"You have to tell me everything! What did he say?"asked Nura, as she took off her veil, and tossed it to Abbas, who looked around with intense dislike, sat next to Ruwa.
"His name is Cassim."she told him.
"That's a nice name, I guess, but tell me what did he say?"
"A lot of very romantic things. He said…he said I was the most precious jewel he would ever find. And mind you, he saw me next to the jewelry!"
"You've just caught a very exceptional man from what you're telling me."sighed Nura. "Why couldn't he have noticed me, instead? Before I was married?"
Lady! thought Abbas. He knew his lady was one of unusual tastes, but she had never before made such a comment. However, he was only her servant. Hers and the master's.
"I make a good wife. Don't you think, Abbas?"she turned.
"Yes, lady."
"You see, even the eunuch thinks so."she giggled. "Anyway, I can't stay very long. I have to go to the slave market, because from what Abbas has told me, we need kitchen help. Hopefully we find a girl at a bargain."
"You know, Nura. He is the man I shall love for the rest of my life. My one true love."
Nura sighed.
"Those are just the fantasies of little girls."
"I'm not a little girl. And it's not a fantasy, either. My heart tells me I am right."
"Well, let's hope you are interpreting the message correctly, or that your heart is telling you the right things."
"Why must you doubt it?"asked Ruwa.
"Simply because…I guess there is no…logic in it. You've only seen him once or twice."
"Once was more than enough."
"Like I said, I hope you are right."
Nura put her veil on, and walked out with an eager Abbas behind her.
"You've seen him before, Abbas. What impression did you get?"
That the boy is nothing more than some worthless streetrat, he thought with distaste. Out loud he said, "That he and my lady's friend would make a rather agreeable couple."
Ruwa watched Nura climb into her carriage, while Abbas held the door for her, and helped her in, before climbing up front with the coachman, himself, and they disappeared in the direction of the marketplace. She had never felt much happier in her life. She had indeed found her one true love. She looked at the shadows, and knew that it was more than time to start dinner. Ever since her mother had died, not long ago, she had to help her father, and take care of her younger brother and sister. Of course, her sister was more than capable of taking care of herself, and their brother, but as she was the oldest, she had most of the responsibility. Her father made only just about enough money to live on. Ruwa knew that he only approved of her friendship with Nura in the hope that she might catch the eye of any of the men with whom Nura's husband associated. Nura had always said if she did, it would mean the end of her life, as they were nothing more than a bunch of idiots who cared for nothing but money and a pretty face. This brought another thought to her mind. Her father surely would never approve of her marrying or even seeing him, as he was not rich.
"What are we going to eat today, Ruwa?"asked her younger brother.
"I guess the same as yesterday. There is just nothing else. However, Nura did bring us some fruit. We can have that, too."
"Will she bring us more?"he asked eagerly.
"She only did it out of the kindness of her heart, and you must not ask her for anything!"exclaimed Ruwa. "That would just not be…right."she said.
"I want a veil just like hers. And a necklace."said her sister.
"No. You cannot have a veil or a necklace. We just can't afford them."
"Nura can."argued her brother.
"Nura is different."Ruwa explained.
"Yes, she looks so much nicer."
Ruwa sighed. How to explain such a thing to them. They were only children.
"Nura, you don't suppose Father would ever let me marry Cassim?"she asked the next day.
"Don't tell me he wants you to marry him already? My, certainly very impulsive!"
"I was only wondering. You know Father says that the only way I could ever live like a proper lady, and not as some poor girl would be to marry a man who has money."
"Money isn't everything."said Nura. "Just look at me. I have it all, yet…"
"I know, but…you know how things are. After Mother died, giving birth to Murad, well…"
"I know, I know. Perhaps…"Nura shrugged.
"I shall see him again tonight. In the same place, at the same time."
"You are going mad! Besides, we don't know if your father would approve of him or not. Who knows, maybe seeing him, seeing how happy you are, perhaps then he would approve."
Ruwa smiled.
"You are right. Father is not a bad man. He's said he simply wants me to be happy. He just thinks that happiness is money."
"You can probably show him it isn't. Good luck."
That evening, Ruwa asked Cassim if he would go see her father.
"I just know he will come to love you. He would ruin my life if he said no."she said.
"It would mean the end of mine. But what do I have to offer you?"
"Your love."she told him. "Promise me you will speak to him? As soon as possible?"
Cassim nodded.
"As soon as possible. Tomorrow."
The next day seemed to take forever, it seemed to Ruwa. She prayed that her father would immediately say yes, and that there would be no delay. That he would give his permission for her to see Cassim, and marry him. He would say yes, she knew it. However, it seemed that her prayers were in vain. Her father didn't approve of Cassim at all.
"But, Father, you are sentencing me to be unhappy for the rest of my days."she exclaimed in tears.
"No, you would only be unhappy if you married this man. You know just how hard it is to live like this. Not knowing where our next meal is coming from! That is just not what I wish for you!"
"And what do you wish for me?"
She did not wait for an answer, but fled, even though he had not dismissed her.