Mustafa's room was next to the room where Selim and Safiye were conversing.And the door was not closed.He was lying in his bed and was unintentionally eavesdropping Selim and Safiye's conversation.After Selim offered Safiye to be siblings,Mustafa got convinced,that Selim didn't deserve his cold and harsh words when they met after Yusuf and Zehra's death.Mustafa made up his mind to become like a father to Selim.
3 days passed and Mustafa buried Yusuf and Zehra at the neighbourhood's cemetery in front of Selim,Safiye and all of his neighbours according to Islamic burial rules.
3 years passed from the funeral.During this time Selim used to go to the madrassie every day.He learned written and spoken Ottoman Turkish,Arabic grammar,Ottoman history and Quran.He used to write his diary in Georgian and Greek after finishing studying in the evening.What he did not learn was medicine.He tried to watch the patients that Mustafa was treating and did not like it at all.On the contrary,Safiye was quite interested in her father's job.She used to study medicine every day.Selim taught her written Ottoman Turkish.Selim and Safiye used to go to the bakery every Saturday and Sunday together and sell different kinds of breads.
It was Saturday afternoon,the 25th June of 1785.Selim and Safiye were at their bakery and were selling breads.Abruptly,they heard a man's deep voice who was coming towards them and calling aloud:
-Look at these handsome fellows behind me!I have just bought them at the slave market.All of them are Georgian adolescents who will be going to Iraq.They will be trained by mamluk governor of Iraq-Suleiman pasha the great in swordsmanship,horseriding and archery and according to their skills they will earn their freedom.If they become free they will be called mamluk warriors.Do you know what the word mamluk means?It is Arabic word and means the one who is owned.Briefly,my master-Suleiman pasha the great sent me here to find the strongest and most gorgeous boys.But,I have 2 conditions:those boys whom I will choose must be either Georgians or Circassians.Please,lift your hands who are Georgians and Circassians.I will come to your houses and negotiate with the boys' parents.
Almost everyone in this neighbourhood was Georgian,except Mustafa's.When that man with bizarre turban and robe saw,that almost all of them lifted their hands he was over the moon.He inspected every house and took a look at every boy.However,he only chose 2 Georgian boys.He paid a lot of money to their parents.This man deceived them by telling them,that one day their children would be coming back to Istanbul and see their families.At last,he approached Mustafa's house and knocked on the door.Mustafa opened him the door and asked him:
-Sir,who are you?
-I am the envoy of Suleiman pasha the great,the governor of Iraq.He sent me here to buy Georgian and Circassian boys.By any chance,are you Circassian?
-Yes.
-Do you have a son?
-I have,but he is not my flesh and blood.I adopted him 3 years ago.He is Georgian.
-Is your son inside?
-No,he is at his bakery with my daughter.They are selling breads right now.Go straight forward from here and you will find them.
-Okay,thank you.I will get back to you shortly.