Will I marry the one who bears me a son?
And what will you inherit, Mr. Sultan, that makes us sprint to our own weddings like something out of a Turkish drama? snorted Tess.
A flattened sofa and half of mums old council flat, obviously, Lily chimed in.
A pretty bracelet, Daisy muttered, her comments growing tiresome to the girls already.
In the washroom, the sound of running water made the remarks feel even more intrusive as she stared at her reflection, checking that her lipstick and foundation from the first day were still intact. She wasnt sure they would survive past the third lecture.
Thanks, she said politely, even though the compliments were wearing thin.
Where do you get them? asked a sophomore who seemed to have taken a course a year younger than herself.
Its handmade. A gift from a young man, exclusive. No precious metals, of course, but you wont find anything like it elsewhere, Daisy replied offhand.
Actually Ive seen two of those today, another girl interjected.
Really? You must be mixing them up. Maybe they just look alike, Daisy suggested, suspecting that Maxs design wasnt born from a blank slate but lifted from some internet template with a few tweaks.
A novice jeweller could hardly work out the details without a proper guide, relying only on intuition.
No, theyre identical. Im sure of it. Lilys boyfriend from my class gave her one. He isnt rich, but he came up with something clever, and she loves it, Daisy insisted.
Tell me about her boyfriend. Whats his name?
Max, of course, Lily answered.
Have you seen him?
Not in person, no, but Lily showed us photos when she bragged, the secondyear babbled, oblivious to Daisys shifting mood.
She unlocked her phone and displayed a picture as the lock screen.
This Max?
The girls eyes widened; she seemed to sense the wind change and fell silent, frightened.
Dont be afraid. I wont do anything to you or Lily. But with Max, the conversation will be different. Can you tell me who else has a bracelet like that? Maybe the same DonJuan left his mark, and we should warn the girl she isnt the only one.
I dont know her. Ive only seen her flicker by the university, maybe from the senior years, but I have no idea which faculty or group, the girl shook her head.
Alright, if you spot anyone else with those bracelets, bring them to me. Im the thirdyear economics student.
I cant promise anythingtheres no guarantee theyll listen to mebut Ill pass the information along, the girl pledged.
She kept her word; by midday four more girls approached Daisy. All from different courses and faculties, as if Max had deliberately selected them so they would never cross paths or learn about each other.
He hadnt counted on the fact that, once gifted the intricate jewellery, each would wear it to class, where identical bracelets would inevitably attract the curiosity of a nosy onlooker, like the one who had first noticed the strange accessories.
Whats this, a weekly set? Monday its me, Tuesday you, Wednesday her, and so on until the weeks end?
Then wed be seven, Marnie, a firstyear, remarked coolly.
She studied psychology, apparently possessing the steellike resilience the profession demands, because she didnt whine like Lily or overanalyse like Daisy.
Angela, a fourthyear, had already managed to call her mother, three sisters, two brothers and even a distant aunt, complaining with the same tired phrases about mens nature.
The girls didnt argue with each othereach was unaware of the other three. They blamed their limited meetings on the lovers hectic schedule; they, too, couldnt afford daily outings between studies and parttime jobs. So a weekly facetoface seemed perfectly reasonable.
Everything had started at the beginning of the academic year, which made senseMax had just transferred to their city for work.
The only puzzle left was what to do with him now. They knew they had to teach the fellow a lesson, but how? You cant beat him with a crowd
Beatings out, but humiliating is possible, the girls decided unanimously.
Thus Marnie, the unflappable one, was appointed the executioner, leading the victim to an unexpected gathering with all the unlucky girls.
Since tomorrow was her day, the plan didnt have to wait.
***
Hey, mousey, long time no see, Max greeted the girl at the café door, as usual. She hugged him back, then ushered him inside before the cold could bite.
Inside, four chosen ones waited at the first table, each with a freshly gifted bracelet gleaming on her wrist.
Come on in, Casanova, tell us how you got this far, Daisy sniped as Max, looking a bit wilted, tried to mumble something.
What I want to know is how you plan to marry all of us when the law only allows one wife. Did you think you were so irresistible that wed all run into your harem? Tess retorted, swinging a dinnerknife in her hand as if ready to fling it at the unsuspecting lover.
I actually intended to. Id marry the one who gives me a son. What are you looking at? By the way, having an heir is the most important thing for a manto carry on the family name.
And what inheritance are you after, Mr. Sultan, that makes us race to be your shahs in a Turkish drama? Tess repeated with a sigh.
A smashed sofa and half of mums old council flat, obviously, Lily quipped. All right, hero, youre now the talk of the town. Ill upload a video tonight to my socials and the university groupeverywhere.
You have no right, Max shrieked.
I do. Filming in public places is allowed regardless of your consent. Your face isnt visible, but Ill make sure everyone knows who you are without any complaints against me.
Future lawyer, I see, Marnie muttered, still silent. Ill advise you, as a psychologist, to treat your cuckoo first, then start dating normally.
Better give the boy a son, then. Get yourself an implant and produce a child every year, but stay away from girls with your shortcuts.
Tess, leaving the table, accidentally knocked a scalding coffee onto Maxs lap. Oh dear, how clumsy of me, she stammered, the mishap marking the girls revenge as complete.
News of Maxs downfall spread like wildfire through a town of fifty thousand, and his prospects dimmed unless he moved to another city for work.
Tess, Marnie, Angela, Lily and Daisy eventually became good friends, each finding better men than Max. In the end, it turned out for the best that they had met and cleared the air.
It would have been far uglier if hed kept them fooled for months or years, all because of those unique bracelets. A little sense might have saved the wouldbe Sultan from a truly baffling fate.
