Page 38 - A Woman Is No Man

“Not another word,” Fareeda said, her upper lip twitching. “How many
times have I told you not to mention your parents in this house?” From the
expression on her face, Deya could tell Fareeda wanted to slap her. But it

was true. Deya had seen enough of her mother’s life to know it wasn’t the
life she wanted.
“I’m afraid, Teta,” Deya whispered. “I don’t want to marry a man I
don’t know.”
“Arranged marriages are what we do,” Fareeda said. “Just because we
live in America, that doesn’t change how things are.” She shook her head,
reaching inside the cabinet for a teakettle. “If you keep turning down

proposals, the next thing you know, you’ll be old and no one will want to
marry you, and then you’ll spend the rest of your life in this house with
me.” She caught Deya’s eyes. “You’ve seen other girls who’ve disobeyed
their parents, refusing to get married, or worse, getting divorced, and look
at them now! Living at home with their parents, their heads hanging in
shame! Is that what you want?”

Deya looked away.
“Listen, Deya.” Fareeda’s voice was softer. “I’m not asking you to
marry Nasser tomorrow. Just sit with him again and get to know him.”
Deya hated to admit Fareeda was right, but she found herself
reconsidering. Maybe it was time to get married. Maybe she should accept
Nasser’s proposal. It wasn’t as if she had a future in Fareeda’s house. She
could barely go to the grocery store without supervision. Besides, Nasser

seemed nice enough. Better than the other men she’d met over the months.
If not him, then who? Eventually, she’d have to agree to someone. She
could only refuse for so long. Unless she wanted to ruin her reputation and
her sisters’ reputations as well. She could hear their neighbors in her head.
That girl is bad. She isn’t respectable. Something must be wrong with her.
Deya agreed. There was something wrong with her: she couldn’t stop

thinking, couldn’t make up her mind.
“Fine,” she said. “Okay.”
Fareeda’s eyes sprung wide. “Really?”
“I’ll see him again. But only under one condition.”
“And what’s that?”
“I’m not leaving Brooklyn.”
“Don’t worry.” Fareeda forced a tight smile. “He lives right here in

Sunset Park. I know you want to be near your sisters.”