Istanbul: Day Four
II.II.III
ISTANBUL DAY FOUR
One last day. One last day, and Akash, Zara, Manish, and Kamal decided to spend it shopping – again. I could never understand them.
Meanwhile, Priya, Rohan, and I would be visiting one final highlight before our departure that evening: Topkapi Palace. Once the administrative and residential heart of the Ottoman Empire for nearly 400 years, the palace is far more than a single grand building. Way more than that. In fact, it’s a sprawling complex of courtyards, pavilions, and gardens overlooking the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn.
As we walked from the formal outer courtyards into the richly decorated Harem, where the sultan’s private life unfolded, it felt as though we were moving deeper into the palace’s former power and secrecy. As my eyes wandered over the gorgeous tiles, relics, and treasures, I could easily imagine the life that must have been lived within these many walls. And the views beyond them? Simply stunning – calm waters, passing ships, and the constant sense that the empire was always looking outward to the sea.
Just like that, our holiday had come to an end and it was time to head back to Malta. Priya, on the other hand, would be flying back to India.
I have to admit, it wasn’t an easy goodbye. Over the course of this trip, I’d fallen for her. She was truly unlike any other woman I’d ever met – her insurmountable passion and vigour a testament to the legacy she’s already built for herself. And though we came close to taking it to the next step, nothing ever happened between us. But maybe one day… Who knows?
In the meantime, I’d be returning to my busy life back home. Long working hours and an inhumane workload would be waiting for me – but perhaps that would serve as a distraction, a way to get over my newfound crush.