Love will find a way

Friends

Fatos helped Nazli with snacks, while Ferit and Engin sorted out the drinks. Between the 4 of them, they managed to cook the food and got ready to receive the guests. As the bell rang, Nazli gave Ferit an assuring look and went to answer. She knew it was her friends as she got their message that they were here.

She let them in, and they hugged her one-by-one screaming 'Congratulations!!' noticing the ring on her finger. She introduced them to Ferit.

"Finally, we get to meet him. So, I was right all along. I knew it when you were distracted at that reception." Eda said as she settled in.

"Where's Serkan?" Nazli asked.

"Running late as usual, busy with his football matches. He'll be here soon." Eda replied. Nazli introduced them to Fatos and Engin as well. They seemed to recognise Fatos and started appreciating her articles.

"It's just me then... I'm so sorry Fatos..." Nazli apologised for her ignorance when even Asuman filled her in on how popular Fatos was back home.

"Don't embarass me Nazli..." It didn't bother Fatos. Leaving the girls with Fatos, Nazli went to join Ferit who let his friends in.

xxx

"Nazli" Fatos called as they had to refill the snacks that were now running out.

"Ah thank you" Nazli hugged Fatos once they were in kitchen.

Ferit's friends teased him for the sudden wedding. They grilled them so much. It was only 3 of them including Engin and one looked familiar but she didn't get a chance to talk as they continued their fight with Ferit. They were also filling her with anecdotes of how many hearts Ferit broke along the way and how much wrath Nazli would have to endure.

"They're crazy but then also Ferit is the baby of the group, so you would extra madness." Fatos sympathised with her.

Nazli heard the doorbell ring and she went to answer the door. It was Serkan. She welcomed him in and tried to look for Eda.

Ferit escaped his friends hinting about the doorbell. He found Nazli with Serkan, who looked familiar. She introduced them and both had this look where they seem to recall if they knew each other.

"Do you guys know each other?" Nazli felt weird and tried to break the ice.

"St.Stephens" They said at once and hugged each other.

Serkan told her they were friends till year 10 and then his parents moved to UK. They lost touch after that.

"I didn't think we'll meet like this. Engin will be happy to see you" Ferit led him to meet Engin.

Nazli went to catch up with the girls and informed them about this new connection.

As dinner was served, Nazli saw Ferit being proper host and spending time with each of her friends and smiled.

"You look proper smitten and so you should be" Hazel joined her.

"Hazel stop teasing me... How are you?" Nazli knew her friend was always busy with work or travel.

"Fine... planning to go home... take a break" She replied.

"Really?" It was Nazli's turn to be surprised.

"Nazli, that's going to happen only in our dreams." Cansu joined them.

"And what brings you back? I thought you went to get married." Hazel questioned Cansu.

"He was a jerk. I don't know how some guys are still so stuck up in their ways. Work but come home by 5 as if he's doing a favour on me. I called it off..." She was happy to be free. Nazli and Hazel hugged her.

"I miss those university days when we all lived together. Let's do a weekend trip sometime..." Eda suggested. As they were busy planning destinations, Nazli left the group to get some food.

She served herself a plate and was ready to eat when Ferit dropped by kissing her on the cheek and walked away with the plate, thanking her.

"Ferit" She called out, but he walked away by then.

"It's nice to see him so happy" She heard someone next to her say. It was one of Ferit's friends.

"Hi I'm Emre." He introduced himself.

"We met earlier, didn't we?" Nazli tried to recollect.

"Yes, at one of Deniz's parties. Deniz used to hang out with us sometimes when we were in college. When he moved here, Ferit asked me to watch out for him" He reminded her.

As they chatted, she took a new plate and filled it up. She introduced him to her friends as she found out he worked at the same firm as Cansu.

xxx

"Are you trying to set them up?" Ferit stood next to her sliding his hand across her waist pulling her closer while she was busy eating from the plate.

"Ah stop scaring me and set up who?" She looked in the direction he was pointing, and it seemed like there was only Emre and Cansu talking while the rest moved away.

"No thanks... I'll leave that to our siblings. They work for the same firm so I thought it would be nice for Cansu to know a friendly face." She clarified.

"Hmm let's see..." Ferit rolled his eyes.

"It's good to see everyone getting along." Nazli tasted the chocolate mousse and seemed proud of it.

"Do you think it would be rude to sneak away?" His eyes focussed on her.

"Definitely when it is your own house and you're the host." She raised an eyebrow as he looked at her like she was the only person in the room.

"Fine..." He traced his finger along the corner of her lip and rubbed off the chocolate.

"Between where's Buse? Isn't she your friend?" Nazli tried to be nonchalant but he could sense the difference in her tone. He decided to play along.

"Thought I'd spare you today as you'd have to meet her at the party anyway tomorrow" He winked and left.

Although she was annoyed at his response, she knew he was messing with her. Her eyes followed him as he laughed with his friends. When she first met him, he seemed reserved quite in contrast to what he is when she got to know him better. She had this unknown fear that things would not work out, yet they crossed the boundary from ignoring each other to being married. He made all the choices to ensure it happened and she loved him even more for that.

It was as if he read her mind, he acknowledged her with a smile that melted her. A loud bang broke their gaze.

Fatos was trying to gather everyone's attention for some games. As everyone was settling down, Nazli whispered a quick "I love you" into Ferit's ear before vanishing to join the girls.

xxx