Page 138 - A Woman Is No Man

Deya

Winter 2008

Nasser is waiting for you,” Fareeda told Deya when she returned home

from school. “Go change out of your uniform! Quickly!”
It took a tremendous amount of effort for Deya not to confront Fareeda
right then. All these years lying about Sarah! What else was she hiding? But
Deya knew better than to challenge Fareeda. It would only jeopardize her
future visits with Sarah and her chance to learn the truth, so she bit her
tongue and said nothing, stomping down the stairs. When she came back
up, Nasser and his mother were sipping chai and eating from a platter of

ma’amool cookies in the sala. Deya refilled their cups before heading to the
kitchen, Nasser closely behind. She settled across from him at the table,
bringing the warm cup to her face for comfort.
“Sorry to make you wait,” she said.
“It’s okay,” Nasser said. “How was school?”
“Fine.”

“Learn anything interesting?”
She sipped on her chai. “Not really.”
There was an awkward pause, and he fidgeted with his teacup. “You
didn’t think you’d see me again, did you? You thought you’d scared me
away.”
“It’s worked so far,” she said without looking at him.
He let out a small chuckle. “Well, not on me.” Another pause. “So,

should we talk about the next step?”
She met his eyes. “Next step?”
“I mean, marriage.”
“Marriage?”
He nodded.

“What about it?”
“What do you think about marrying me?”