Istanbul: Day Two
II.II.III
ISTANBUL DAY TWO
Once again, everyone wanted to go shopping. I simply couldn’t bear the idea of missing out on what the city had to offer for something I could do online whenever. And so, I took to the streets on my own once again.
What started off as me intentionally getting lost ended up becoming a whirlwind tour of some of the city’s main landmarks. I began at the Fatih Mosque – my first time ever stepping foot inside a mosque. I gotta say, it was a spiritual experience. The reverence of the worshippers and the atmospheric stillness within its walls really struck me. I then explored the cemetery that surrounds it, filled with Ottoman tombstones that left me in awe throughout. Keeping in theme, I then headed to the Süleymaniye Mosque – one of Istanbul’s most majestic landmarks, and one that truly lives up to its reputation, making the one I’d just visited pale in comparison.
After that, I crossed over the Golden Horn Metro Bridge. Much like its name implies, this impressive structure spans the Golden Horn – a natural inlet of the Bosphorus that curves gently through Istanbul, dividing the historic peninsula from the northern districts. Here, I stumbled upon Galata Tower – once part of the defensive walls of the Galata district and later used as a watchtower and fire lookout. The view from the top was spectacular, to say the least – the Golden Horn, the Bosphorus, and the historic peninsula unfolding in every direction.
In between visiting landmarks, getting lost in the streets, hopping from one market to the next, and trying to take it all in, I eventually rejoined the rest of the group back at the hotel.
As soon as I arrived, everyone was in full swing preparing for our event that evening. Queen Priya herself was gonna be celebrating her big thirtieth birthday. For the occasion, Akash had booked one of the most exclusive lounges in the city, with the VIP area costing us an arm and a leg. I would’ve usually opposed such mindless spending, but given all the free stuff we’d gotten thanks to both Akash and Priya, I figured this was the least we could do. And so, donning our finest attire, we were ready to party the night away.
I gotta say, as much fun as it was to dance, drink, and have a great time with the guys, I only had eyes for Priya. We kept locking eyes all night – her flirty smirks almost constant. It was all I could do not to ask her to join me somewhere a bit more private.
But I didn’t. And for the life of me, I don’t know why. Maybe because I didn’t wanna mess up the group dynamic. Maybe it’s because I wanted to be respectful of our cultural divide. Or maybe, just maybe, it’s cause I was intimidated by her. How could I – a lowly idiot – ever hope to pick up an honest-to-God celebrity? How could I measure up to the people she could potentially go out with? It wasn’t fear so much as an inferiority complex that stopped me from acting on it – something I’d experience time and time again back when I was still an adolescent figuring out life. I thought I’d outgrown that feeling, but boy was I wrong.
Later that night, as the rest of the group were still inside the lounge settling the bill, Priya and I found ourselves alone outside. The music from inside felt distant now, muffled behind thick glass and concrete, like it belonged to another world entirely.
We were standing close – closer than necessary – making small talk that neither of us really cared about. As we stood there, I could hear her breathing – suddenly and painfully aware of my own. We looked at each other – properly this time. Her voice trailed off mid-sentence. I noticed her leaning in, just slightly, as if testing the space between us. I did the same.
I hadn’t felt that kind of suspense in years. I’d usually just go for it. I’d usually be certain. I’d usually be the one in control. But with Priya? She had the control. She had the power. She had all of it. All along, I’d been at her mercy. And suddenly, she showed me it hadn’t all been in my head. She might have been a princess and I a ragged thief, but in this story, I could be the Aladdin to her Jasmine.
The city noise faded into a dull hum, and for a moment, it felt like Istanbul itself was holding its breath. I moved closer, my lips yearning for hers.
“Bill’s sorted, guys – let’s go!” Zara’s voice rang out behind us. Just like that, the spell broke – as did we from each other.
Man, I’m such an idiot. Funny how I can leap off mountains, fly through the sky, and wander foreign cities alone without a second thought – but when it comes to timing, I always seem to freeze at the exact wrong moment.