Chapter 30 Türkiye (13) The Triumphant Return of the "Little Hero"...
It's unclear whether praying to the true god with that demon's eye received a response, or whether it was the honey mille-feuille that Aisha painstakingly brought to the other party that had an effect.
Zelin began a slow and steady recovery.
As the days went by, her once pale face finally regained its color.
She can walk around more and more easily now. Although it is still inconvenient and she needs help from others, the sharp pain in her joints that used to be aggravated by every movement has lessened considerably.
Even this small step forward brings immense hope.
Aisha remained a regular on Hussein Street, naturally and familiarly bringing along some newly acquired dried fruit and candied fruit, or a few books she'd found at a flea market.
“I told the people at the market about how the kitten accompanied me to Kadkoy to buy mille-feuille that night, and they were all amazed, saying that she was a little helper sent by the true God to help me.”
"Also, these are things the uncles and aunts at the market asked me to bring for you—"
Aisha pulled a bag of still-warm roasted chestnuts, a few sesame rings, and several boxes of beautifully packaged candies from her bag.
She opened the oil paper package, revealing plump, shiny chestnuts inside. Aisha took out two, peeled them, put the more intact one into Zelin's mouth, and tossed the other one into her own.
"So sweet."
Zelin smiled and said, "The uncles and aunts in your market are so kind."
"They said they'll take you out to play when you're better, with the kitten too."
Aisha peeled another chestnut, placed it on the carpet, lingered to smell the golden chestnut kernel, and then sipped it delicately.
"This little guy is the most popular kitten in the market. He's even more popular with the uncles, aunts, brothers, and sisters than I am."
Aisha wrinkled her nose: "They call the kittens 'Oh, little baby,' 'cutie,' even more affectionately than they would guests."
Chichi's tail swayed slightly behind her as she meowed, "No, no."
After peeling the chestnuts, Aisha grabbed a cushion for herself and Zelin to make them more comfortable.
"You have no idea how high she jumped. She practically flew through the air, from the first floor to the second-floor window to call for help. She even startled the owner..."
Aisha exclaimed excitedly, "Everyone in Kadkoi is talking about how amazing and delicious their mille-feuille is, and business is booming even more than before!"
Zelin listened intently, her eyes wide open.
Aisha's extraordinary encounter that night had been told to her again and again, and each time she heard it, she found it unbelievable.
"But if I take you to his shop, even if all the desserts are sold out, he will still make some for you. After all, you are a major contributor to his business's success."
After she finished speaking, she stroked the head of the kitten that was licking its fur on the carpet: "Of course, there's her too."
“Aisha,” Zelin hooked her finger around Aisha’s, “thank you for doing so much for me.”
Aisha was a little embarrassed by the sudden, earnest thanks. She took the other person's fingers in her hand and shook them gently: "Aren't we good friends? Do you remember what I said before?"
"As long as you get better, I'll make you my best friend."
Zelin paused for a moment, then her smile truly blossomed: "So, am I officially a full-time employee now?"
"Of course!"
Aisha nodded vigorously: "I keep my word. Now you are my personally certified best friend. I will take you with me wherever I go in the future."
*
When he finally stepped back into the market, he looked like a triumphant little hero, attracting the attention of all the vendors.
“Our true God’s messenger has arrived.”
As usual, the owner of the ceramics shop at the market entrance was the first to spot the kitten, and the sound immediately spread in all directions.
“Oh, what a little angel! Aisha said she was so lucky to have her that night.”
"Yes, if that little girl named Zelin hadn't gotten to eat the baklava she wanted that night, she probably wouldn't have recovered so quickly."
"I also think there's more to this than meets the eye!"
"Come, come, here's a fresh sardine that just arrived today. Here's the freshest one for you."
The kitten became everyone's "mascot," receiving praise and compliments wherever it went.
"Tsk tsk tsk."
1221 floated leisurely above Chichi: "You're now a famous cat in Kadkoy and the whole market street. How does it feel?"
Chichi felt her face burning from being praised so much: "I just did what every miracle cat does."
"But you're the only miracle cat they know, so it looks like their food standards will have to go up a notch from now on!"
Chichi carried the sardine that the fishmonger had given him to the roadside, pressed his front paws against the slippery body, and precisely bit the fattest part of the fish's belly.
Sardines have firm flesh and a salty, fresh taste of the ocean, which is a real treat for a kitten.
After eating and drinking to their heart's content, they returned to Aisha's spice shop, sat down contentedly, and carefully cleaned their paws and cheeks, striving to lick every single hair on their bodies until they were smooth and shiny.
After helping out during the busiest time of day, Aisha hurriedly threw off her apron and rushed off to Hussein Street.
Let's go.
The little girl waved to Chichi, carrying her homework that she hadn't had time to finish during the holiday, and called out to the store, "Dad, I'm going to find Zelin to do my homework!"
Ahmed was at his wits' end with her; Aisha was practically becoming Zelin's second daughter this holiday: "Are you coming home for dinner?"
"I'm not going back!"
Aisha chuckled and said, "Zelin's food is even better."
The two of them, a cat and a person, ran to Hussein Street, a place they could find with their eyes closed. Aisha had taken on an important task for the day—to accompany Zelin, who was recovering from a serious illness, for a walk to help her get some exercise.
Of course, they couldn't go far; they just strolled back and forth in Zelin's backyard.
Just wandering around in the yard wasn't very interesting, so after Aisha and the nanny went inside, she asked Zelin, "Do you want to go out and take a look? It's not very cold today."
“I want to go out.” Zelin nodded.
He hesitated for a moment before emerging from the main gate, checking the road conditions. He watched as Aisha helped the other person slowly exit through the side gate. The weather had been sunny and dry lately, and he could hear children chasing after the ball, shouting and playing outside, seizing the last days of their holiday.
Before they had even made one round trip, the boys who had come with Black and the others to cause trouble on Hussein Street, along with Lana Eve and the others, came over kicking their newly acquired soccer balls.
Seeing that Zelin still needed support, Eve pouted and said, "The young lady can finally go out."
"Even after recovering from your illness, you're still so delicate. You need someone to help you walk." The boys laughed, their tone laced with sarcasm.
Zelin pursed her lips, tugged at Aisha's sleeve, and whispered, "Let's go back. Don't argue with them."
Aisha took a deep breath.
"If anyone's leaving, they should leave first. Why should we go back?"
She did not back down at all and strode forward.
“I don’t care what you say about me, but school is about to start and Zelin will be going back to school soon. If you continue to treat her so rudely, I will never play with you again.”
"If you don't want to play, then don't play. Who cares?"
The boys looked completely unconcerned.
"Whatever you want." Aisha pointed at Chichi, looking quite serious. "See this little cat next to me?"
“Go ask around in Kadkoi and the market near our house. She’s an emissary sent by the true god, the most intelligent cat in the whole town. I’ll have her tell the true god, and she’ll also notify your parents one by one, so you can receive the punishment you deserve…”
Aisha's eyes darted around: "Little cat, today I'd like you to go and ask the true god to confiscate their new football."
Upon hearing this, Chi Chi stood up and gave them a fierce "meow".
"1221, let's teach them a lesson."
"It's the kitten," the kitten commanded.
"Okay!"
The invisible, transparent ball of light flew silently past, reaching the arrogant boy and forcefully knocking away the brand-new soccer ball that was rolling around at his feet.
"Oh, my ball!"
Even though it wasn't downhill, the soccer ball started rolling out of thin air, as if controlled by an invisible person, dodging the children's attempts to retrieve it, veering left and right, avoiding them all.
The football seemed to grow legs and veered off the street corner, leaving a group of astonished children behind.
They finally believed what Aisha had said.
She, she, she really can punish them! And the little cat beside her really is a messenger sent by the true God!
Zelin's eyes widened as she looked at Aisha, who was equally astonished: "Did you really do that? You're amazing—"
"Shhh."
Aisha gestured for her to be quiet and wait for the group of children who couldn't catch the ball to slink back and apologize.
Lana pulled Eve over first: "I'm sorry, Zelin. We shouldn't have wronged you and said those things to you."
"I'm sorry."
The boys, who had been so arrogant just moments before, now showed a hint of awe and didn't dare to look Aisha in the eye. They could only give Zelin a perfunctory bow.
Zelin only realized what was happening after Aisha poked her from behind.
She was never one to hold grudges: "It's okay, I forgive you."
"Zelin has forgiven you, but I haven't," Aisha said, hands on her hips. "We'll see how you behave after school starts. You'd better treat Zelin well after she returns to school, or else... hmph!"
She deliberately dragged out the last syllable, leaving a threat open to interpretation.
Chichi also obediently arched his back and bared his teeth at the other side.
Everyone was awestruck by this imposing aura and nodded hurriedly, saying, "Understood."
"We know we were wrong..."
"We will never bully Zelin again."
"Wait a minute, there's one more thing."
Aisha grasped Zelin's hand and declared firmly to Lana and the others, "Zelin is my best friend. We've been through life and death together, and our fates are intertwined."
These words carried weight, leaving the other naive children looking at each other in bewilderment.
They had never seen Aisha so calm yet so powerful, as if they truly felt something, such as true friendship, which is something that can never be shaken.
The children scattered like birds and beasts to find the ball, and the surroundings became quiet.
Zelin looked at Aisha, who was squatting down to hug the kitten, and a thousand words stuck in her chest. Any words of thanks seemed pale.
She released her grip on the other person's hand, took a small step forward, and gently embraced them.
Feeling the strong heartbeat and vibrant warmth from the other side, this tangible sensation brought her back from the hell of illness to the world of the living.
"Thank you, Aisha."
Zelin's voice was as soft as a feather, yet utterly sincere: "Thank you for pulling me back."
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