The Haj - Leon Uris [265]
‘How was your journey?’
‘The ride does not change between the bus station in Amman and the bus station in Jericho.’
‘I would have sent Ishmael to escort you, but he is racing the weather at Mount Nebo. I know it is not proper to allow you to travel alone, but as long as it is a direct route I felt it was all right this one time. It will not happen again.’
‘There is no need to worry, Father.’
‘Ah, but no woman in my family travels alone.’
‘Of course, Father.’
‘And how is the honorable Hamdi Othman?’
Nada merely nodded.
‘And your position?’
She nodded again.
He was becoming annoyed by her closed behavior.
Her eyes bore down on him in such a manner that he began to feel slightly ill at ease. Ibrahim had occasionally seen a woman act out a protest. It is time that Nada did so. She thinks she is worldly. Well, I will put that in order. Ask her for that stroll? No, not in her sour mood. I shall be patient, he thought.
‘You must have a great many tales to tell,’ he said.
‘There is nothing all that exciting about taking care of three small children. Fatima can vouch for that.’
Fatima giggled at the recognition.
‘Surely it must be exciting to be in such a grand villa with all those important officials coming and going.’
‘I am scarcely part of that, Father. I only go into the living areas on occasion, generally to show the children before their bedtime.’
‘Madame Othman is kind to you?’
‘As kind as she can be under the circumstances.’
‘What circumstances, Nada?’
‘I am a servant. They have many servants.’
‘But you are special.’
‘I don’t feel very special.’
‘Certainly you are. You are the daughter of Haj Ibrahim al Soukori al Wahhabi!’ Ibrahim scratched the back of his hand uncomfortably under her continued hard stare. ‘We must have a talk together during the visit. Yes?’
‘As you wish, Father.’
He flushed a bit at her cold terseness. It was what he was beginning to suspect. Being in a villa like that in a city, she was mingling with girls who did not respect tradition. It might have been a mistake to send her there in the first place. Well, a little rebellion. He certainly did not want to make a fight but he was not going to let her get away with treating him this way.
‘I have a surprise for you, Nada. Since your last visit I have suddenly become aware that you have flown past the usual age when I should have found you a husband. Because of the cruel circumstances of our life here, I was determined not to be too hasty in this matter. Our fortunes have changed for the better. Omar will soon be going to Kuwait, where he will have a job as a clerk in a fine hotel. Ishmael has had good earnings with Dr. Mudhil, and I have reached a position of comfort. It is time to reconsider the matter of your marriage. I have been approached by a number of fathers desirous of entering into an arrangement. I wanted to make certain you have as fine a husband as your sisters have. Seeing how you have matured, your value as a wife has increased greatly. I have waited until offers of substance were made. We need wait no longer.’
The women opened their arms in joy and emitted long ‘ahs.’
‘I am not in a hurry. I am very happy in Amman.’
Aha, Ibrahim thought, now my dear daughter does not act so arrogantly! She knows who her father is again. Of course I am not going to marry her off so soon, but I shall play a bit. I shall keep her guessing ... in her place.
‘We will speak of your marriage possibilities at length while you are here,’ Ibrahim pressed. ‘Since you are my last daughter, I am even going to allow you to be part of the decision ... but depend on me to select exactly the right man. I am very good at that.’
Nada arose from the stool and walked toward him. ‘I will not marry until I am ready,’ she said, firmly speaking the first words of defiance to him in her life. The women shrank back.
Ibrahim’s eyes narrowed. ‘It is as I suspected. I believe you are cavorting with indecent girls who do not have the proper respect for their fathers.