Chapter 9

In the city of Cairo.

Huda was not as calm this time, her mood was bad and sharp, unlike her sober nature, and this was quite noticeable, so Hadi and Toka wanted to joke or provoke her as it seemed a very good opportunity that might not be available a second time, Toka said in an artificial anxiety:

- What's wrong with you, mom?! It seems that you are worried about some thing.

Huda felt she was thinking too much and her children noticed it, but tried to pretend that her children were wrong so said in surprise:

- What's wrong with me?! I'm cool.

Hadi joined the party with his sister Toka and said:

- I think our mom is worried about Omar being sitting with international girls.

Toka laughed and their mother, Huda, said in indifference:

- International or local girls!! I don't think about your brother, he is big enough to take care of himself.

Toka smiled and said rascally:

- Omar!! Our mom doesn't feel worried for Omar, Hadi. She is worried about our father, who is sitting now with his old princess, Aunt Amira. He must be enjoying his beautiful past.

Huda felt bad and looked to her daughter angrily then said:

- And how did you know it was beautiful, silly girl? Have you seen it?!

Toka continued joking with her mother and said:

- Daddy has told me alot about his past days, mom.

Hadi laughed and said quietly:

- That's right, mom. I remember now, my father once told me that he had a great past.

Huda's anger increased that her face got red like a pretty rose then said:

- Liars!! Your father never told me that he had happy past before me.

Toka laughed a lot so did Hadi that said:

- He can't speak of it, mom. Have you heard of a thief speaks about his robberies in front of a police officer?!

Toka laughed again at Hadi's joke and then said:

- What a comparative example, Hadi!! seems very close.

Huda was angered by Hadi's laughter and provocations and stood up and said nervously:

- Why are you sitting with me till now?! Get out of my room, go and study well for your exams.

- Okay, mom, but don't be upset.

- If I were you, Mom, I would take the first trip to Alexandria and catch them up instead of being staying here worried and upset.

- What are you saying, Girl? Your language became so underkind.

- No problem. Forget it, I was just advising you, mom.

Hadi joined it again and said cunningly:

- Would you like me to call Omar on the phone so that we check that everything is okay, mom?!

-No, thanks; Just leave me alone and thanks for your precious advice.

- Don't mention it, dear mom.

Hadi and Toka moved to their rooms after making some fun with their mother to continue studying and preparing for exams while Huda sat thinking about what she should do to expel the nervousness, tension, and anxiety she has been feeling since her husband told her that he wanted to marry someone else even if she claimed otherwise in front of Mahmoud, who almost went crazy from her excessive calm.

Huda felt some injustice and oppression that falls on her since Mahmoud told her about this matter, so despite the calm and tranquility that God alone inspired them, her reaction was brief, disproportionate to the volume of the disaster that had befallen the entire house, so she just looked at him and cried and would have wished that he hugs her and apologize for his words and retract this sudden decision, or she would have risen from her sleep upset, asking God for this nightmare to end, but it was not, it was real and wasn't a nightmare at all.

She remembered that day when he came to see her for engagement as it is accustomed in the cities and villages of Egypt, she did not know much about him then, although he lived on the same street where she lived with her family; Mahmoud told her that his mother Najat nominated her to him after asking a lot about her as everyone praised her manners and good upbringing. he asked her to meet together once with the knowledge of her parents before they got engaged so that each of them can recognize and knows more about the other. although his request was a little strange, she agreed and asked her parents' permission and met him in a public place.

Mahmoud told her about his previous experience in love and told her that it was almost over and that he was not promising her platonic love, but promising her that their relationship would be based on respect, good cohabitation, good manners and good company until Allah decreed their fate.Huda was still young, not more than twenty-two years old; she still remembers her fascination with his words, style and confidence, she felt from him that he wanted her as a wife without being strongly attached to her, and that was logical for her; their relationship is still at the beginning of its formation.

When he came to get engaged to her at her parents' house and after all the formal matters necessary for engagement had been agreed between the two families, he sat down and asked her one question that she still remembers and remembers all the details of it until now" Is it better for a man to live with a wife who loves him or a wife he loves?Does a woman live happily with a husband who loves her or a husband she loves?" It was a logical existential philosophical question that she did not expect at this blessed moment, Huda looked at him with a cold faint smile as if asking him if he thought that this was the right time for such questions, but she soon got the answer and decided to answer him that question that preoccupies him and it must occupy all the young people of their generation, She smiled at him and said she preferred to marry a good man with good behavior and manners, a man who is kind and friendly with her, then Mahmoud asked her" Then what about love?!" She answered him firmly and quietly "Love would definitely come then".

Mahmoud told her not long after the marriage that he had fallen in love with her spontaneously since she answered his question in this way, and he told her that he felt that he had been in love with a woman for a thousand years.Huda smiled when she remembered his words " I have loved a woman for thousand years".

Huda has no doubt that her husband is going through a crisis that she does not understand the reason for, she is absolutely sure that her husband loves her, he did not fall short a day towards her or his home, and she also loved him sincerely and worked hard to make him happy and make his children happy too. As for this is happening these days, she considered it is a depression and exception, like a rainy night in a hot summer.