The government and the state are in one realm, while the people are in another. Before the customs dollar comes into effect, citizens are grappling with unprecedented price increases and disparities, prompting them to ask, "What else awaits us?" People fear the worst; the future does not bode well and places them at the mercy of an impending storm of rising prices, which will not be easy to endure. The customs dollar will inevitably impact everything, even if certain products do not fall under its purview. "The local merchants know best how to exploit," one person asserts while searching for cheap food items to stock up for tough times. Faryal mentions, "Today, a box of cheese costs 30,000 before it exceeds 50,000," indicating that, in people's calculations, disaster is near. Despite reassurances from the ministry, they have experienced three years in the merchants' clutches during the crisis, receiving only more inflation from them. Merchants, shopkeepers, and even vegetable sellers will all add the 15,000 price tag of the customs dollar to goods and bills, leading to social upheaval.
Ibrahim may be speculating about what’s to come, but he is well-acquainted with the greed of merchants and their pursuit of profit. "Many of them have become owners of lands and apartments, purchasing them at our expense," and, in his opinion, "the most dangerous part is that they claim to be honorable." Notably, merchants have begun to bring out some of the goods that were hoarded during the 1,500 lira period to place them on the shelves in preparation for sale at the new prices. It is also surprising that most of these items will soon expire. The question arises: who was monitoring the merchants' warehouses? How? By what means? And why were certain merchants targeted while others were exempt? Nothing looks promising, then. On the brink of winter, all fuels are now based on the dollar, including heaters, which may also see an increase as soon as the customs dollar actually comes into effect. This will lead to further economic decline for citizens and difficulties in obtaining heating. Subscription holders are threatening to raise their prices as if the customs dollar applies to them, while patients fear rising drug prices. All this anxiety is justified in light of a government incapable of making any decision to protect citizens, which means they need to prepare for the anticipated storm that may "overturn everything."
