Page 19 - Ext. Listening Reading_Neat

Rapid-fire questions narrowed down the we prepared the food and arranged the
field. Does she wear hijab? Does she house, we were happy but a little scared,
pray? Can she cook? Where did she go to too. So much was depending on this
school? No question was too minor and night.
many “candidates” were eliminated
because of seemingly trivial faults. This The afternoon passed and the Adhaan
one didn’t eat meat, that one listened to announced the arrival of the evening
pop music. Those who made it through prayer. My father and brother were
the initial phase were subjected to close already at the mosque around the corner,
physical scrutiny. Hair, nails, teeth and and we put the finishing touches on the
eyes were surreptitiously examined. dinner tables and took our turns making
the ritual ablution. My mother led the
Finally, after three months of calls, prayer for us. Afterwards, the house
meetings, and many fervent prayers, my phone rang and my mother calmly
mother met the family of one lady who reached for it. It was Papa and Bashir
really seemed to stand out from the returning from the mosque, and
crowd. She was a raven-haired beauty Bousaina’s family was just arriving as
with glowing golden skin, but the beauty well. It took two trips in the elevator to
was modestly hidden beneath a large bring everyone up, Bousaina, her parents,
khimar, which she wore comfortably and her two sisters and one brother as
instead of the more stylish, smaller hijab well.
favored by so many women. Her father
was a doctor from Port Said, but the Ours was a large, apartment with plenty
family had relocated to Cairo several years of room to separate men and
ago so his children could study at Al- women. After helping our cook serve the
Azhar University. She could recite men, we retired to the women’s parlor and
beautifully much of the Qur’an from relaxed our hijaab. Mama noted
memory. She cooked well and she seemed Bousaina’s hearty appetite with approval.
physically fit, womanly shaped. I had met I was comfortably full by the time Mama
her at their home when my brother went brought out the mangoes she had stored
to see her for the first time. She fussed under her bed for the last few days. We
over my son, which of course put me on had all known they were there. The
her side immediately. During the visit she fragrant perfume of the fruit had filled her
and Bashir were allowed to go for a walk room, a constant reminder of the test that
in the park around the corner. We all was now at hand.
trailed behind, trying to interpret
miniscule changes in body language as Bousaina was unaware of the
they walked along. Their nature of the test, but we all
conversation was animated and waited with eager anticipation,
friendly. It seemed as though trying to appear no more than
a decision had been ordinarily interested in the
reached. They would contents of the big green
continue to see each other, bowl before us. Mama set
in the presence of a two heavy fruits on a plate
chaperone, of course, and and passed it to Bousaina,
continue to talk. Nothing along with a small
had been decided about knife. Her eyes lit up in
marriage at this point appreciation.
but we sensed the
possibility. “These are beautiful. You must have
found the biggest, ripest mangoes in all of
Bashir had been seeing Bousaina now for Cairo. It reminds me of going to the park
about three months, and he had just with my father when I was a little girl. I’d
about satisfied himself on all points that race him to get to the ones that fell. Not
she would be the right match for very ladylike, I suppose, but when it
him. They had both prayed about it and comes to mangoes, I have a very
had talked to an Imaam for religious competitive streak,” she said with a
guidance. In anticipation of that, my laugh. We all relaxed. She liked
mother had one final test for this girl who mangoes! Our eyes focused on Bousaina
might be joining our family. It involved a as she picked up the first one. She
seemingly innocent piece of fruit. So, as quickly drew the blade of the knife around

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