I had just turned 17 when I received the news. Aunt Rojda, who is Botan's mother, had gone to Evin's house for a marriage proposal and was invited in. When this happened, it meant the matter was settled. Once you went to the door and were invited in, it meant there was no turning back. If you turned back, it would be seen as a flaw in the girl in everyone's eyes, and she would be marked. What a distressing situation. Often, the girl wouldn't even know about it. Two days later, they went to ask for her hand in marriage, and the engagement was arranged. Evin was my sister's friend. We didn't talk much, but she was a cheerful, beautiful, and warm-hearted girl. If my sister allowed, she would even talk to me, but my sister would usually drag me to her room and not let me in. Actually, the room
