she suffered a brain hemorrhage that rendered her unconscious for three days. On the fourth day, in Radia’s arms, she passed away.
Zayna Surur Aziz
She was the youngest daughter of Surur Effendi and the fourth of his children. She was known for her wide green eyes and a body that was quick to ripen and looked more like an adult’s than a young virgin’s. She was confined to the house at an early age, after she had learned to read and write at Qur’an school, and progressed to adolescence waiting for a suitable man. Gamila departed for her marital home and Zayna was left behind waiting with Bahiga. Her youth unfolded onto her family as it was assailed by alienation and tension in an atmosphere of darkness and air raids. She noticed early on the romanticmaneuvers between Bahiga and Qasim and knew with her sharp instincts that their similar ages made them unsuitable marriage candidates, that the young man should rather be looking at her. Sitt Zaynab tirelessly took Zayna and Bahiga on visits to the family houses. Countless eyes devoured her, yet it seemed no one considered either of them for marriage. The family easily deserved what the father repelled from it, and better. Illness overtook Qasim and he took shelter in his new world. Her sister Bahiga met the blow with silence, patience, and acceptance. Her father died, then her mother, and she was left alone with her sister, visited in passing by their brother Labib when his work outside Cairo allowed. “God does not forget any of his servants. Whoever trusts in God is not sorry,” Radia told them.
One day, sitting with the two of them in his gallabiya, Labib said, “Someone has come and asked me for your hand, Zayna.”
Her heart fluttered. She looked at her sister guiltily.
“Everyone gets their share at the appointed time,” said Labib.
“You’re absolutely right, Labib,” said Bahiga. “Congratulations,” she said to her sister, despite the despair engulfing her.
“For my part, I wouldn’t miss an opportunity,” said the man.
A heavy silence reigned. Then Labib, who was capable of confronting the most uncomfortable situations, said, “His name is Sabri al-Muqallad. He works in a chemical company.”
“A company!” Zayna muttered dubiously.
“It’s better than the civil service. The world is changing.” Shaking his big head, he continued, “I’ve heard he is a heavy drinker and he admitted as much. But he has earnestly assured me that he has repented and is fit for marriage. What do you think?”
“It’s your decision,” she said submissively.
“There is no use for such talk today. You will see him for yourself.”
Sabri al-Muqallad came and Labib received him in the oldreception room. Zayna made herself up and put on the finest clothes she owned and went in to meet her destiny. She could not examine his face closely but a glance was enough to glean a picture of him. He was very thin and had a gigantic nose, a big mouth, and a long face. When he left Labib said, “The man’s ugliness doesn’t mean he is no good. He has a good salary … a good family.… You have the final word.” She knew she wanted a husband at any price; she could not stand her gloomy existence any longer. Let God take care of Bahiga. She was wedded to him in a house his mother owned in Bayn al-Ganayin.
She seemed happy with her marriage and gave birth to Khalil and Amira. Amira perished in infancy, leaving a deep wound in the heart of the youthful mother. Sabri was twenty years older than her but she enjoyed a pleasant life in his care, strutting about in the finest clothes and dining on the most appetizing food, until she became excessively fat and started to resemble Egypt’s first chanteuses. Her son Khalil’s marriage to a widow the same age as her shocked her, but she quickly got over her distress without any real crisis. The only blight on her happiness was the period she was separated from the rest of her family, when the traditional constant
Zayna Surur Aziz
She was the youngest daughter of Surur Effendi and the fourth of his children. She was known for her wide green eyes and a body that was quick to ripen and looked more like an adult’s than a young virgin’s. She was confined to the house at an early age, after she had learned to read and write at Qur’an school, and progressed to adolescence waiting for a suitable man. Gamila departed for her marital home and Zayna was left behind waiting with Bahiga. Her youth unfolded onto her family as it was assailed by alienation and tension in an atmosphere of darkness and air raids. She noticed early on the romanticmaneuvers between Bahiga and Qasim and knew with her sharp instincts that their similar ages made them unsuitable marriage candidates, that the young man should rather be looking at her. Sitt Zaynab tirelessly took Zayna and Bahiga on visits to the family houses. Countless eyes devoured her, yet it seemed no one considered either of them for marriage. The family easily deserved what the father repelled from it, and better. Illness overtook Qasim and he took shelter in his new world. Her sister Bahiga met the blow with silence, patience, and acceptance. Her father died, then her mother, and she was left alone with her sister, visited in passing by their brother Labib when his work outside Cairo allowed. “God does not forget any of his servants. Whoever trusts in God is not sorry,” Radia told them.
One day, sitting with the two of them in his gallabiya, Labib said, “Someone has come and asked me for your hand, Zayna.”
Her heart fluttered. She looked at her sister guiltily.
“Everyone gets their share at the appointed time,” said Labib.
“You’re absolutely right, Labib,” said Bahiga. “Congratulations,” she said to her sister, despite the despair engulfing her.
“For my part, I wouldn’t miss an opportunity,” said the man.
A heavy silence reigned. Then Labib, who was capable of confronting the most uncomfortable situations, said, “His name is Sabri al-Muqallad. He works in a chemical company.”
“A company!” Zayna muttered dubiously.
“It’s better than the civil service. The world is changing.” Shaking his big head, he continued, “I’ve heard he is a heavy drinker and he admitted as much. But he has earnestly assured me that he has repented and is fit for marriage. What do you think?”
“It’s your decision,” she said submissively.
“There is no use for such talk today. You will see him for yourself.”
Sabri al-Muqallad came and Labib received him in the oldreception room. Zayna made herself up and put on the finest clothes she owned and went in to meet her destiny. She could not examine his face closely but a glance was enough to glean a picture of him. He was very thin and had a gigantic nose, a big mouth, and a long face. When he left Labib said, “The man’s ugliness doesn’t mean he is no good. He has a good salary … a good family.… You have the final word.” She knew she wanted a husband at any price; she could not stand her gloomy existence any longer. Let God take care of Bahiga. She was wedded to him in a house his mother owned in Bayn al-Ganayin.
She seemed happy with her marriage and gave birth to Khalil and Amira. Amira perished in infancy, leaving a deep wound in the heart of the youthful mother. Sabri was twenty years older than her but she enjoyed a pleasant life in his care, strutting about in the finest clothes and dining on the most appetizing food, until she became excessively fat and started to resemble Egypt’s first chanteuses. Her son Khalil’s marriage to a widow the same age as her shocked her, but she quickly got over her distress without any real crisis. The only blight on her happiness was the period she was separated from the rest of her family, when the traditional constant
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