• • •

I hadn't ever thought I'd step in to the Aydin estate again. Nor had I ever thought I'd willingly go back, but sometimes life forces one to take drastic decision. That can neither be ignored or cast away.

Today was supposed to be like any other day. I would visit the doctors and they would carry out my latest developmental check, I'd probably be prescribed more medicine and then I'd come back home to Guliez and Deniz and Aylin, if she was having an early shift for today.

One thing I didn't expect was to see Murat Aydin waiting in the Foyer, after I had come home a good hour later.

He had stood there, his dark eyes trained on his brother till they landed on me. A series of emotions came across his face and I wouldn't bet on how happy he was to see me.

His eyes had been glued to my now large bump, and all he said to his brothers were the words that still rang in my ears.

" I came to take you home, how little did I know you're already at home"

Those words had provoked Moustafa as he stepped forward, wanting to confront his brother till Murat spoke. Taking our breath away.

" I'm not here to argue brother. Elder Ali health has weakened, he wants to see you"

He had spoke, and in that moment I could feel the world around me spin as I recalled Elder Ali's smile. His kind words and his stories that he would tell me and most of all. How he stood for me despite everyone's hatred. I still remembered the man who resembled my own grandfather and somehow made my day brighter with a single smile.

" There is no question to be asked I'm coming"

" I'm not talking about you brother, I'm talking about your wife"

Murat had said and I remained utterly frozen in my spot. Unable to react as the man stared at me and for the first time ever, I had seen a look of fear in his eyes. A fear he could no longer hide.

" And I will come, only for Elder Ali"

Nourie had sworn up and down the place. She insisted that she came, making me decline kindly. Elder Ali didn't need an audience, he had asked for me and Moustafa and we'd come.

Nourie was already dealing with enough. Her son had come after Twenty odd years and Iskendar was good at hiding. Nourie had done everything she could to trace him, she even had Deniz help from the police station, but no luck.

Guliez had promised to look after Nourie and Deniz. Aylin insisted she'd cook enough to feed them all for the month making me smile.

I had only packed for two days the latest. Moustafa had somehow helped me, morally by staying there with me. Yet even he couldn't hide the look of fear and anxiety from his face.

Instead as we walked out of the house, he held my hand tightly squeezing from time to time. Whether it was to comfort me or himself, I knew not.

Intaking a sharp breath, I found myself looking out of the window, my eyes landing across the familiar trees surrounding us. We were nearer the house than before.

Looking upwards, my gaze travelled towards Moustafa seeing his eyes land on me all of a sudden. I could see his grey soften a little and a faint smile coming across his face before he focused on the road ahead.

Murat and Moustafa took turns in driving. The journey was long and Moustafa had started driving in the second half.

Murat had shut his eyes for the last hour, whether he was sleeping or not, I knew not, all I knew was he wasn't interacting much, well, with me he wasn't.

" Wake up! We're here" Moustafa spoke as he nudged his brother who in return groaned.

" Already?" Murat frowned and despite myself I smiled at how normal the two of them sounded.

" Yes"

Moustafa replied in a cold tone as I braced myself seeing the familiar black gates came in to my view.

All of a sudden, I felt my palms get sweaty and my breathing labour as the car rolled inside the large courtyard and the site of the wooden double doors greeted me.

It was a sense of Déjà Vu. It felt as though I was there again, to the day I got married to Moustafa and came here.

" Murat you go in first, tell Mom and Kenan we're here" Moustafa spoke to which Murat nodded and stepped out of the car within those moment.

A heavy silence fell on us again, as I felt my eyes travel towards Moustafa who gave me an encouraging smile and nodded.

" Come on Fairy, let me see that smile" He said making me bite on to my lower lip in nervousness and nod at him. Moustafa was the first one to step out of the car as he rounded towards where I was and opened the door for me.

Nourie insisted that I wear something formal and here I was at nearly six months pregnant wearing a maroon dress. Guliez had straightened my hair and left it open insisting it made me look like a badass bitch.

Holding on to my hand tightly, Moustafa helped down the large car as I stepped down, feeling him tower over me.

Looking towards the man, I felt his hand tighten around me as he gave me a smile and reached towards a loose strand. Brushing it away, his hand reached towards my stomach as he placed it slowly, on top of the bump.

" It'll be okay. You'll soon be home" He spoke making me nod. Rounding the car, I could feel my throat tighten as I walked towards the double doors hearing voices come from the front room.

Stepping inside, I found myself slipping the shoes off, feeling the cool stone greet my feet and she familiar smell consume me.

" Moustafa is that you?"

A familiar voice spoke making my back tense. I could feel cold shivers run down my body as the sound of feet pattering reached my ears.

" Anne"

Moustafa spoke making me turn around seeing Esma hug her son tightly. Tears streaming down her face as she sobbed lightly.

" Moustafa Oğlum"

Esma greeted her son as she patted his back making me stand there awkwardly. Clearly not used to seeing Esma so affectionate about someone.

" Anne I'm here. It's okay"

Moustafa spoke as he released the embrace making Esma reach towards a tissue and wipe her eyes that all of a sudden landed on me.

I could feel the woman's face turn ashen as she looked towards me and then slowly down at my stomach.

A small gasp escaped the woman's lips as she staggered backwards making me tense. Looking towards Moustafa, a flash of hurt came across his face at his mother's reaction who turned hot on her heel and walked back inside the room. Completely ignoring me.

" Don't you love family reunions"

A voice spoke making me look upwards seeing Kenan lean against the door. I could feel a smile on my face seeing the man reach towards me and and embrace me in a hug.

" Good to see you Farya" Kenan spoke reaching towards my cheeks and pinching them lightly, making me swat his hand away.

" You too Kenan"

I replied back as Moustafa reached towards my hand, pulling me away from Kenan who in return frowned. Stepping inside the room, I felt a few eyes on us. A mixture reaction was soon followed by everyone as they looked at my growing stomach and then at mine and Moustafa's hands.

" Farya I can't believe you're home"

Elif gasped as she rushed towards me embracing me in a tight hug. Wrapping my arms around the woman, I felt Mirya rush towards me as she too embraced me in a hug making me chuckle.

" Hello Munchkin"

I greeted Mirya whose eyes widened as she looked towards me and then at my stomach.

" Mama Aunt Farya is having a baby. Uncle Kenan wasn't lying"

Mirya spoke excitedly making Elif glare at her daughter and shake her head, but it seemed as though the damage was done as Esma eyes widened and she looked towards Elif in disbelief.

Clearly Esma wasn't told.

" Elif how are you?" Moustafa spoke as he greeted the woman before picking Mirya up and holding her in his arms.

" I'm good Moustafa"

She replied kindly before she disappeared away, probably to the kitchen to get some refreshments.

" Moustafa, Farya, Elder Ali is asking for you" Kenan spoke behind us making me nod. Quite frankly I felt suffocated staying here.

" I'm coming"

I spoke following Kenan seeing Esma shoot a dirty face my way, but I was too over her evil ways to feel anything.

Walking up the stairs consisted of me stopping every few moments and Kenan groaning dramatically. By the time we reached the top of the stairs, Kenan was ready to pull his hair out but insisted he looked better with it, and ladies liked it long, for reasons he didn't want to disclose.

Kenan was the first one to reach towards Elder Ali's room as he pushed it opened revealing the sight of the man laying down on the bed, with a breathing machine beside his bed alongside a drip that was now attached to his arm with a needle.

It was as though he knew I was there already as the man's eyes opened and he looked towards me. A look of content flashing across her face.

" Elder Ali" I breathed out seeing his face so much weaker than the last time I saw him. His white beard had grown, as the man smiled and raised his hand in greetings.

Walking further inside the room, I could see Kenan reach towards a chair and place it next to the bed allowing me to sit down.

" Farya, I am so happy to see you" Elder Ali spoke as he reached towards my hand and held it lightly, his eyes landing on my stomach.

" Subhanallah! You're with a child" Elder Ali grinned ear to ear making me nod and hold his hand lightly.

" Ah Farya! You look just like her. Everytime I see you, I feel as if she is here with me"

Elder Ali spoke longingly making me look towards Kenan confused who nodded towards me. As if what Elder Ali was saying made complete sense.

" Moustafa son, you're here as well" The man spoke as Moustafa walked towards him and kisses his hand. Elder Ali suddenly looked at the two of us, as he sighed in content.

" Look after her well my son, I've waited two generations for this day"

The man spoke making Moustafa nod slightly unsure, but smile towards his great uncle.

" I'm going to tell you a story son, a story that's been Forbidden from ever being told"

Elder Ali spoke as he slowly sat up in his bed, a low wince escaping his lips making Moustafa reach forward, causing the man to raise his hand. As if to say he was okay.

" Let me tell you children a story. A story about greed, honour and an innocents death"

The man spoke as he reached towards a small wooden box beside his bed. Placing on his lap, he opened the lid revealing a few pictures in it.

" I still remember the day it happened. It was as though the world had stopped but at the same time everything was breaking in to pieces.

" Farya, and Moustafa. Let me tell you about Tayyib and Habib"

Elder Ali spoke making me tense as I felt my eyes land on Moustafa seeing him stare at his great Uncle in confusion.

Why was elder Ali wanting to talk about my grandad? How did he even know about him.

All these thoughts rushed through my head as elder Ali cleared his throat and continued.

" I still remember the day she came to our house. She was as beautiful as the rumours, in fact even more. I can still see her clearly in the white dress. She truly was stunning. Just like her name, Faryal, was angel.

She brought blessing on to our home. Being the eldest daughter in-law Faryal did all she could to make sure we were happy. You see Farya, we were three brothers with no sisters and having a woman, other than our mother, in the household meant life was a little interesting.

Faryal was a pure woman. She woke up early in the morning, prayed, did her chores and then sat down to make rugs. Her husband, my eldest brother, as such as he was, remained cruel to his wife. Not because she was a bad woman, but because he was jealous of her beauty. Jealous of how other men would look at her, and even if Faryal stayed at home day in and out. He was still unhappy. Sadly, he had taken his anger off from our father.

Anyhow time went by, and a few years later my second oldest brother came back from the army. At this point I was around Twelve years of age, quite young from my two brothers"

Elder Ali spoke longingly as I felt my eyes trained on the man who looked at the photos in his hand with a sad smile.

" When my mother became ill, Faryal made sure that I was looked after. That I was fed on time and my clothes were always clean. That was way more than her chores but she always sat with me after the night prayers and told me stories to help me sleep.

Each day, I'd see new bruises on her face but she never complained. Anyhow, my oldest brother was a trading merchant and he was called to the city for some new business.

Now that my eldest brother was gone, my second oldest brother was now in charge. In this time, he made sure Faryal was okay. He cared for her, which he'd never admit to anyone, but he had always had a soft spot for her.

Whereas the woman, she had no idea. My brother would often bring new kinds of food, and Faryal loved her strawberry jam. He made sure he brought some home every other week.

My brother wasn't a sly man, he loved Faryal in the purest way. Then my eldest brother came and soon after he catched on but Faryal was still oblivious. Time went by and my second brother got a good job in the army and was earning more than our oldest brother and the idea didn't settle well with him. So what did he do? He abused Faryal even more which made our second brother even more upset.

My mother got my second brother married and he was happy with his wife, but his heart longed for Faryal. I can still remember the dreadful day. How it all happened"

Elder Ali spoke as he sighed heavily, and a few tears rushed down his face. His shaky hands reaching upwards, wiping them away making my heart drop. My stomach turning.

" It had been a long day and the tension at home had risen by a milestone. Faryal was wearing a white summer dress, she had cooked some roast. Everyone gathered on the floor to eat and my second brother complimented Faryal's cooking. This goddamn compliment made our oldest brother stand up and strike him.

A fight broke between the two. Poor Faryal was standing in the corner, fat tears rolling down her eyes as my older brother striked her as well. This made our younger brother leap forward and attack the older one.

The two fought like animals for a good half an hour, and by this time our father had come back from the mosque.

When he asked what happened, my oldest brother replied simply by saying 'Faryal'! Poor Faryal was shaking like a leaf as my father approached her. In the midst of all the shouting, and yelling. A loud gunshot echoed around us"

Elder Ali spoke, his words halting as he bit back on a sob and held the photo next to him. Fat tears rolling down his face.

" You see, men, as good as they can be are sometimes the cruelest beings on earth. I loved Faryal, she was like my big sister but as she fell to the floor in pool of red. I felt as though I was dying and a part of me did die with her.

Her last words will forever haunt me. She said " God be my witness, that the blood you spilt from me, will never let peace come in to your home"

And those words were the last of Faryal who was killed none other than my father. By relation, I am forced to pray for him but my soul will never forgive him for killing Faryal"

Elder Ali spoke as I felt tears blurring my vision, the world around me turned as Elder Ali's words voice echoed in my ears. Knocking the breath out of me.

" You see Farya, you're not a stranger. You have and will always be an Aydin. It doesn't matter if my brother changed his name. That will not change his sins"

Elder Ali spoke as he handed me the photo in his hands making my shaky hands reach forward. Taking it off him, I could feel a gasp escaping my lips seeing the image before me.

It was as though the world around me was twisting as I stared at the picture of a beautiful woman, with large hazel eyes and long brown hair. She had a small button nose and a sweetheart face and besides her was a tall man with piercing blue eyes as he stared ahead coldly.

It was my grandad. Habib.

" So you see, you are no stranger. This place, has always been your home and this family has always been yours"

Elder Ali spoke as I glanced towards Moustafa seeing his eyes wide and a shocked look across his face, mirroring both Murat and Kenan

" Farya Aydin, you are my great niece. My brother Habib's and Faryal's granddaughter"

• • •

WOW!! Who was expecting that?

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