THE VERDICT

5...

​Uğur, Murat, and I headed straight to a cafe. After I gave them a full rundown of everything that had happened, Murat looked at me in disbelief.

"I can't believe this. How can they do something like that? Forcing a girl to marry... in this day and age?"

"Murat, you don't understand," I sighed. "Even I couldn't do anything to stop it."

My friends weren't ready to accept the situation, but our hands were tied.

"Hicran, how are you being so calm about this? Aren't you a law student?" Uğur asked.

​I looked at him. He was right; I was studying law. But I had another reason for my silence. That day, when we were touring Mardin, I caught the way Hashim Agha looked at Mizgin. It was different. It looked like... love.

I needed to talk to Mizgin about this as soon as possible.

"I'm exhausted. I'm going home. We'll talk later," I said, getting up. I took a taxi back, showered, and crashed into bed without even drying my hair. The heat would take care of that.

​I picked up my phone and called Mizgin. She answered on the second ring.

"Hey, Mizgin. How are you?"

"How do you think someone being forced into marriage feels, Hicran?"

My heart ached for her. "Honey, don't overthink it. Honestly, I think Hashim Agha loves you," I blurted out.

"Wh-what do you mean?" she stuttered. I could hear the flicker of excitement in her voice.

"The day we toured the city... I saw the way he looked at you. It wasn't just 'tradition.' I'm telling you, he’s got feelings."

"I don't know, Hicran. When I wanted to go to Istanbul for university, he was the one who protested the most. Even more than my own family. I never understood why back then," she admitted.

I sat up straight in bed. "Exactly! Why would a man care that much about a girl he didn't value? He loves you. You’ll see."

​Mizgin clearly wanted to change the subject. "Whatever. What about you? How was the trip? Ashir Agha went to Istanbul too. Did you run into him?"

I told her everything—the plane ride, the bickering.

She laughed. "Girl, watch out. Don't let Ashir Agha snatch you up too."

"Please! I wouldn't touch that caveman with a ten-foot pole."

"We'll see. Anyway, I have to go. I'm getting married in a month or two," she said, adding bitterly, "By force."

I said my goodbyes and tried to sleep.

​The Midnight Call

​Ring... Ring... Ring...

I woke up to the buzzing of my phone. It was 5:00 AM. Why was Mizgin calling this early?

"Hello?"

I heard a sob on the other end. Panic flared in my chest. "Mizgin? What happened?"

"H-Hicran... it's bad. I need you."

"Tell me! What did that Agha do to you?"

"Ashir Agha..." she sobbed again. "After you left, he came back from Istanbul. He had a massive fight with his sister. He’s demanding the wedding happen in two days. Hashim agreed. Hicran, I’ve never seen Ashir like this. He’s scorching everything in his path. Please come back."

"Okay, calm down. I’ll take the first flight back. Don't worry."

​What was wrong with that man? What set him off?

Oh, Ashir... just wait until I get my hands on you, I thought as I started packing. Sleep was a distant memory.

​The Encounter

​I arrived in Mardin and called Mizgin. "I'm here, but I'm staying at a hotel. I can't be in that mansion right now; I might actually commit a murder."

"Fine," Mizgin said. "We're going wedding shopping. Meet me at the address I sent."

​I checked into my hotel and took a taxi to the shopping district. I headed up to the second floor of a bridal boutique. I was rushing toward Mizgin when I slammed into something solid.

"Ouch!" I groaned, clutching my head.

"I am so sorry, ma'am. I didn't see you," a voice said.

I looked up and froze. Standing before me was a man who looked like a literal Greek god.

"Uh... I... it's fine," I stammered, cursing myself internally for acting like a starstruck teenager.

He smiled warmly. "Let me buy you a coffee to make it up to you."

"Are there actually polite men in this city?" I asked, genuinely surprised.

He laughed and extended his hand. "I'm Bedirhan... from the Aksoy family. Perhaps you've heard of us?"

The Aksoys. The sworn enemies of the Yilmaz clan.

"I'm Hicran. I'm not from here; I'm here for a friend's wedding."

"Which wedding? I might know them," he started to say, but suddenly, a hand gripped my arm and yanked me back. I turned to see Ashir Agha, looking murderous.

​"What do you think you're doing?" I snapped.

He ignored me and glared at Bedirhan. "What the hell are you doing here?"

Bedirhan stood his ground. "I didn't realize you owned the street, Ashir."

"Don't push me, Bedirhan. Get lost."

Bedirhan ignored him and turned back to me. "Hicran, let's save that coffee for later. I'll meet you tomorrow at 12:00 at the Mardin Cafe. Goodbye."

"Okay, see you tomorrow," I said, not even knowing why I agreed.

​After Bedirhan left, Ashir turned his fury on me. "You are not going."

"Excuse me? Since when do I answer to you?"

He looked shocked by my defiance, then his voice dropped to a dangerous growl. "Listen to me, Hicran! If you go, I swear I'll burn that cafe to the ground with both of you in it. You don't know who he is—"

"No, you listen to me," I interrupted. "I know exactly who he is. Mizgin told me. And I go where I want. You don't control me."

He grabbed my arm again, his grip tight. I wrenched it away.

"Listen, Ashir Agha! I told you before: I am not like the women here. If you touch me again, I will be the one burning you and all of Mardin down."

​I turned and walked over to Mizgin. "What is he even doing here?"

"Some urgent company business," Mizgin whispered. "He needed Hashim to sign some papers."

"You seem... surprisingly calm," I noted.

Mizgin sighed. "I'm trying to adjust. Hashim has been... incredibly kind to me. It doesn't feel like a forced arrangement anymore."

I was glad for her. At least one of us was finding peace.

​The Confrontation

​The next morning, I got ready and headed to the cafe to meet Bedirhan. I saw him sitting by the window, watching the street.

"Hey, did I keep you waiting?"

"Not at all. I just got here. Have a seat."

"So, are you hungry? What should we get?"

I burst out laughing. He looked at me, confused.

"I'm sorry," I said, composed. "It's just... since I got to Mardin, Ashir Agha has been nothing but rude. You're so different. So polite. Especially for someone from a rival tribe."

Bedirhan laughed and reached across the table, taking my hand. I felt a spark of discomfort, but I didn't pull away.

"Well, I've spent the last few years abroad. Maybe that's why."

I was about to respond when a roar echoed through the cafe.

"EVERYONE OUT!"

​I turned around to see Ashir Agha standing there, looking like he was ready to dismantle the world with his bare hands.

What on earth was he playing at?