“Why does Adel behave this way?!” Ayca cries out. Her father slams his newspaper on the table and asks the same question in a louder voice as if repeating it in a louder voice would make Kamil understand better.
“I’m worried too,” Kamil says. “I will call his parents for help.”
Ayca and her father shake their heads in disgust.
An hour later, Adel and Kamil are driving around the city just like the first days when they arrived in Hollywood.
Kamil asks, “What are you going to do now?”
Adel shakes his head. “Honestly, I do not know. I think that my dream of opportunity was only just a dream.”
Kamil realizes it is a good time to ask Adel. “Why don’t you do something different?”
Adel frowns. “Like what?”
Kamil smiles broadly. “Take English lessons with me at the university.”
Adel rolls his eyes. “And what is that going to do for me?”
Kamil wasn’t going to let his pessimism stop him. “Give yourself a change. The university is beautiful. There is different kind of people there. People who have dreams like you. Young people with life.”
Adel nods slowly. He half laughs. “Is my English so bad, Kamil?”
Kamil says, “No, of course not. But you can do better. And of course writing in English. That is our weakness.”
Adel can see that Kamil was dead serious about this. And hey, what did he have to lose? “Okay, you convinced me, brother. Tomorrow, I go to register. How much is classes?”
Kamil says, “Well, my full time program costs forty-two hundred dollars for a 12 week program.”
Adel didn’t believe Kamil could ever have that kind of money.
“How did you pay for this?”
Kamil smiles sheepishly. “I borrowed the money from my father-in-law.”
Adel laughs. “Hmmm. You really got your nuts in his vice.” They laugh together, knowing that this was the truth.
Later that night, the two friends hang out at the hotel’s dance club. Many young women are making their moves on Adel and Kamil. While Kamil tries to politely keep his distance, Adel is flirting with all of them, drunk with happiness—and a dozen bottles of beer which he had been guzzling down all evening.
One cute brunette pulls him onto the dance floor. Her friend grabs Kamil’s arm and soon the four of them are dancing together.
“Where are you from?” the brunette asks Adel.
Adel laughs. “I’m from Russia.”
The woman grinds up closer to him. “Ahh, I knew that was a Russian accent.”
Kamil is also dancing but he keeps shaking his head when the brunette comes too close to Adel. Soon the girl and Adel start to kiss. This gives the brunette’s friend the courage to try to kiss Kamil. He turns his face away from her. He turns towards Adel who is in a lip-lock with his dance partner. He pulls the kissing couple apart.
“Let’s go, Adel,” Kamil says.
Adel laughs. “Come on… I’m having so much fun.”
Kamil says firmly while pulling Adel’s arm, “That’s enough fun for tonight. Let’s go.”
Adel makes a face but half realizes that he is not feeling well. He lets Kamil pull him away from the woman.
“Hey! Where you going?” she cries out.
“Call me!” Adel says half drunk and he motions with his hand to call him.
The brunette says, “But you didn’t leave me your—”
The men are too far to hear the rest. Finally outside on the street, Adel starts singing at the top of his lungs. Kamil shakes his head and decides it is time to call it a night.
Chapter 18
Facing reality
In the hotel room, Adel and Kamil are eating pistachio nuts and smoking a water pipe.
“That was the most fun I had since… well since we first arrived in LA,” Adel says.
Kamil nods. “Yes, this was fun.” They both are mellowing down now. “What time is it?” Kamil asks.
Adel shrugs. “I don’t know and don’t care.”
Kamil checks the TV. “Oh no, it’s three a.m. My wife is going to kill me.”
Adel says, “Just call her and tell her you are with me. Stay over tonight. There are two huge beds here.”
Kamil looks reluctant but then says, “Well, I’m the man of the family. She better accept that.” He picks up the phone.
Adel half listens to his pathetic friend who first starts out apologetic to his wife but then ends up in an angry defensive tone. He hangs up. He says, “Well, if she thinks she can tell me who my friends are, she has her head screwed on wrong.”
Adel laughs. “See, my friend, this is why I did not want to have an arranged marriage.”
Kamil pauses, and then says, “Adel, I don’t know how to tell you this.”
Adel senses impending bad news. “Tell me what?”
“Your father called me looking for you today,” Kamil says, “so I told him that you had moved out. When I couldn’t tell him how to contact you, he said to tell you this. Your mother is very worried about you. You had not called them since you came to Canada.”
Adel sighs. “Yes, I know. But what to tell them? That I’m miserable? That I can’t get myself even a job?”
Kamil continues. “Well, your father said that he had spoken to your Grand Uncle.”
Adel frowns.
“He asked your Grand Uncle to help you. Grand Uncle thought about it and has made a decision. He has arranged for you to marry his granddaughter. She’s here in Vancouver for three years now.”
Adel’s eyes widen in shock. “What?! He can’t do that!”
Kamil pauses. “Well, according to your father, your Grand Uncle is flying here with your cousins this weekend. They want my wife to arrange to have his granddaughter meet with you on Monday. By next Sunday, you will be married.”
Adel jumps up completely furious. “I refuse! Grand Uncle cannot do this to me!”
Kamil says calmly, “I do not know if you have a choice. Your parents have already agreed to this and they have already spoken to your cousin’s parents. They have already paid the dowry.”
Adel looks more surprised. “With what? They don’t have any money.”
Kamil pauses again. “Your father gave a piece of his land over to your Grand Uncle. In return, your Grand Uncle has released half of your father’s properties to him so that he can split these with you and your brothers. He has also given your father some of the money that is owed to him from the inheritance. Your father is going to send this to you so that you can use it to buy a home. But I don’t think it is enough to buy a home here. You could use it to take English courses. That would really help you out.”
Adel is beginning to understand now that the arrangement of his marriage is only the tip of the iceberg.
“So that means if I do not go ahead with this, then my family will pay the price for it?”
Kamil sighs and nods his head. “Come on, man. Maybe this is a good thing. A good woman might be what you need to change your life around.”
Adel nods slowly. “Yes, maybe you are right…”
Kamil laughs. “I’m going to sleep now. I usually am in bed by 11 o’clock.”
Adel agrees. “Okay.” They climb into their beds and shut the lights.
“Kamil,” Adel says after a few minutes.
Kamil mumbles, “Hmm?”
“Do you remember that woman I told you about…the one in LA?”
Kamil turns over. “Nooo…I’m tired. Sleepy…”
Adel half talks to himself, “I thought about her a lot when I was in the detention. I was supposed to see her before she left LA. I never had a chance to say good-bye.” Kamil mumbles not hearing Adel’s rambling. “I wanted to find her but I don’t know if she would even remember me. Just a shuttle van driver… But it was such a nice kiss…” He drifts off to sleep.
Part Two<
br />
An Arrangement
Chapter 19
Grand Uncle
Adel’s Grand Uncle sits awkwardly in Kamil’s living room on a chair which is much too small for him. His stocky build along with his obesity makes him the size of two huge men or a baby elephant as Adel always says to Kamil. Beside him stands his bodyguard overlooking the sheikh, a shy small man who seemed to shrink into his suit—a suit perhaps borrowed from a close relative. Adel and his father sit on the love seat across from them. If they could sit any closer, they’d be Siamese twins, Adel thinks to himself.
Grand Uncle clears his throat, a sign that the formalities were commencing. “I have the immigration lawyer papers for Yonka’s petition to apply for your status in Canada. After you two are married, the paperwork will be submitted. We are doing this as requested by your father. However, I expect you to honour your wife Yonka, my granddaughter. If there is any reason for me to doubt this, we will stop the application.”
Adel replies, “I will honour my father’s request. But just to let you know that I have no desire to have my status in Canada be the result of this marriage. I will try to be a good husband.”
Grand Uncle continues. “After the wedding, you will move into Yonka’s apartment which I bought for her years ago. The paper is in her name. She has been paying the mortgage but now you will also contribute to the mortgage.”
Adel looks at Kamil with a frown and turns to his Grand Uncle. “If I am going to pay the mortgage, should not the paper of the house also be in my name?”
The Grand Uncle bursts into laughter. “Consider it rent. If you want to have your name on the paper, pay me the one hundred thousand dollar deposit and the money Yonka has already paid the bank. And on top of that, we will get a real estate agent to estimate the property and you can ask the bank for mortgage for that amount.”
Adel turns red. “I see. Please retract my earlier request.”
Grand Uncle says, “Enough talk. Let’s proceed with signing.”
The sheikh hands a gold pen to the Grand Uncle and the body guard turns the papers towards him. The Grand Uncle scribbles his signature on the document and then shoves the papers towards Adel. The sheikh hands Adel the pen and gives him a nod, a signal for him to sign the papers.
Adel takes the pen, hesitates for a moment and glances over at his father. His father nods his head as well, silently telling him to hurry up.
Adel takes a deep breath and signs his name on the paper, sealing the deal—the arrangement made between his father and his Grand Uncle is now complete.
* * *
Kamil motions to his wife. She nods and leaves the room. After a few minutes, she brings in a tall full figured young woman dressed in a royal blue shiny gown with long sleeves and pearl buttons on her neck. Her hair is covered in a darker blue chiffon scarf. Pale peach gloss adds a shine to her lips and her hazel eyes have only a touch of brown eye shadow to accent them. Adel’s Grand Uncle nods approvingly and he motions for her to sit. A large chair had been prepared for her, covered in white silk cloth and pillows. It was Ayca’s way of trying to make the event more regal.
Grand Uncle clears his throat again. “Yonka, you remember your cousin Adel.” She looks into her lap and nods.
* * *
Years ago when Adel and Kamil were young boys, Yonka used to stand and watch them play. She was a tall thin, awkward-looking girl. One day, Adel and Kamil were playing cards in the yard which was shared with his Grand Uncle and his family.
She walks up to them with her nose in the air, her hands on her hips. “You know you aren't permitted to play cards. It's forbidden! I'm going to tell my grandfather.”
Adel ignores her. “Come on, Kamil, show me your hand.”
Kamil laughs and puts down his cards.
Yonka softens her voice. “Let me play.”
Kamil looks up at her. “I thought you said that it's forbidden to play cards.”
Adel smirks while Yonka makes a face. Then she gives a sly smile. “Well, if you let me play, I won't tell Grandfather.”
Adel gives Kamil a “No way, you’re not going to fall for that again” look.
Kamil says, “Well, this game is not for girls.”
Yonka stomps her foot. “Let me play or else!” Adel stands up and looks her in the eye (she is slightly taller so he has to look up).
“Or else what?” he asks.
“I don't think you'd like to know...” Yonka chuckles to herself.
Adel turns around. “Hmph... What a donkey. Kamil, let's find another place to play.” Kamil shrugs and starts picking up the cards.
Suddenly, Yonka whirls around and runs to the garden digging her hands in the soil and smashing the dirt into her face and dress. She howls and cries in a loud voice, “Grandfather!!! Mother!!!”
Adel and Kamil, stunned by her actions, stand frozen watching her. Suddenly the women servants and Adel's Grand Uncle come running out to see what is happening. Grand Uncle cries out, “What on earth is all this noise? What happened to you, granddaughter?”
Yonka, now slumped on the ground, starts weeping and pointing her finger at Adel. Adel and Kamil frown and look at each other.
Yonka's mother comes running to her. “What happened, Yonka? Who did this to you?”
Yonka looks up with tears flowing from her eyes. She whimpers, “Adel and Kamil beat me up and pushed me into the dirt when I told them that it is forbidden to play cards.”
Grand Uncle turns around, his eyeballs bulging from the sockets. He cries out, “How dare you beat on a girl and your cousin? And gambling in my house?!” He walks over to Adel, picks up his slipper and proceeds to give him a good smacking.
“Stop! Grand Uncle! Stop! I had nothing to do with this!” Adel cries out.
Grand Uncle, his face purple with anger cries out, “Liar! Liar! Get your good for nothing selves out of here. You are going to be cleaning the chicken coop and mopping all the floors for a month!”
He whirls around and points at Kamil yelling, “And you Kamil, don’t come by this house until your father comes to apologize personally for this. Have you no shame?”
In all the commotion, Yonka smiles secretly to herself as her mother walks her back into the house.
* * *
The wedding ceremony finally begins. It is a grand affair considering the fact that there are only forty-five guests. Most of the guests are the staff who work at Kamil’s father-in-law’s fast food restaurant and the rest are a few family members from Adel and Kamil’s family. Adel and Yonka are sitting awkwardly by themselves at the head table. Yonka is dressed in a lavish red wedding gown with gold trim. On her head is an opulent head dress that looks more like a crown laden with large colourful jewels. Modern Turkish weddings usually have the bride dressed in a Western style white wedding gown so Adel was a bit surprised to see his bride dressed in red. In the 1800s, it was traditional for a Turkish bride to wear red and sometimes the colour is used as a fashion statement, but seeing Yonka in red on their wedding day made him think her intent was far from being traditional. At the bride’s family’s table, Grand Uncle is gulping down his wine like it was water. With the alcohol in his system, he feels like the ladies’ man he imagines himself to be. He makes sure every woman at his table saves a dance for him. The guests, awed by the extravagance, drink in every minute of this one of a kind celebration. And why not? Who would say no to free food, drink and entertainment—Turkish style?
A sexy belly dancer weaves her way into the crowd while the band plays a festive Turkish wedding song. Kamil anxiously looks over at Adel who is making attempts at idle conversation with his new bride. He gives him a nod of encouragement when he catches his eye. Adel nods back in return. He raises his glass to Yonka who smiles shyly back at him.
Chapter 20
Honeymoon is over
At a few minutes past midnight, the wedding party comes to an end, and th
e guests watch as the newlyweds are escorted outside to a black limousine. Yonka and Adel wave to everyone and soon are whisked away into the night. Where will they be going for their honeymoon, some ask each other. Hawaii? Las Vegas? Paris or Rome? Little do they know that the limousine’s destination is only a few minutes away to a posh high rise apartment in the West End—Yonka’s condominium and Adel’s new home.
When they arrive, Yonka tells the driver to park in the driveway in front of the building. He does as he is told. Once parked, he rushes out and helps Yonka out of the car.
Adel soon realizes that the honeymoon is over before it had even begun. He climbs out of the car, unsure of what to do next. The driver hands him his suitcase. He recalls how once not long ago, he himself was a driver, dropping his clients off hoping to receive a good tip for his hard work. He reaches for his wallet and hands the driver fifty dollars and tells him to keep the change. The driver thanks him profusely and offers to carry his suitcase into the building. Yonka was not going to let him do that.
“You may go now,” Yonka orders the driver. He gives Adel a weak smile and returns back to the car.
Adel shakes his head as he follows Yonka into the building. The lobby of the building is impressive with twenty foot ceilings and marble floors. Nothing surprising since her grandfather was a man who loved to show off his wealth. They ride in the elevator silently up to the third floor. Adel wonders why his Grand Uncle didn’t have his precious granddaughter living in the penthouse suite. Little did he know that Yonka was afraid of heights. She had a recurring nightmare of falling down from a high place. She always woke up in a cold sweat, wondering if this was a premonition.
Yonka quickly steps out of the elevator. She hurries down the hallway and turns around the corner. Still pulling his suitcase out of the elevator, he can hear her fumbling with her keys. By the time he reaches the door, she has already entered the apartment. He follows her inside.
He looks around but his new bride is not in sight. He notes that the suite is just as impressive as the lobby entrance with high ceilings, large living area and modern stylish furniture. He notices the coffee table is littered with nail polish bottles, paperback books, and dirty plates. On the sofa, a pink sweater is draped on the arm rest. On the dining table, there are half eaten pastries on plates and a half drunken glass of wine.
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