Margaret in Istanbul - A Short Story!

Hasan A. Yahya, Ph.D

Istanbul is the center of East West, all people of new and old shapes and dresses may be found in the streets. Tourists from all over the world, enjoying holy places, churches, mosques, and restaurants. I met her in the street in front the Ahmad Basha Mosque. In the café, the place seemed to belong to the old  dark unlike the hustling street outside. The place was full of people.

In previous years, John has countered several sex love and situations with women. One was called Alesha and she was twenty years old. The second was called Khadija, almost in the same age. Both were dreaming to meet a guy coming from America. The third was Miss Erikson , the philosophy secretary at University Department.

 John arrived somewhat late after noon,  and entered few steps in the airport building hall, Suddenly he heard a womanly voice, he looked back, and there she is, Alesha was coming toward him, after the elevator was opened, she waiting for him! We were alone in the elevator, I said:

- “what are you doing here?”

- “I know you were coming!”

- “But …why, where is Miss Erikson?”

- “She old me to come to receive you, because she was busy.”

 Alisha was always asking me about John’s phone number, she wanted to know where John  lives, But John was denying her that pleasure. In his own mind, he doesn’t want a girl in her age, plus she was one of his students in the Philosophy course.

 “I asked you several times to give me your phone, but you refused, I asked you about where do you live, you never gave me that. So I will know now!” Alisha pluntly said!

The elevator came to a holt, on the sixth floor in the building where John lives, , before it stopped, he was trying to find his way out, but she was standing in the way. She came close to his face. As if she is inviting him to kiss her. But he  tely did not encourage her and said in a strange voice:

-          “Alesha! What are you doing?”  The elevator door opened, and John and Alisha left out to the apartment. Alesha was following John pulling his case. He quickly put the key in the door, John was terribly afraid someone might see the young lady with me. Everybody knows about his story with his wife, who through herself from the balcony two years back. In few moments both  were in the apartment.

-          “So! Here you live alone! Right!

-          “Yes! I do!” John said!

-           “Good! Because I know that you live alone!”

-          “So what! What exactly you have in mind, what do you  want from me Alesha?”

-          “Well, give me something to drink first, I am your guest now!”  She sat on the couch, and waited, John entered the kitchen to bring something cold for her. She followed him to the kitchen, and said:

-          “why are you wasting time. You know, I love you! I want you! I don’t care how old are you! I am happy to be with you! Aren’t you happy to be with me, John?”

-          “Yes I am, but I am your teacher, not your friend!”

-           “But I love you! What shall I do.”

-          “Alesha! You have crossed the red lines, Alisha! You have to leave immediately.”

-          “I am not leaving this room, I am planning to stay here all night!”

-          “What about your folks, your parents?”

-          They know that I am sleeping tonight with my girl-friend.”

-          “But you are not! So you lied to your parents.”

-          “Don’t say parents, my dad married another woman, and he rarely come to see my mom.” And my mom is busy with her boyfriend. Don’t worry about me!” I told my mother that I will spent the night studying, I mean ... studying with you!” while she was shaking her head right and left, laughing.  And whispered in her lovely tempting voice, let’s do it, John, right now!”  

Hasan Yahya, is an American Arab scholar, a professor of Sociology, a columnist at wfol.tv, Malaysia, and TINA International News Agency, Chicago, USA. www.hasanyahya.com