Return of the Spirit by unknow

Author:unknow
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 2019-07-08T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 18

Mabruk, the servant, finished tying the package and set it aside. He came over to ask what he should do next to prepare for Muhsin’s journey. Zanuba rose with enthusiasm and concern. It seemed she wanted to coddle Muhsin now that he was about to travel, so he would give a good report of her to his wealthy parents. She ordered Mabruk to go at once to the room on the roof to get Muhsin’s suitcase. She motioned to the youth to come show her what he was taking and what he was leaving in her care till he returned. So they began to sort his clothes and personal effects. From the top of the stairs, Mabruk shouted down to Zanuba. She hurried toward him, and he informed her that Saniya was on the roof of her house and wanted to speak with her. Zanuba went up, leaving Muhsin by himself. His heart pounded as he wondered what she wanted to say now. About a quarter of an hour passed before Zanuba returned to resume her work. Muhsin looked at her with inquisitive eyes, but she had hers on a jilbab she was folding to put in his case. She was saying, “Don’t forget the letters, Muhsin, and write to me too. Don’t just think of your uncles and not me, the way you did last year.”

Muhsin replied considerately, “Last year Uncle Hanafi wrote to me. I answered him and sent you my greetings. Shouldn’t I reply to the one who writes me?”

Zanuba said immediately, “Have pity on me—if only I knew how to read and write. Last year I said repeatedly to your uncles they should write a letter for me. One time they were too lazy. The next they said, ‘We’ve already sent our letter with more than enough news.’ That’s the way with letters. But this year, by the Prophet, you will receive a letter from me personally, because Saniya, may God’s name protect her, is going to write it for me.”

Muhsin became agitated and asked impetuously, “Saniya?”

She nodded her head yes and told him Saniya had called her just then to ask her to hurry and come over to their place as she had promised. She had apologized, saying she was busy getting Muhsin’s things ready. At this mention of Muhsin, Saniya had asked Zanuba delicately not to forget to send her greetings and those of her mother whenever she wrote him. So Zanuba had told her that she was upset because her brothers wouldn’t write a letter for her except under the most exhaustive pressure. Right away Saniya had proposed that she would write whatever Zanuba dictated. She was ready to write to Muhsin whatever Zanuba wanted: one letter, two, or three. So Zanuba had thanked her and was delighted. She praised God that He was going to spare her from depending on a person like Hanafi.

But Zanuba’s delight could not be compared with young Muhsin’s bliss. He was picturing himself receiving a letter written by Saniya’s hand.

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