North of Dawn by Nuruddin Farah

Author:Nuruddin Farah
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 2018-12-03T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Gacalo took ill the following day.

Timiro telephones her dad to ask after his and her mum’s health, and to let them know that she is in London. He asks, “What urgent business takes you there?”

She says, “I’m just here for twenty-four hours to finalize the divorce.”

“And how is that coming along?”

“Thanks to Eugenia,” Timiro replies, “I’ve got an appointment with an attorney first thing tomorrow, and plan to fly back to Geneva late in the afternoon after the consultation.”

“And how are Kaluun and Eugenia?”

“They send their love.”

“And how is Mum doing?”

“Back to her usual self, full of gumption.”

“Can I talk to her please?”

“She’s gone to see her doctor for tests and such. But I’ll let her know that you called and asked after her.”

“And how is that woman faring?”

He knows who “that woman” is and he tells her that lately there have been new and positive developments that involve Saafi.

“New developments? Let me hear them.”

He explains all the brouhaha involving Naciim, the flag-waving, and his mother and how Saafi entered the fray. He goes on, “Mum and I didn’t think that Saafi had it in her to stand up to Waliya. But when Waliya threatened that she would give Naciim the beating of his life if he defied her instructions one more time, Saafi not only defended Naciim with vigor, but also reminded them that it was not their place to speak of matters that are not of their concern. She added that Naciim had the right to have a bit of fun so long as his actions are inoffensive to the community and our faith.”

Timiro asks, “Your source for this?”

“Naciim is my primary source and when I met Saafi, she confirmed it.”

“Where are they, as we speak?”

“He’s at school,” replies Mugdi, “but she is home with me and has just given me verse and chapter of what happened. My feeling is she is here to stay.”

“She’ll no longer help at the nursery?”

“I doubt she will.”

“How is Waliya reacting to this?”

Mugdi says, “It’s is fair to assume that she’s understandably steamed up over what has occurred. And even though she views our stance as one of betrayal, she knows that we are much easier to deal with than the Child Welfare Services that would take them away and punish her. From what Naciim has told us, she is angry that we are allowing them to stay here, but she can’t or won’t say anything.”

“Please help me get this right. Are you saying that Saafi has braved her mother’s meanness and fought off the imam and his deputy all on her own, despite the obvious pressures?”

“She did,” replies Mugdi.

“I wish I were there to witness it.”

“We’re happy to have her here.”

“So you have both with you as you speak?”

“He is at school, she is home with me.”

“If she’s willing to be alone with you, can it mean that she is no longer afflicted with androphobia?”

“We’re in no position to draw this conclusion. We can only say that Mum has the situation well in hand, and she’s continued to take Saafi to Qumman, the therapist.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.