Good Night, Ester (Night, Day 14)

I treated myself to a feast in the Pera Palace restaurant this evening. I selected the dishes myself: fillet of sea bass, roast beef with vegetables, spiced Ali Paşa rice with turkey, deep-fried spring rolls with cheese and artichokes in olive oil, followed by a dessert of kadayıf with clotted cream and then coffee. I also asked Reşit to join me but warned him before he sat down that it was all on me and that our friendship would be over if he objected. He saw how serious I was and decided not to raise a fuss but he was curious as to what it was all for.

‘What are we celebrating, Şehsuvar ağabey?’

I couldn't tell him it was farewell meal so I was forced to lie to him.

‘It's my birthday today, Reşit old boy. Yes, yes, I know celebrating birthdays is not really our thing and is one of those things foreigners do. And I can't say I'm a big fan of birthdays but today I just feel like having a slap-up meal for the occasion…’

‘Well, in that case the wine is on me’, he said cheerfully, swallowing the lie. ‘I have two bottles from my own collection just for occasions like this.’

I accepted the offer and I'm glad I did too as the wines were simply marvellous…. But wait, I'm getting ahead of myself again. Let's get back to where we were.

After I posted my last letters to you from the hotel's post office, I went to the Orient Bar as that is where I was to meet Mehmed Esad. If you remember, I sent him a note telling him there had been new developments that we needed to discuss and that I would be at his place at seven in the evening. Well, one of the hotel staff brought me back his reply. My dear brother Şehsuvar, I'm afraid my place is not suitable so I'll be at the Orient Bar at the time you specified. Regards… I didn't waste too much time worrying about why his shop was good enough for two earlier meetings but not anymore. And anyway, the Orient Bar was easier for me.