friends do you have who work here?" Mehmet said sarcastically.
"Oh, you mean Sarah. No, she's not going. She wants to go in two months," Aniya replied.
"Where will she stay?" he asked, looking at his laptop.
"At home," Aniya said.
"Alone?"
Aniya nodded.
"Okay," he said, grabbing a file.
"Sir? Are you allowing me?" Aniya asked again, realizing he might have forgotten she was there for her leave, not to discuss Sarah.
"If I don't, will you still leave?" he said sarcastically. Aniya knew he had allowed her.
"Thanks, Mehmet sir," she said and left.
Mehmet looked at the door. Something in his eyes changed. His face tensed slightly.
He called someone.
"Look after Sarah , " he instructed and hung up.