Engin and smoking

Perhaps the title "Engin i Papierosy" would be better, but it's not just about cigarettes....

FACTS

We knew Engin as a non-smoker.

We saw him smoking in the movie "Kader," but that was related to his role as Cevat. That was in 2007. Since then, none of his characters have smoked.

In 2012, a photo of Engin smoking a hookah at the now-closed Hanedan Nargile cafe [Maltepe, Istanbul] appeared on Twitter.

Since then, no photos or videos of him smoking have surfaced. Until April 13, 2024, when we saw him smoking at the Cahide Palazzo club [Maslak, Sariyer, Istanbul]. Watch the video.

Whether he smoked cigarettes or cigars, as some claim - we do not know....

Engin's stories feature many characters who smoke, including one who tries a cigarette for the first time as a child ["Breath in Darkness"]. Genco Ozak alludes to this in his interview "Conversations in Silence" [2018]:

GO - Many stories involve a reaction to smoking?

FICTION

Fragments of story 21 "Breath in the Darkness".

The hero goes to buy Uncle Ismet a pack of cigarettes. When he finally finds an open shop [it's a holiday, and many places are closed] and buys some, he feels tempted to try smoking.

The adrenaline rush typical of people committing crimes created an irritating tension in my childhood body. Without a backward glance, I quickly walked away. I reached a secluded spot and, in the senseless excitement of lighting a cigarette for the first time, I punctured the back of the pack and took one. On the way back, I planned to think about how I would pass the pack of cigarettes as if it were unopened. I put the cigarette to my lips and lit it. It was as if someone had put weeds and straw in my mouth and then set it on fire. My lungs witnessed tears welling up in my eyes as a coughing fit. I threw the cigarette to the ground before its smell permeated my hands and face.

.......

Because he had been missing for so long, his concerned family and neighbors went searching. The boy was found by his blind uncle Ismet:

A shadow fell across the pole, and then a warm hand touched the back of my neck. When I turned around, Uncle Ismet said in a kind but firm tone:

"You're a naughty boy!"

I didn't know what to say. I was surprised that it was Uncle Ismet who found me in the dark.

"Here you go, uncle. Your cigarettes."

He took the package and put it in his pocket. Still keeping his warm hand on the back of my neck, he said:

"Let's go home..." 

As I walked home, a profound silence reigned in the neighborhood, and everyone was surprised when Uncle İsmet found me. Uncle İsmet walked like a hero. He lightly squeezed his hands around my neck and, lowering himself to my height, whispered:

 "Don't ever smoke again, okay?"

 I remained silent. Every sentence I wanted to say was lost in the darkness. I never smoked again in my life. I kept the word I had set in my heart.