The Bastard of Istanbul by Shafak - Book Report/Review Example

s “The Bastard of Istanbul” as an episode of “Revenge (The season) Armanoush had found out all about the truth of the murder of her grandfather. She had to avenge her Armenian blood, and so, here she was right in Turkey where she believed her grandfather was murdered. This time, she had come prepared and she was certain of the fact that these were the people who will have to pay what happened years ago. The secret was now uncovered that the Kazanci family was behind her suffering, and so this time, she had come with a plan. Mustapha, her step-father, would also the target of her revenge though she felt close to her before the truth was uncovered. She was already in Turkey, where she was now waiting for her mother Rose and her step-father Mustapha (Shafak 2007). She had the entire plan in her mind, coded and programmed, where she knew exactly how to target the enemies. One by one, she would take down each and everyone after which her Armenian blood would be satiated. Only after seeking revenge would she be able to return to America, and start a new life with little regrets and massive satisfaction. After having confirmed that Asya was indeed Zeliha`s daughter via a DNA test she had conducted before, she now had a leverage over Zeliha. She dug deeper to find out who the father of Asya was since she had her apprehensions when she sensed the discomfort in Zeliha`s eyes over the subject. She found rather odd that a bold audacious woman like Zeliha would abstain from accepting Asya as her own daughter, and more so as to keep Asya in the dark over who her father was. To dig deeper, Armanoush went ahead to investigate about all the past affairs Zeliha was having by the time she had conceived Asya. She had to find out who Asya`s father was, to further aggrandize the leverage over the situation which she had planned on exploiting later. Also, she was well aware of Mustsapha`s hesitation over visitng Turkey. In all these years, how come Mustapha never even thought of visiting his family, the Kazancis (Shafak 2007). She knew something was wrong, and she was determined to find out. Her instincts were telling her to plot a confrontation between Mustapha and aunt Zeliha, and she was sure something would pop, since Zeliha felt so uncomfortable with the idea of Mustapha visiting. Thus, that night, while her parents would arrive, she had planned out an episode to ensure a direct confrontation between Zeliha and Mustapha. Armanoush had bonded quite well with Asya, and though Asya would also eventually be a victim of Armanoush`s revenge, yet this was not something Armanoush felt quite comfortable doing. ‘Asya, why aren’t you dressed yet ? It`s 11 already, they will be here anytime, we have to leave for the airport now’, Armanoush was literally yelling at Asya. ‘Who needs to get dressed, it`s not like i`m going to the prom. Let`s get going’, acclaimed Asya. Armanoush and Asya, along with Aunt Banu were leaving the doorway while aunty Zeliha came after them, perplexed and anguished at the same time. ‘Asya, come back here you. Where do you think you`re going? Go back to you room, NOW!’ Aunt Zeliha`s voice was trembling with agony. ‘But, Armanoush just…’ Asya, equally surprised, tried to counter-ague. ‘Don`t you dare utter another word. What part of go back to your room do you not understand’ Aunt Zeliha compelled without even letting Asya reply. ‘It`s me and you I guess then.’ I addressed aunty Banu as Asya slammed the door of her room from the inside after the entire episode. ‘My instincts were right. Something is wrong between Mustapha and Zeliha. While the other sisters are literally dancing with joy on the idea of seeing their departed brother after years, something has been bothering Zeliha. Also, it certainly involved Asya, which the episode just confirmed, Armanoush I`m not even more determined to find.’ Armanoush was introspecting which was interfered with the announcement that the flight had arrived. Armanoush welcomed both Rose and Mustapha, while she could help but notice the discomfort on Mustapha`s face. On arriving at the Kazanci Manor, there was an aura of festivity and celebrations, while Zeliha was nowhere on the scene and Asya had also left the Manor to meeti some friends, ofcourse as retaliation to the unfair treatment she had received from aunt Zeliha earlier. The all had dinner, Rose exchanged her views about the Turkish culture with Aunty Cevriye who could speak a little English. After dinner, Ashure was presented to Mustapha which apparently had always been his favorite dish. Armanoush looked closely at Mushtapha while he was indulged in his Ashure, and wondered if he had any idea that she had sprinkled a herb over his Ashure to make him nauseous as a part of her plan. Later that night, as everyone went to bad, Armanoush went up to Rose and explained, ‘Mom, you have yet to meet Asya, she is like a sister to me now. I could hear Jhonny Cash from her room which means she`s back. Actually, she has had a rough day, not a mention quite a rough life. Why don`t you bring over the presents to her, that may cheer her up.’ Rose readily agreed. ‘You go to the room mom, i`ll bring over the suitcase with her presents.’ Armanoush told her. She had already seen Zeliha walk in the house, so she knew she was back home as well. Armanoush went to Mustapha where she found him throwing up and nauseated. ‘Mustapha, are you ok? What happened? You were fine just now.’ Armanoush asked him out of surprise, though she weren’t as surprised ofcourse. ‘Where`s Rose? Tell her to bring me those medicines she had packed. I think I had an unusually big meal today which has made me sick.’ He sounded lethargic. ‘Mom is with aunt Banu, i`ll ask her to come right over. Meanwhile let me bring you some medicine’ Armanoush said while she walked out of the room. She went straight to Zeliha`s room. ‘Zeliha, i`m really sorry to bother you right now, but I saw the light of your room and presumed you haven`t slept yet, though everyone else has. Actually Mustapha fell quite sick, and we`d have to take him to the doctor soon if he doesn`t recover. Could you give him some medicine for diarrhea and nausea, he has been throwing up ever since.’ Armanoush explained to Zeliha. ‘Wait right here, let me give you the medicine, I was actually just about to go to bed.’ She answered. ‘You haven’t even Mustapha yet, he was actually asking for you. It would be quite a favor if you give the medicine to Mustapha yourself, I have to take this call. But you make sure the medicine reaches Mustapha soon, otherwise you`ll have to drive him to the hospital.. yea Hello’ Armanoush hurriedly narrated the entire story to Zeliha and walked out as she attended her phone. At this point, Zeliha had no other option but to confront the situation. ‘I would simply hand over the medicine to Rose and just go back to my room. But why was Mustapha asking for me anyway?’ Aunt Zeliha was talking to herself while she reached Mustapha`s room. She could hear Mustapha throwing up, while she sneaked into the room and left the medicine at the side table. To her misery, Mustapha saw her leaving and he couldn’t help but stop her, ‘Zeliha !’ Zeliha turned, Armanoush was right behind the door, expecting to finally hear what she has been looking forward to. ‘Mustapha, your medicine, I left it at the side table’ she hesitantly spoke. ‘Zeliha, I never meant to come back here but…’ he was trying to explain something while Zeliha interfered, ‘But here you are, adding insult to all my injuries all over again’ she said in vain. ‘What happened in the past was ugly and I couldn`t get over it either, but destiny brought me back. Maybe to apologize to you. Though things could never go right again, but before I die just once I wanted to talk to you’ Mustapha explained. ‘Oh, is that why you were asking for me? To apologize for giving me a daughter, leaving a scar haunting me for life.’ Zeliha was literally crying while she finally brought out the secret. Armanoush was absolutely stunned by what she was hearing. This was completely obscene and impossible, she couldn`t believe her ears. She was sickened by even the thought of finding out what was absolutely unacceptable. Asya was daughter of not only Zeliha but also of her uncle Mustapha. Armanoush had, at this point, found a new direction to stray her revenge towards. She had now found the key to destroying and ruining the lives of the Kazanci`s. Though she knew her mother would all fall victim to the misery, yet she was prepared for what was coming next. Works Cited: Shafak, E. (2007). The bastard of Istanbul. New York: Viking. Read More