Chapter Eleven

After Selim and Bahar’s engagement, Nuran’s dark side was unleashed, leaving her unsettled. She often kept herself busy with extra work and was not up for social get-togethers. She used her career as a distraction to postpone discussing the topic of her drunken night. Suddenly, she was not acting herself around me, refusing to share more of her secret thoughts. Ever since that night, I had Emir follow her shadow, hoping to uncover a solid clue behind her mood change, let alone a reason to confirm my own suspicions.

Elif moved in with us at last. The transition from her old life to living with her real family was a major adjustment for all of us, especially her. It was a relief to see my mother smile again, and to observe her peace of mind was the perfect reward, a consolation for the many years of searching. Elif was undergoing physical therapy with high expectation of a full recovery. Together, we made a promise to tour the entire country, corner by corner, upon her healing, as we were eager to make up for lost time.

Meanwhile, I was still occupied with Bahar’s mystery case. Each passing day, I was getting closer and closer to finding the man known to have ordered the hit on her. During the first week of extensive search, I interviewed many people in connection with Fikret. Some served with him in prison, while others were on his payroll for years. Though no answers were clear enough to link his enemies directly to Bahar’s shooting, I had my own theory.

While checking the public records of the Yilmaz registered properties, I came across a land lot paid in full that was purchased back in 1990. They owed no mortgage, which restricted the bank from taking back ownership after Fikret went bankrupt. Located in the same area of the family’s mansion, I decided to check out the location. Before I could make my move, a phone call from the federal prison disturbed my plan.

Somehow, Fikret had escaped from behind the solid bars and was on the run. It was unclear whether he was to try and make contact with his family or not. I contacted Hakan’s residence to inform them of the latest event, only to learn of other distressful news. Bahar had gone missing. She was not answering her phone and was nowhere to be found. Mrs. Yilmaz was scared to death, afraid to inform the authorities. She said that her daughter disappeared sometime during the afternoon hours, even though Hakan’s men were watching over her. Shortly after that, Hakan received a suspicious call and then took off in a hurry without telling her a word.

With endless possibilities on where Bahar could possibly be, not to mention Fikret, I went back to the same location I found hours earlier. Perhaps there was a connection to such property, with everything else that was happening at the moment. At that point, I had no doubt that Fikret was in fact behind Bahar’s shooting, but why? Why would he do such a thing? I never understood his motive or found any reasonable excuse, either. She was his daughter, not his enemy.

My found destination was secluded, the perfect place for a hideout. A two-floor single family home located in the middle of the woods. I approached the house so carefully, not noticing any guards around. Emir was on his way over, too. I Looked across my shoulders a few times to secure my surroundings before getting closer to the suspect’s possible hiding spot. I then found Bahar’s scarf on the ground, a unique floral design sash I’d seen before around her neck. Soon I realized where Bahar was when I heard gunshots fired from inside the home.

I ran up quickly to check the matter, when the guarding men took notice of me and targeted their bullets my way instead. A couple of deadly rounds later, they reposed on the grass lifelessly. Suddenly, the wooden house smoked up in flames. The place was burning right before my eyes.

“Bahar!” I repeatedly yelled for her, hoping that she was somewhere alive and well. 

Unfortunately, I heard no response. In the act of duty, I broke my way into the home, where I found her tied up to a chair. Her mouth was taped shut and she was barely breathing. I lifted her up and ran out with her to save her life. Thankfully, I got to her in time.

Both Hakan and Fikret were still inside the burning house when I went back in in an attempt to save one of them at a time. Hakan was the nearest to the door, so I grabbed him and left. He was bleeding heavily from a serious injury. As I turned around one last time to save the wanted criminal, the flames blazed at once, burning the place down to ashes. There was no way I could have saved him. After putting down the fire, the police arrived to claim Fikret’s body. It was impossible to identify him. He was burned badly. Both Bahar and Hakan were sent to the hospital for immediate medical care. Meanwhile, I walked out with minor burns and cuts, and most importantly, my life.

Shortly after, I went to check in on both patients and to question Bahar about the kidnapping. She was resting and in a good condition, but the doctor insisted on keeping her overnight for observation. On the other hand, Hakan was still in surgery. Fikret’s poisoned bullet hit a sensitive spot between his heart and other organs. He had lost a lot of blood, too. His blood type was a perfect match with Bahar’s, casting a new light on the investigation. He was indeed her birth father, despite the stated name on her birth certificate. Everything now made sense.

After the critical twenty-four-hour time frame, Hakan was removed from the intensive care unit with no complications to his recovery. He was set to rest for a few weeks before resuming his normal life. Meanwhile, Bahar’s case was officially closed. Her uncle, the one claiming to be her father, was the one to order the hit on her, and he almost killed her. After her discovery, Bahar seemed under a lot of pressure, but luckily, Selim was there to hold her hand and to tell her that everything was to be okay.

Weeks later, my work with Mr. Hakan was technically over. Although my father continued to represent him as an attorney, I personally was out of the picture, and with Bahar’s wedding day approaching, I felt even more left out. Following my detective instinct, I then flew to Ankara to search Nuran’s background myself and perhaps end my series of questioning. I discovered a registered birth certificate linking Nuran to a five-year-old girl named Asli. Nuran was the birth mother, but the father’s name was itself a mystery.

Afterwards, I flew back to Istanbul to question Nuran face to face. Throughout our weeks of friendship, she failed to mention her child to me, or even to Bahar, so why did she keep it a secret? Was she having a love affair with a married man with children of his own? Perhaps it was something more serious than that. Upon my arrival at Nuran’s building, the elevator was stuck on the top floor. 

As I waited around a few minutes for it to move back down, I took the stairs up to the third floor, only to walk in on Selim with his hands around her neck. Hesitant to make another close move and fearful of revealing myself, I stood back in the shadows and watched the drama unfold. The front door was wide open as if they were about to go inside together. I then overheard him threatening to destroy her if she dared to tell Bahar of their past relationship.

“I told you to stay out of my life long ago, Nuran.” He was angry. I had never seen him this furious before.

“Why can’t you understand how painful it is for me to let go? I loved you, Selim. I loved you so much more than you ever deserved.”

“I am getting married tomorrow, Nuran. Why are you still following me? It’s over! It’s been over since forever!”

“You mean six years ago, right? Before you left for Paris.”

“Yes. Exactly. Before I left for Paris. Why haven’t you let go of this obsessive love of yours? Why?”

“Believe me, I tried, but I couldn’t.” She started crying as I stood there frozen, unable to confront them. “Do you remember that night, Selim? When I came to tell you that I was pregnant? I was happy to have a child, our own child. But instead of telling me how much you wanted to be with me and to have a family, you said that the time was not right for such commitment.”

“Yes. The time wasn’t right, Nuran. You knew that, too. I was still in school. My father would have killed me if I were to announce our secret relationship, not to mention an illegitimate child.”

“You were leaving town the following morning. That night, before you left to the airport, you took me to the hospital to have an abortion. You brought me to the death bed yourself and waited for me to tell you that it was all over. I’ll never forget that look in your eyes. The look of selfishness.”

“I am sorry I had to put you through such an experience, but it was our only choice.”

“No, Selim. That was not my choice, it was yours.”

“It doesn’t matter whose choice that was anymore. It’s over, and you need to accept that.”

“No. Nothing is over yet. Everything is still very much alive.”

“What do you mean?”

“That night I chose to keep my baby. My beautiful daughter Asli!”

“No, you didn’t.” His hands surrounded her neck one more time. “I don’t believe you.”

“I told you that I had done the procedure, but I didn’t. I couldn’t. I wanted that baby because it was yours.”

“I don’t believe you, Nuran. You’re lying to me!” He yelled again.

“No, I am not. For once in a very long time, I’m being honest. Her name is Asli and she’s five years old. She’s living in Ankara with my mother.” With Nuran’s confession, all the missing pieces of the puzzle were finally found.

“Why? Why did you keep this from me? Why?”

“You left for Paris and never came back to me, Selim. You broke my heart and left. Years later, you came back after you had fallen in love with someone else.”

“Why are you telling me this now?”

“I’m giving you the chance to claim responsibility for your own child, Selim, before you commit to another woman. I deserve to have a family too, not just Bahar!” Her jealousy broke out at last, revealing her true colors. She had envied Bahar from the beginning, it must have killed her to watch her marry Selim.

“Listen, Nuran, Bahar and I are getting married tomorrow. Nothing and no one will stop our wedding. If you dare to do anything to sabotage our relationship, I swear I will kill you! I swear to God I will!” His voice fired up with rage, and then the elevator door opened up for him to leave forever.

Once again, Nuran was left to break down alone. Unsure of whether or not to confront her with the truth, I decided to meet with Bahar and expose to her the concealed identity of her fiancé. Up until that moment, I was not planning to get involved in her personal life, but after learning of Selim’s troubling past, I decided to step in and save her from committing her life to him when she should have been with me instead.

As soon as I left Nuran’s building, I called Bahar to set a time and place to meet, and she agreed to meet me near the Galata Bridge. While waiting for her arrival, I rehearsed my apology over and over again, sensing a second chance between us. It was my one and only shot to make her forgive me, let alone come back to me. Despite my previous promises to keep my distance, I missed her so much. I missed her happy smile and dreamy eyes.

The time was going by quickly, but she never showed up. I tried calling her again and again but the call went directly to her voicemail, leaving me helpless in fighting my own shadow with no hope. By nightfall, I was burned out of waiting. I rushed straight to her home, as I snuck my way into her bedroom and caught her by surprise.

“Kenan? What are you doing here?”

“Why didn’t you come? I was waiting for you.”

“There’s nothing for us to say to each other, Kenan. Enough is enough.”

“You don’t understand, Bahar. I can’t allow you to go along with this wedding. I can’t!”

“Why not? How is this any of your business?”

“It’s Selim. He and Nuran used to be lovers.”

“Are you serious?” She laughed. “How pathetic of you to say!”

“I am serious, Bahar. I overheard Selim threaten Nuran not to tell you the truth.”

“Listen, Kenan, it seems like your police work is messing up with your head a little. Sometimes you mix up a few details here and there, and you think you have something worthy to say. Stop bothering me with your imaginary discoveries. Okay?”

“Please, listen to me. I am telling you the truth.”

“Where’s your proof? You have no evidence but your promised word, right? Please spare me.”

“They have a child together. Her name is Asli, and she’s five years old.”

“I don’t believe that. How dare you overstep your limits, Kenan, and accuse others of such doing?”

“That I can prove. I have her birth certificate.” I held up the paper to show her.

“This proves nothing. Selim’s name is not even here.” She threw the paper at my face. “I can’t believe I am actually listening to this craziness right now. Leave my bedroom right this very moment, or this time I will have you arrested!”

“Bahar, please. Give me a chance to explain.”

“No! Ever since I came back to Istanbul, you’ve been a constant setback for me. I am tired of going back to where we started, I just want to move on. Leave!”

“Fine…have it your way.…” I walked away without success.

That night was the longest of a lifetime. My eyes refused to rest, not even for a moment. Nuran was nowhere to be found, either. I was trying to get hold of her to convince her to tell Bahar the truth before it was too late, but the moment I needed her the most, she had disappeared from the face of the earth.

The wedding day was here at last, and so I remained close to Bahar’s home, where the happy ceremony was taking place. The crowd was coming together to celebrate the special moment when the bride and groom joined them to tie the knot. Seated at their assigned table, I watched the young couple begin their public gathering.

Suddenly, just as I was about to lose hope forever, Nuran showed up to stop the wedding. She was a train wreck, waving a gun and pointing it at everybody, and more drunk than I had ever seen before. Everyone panicked, including Bahar. Hakan’s guards surrounded the location in a flash, yet the moment of truth was more dangerous than anyone had anticipated.

Nuran pointed her gun straight at Bahar, accusing her of ruining her plans with Selim. She had always thought that after his Paris trip, he would come back to Antalya looking for her, yet while he was there, he fell in love with Bahar. Nuran’s sweet revenge was a moment of justice which never served her right. She had come to obtain what was hers all along. A quick attempt to take away her weapon plunged the wedding site into more chaos than ever.

Fighting off Selim with a loaded gun was a huge mistake on Nuran’s behalf. Her attempt to kill him resulted in multiple gunshots and flying bullets. Meanwhile, I was lurking behind the bushes trying to strike it rich, when I grabbed Bahar against her will and drove away without a trace. Just like we did once before, only this time, I was not planning to let her go. Straight to Bebek Bay we went, where a private boat was waiting to pick us up. Bahar was so angry with me, resisting to surrender to her fate when I dragged her to the boat, allowing her no chance to escape.

“Are you crazy, Kenan? What have you done?”

“I bet you’re enjoying the moment. Aren’t you? You are living the story of the runaway bride all over again.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I know exactly what you’re thinking Bahar. You’ve waited for this moment your whole life. You knew I was coming to rescue you from Selim, and here I am.”

“Enough, Kenan! You didn’t quite rescue me, you dragged me with you against my will. Take me back to shore right now or else I will scream out loud and tell the whole world you kidnapped me.”

“Go right ahead. Scream and yell all you want.”

“Do you think I am joking with you?”

“I don’t know, but either way, I don’t care. I will never let you go this time. I love you, Bahar. I always have and I always will.”

“Well, guess what, Kenan? I don’t believe in love anymore. All men are pure liars.”

“No. I never lied to you about my feelings. Even during our separation, I never stopped loving you.”

“Please, Kenan. Take me back to shore.”

“Why? So Nuran could kill you this time? I won’t allow it.”

“I’ve been a target so many times already, I don’t think she could hurt me. Thanks to my family, I have inherited a tough skin.”

“Yes. I know. I should have known of your great strength the day I let you go… though I was too scared to lose you, I couldn’t think straight.”

“Kenan, please. This is neither the time nor the place for a heart-to-heart confession. I need to be alone.” She looked away, hiding her true feelings behind the ocean. I knew she was hurting because of Selim. I understood her disappointment even without saying so.

“I tried to warn you, Bahar, but you didn’t believe me. You accused me of sabotaging your happy ending, but that’s not what I was trying to do. Believe me.”

“It’s all my fault. I learned to trust people way too soon. I thought they were genuine and caring, but as it turned out, some are liars and even evil.”

“Unfortunately, not everyone we meet in life is worthy of our friendship and love, but those few who we come across who deserve our trust and a second chance at life are granted to us with an extra blessing.”

“I don’t believe in second chances either, Kenan. I stopped believing a long time ago.”

“Perhaps you’re right, but I am an old-fashioned guy who still believes in love at first sight and in the faith of living happily ever after with the only woman who stole my heart.”

“Kenan, please don’t open closed doors. Not now.”

“In the past year, I flew to Paris twelve times.” Suddenly, her eyes looked up to mine, as I searched for a new light. “I went there to see you from afar. I observed your silence and the overwhelming sadness that took over your natural glow. I held myself back so many times from reaching out to you and from running straight into your arms.”

“Why didn’t you say something? Why did you hide behind the shades?”

“I couldn’t. I was guilty for pushing you away. I knew that you would never forgive me.”

“I waited for you every day. I hoped you’d come so I could forgive you, but you never did. I called you in my dreams but you never answered.”

“I am sorry, Bahar. I am so sorry for all the tears I caused your pearly eyes. For breaking your heart and mine without remorse.”

“Yes, Kenan. My heart is broken beyond repair.”

“I am sorry. I will walk away right now if you want, but before I go, look into my eyes and tell me that you no longer love me. Tell me how much you hate me. Tell me how miserable I deserve to be. Come on. Tell me!” Our moment of closeness soon turned into a moment of truth, as I waited for Bahar to speak her mind and her language of heart. I was scared of her unspoken words and unrevealed feelings when, all of a sudden, the ghost of our past hovered over us with an unpredictable twist. Orhan had been hiding out on the boat the whole time, waiting to reveal his undying revenge upon our last moment.

“Orhan!” Bahar yelled. She looked scared. Her voice shivered, while Orhan was pointing a deadly weapon at both of us. Too many close calls in one day.

“What are you doing here, Orhan?” I jumped in the line of fire, covering Bahar with my body.

“It’s time you die, Kenan Gocer. I promised you once that I would kill you, and I never let go of my promise.”

“Please, Orhan, don’t. You will end up in jail again. Don’t do it,” Bahar pleaded.

“It would be my pleasure.” Orhan smiled, firing up in the air. In an attempt to grab his gun, we struggled together on the floor, left and right. Bahar was screaming for us to stop. She was afraid the fight would end in a dramatic matter when her fear suddenly came true. During our manly struggle, Orhan pulled the trigger and shot me in the arm. I felt the warm blood running down my skin.

“No!” Bahar screamed. “Kenan!” Orhan’s promise was fulfilled, but his joy of revenge did not end there. He wanted me to suffer slowly with as much pain as possible as he grabbed me by my bleeding arm and threw me off the boat. For the first few seconds or so, I felt my wound burning up from drowning in the salty water, but all I could think of was Bahar and how she was left behind with no protection. I held my breath in deeply, trying to swim back up. We weren’t far off the shore, so swimming to safety was my only choice of survival.

While I wrestled to pull through, the ocean waves shook like a massive earthquake with tiny bubbles dancing in circles from around me. The view ahead was foggy, and my arm was getting numb so quickly. I closed my eyes for a second, resisting fainting, and when I opened them up again, a white cloud appeared before me pulling me up, allowing me no chance to hit rock bottom. All at once I resurfaced off the traveling waves, breathing the fresh air once again, only to find Bahar beside me. She was my savior and my only chance. 

Together, we swam to the sandy coast of everlasting peace where Bahar and I were reunited at last.

“I love you so much, Kenan.” Bahar smiled, barely catching her breath. She looked so beautiful, soaked in ocean water from head to toe.

“I love you too, Bahar.” I was finally at peace as we promised one another to cherish our true love, and never to allow fear to control for us our written fate. We vowed to live for the moment, and to enjoy the undying spark of our coming together. Life was indeed shorter than any plans. What if there was no tomorrow?

                                                                     The End