Caito - Joys and Tears. A novel, chapter 9.

Nashaat knew from his servant that Farida wanted to see him urgently. He phoned his sister but she did not tell him anything. She said that she wanted him for something important and that they should discuss the subject. She was calm and even she laughed while they were talking. When he proposed that he would come to her home soon, she asked him to have his siesta then he would come to her home fresh. She asked him to cancel any appointment that evening. He objected to that because he was nominated for the next parliamentary elections and he would pass at Hassan Al Sheikh to plan for the campaign. She insisted. As usual, he succumbed to her will. He phoned Serag and excused that he had a diarrhea.

Serag was in his office. He laughed after he returned the mouthpiece. He called one of his aids.

´Keep an eye on Nashaat as usual even after the elections. He will be our man in the parliament. Record his phone calls. Call me at night. Remind me to congratulate him for his engagement to Colonel Soliman´s sister. Don´t tell Hassan anything. Just say to him that his appointment with Nashaat today is cancelled. Don´t tell him why. Remind me to reprimand Nashaat for his lies. When he goes to his sister, he should tell me that frankly. Understand,´ he said to his aid.

´Yes Sir, but should not we be sure that he agreed to his sister´s suggestion and that he would marry Samiah before you congratulate him.´ the officer said.

´This isn´t your business. You know that we make surveillances on many persons. Nashaat´s voice is high enough to be heard by neighbors and porters. Colonel Aziz is under surveillance. He was one of the Royal Guards who did not support the revolution except when the King agreed to leave. He sided with Nagib first time. I know what happens in his bedroom,´ Serag laughed.

Nashaat went to Farida to find Roh there. Abd Al-Aziz was also present. He did not notice anything abnormal. He wondered why Farida wanted him urgently.

´Is there anything wrong?´ Nashaat asked.

´What do you think about Samiah?´ Roh asked.

´She is very intelligent. She understands what I say during accounting lessons without much effort. I think she will pass with high marks,´ he said. He looked at Farida. He did not see any clues in her indifferent smiling face. He stared at Roh and asked devilishly, ´is this the urgent subject? You want to ask about Samiah´s achievement in her lessons.´

´I think you know what is in my mind,´ Roh said.

´I got it,´ he said.

´What is your opinion?´ Roh asked.

´She´s very kind and pretty,´ Farida said.

´There´s a big problem,´ Nashaat said.

´I don´t think there is any problem,´ Roh said.

´My father is the problem. You forgot that he would not come with me to propose. I don´t think Soliman may accept a man for his sister who comes to him without his father,´ Nashaat said.

´Oh my God. We forgot that. Let´s try to mediate between you and father. And don´t forget that if you won in the elections, father would be proud of you,´ Farida said.

´And if I don´t win,´ Nashaat said.

´You will win,´ Roh said confidently.

´Why do say that?´ Nashaat asked Roh.

´Let´s solve the problem of Refaat Pasha. I could sort it out if he refused to come with you,´ Roh said.

´Did you tell Soliman?´ Nashaat asked.

´I´ll tell him today that Farida talked to me about the subject. I´ll tell you tomorrow. To cut short, Soliman will accept you whether uncle Refaat comes with you or not. This does not mean that his presence is not important. But I have my ways to convince Soliman. I see Samiah and you are good persons. Agreed?´ Roh said and stared at Nashaat.

´Before I agree I want to know whom idea was it? Farida´s or yours?´ he smiled at Roh.

´Am I a family member or not?´ Roh smiled softly at Nashaat.

´Of course you are,´ Nashaat and Farida said simultaneously.

´Then it is my duty to plan for two dear good person,´ Roh said.

When Roh was beside Nashaat in the car, he drove while he was smiling. Roh was smiling also. When they reached the building, Roh kissed him on his cheek.

´Thank you,´ she said.

´For what?´

´For not letting me down,´ she said.

´I should be the thankful,´ he said.

´Why?´ she asked.

´You said that I´m a good person,´ he said.

´You´re Nashaat. But take care. She is an orphan. I´ll take the role of the mother in law,´ she said.

´It is a marriage not a game,´ he said.

´Life is a game,´ she said.

´It is a risky game,´ he said.

´This is my favorite one,´ she said and left.

When he was driving to his home, he thought about what if he obeyed his father and married Roh.

In her bedroom Roh was happy because Nashaat would marry a woman that she chose for him and most important that he was not in love with this woman.

Refaat Pasha refused Abd Al-Aziz´ mediation and refused to talk to Nashaat or to go with him to meet Soliman. Yet Roh convinced her husband to accept the proposal of Nashaat to marry his sister and in fact, Soliman was sympathizing with Nashaat in his familial conflict after he knew that Nashaat defended him the day Nashaat´s mother died. Moreover, Refaat Pasha did not come to Cairo for condolences service when Soliman´s father died. Shortly Samiah was engaged to Nashaat. Roh and Farida were busy in buying the furniture for the new bride. Shortly after engagement, Nashaat won elections and became a member of parliament, thanks to Hassan Al-Sheikh campaign and to Serag´s tricks.

When Gamal Abd-El-Nasser nationalized the Suez Canal, people received his decision with enthusiasm and support. Yet after three months, the tripartite attack on Egypt by Israel, France and Britain took place. He was forced to withdraw troops from Sinai. Shortly the international community led by the US that wanted to replace the British in the east and by Russia that wanted to prove itself as a global force took actions and the foreign troops withdrew. Abd Al-Aziz shred in the war and he was astonished that withdrawal decision reached before his brigade had the chance to fight the Israelis. He returned enraged.

´Soliman, they should have given us the chance to fight,´ Abd Al-Aziz said while they were sitting in Groppi.

´I think the commandship had other calculations. They had to defend Port Saied. Anyhow the aggressors withdrew and their conspiracy failed,´ Soliman said.

´The army needs a professional leader. Amer is too young to lead the army,´ Aziz said.

´He is the most faithful to Nasser. The army has to be controlled.´ Soliman said.

While they were chatting about the war, Farida´s servant came. Something serious that brought her to see Aziz. Both Soliman and Aziz asked her.

´Madam Farida received a phone call telling her that Refaat Pasha died. She is in a miserable condition and asked me to come here to tell you,´ she said.

´Did she call Nashaat?´ Aziz asked.

´Mr. Nashaat is not in his home as the his servant told the madam that he left early to meet some of members of the parliament before coming at us,´ the servant said.

Roh was ready to go to Farida after Farida told her the news. She was waiting for Samiah who was in her bedroom looking at the mirror. Roh entered the bedroom when Samiah was vaporizing perfume at her black dress.

´I think it is not proper that you go to the countryside with this blouse that exposes much. There, they are too conservative,´ Roh said aggressively.

´I haven´t another black blouse,´ Samiah said.

´If Soliman saw this blouse you wouldn´t wear it again,´ Roh said.

´But he saw it the day father died,´ Samiah said.

´But it is not suitable for countryside. You may take one of my blouses,´ Roh ordered.

´But you wear a blouse that exposes also,´ Samiah said.

´I´m a married woman. You are a girl. Anyhow, Nashaat will not be in a mode that he might notice what you wear. But others will notice,´ Roh finished her words and went to her bedroom and returned with a black blouse.

Samiah wore the blouse that Roh brought.