Clueless Love

We drive for what seems like an hour before coming to a stop. I get out of the car, expecting to see a house or something, or anything else but what I am seeing right now. We’re standing in front of a helicopter!

“Ismail, where are we going?” I ask not understanding what is going on.

“We have to leave the city for a while,” Ismail says as he walks over to the helicopter, and start pressing and checking all kinds of stuff.

“Why do we have to leave the city? Is that really necessary? Can’t we stay at a hotel or something?” I whine feeling like leaving the city is a bit too much.

“Yes, we do. It’s risky staying here, so we have to leave.”

“Are you sure leaving is the best idea?”

“Do you trust me, Umit?”

“Yes, I do.”

“Then we have to leave and now.”

“Alright”

We step into the helicopter, trusting Ismail knows where he plans to take us.

While we are in the helicopter, I remember something important.

“Ismail,” I say getting his attention.

“Yes, Umit,” Ismail says, his attention on flying the helicopter.

“We did not tell anyone what’s going on. I am probably sure everyone will be worried sick about us. Austin was checking the other floors when I found you. We need to at least them know that we are safe.” I say fearing by now Waheeda and the others will be imagining the worst.

“You are right Umit. When we land, I will ask for a phone and call someone to let them know we are safe.”

“Alright, and are we getting close to where we are going?”

“Yes, we will be there soon.”

“Okay.”

We land on a big open field after an hour or so. We step out into the biggest compound I have ever seen in my life. It is bigger than big, massive is the right word to describe this place. I wonder where we are. A man who looks a little older than Ismail walks towards us.

“Ismail is that you?” the man says.

“Yes, it’s me. Sorry to disturb you so late at night, but it was urgent we left the city.”Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

“It’s fine; you are welcome here anytime and who is this beautiful lady you have here with you.”

“This is Umit.”

“Hi, Umit, I am David,” the man says.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, David. David, David…” I say recalling the David I know as Ismail’s friend is dead. Is he another David, or is he not really dead?

“Yes, David, the David who is meant to be dead.” David answers smiling.

“But how?” I ask trying to understand what is going on.

“I will explain everything, but first let’s go inside. You both look like you have a far more interesting story to tell me. Besides, you are bleeding, and we need to clean the wounds. This way please,” David says as he leads Ismail and me inside his house.

Umit, you are bleeding?” Ismail exclaims giving me a proper look since we ran. I look at my hands, and yes, I am bleeding. I have cuts on my knuckles from breaking the glass, and my fingers from holding the glass. I am also bleeding on my face due to the cut the man gave to my face.

We go in through the back door. We step into an empty hallway. I look up and see the biggest chandelier I have ever seen in my life. It is a crystal chandelier, and a very beautiful one at that. I am beginning to wonder how a police officer can afford such a luxurious house. Even the fact that he is alive after I was told he is dead is still a big shock to me. I guess I will just wait for a good explanation from Ismail because nothing is making sense again.

We step into a lovely living room. The walls are painted white with brown curtains. There is a crystal chandelier in the middle, and this time it’s of a more proportionate size. The couches are nude with brown side tables, and a white center table. Once we take our seats, David is the first to speak up.

“So, what happened that you had to leave?”

“They tried to kidnap us, or rather, they kidnapped us. If not for Umit, we wouldn’t be here talking to you.” Ismail says with pride in his voice.

“Wow, but you know why they did, right?”

“Yes. I know why. They believe I have evidence against Mr. Alberto. They tried to make me give it to them, but I refused, even though I had nothing to give. So, they formed a plan and captured Umit to make me give it to them, but Umit is a wonderful woman, full of surprises, and was captured so she could save me,” Ismail says, smiling proudly.

Hearing Ismail say he thinks of me as a wonderful woman brings a big smile to my face. And I think I was right about the man at the front desk working for them. I feel he gave me that piece of information so I could look for Ismail and get captured. It worked, but like Ismail said, I was captured to save him. I am very proud of myself right now, Alhamdulillah (Praise be to Allah) I was able to get us out of there.

“I am really sorry I put you both in such a situation. I never planned for things to go this way; I am sorry. You both are safe here; they won’t be able to find you here. I am com…” David starts to say but is cut off when his phone starts ringing. He excuses himself before walking out of the living room to answer it. Once he walks out, I speak up.

“Ismail.”

“Yes?”

“Can we use his phone to make a call? I am sure Waheeda and Austin and the others are worried sick. We need to tell them what is going on and let them know we are safe,” I say concerned that my sister and my friends would have called the police by now.

But Ismail is more concerned about the cuts and cleaning my wounds.

“It’s fine they are just small cuts.” I tell him.

“They are not fine, let me see them,” Ismail says, looking at my injuries with concern.

“It’s okay, I will clean them up and it will be fine.”

“NO! It’s not fine,” Ismail raises his voice, sounding a bit angry.

“Ismail, why are you shouting? Is something wrong?” I ask wondering why he raised his voice.

“Yes, something is wrong! Everything is my fault. You are hurt because of me.”

“Ismail, just because I cut myself while trying to save us does not make it your fault,” I say clearly understanding why he is upset.

“Maybe so, but it does not change the fact that I was the reason you got captured. Umit, do you understand why I said it’s safer being far away from me? You mean a lot to me, even they know that. That’s why first thing tomorrow morning, I will have you taken back to San Francisco,” Ismail says.

“No, I am not going anywhere. I can’t sit back and not help you bring Mr. Alberto to justice. I want to help, and I will help,” I say with determination.

“Umit, don’t you get it? Seeing you hurt is killing me, just knowing I am the reason you’re hurt is like they are stabbing me in the heart. I couldn’t bear to live with myself if anything bad happened to you. You mean far too much to me,” Ismail says sounding more frustrated by the minute.

“Ismail it’s not your fault.”

“I don’t care if it’s my fault or not. All I know is that you are going back to San Francisco and that’s final. I don’t dare to put your life in danger again.”

“I am not going back and stop talking like you are the one who is going to hurt me or something. First, if they know how important I am to you, I will not be safe there. Besides, I don’t understand why it’s bothering you whether I get hurt or not. It’s not like I matter that much to you. I am just your sister-in-law,” I reply getting a bit angry with his over protectiveness. It’s not that I don’t like the fact that he cares, but I just feel he is going a little overboard.

“You do! Don’t you get it?” Ismail says raising his voice again.

, “Okay, okay, okay. If I matter to you, then what am I to you. Please tell me,” I say, knowing he is going to say I am his sister-in-law and that’s why he feels responsible for keeping me safe. Which I feel is clearly not his work, but men would be men.

“YOU ARE THE WOMAN I AM IN LOVE WITH,” Ismail shouts, freezing me to the spot.

“W-ww–what-t-ttt-t?” I say blinking my eyes rapidly, wondering if what I heard is right.