Zehra prepared Greek salad with tomatoes,olives,cucumbers and cheese specially for her son.She also made Tzatziki(Greek sauce with yoghurt,cucumbers and garlic).After these,Zehra baked Khachapuri(Georgian bread that is baked in the oven or fried on the frying pan.It is prepared with oil and inside the dough there is cheese.After preparing,usually butter is put above it.In Adjara region,this dish is made in the form of Shoti.Butter and egg yolk are added above it.).Zehra made it with butter and egg yolk in the shape of traditional Georgian bread.However,Selim had never seen this kind of Khachapuri.
-Mother,what kind of Khachapuri is this?
-It is the version of this dish that is made in Adjara,where Yusuf came from.He taught me.No wonder,that you are not familiar with it.
-Now,that everything is ready,can we talk while having lunch?
-Certainly,Selim!It seems,that you are curious about certain things,aren't you?
-You guessed it,mother!
-What is it?
-Can you please tell me about the place you came from?
-With pleasure,Selim!Let's sit down at the table first!
Mother and son came out of the kitchen and entered inside the dining room,where Yusuf was waiting for them.
-You came too,my darling!-Zehra hugged her husband after putting meals on the table.
Yusuf also hugged her and winked Selim.Selim smiled at him.
-I heard your voices from the kitchen.What were you talking about?
-Selim wonders about the island where I came from.He is also willing to learn Greek.
-Oh,really?This is my diligent and curious son!-Yusuf caressed Selim on his hair.
The whole family sat down around the table.Zehra was putting bread and meals on her plate and talking simultaneously:
-I was born and raised on the island called Limnos.It was small,but fabulous place.It was full of sandy beaches,rocky terrains,rolling hills and fertile soil.I used to live there with my parents and younger sisters.We had big house made of bricks and big yard.There were almond,fig and olive trees in that yard.We also used to harvest watermelons and melons.One day,I was alone,when Ottoman thugs invaded my house.I saw them coming in the yard from windows.So,I hided in the basement.Soon,they searched every nook and cranny in the house and found me.They grabbed me on my arms and dragged me towards the gate.They made me get on the big boat.At that moment,I saw my whole family running towards me.They couldn't catch up with me and those thugs.But,I won't ever be able to forget their doomed screams and crying faces.I was 17 years old.
-Where were they coming from?
-From the local market, Selim.There,every man and woman involved in agriculture used to go to that market every Sunday.There,merchants from different Greek islands used to gather and buy each other's goods.
-How did you end up with father?
-I will definitely tell you,Selim.When those thugs brought me to Istanbul,I saw many slaves and slave merchants.I was taken to the merchant,that was selling slave girls.All of them were Greeks.In front of us,we saw slave boys that were being stripped naked.We closed our eyes in order not to see that disgrace.Suddenly,I heard a man's deep voice that was telling the seller to sell me to him.I opened my eyes and he looked at me,then he looked behind him,where Georgian boys were.He bought me and then,we went together to that place where Yusuf was.Our future master turned out to be a baker and he taught us his craft of baking different kinds of breads.He had no children.After working together,I and Yusuf fell in love with each other.Our master passed away because of tuberculosis.I and Yusuf got married after his death.So,this is his house.We inherited it from him according to his testament.After we die,it will become yours,Selim.
-You didn't tell me your real name,mother!
-My real name is Elena.Your father's is Luka.