The Beginning and the End

EIGHTY-ONE

Deeply absorbed in his thoughts, Hussein returned to Heliopolis. On his journey from Farid Effendi’s flat, he reviewed once more a long stretch of his forgotten past as he had in the coffeehouse. Despite his perplexity, Hussein experienced hope and pleasure he had never known before. Formerly, he had been in love with Bahia. But this love was nipped in the bud and nothing remained of it in his prudent, faithful heart except an image of her as the ideal of the good wife. He remembered how much he had patiently suffered. From his frustrated love, he had learned that, with a measure of wisdom, it was possible to derive lofty, sublime pleasures even from pain itself. He came out of this experience with a tranquil heart and a serene smile on his face. He was consoled and his suffering relieved by the thought that confronting the misfortunes of life with patience and forbearance was a golden road to good fortune. Now his old, buried love had revived in his heart as if it had never died out for a single moment. Thus he set out in a kind of ecstasy, and finally reached home. He found them all waiting for him. At once they exclaimed, “What happened?”

To prepare them for his strange piece of news, he thought it best to exaggerate the gravity of the situation. Sorrowfully wringing his hands, he said, “They were so distressed that, in shame, I kept to myself. And for the first time in my life I saw the peaceful, meek Farid Effendi in a rage of blind fury.”

“Tell me everything that happened,” the mother said sorrowfully. “Did you meet Bahia’s mother?”

“No, I only met the man. Before I opened my mouth, he lashed out at me with a storm of reproofs.”

Hussein repeated the man’s words, omitting his biting accusations but adding all the paraphernalia of pathos to stir their sorrow and sympathy. Except for Nefisa, all were moved, sullen, and ashamed. “You shouldn’t have gone to see them tonight,” Nefisa said. “Anyhow, the responsibility for the first mistake lies with the man who accepted a schoolboy as his daughter’s fiancée. Then all his guile in bringing the engagement about. As I see it, Hassanein isn’t to blame. As I said, he was only an inexperienced schoolboy, ignorant of the ways of the world.”

Determined to finish what he had to say, Hussein spoke calmly to his sister. “Please speak kindly of the girl. She might be your other brother’s fiancée.”

Astounded, they all stared at him. Nefisa gave a quick sigh and Hassanein inquired, “What are you talking about?”

Exerting all his willpower to control his confusion, Hussein said, “She may be my fiancée.”

“Yours!”

“Yes, mine.”

“Nonsense!” Nefisa cried.

“But it’s the truth, pure and simple.”

“Did you really ask for her hand?” his mother asked, studying his face.

“Yes, I did,” the young man said, lowering his eyes. “I told him it would please me greatly if he would approve my request for her hand.”

“Did you do this to repair the damage?” Hassanein asked with worry in his voice.

Hussein hesitated briefly. “Partly so. But I have a deep appreciation for the girl, and since marriage is inevitable, I believe she is the right wife for me.”

“Who told you that marriage is inevitable?” Nefisa asked sarcastically.

“What did Farid Effendi say?” the mother interrupted.

Answering on Hussein’s behalf, Nefisa said, “He said, ‘You’re most welcome.’ ”

Indifferent to her, Hussein replied, “He thanked me but said he was sorry he couldn’t approach the girl at this moment. So he asked me to give him time.”

“Did you mean to do this when you left us?” Hassanein asked.

“No,” Hussein said.

“I’m afraid,” the other young man said, “that you may discover later on that you don’t really want to marry her.”

“May this come true!” Nefisa said with a sigh.

“Nefisa!” her mother shouted at her angrily.

Speaking to his brother, Hussein said, “By temperament, I’m inclined to the stable life.”

“I wish happiness to you both,” Hassanein said with relief. After a pause, he added in a low voice, “I have my hopes, too; that is, to marry the daughter of Ahmad Bey Yousri. Brother, do you think that’s foolish?”

“Why not?” Hussein said with a smile. “You’re her equal.”

Somewhat excited, Nefisa said with a laugh, “May God help us. We wanted to get back one of you two, but most probably we shall lose you both. What is happening to us is the mischief of an evil eye.”

“May God bless you,” the mother murmured calmly. “I’m confident my sons will not forget me.”

“Then you’re quite ignorant of marriage and its secret distractions,” Nefisa said to her mother. “I know all about it.”

“Mother knows more about it than you do,” Hassanein said, laughing.

Silence fell upon them. Glancing surreptitiously at his brother, Hassanein suspected that his engagement had been planned beforehand.