Cairo! Joys and Tears - Chapter 12

It was a hot summer day when Malak was sitting anxious listening to the Radio to know the results of the General Certificate of Education. Before she heard her name Nashaat phoned to tell her that she passed the exam with high degrees. He knew from Serag Zaki. Samiah and Fayza congratulated her. She phoned Farida who decided that she would make a party for her that night. They went to Farida to have lunch with her and her husband Abd El-Aziz. He was at his new office. Farida phoned him to tell him the news. He was depressed after the army transferred him to a civilian job because of his report about Syria. They gave him a job as a director in the Ministry of Culture. He was responsible for publishing a series of low priced books. In fact, he did not know about the job but gradually he learnt how to deal with problems of sensor and finishing books. He was forced to read books to reduce political sensor problems. He had orders to refer writers to the State Department if their opinions showed any opposition. During the year that he spent in the ministry he read many books. Several times he contacted writers and asked them to change a paragraph or a statement that might carry double meanings. This created problems between him and Serag Zaki who became a colonel in the State Department. Many times Abd Al-Aziz complained to Soliman about Serag but Soliman was convinced that Serag was doing his job honestly and that the revolution needed such men for protecting it against its enemies. However Soliman never asked Abd El-Aziz to change his method of telling writers to reedit their works instead of telling about them.

Roh phoned Soliman to tell him about the lunch at her brother´s family. She said that she would wait for him to go together. She asked him not to be busy at the evening and night because of the Malak´s party. Few minutes later she received a phone call from her husband telling her that he was forced to attend an urgent meeting. He asked her to have lunch with them and he would come at evening for the party. She went to her brother´s house to find that Nashaat apologized because he had a meeting in the National Union and he would come at the evening. While women were waiting for Abd El-Aziz, Malak, Fayza and Samiah went to buy pastries for the party. Roh and Farida chatted together.

´How´s Aziz?´ Roh asked Farida.

´Still sad; He does not find himself in his new job. They want him to tell about writers and he does not do that,´ Farida said.

´It is better for him if he resigned. We don´t need money and he has enough,´ Roh said.

´It is not that easy. They may consider that an uncooperative action. They may arrest him. Don´t forget his report. He was referred to a military trial. Soliman and some colleagues saved his neck,´ Farida said. She kept silent for a while then said, ´the good news is that he started writing after he read many books. He reads a book every three days. He writes a novel and a political book. The bad news is that he writes in the political book about his political expectations and predictions. I tried to tell him not to write in policy but he refused. Could you talk to him Roh,´ Farida said.

´Of course, it is good that Soliman would come at evening. I want to talk to Aziz about many things,´ she said and after starring at Farida´s eyes she added, ´I want a divorce.´

´Are you crazy?´ Farida said. ´It did not happen before in our family.´

´But it happens in other families everyday. Not every divorced woman is a slut,´ she said the bad word.

´How could you say this word?´ Farida smiled.

´And I´ll say more if it is necessary to convince Aziz and to let me get my divorce,´ Roh said.

´Why do you want to have a divorce?´ Farida said astonishingly.

´Because I love Nashaat,´ Roh said.

´Oh, my God,´ Farida said.

The doorbell rang and the three women entered carrying pastries for the party. Malak and Fayza carried the pastries to the kitchen while Samiah joined Roh and Farida. Farida was about to faint when she saw Samiah.

´How are you Farida? Are you ill? You are pale and putting your hand on your head,´ Samiah asked.

´I´m fine. I have headache. I´ll take Aspirin,´ Farida said and left the room.

After attending the meeting in the National Union Serag Zaki went to Nashaat.

´Congratulations for Miss Malak?´ Serag said.

´Thank you. And many thanks that you told me the results,´ Nashaat said.

´We´re a family,´ Serag said. ´I want to have a word with you.´

´Of course, let´s go to Hilton,´ Nashaat said. Hilton hotel was few meters away from the National Union headquarters.

´No, it is just something about Colonel Soliman, your brother in law,´ Serag said.

´I´m all ears,´ Nashaat said.

´The good news is that he will be appointed an Ambassador very soon and I want you to be the first to congratulate him. The bad news is that he will marry today. He decided to take a second wife to have children,´ Serag said and fixed his eyes on Nashaat´s face to see the impression.

´Oh, my God, his wife Roh will go crazy. I think she should not know,´ Nashaat said.

´This depends upon his decision. With whom will he prefer to take as the Ambassador´s wife?´ Serag said. ´Another thing, please Hassan will visit you tomorrow. I think you are kind enough to employ him again. In fact there are some troublemaker workers in your factory. It is our common interest to expose them.´

´Sure,´ Nashaat said.