The Beginning and the End

EIGHTY-THREE

As though he wanted to give Farid Effendi time enough to think the matter over and come to a final decision, Hussein desisted from paying another visit until his vacation was about to end. During this period Hussein never stopped consulting his mother. While she did not object to his marriage, she advised him to postpone it for one more year until he could complete his marriage preparations. Curiously enough, the hasty Hassanein lent deaf ears to similar advice. Hussein did not approve of his brother’s haste, which he described as rash; for it was obvious that if Hassanein succeeded in his fantastic plan to marry Ahmad Bey Yousri’s daughter, and if he himself got married after one year, both his mother and his sister would find themselves alone without support. Consequently, he brought peace to his mother’s mind by reassuring her that he was determined to keep his wife under the same roof with her mother-in-law and Nefisa. Satisfied with the proposal, he went to Farid Effendi’s house. The man’s welcome revived his hopes. Although the visit had just one meaning that was clear to everybody, yet Hussein said to him, a bit confused, “I came to say goodbye before returning to Tanta tomorrow.”

Farid Effendi smiled in his characteristically gentle fashion. “May God give you safety, and by God’s will we’ll very soon hear of your transfer to Cairo.”

“I hope this will take place during the next vacation,” Hussein said.

He wondered whether he should bring up the subject or wait until Farid Effendi broached it. Having consulted his mother, Hussein took his marriage for granted. Yet how could he possibly know what Farid Effendi’s family really thought? Waiting for their approval, he became increasingly worried. When Bahia’s mother entered, he rose to receive her courteously, warmly pressing her hand. He considered her coming a good omen. Taking a seat, she said, “I’m delighted to see you, my son. How is your mother?”

“All right, madam,” Hussein said warmly. “She sends her regards.”

Glancing toward his wife, Farid Effendi said to her, “Hussein Effendi has come to say goodbye to us before leaving tomorrow, and I think now is the proper time to tell him of our decision.”

He turned to the young man. “As for your proposal, it gives me pleasure, Hussein Effendi, to tell you that we agree to it.”

Hussein followed the man’s words with a rapidly beating heart that gave him a sharp ache at the utterance of certain words. When Farid Effendi had finished speaking, Hussein leapt to his feet with joy.

“Thank you, sir,” he said with a sob in his voice. “One thousand thanks. I’m tremendously happy.”

“He’ll be transferred to Cairo during the next vacation,” the man said, smiling, to his wife.

“This is good news,” the woman said, laughing.

“Naturally, we want all of you to be near us.”

Flushing, the young man said in a voice expressing pleasure, “By God’s will, so it shall be!”

“We’d better wait a reasonable period of time before announcing the engagement,” Farid Effendi suggested, then added with a confused laugh, “So that there will be a decent period of time between the two engagements.”

Lowering his eyes, Hussein murmured, “I entirely agree.”

Farid Effendi rose and left the room, to return minutes later followed by Bahia. Though Hussein knew instinctively that she would appear, yet her actual arrival came as such a shocking surprise that he sprang to his feet, exerting his utmost in self-control. Silently he stretched out his hand to her. As their hands met, he felt the softness, the cool delicacy of hers. His breast was heaving, his heart overflowing with grateful tenderness. He felt strongly that he must say something, but his mind was a blank. Mentally paralyzed by her presence, he was speechless. But soon his senses were submerged in happiness and satisfaction; he had no regrets for his speechlessness; he felt the kind of gentle peacefulness that follows therapy after a bout of pain. How lovely, he thought. How could anybody be blind to her accomplishments? She has been an embodiment of virtue and meekness that quenches my burning thirst for a happy domestic life. She doesn’t excite, but infuses the heart with peace and serenity. He said that they agreed and he brought the girl in person as tangible evidence of this agreement.

Hussein wanted to probe Bahia’s thoughts. Had she already recovered from the shock? Was her heart cured? Had she really begun to develop an interest in him? As they resumed their conversation, which he now considered intrusive and unnecessary, the girl’s parents put an end to his self-absorption. Might they, Hussein wondered, possibly, by a miracle, leave them alone? He remembered, when his eyes had once met hers, how he had become ecstatically absorbed in their pure blue serenity. Surely, he had so many things to say to her. Anyhow, he had ample time ahead of him to reveal his thoughts and feelings to her, no matter how insignificant they were. During pauses in the conversation, there came to him a tender sensation that there was enough pure, sublime happiness in this world to obliterate its misery. He wished this happiness would last, and that he could remain sitting with her forever in the same room. He wanted these sentiments of the moment to be life-embracing and continue as long as he lived.

The conversation went on, but a gesture or a murmur was her only contribution to it. It was time for him to leave. Excusing himself, he shook hands with her and left the flat, feeling for the first time that the luscious fruits of life were awaiting him, ready to be plucked.