Page 106 - A Woman Is No Man

“Thank you for coming,” Umm Ahmed said as she poured Fareeda and
Isra cups of chai. Then she served them a purple container of Mackintosh’s
chocolates, waiting until each woman had plucked a shiny piece from the

box before returning to her seat.
“Alf mabrouk,” Fareeda said, unwrapping a yellow caramel stick. “A
thousand congratulations.”
“Thank you.” Umm Ahmed turned to Isra, resting her eyes on her
swollen belly. “Inshallah your turn soon, dear.”
Isra nodded, her jaw tightening. Fareeda wished she would say
something nice to Umm Ahmed, or to any of the women in the room for

that matter. They must all think she was a fool, always so quiet and vacant.
Fareeda had wanted a daughter-in-law she could show off to her friends,
like a twenty-four-karat gold bangle. Yes, Isra could cook and clean, but the
girl knew nothing about entertaining and socializing. She was as dull as
dishwater, and there was nothing Fareeda could do about it. She would have
to choose more carefully when finding Omar a wife.

“So tell me,” Fareeda said to Umm Ahmed, who sat in the middle of the
room. “Ahmed must be so excited to give his parents the first grandson.”
“Oh yes,” Umm Ahmed said, careful not to meet Isra’s eyes.
“Alhamdulillah. We’re all very happy.”
“There is no better blessing than a healthy baby boy,” said one of the
women. “Of course, we all love our daughters, but nothing compares to
having a son.”

“Yes, yes,” Fareeda agreed. She could sense Isra’s eyes on her, but she
didn’t want to seem envious by not participating in the conversation.
“Adam does everything for us—running the family business, helping with
the bills. I don’t know what we would’ve done if he’d been a girl.”
The women nodded. “Especially in this country,” said one of them.
“The boys are twice as needed and the girls are twice as hard to raise.”

Fareeda laughed. “Exactly! I only have Sarah, and raising her in this
country gives me nightmares. God help any woman who has to raise a
daughter in America.”
The women nodded in agreement. Glancing at Isra, whose eyes were
locked on Deya’s face, Fareeda felt sorry she had to hear those words. But it
was the truth. It was better she learned now, Fareeda thought. Then maybe
she wouldn’t think it was just Fareeda who thought this way. It wasn’t just

her! Every woman in the room knew this to be true, and not just them, but