Bitter Almonds (26 page)

‘What's going on?' Shareef asked, his mouth slightly open as usual.

‘We learned something outrageous that affects the family reputation.' Waleed touched Shareef's chest. ‘Your reputation in particular.'

Shareef raised his hands, palms out in a defensive move. ‘I didn't do anything.'

‘Your wife did.'

‘Where is she?' He turned to leave. ‘What did she do this time?'

Waleed sidestepped him to block the door. ‘We asked her to stay in her room.'

‘Move out of my way.' Shareef half-laughed out his demand, not gauging the seriousness around him.

Showing her impatience and annoyance, Huda sprang to her feet. ‘Your wife has been telling women in the neighborhood Omar and Nadia are involved.'

Shareef turned to face her. ‘Involved in what?'

‘Sameera spread rumors they were together.' Huda took a step closer. ‘That they were alone the night Fatimah went into labor. You took the little girls with you to your in-laws that night, remember?'

Shareef's gaze shifted to Omar. ‘I don't understand.'

Omar unfolded his arms and stepped in front of Nadia, attempting to block Shareef's view of her. ‘Sameera is telling people Nadia and I shared a bed that night.'

Nadia jumped to her feet and screamed, ‘She said what?'

Huda pushed her sister back onto the bed. ‘This is not the time to get hysterical.'

Mama Subhia came into the room. Ignoring her son, she went straight to Nadia and took her in her arms.

Omar wished he could turn around to calm Nadia, but he didn't dare take his eyes off Shareef, who shortened the distance between them.
His nostrils dilated, he brought his face close to Omar and arched his eyebrows. ‘Who is the lowly beast now?'

Waleed swung Shareef around. ‘Don't be a fool. You know it isn't true.'

‘We will see about that.' Shareef shrugged his arm free. He yelled his wife's name at the top of his lungs.

Sameera sauntered in, her back straight, a smirk on her face.

Shareef grabbed her hand and jerked her forward. ‘Did you see them together?'

‘They were too careful.'

‘Liar,' Nadia screamed, her voice cracking with her sobs.

Emboldened by her husband's obvious suspicion, Sameera raised her voice. ‘Proof can be attained.' A sinister look hovered in her eyes. ‘A simple examination. Isn't that part of Huda's job?'

Huda stumbled next to Omar. She ran her eyes over Sameera from head to toe with disgust. ‘How low will you sink?'

Omar's arms shook, a true beast inside him about to break free from his crumbling control. Sweat broke on his forehead. He roared at Shareef, ‘Take your wife out of here before she gets hurt!'

Instead of ushering Sameera out, Shareef left the room. She yelled after him, her eyes widened with panic, her voice piercing.

Waleed put himself between Sameera and Omar. ‘Calm yourself. Step back.'

Omar turned his head to the side, clenching his jaw tight. He meant to get the bitch out of the room before Huda attacked her again. Did Waleed think he would raise a hand to the woman? Did none of the men in this family have a favorable opinion of him?

Shareef returned with a bundle in his hand. He placed it on the wide windowsill and unwrapped a green velvet cloth to reveal a copy of the Qur'an. He looked Omar in the eye. ‘Swear on the Qur'an you didn't touch my sister.'

Sameera stepped forward. ‘He will lie.'

‘Shut up,' Shareef spit. He pointed at Omar. ‘I know you don't take this oath lightly. If you are innocent, swear to it.'

Mama Subhia went around everyone to face her son. ‘Why are you doing this?'

‘You will soon know what kind of man your precious orphan turned out to be.'

‘How could you think that of your sister?'

‘Contrary to what you believe, Mother, no one is perfect.' Shareef pointed with his chin in Nadia's direction. ‘Not even her.'

Determined to keep Shareef's fury focused on him instead of the women, Omar stepped between mother and son. ‘Call the neighbors to stand witness.' His voice sounded strange to his own ears. Did wrath change a man's anatomy? Rearrange his vocal cords?

‘Don't do this for my benefit, Omar.' Mama Subhia placed her hand on his shoulder. ‘I accept your word.'

Shareef thumbed his chest. ‘His word is worthless to
me
. Waleed is an acceptable witness.'

‘You're crossing a dangerous line,' Waleed threatened. ‘I vouch for Omar's word without the oath.'

‘Let's get this over with.' Omar moved toward the windowsill where the Qur'an lay, but Waleed stayed him with his hand. ‘Can you pray?'

He frowned, confused by his question.

Waleed brought his face closer and whispered, ‘Are you pure?'

Omar nodded, fearing his face might flush from Waleed's embarrassing check. Why did he have to ask? Upright men bathed to purify their bodies before dawn prayer every day. He was no different. ‘Of course.' He clenched his teeth, absorbing another blow to his decency.

‘Go do your ablutions like you're getting ready for prayer anyway.' Waleed nudged him aside. ‘You are going to have to lay your right hand on the holy book for this oath.'

Eager to get the matter settled, Omar went into the bathroom. Going through the repetitive motions of washing his face, arms and feet calmed
him. Years of performing the purification steps five times a day in preparation for his prayers should have rendered the process ordinary, almost mechanical. But the weight of the task he was about to undertake made him cherish every drop of water touching his skin, cleansing his soul from within, leaving him serene and accepting. He understood Waleed's diligence and appreciated the opportunity he had given him to settle his nerves. The heavy act of swearing on the Qur'an indicated his word alone was not enough. Sameera had first attacked his honor, and now Shareef had cut deep into his worth as a man. None of it mattered. Nadia's wellbeing mattered the most. He would undergo anything for her sake.

Rolling down his shirtsleeves, Omar returned to the room and found everyone standing in a half-circle around a small table, facing him. The Qur'an, nestled in its velvety sleeve, rested at the center of the table. Nadia stood as far away from Shareef as possible. Omar connected eyes with her, and he tried to give a reassuring nod. The agonized expression on her face struck him harder than he expected, and his fury flared to consume his acquired serenity. He flexed his right hand, making sure his boiling anger didn't cause it to tremble. Shareef might take the shaking as a sign of shame or reluctance. He lifted his hand to his chest. ‘I am ready.'

Shareef shifted in his spot. ‘Do it.' The challenge in his tone lacked an edge, as if unsure how to proceed.

Omar placed his right palm flat on the Qur'an and steadied his gaze on Shareef. ‘I swear by the All Mighty God, I am innocent of what you are accusing me.'

Sameera stuck her lips to Shareef's ear and whispered something.

Shareef shoved his hands in his pants pockets. ‘State the accusation.'

Omar inhaled deeply, managing to stay collected. ‘I swear I did not take advantage of your sister.'

Shareef bowed his head, breaking eye contact. ‘Did you dishonor her?'

‘That is enough, man,' Waleed intervened. ‘You got your oath.'

Moving fast, Omar took hold of the Qur'an in both hands and hugged it to his chest. ‘As God is my witness, I never touched Nadia in any way that wasn't appropriate.' He prayed Shareef wouldn't ask him to swear testimony about his recent nightly thoughts of Nadia. He lifted the holy book to his lips, kissed it and touched it to his forehead; he then repeated the act twice before placing it back on the table. Squaring his shoulders, he looked Shareef in the eye. ‘Are you satisfied?'

Shareef swallowed a couple of times, his Adam's apple bobbing with clarity, exposing his nervousness.

Nadia broke out of her spot and approached her brother. ‘Look at me.'

As soon as Shareef looked at her, she spit in his face. He reared in surprise and raised a hand, about to strike. Omar grabbed his arm mid-air and shoved him backward until he slammed against the wall.

‘Take your wife and leave this house,' Mama Subhia said in a cold voice from behind Omar. He unintentionally relaxed his grip, unable to maintain a good hold, surprised by Mama Subhia's sharp tongue.

Shareef broke free and faced his mother. ‘You're kicking us out?'

‘I don't want to see her face here again.'

‘This is my home.'

‘You are going to have to make another home for yourself.' Mama Subhia's tone matched the hardened look in her eyes.

‘You know I can't afford to rent my own place. I'm graduating at the end of the month. How am I to find a job if I don't have a place to stay?'

‘You should have thought about that before you chose to accept your wife's lies and humiliate your sister.'

Omar ran a hand through his hair. ‘If anyone should leave this house, it should be me.'

‘That would confirm the nasty rumors.' Mama Subhia shook her head. ‘You must stay.'

Shareef pointed at Omar. ‘So you choose him over me?'

‘I choose to protect my daughter. Something you failed to do as her brother.'

Noticing Nadia and Huda had fallen silent, Omar wondered if they agreed with their mother's decision. Flanked by her daughters, fierceness mixed with worry on Mama Subhia's face, a lioness standing guard over her weaklings. From where did she get this sudden harshness? Omar tried to soothe her. ‘We can fix this. You don't have to take it that far.'

Mama Subhia took a deep breath. ‘Sameera must leave this house.'

‘Go pack your clothes,' Shareef barked at his wife.

‘Where will I go?'

‘To the sewage hole you crawled out of.' Huda spat out the words with enough force that they bounced off the walls and echoed around.

‘Go.' Shareef pushed Sameera ahead of him. ‘I'll take you to your family.' He turned on his heels. ‘But know this, Mother. I will not come back.'

‘That would be your choice, son.'

Storming out of the room, he shouted over his shoulder, ‘You will never see me again.'

Waleed grabbed his arm in the hallway. ‘Go to my place. Fatimah will welcome you until things calm down here. Your mother is too upset right now. Give her a couple of days.'

‘I don't need your charity.' Shareef pushed Waleed out of his way. ‘I'm done with this family.'

‘Don't be crazy.' Waleed tried to follow him. ‘You can't cut ties with your mother.'

‘Let him go,' Mama Subhia commanded before she collapsed on the bed. ‘I will not have him spend one more minute with us after he degraded his sister. Nothing will stop him from doing the same thing again. I have Salma and Farah to think about.'

The front door slammed behind Shareef and Sameera. Mama Subhia's chest heaved for breath. Huda rubbed her hands. Nadia ran out and came back with a bottle of cologne, sprayed her hands and wiped her
mother's face. Omar opened the windows, letting fresh air circulate through the room.

Mama Subhia waved off her daughters' hands. ‘We need to move fast to kill the rumor. Something to circulate among the women and take their minds off that nonsense.'

‘People will talk about you kicking out your son.' Omar released a heavy sigh. ‘Because of me.'

‘Shareef chose his path and I don't want to hear another word about that.' Using Huda's hands for support, Mama Subhia pushed herself off the bed. ‘I had to do it. People will know we don't tolerate Sameera's vicious lies. Now, think of a solution, please.'

‘Get them married,' Waleed said from the doorway.

‘Who?' Omar swallowed, unsure he understood Waleed's suggestion.

‘You and Nadia. You know, sign a marriage contract. Let people know you are legally married under the eyes of God. It will silence everyone once and for all.'

Omar's eyes darted to Nadia. She sat motionless, her face to the floor. He wished she would glance his way, give him a clue to her thoughts. But she didn't lift her head, and he didn't know how to respond, his heart caught in his throat.

‘That wouldn't work.' Huda stepped in front of him. ‘It would give credit to the possibility that something did happen between them.' She focused her gaze on him. ‘Women will have a great time speculating about your relationship with Nadia all those years. It will feed the fire.'

He tried to keep his face as expressionless as possible. Why did Huda say that? What sort of reaction did she expect from him? Did she know? A tough spinster who never showed interest in men herself, how could she figure out his obsession with Nadia? Had he been that obvious?

‘Huda has a point. That wouldn't work.' Mama Subhia brought her hands together and laced her fingers under her chin. ‘The women must be fed something more appealing to wipe out all doubt.'

‘Nothing more appealing than gossiping about whose daughter is getting married next, and to whom.' Huda shrugged. ‘That's all I hear about from the women I visit.'

‘A powerful name.' Waleed stepped forward. ‘We need a solid family name to throw its weight behind Nadia. Spread the word she is being pursued by a respectable, well-known family.'

Omar turned toward the window, hiding his face from Huda's piercing gaze. Goddamn Marwan Barady. His reputable family name would be the perfect silencer. And Marwan needed but a signal from him. If he had a tiny hope of Nadia refusing Marwan before today, that hope shattered to a million pieces. For the sake of her reputation, she would accept Marwan. And he would have to watch it happen.

 

28

Positioning himself by the window, Omar leaned his backside on the windowsill and watched in silence as the others discussed Nadia's fate. She sat stone-like on his bed. Names were thrown around, of eligible men from the neighborhood or among Waleed's acquaintances, and ways to approach them. A couple of the suggested names caused him to cringe, since he knew a thing or two about the kind of men they were. He waited, unable to bring himself to utter Marwan's name before he had a chance to talk to Nadia in private. At least, that was the excuse he internally used to keep quiet. He feared if he opened his mouth, he would scream his lungs out for the way he felt. He waited for her to lift her head, to object or nod, to say anything. But Nadia remained distant and mute.