AALIMAH
American Airways dropped off AALIMAH MANSOUR in the city of Massachusetts in the United States of America on the twenty-fifth day of May, in the year two thousand and sixteen (2016). She slowly followed the line of people disembarking from the plane, carrying a medium-sized women’s handbag. She wore a long maroon dress and a matching veil called Tahran, which covered her face and draped over her dress. Her shoes were black, and her handbag was of moderate size. She walked calmly until she set foot on the tarmac of Boston Logan International Airport and entered the shuttle van with other passengers. This van transported them to the main airport building, where all immigration procedures were conducted. Afterward, she collected her bag and exited the building.
The afternoon sunlight, fading into evening, was glaring, and she used her palms to shield her eyes as taxi drivers approached her. They inquired about her destination, and she scrutinized them as if assessing their trustworthiness. To an observer, she appeared as a foreigner in an unfamiliar land. Eventually, she fixed her gaze on a young white man and showed him the address written in her notebook, which she retrieved from her handbag. He took her bag, placed it in the car’s trunk, and opened the back door for her. She entered and took a seat. He circled the vehicle and got into the driver’s seat.
They traveled slowly along the well-maintained roads of Massachusetts, meandering through the charming streets. Massachusetts was one of the largest cities in the United States, characterized by its diverse population, with people from various countries and languages around the world. As of 2017, the estimated population of the city of Massachusetts was 685,094.
The city bordered Cambridge to the east, Hampshire and Vermont to the north, New York City to the west, Connecticut and Rhode Island to the south, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. It was situated in the northeastern part of the United States.
The taxi driver eventually parked the car in the Martha’s Vineyard neighborhood, in the city of Boston, the capital of Massachusetts. Aalimah Mansour sighed, paid the fare requested by the driver, received her change, and retrieved her bag from the car’s trunk. She made her way to the house’s entrance, taking in the beauty of the upscale neighborhood. This neighborhood was among the city’s most exclusive.
Above the house’s door, the number and the owner’s name, ‘ISHAQ RAAZEE,’ were inscribed. Aalimah rang the doorbell, and she had to press it thrice before a woman’s voice responded in English, saying she was coming. Aalimah’s face remained solemn, and her heart pounded with uncertainty about the reception she would receive from her uncle and his family. She had no idea what kind of welcome awaited her from Uncle Ishaq, Mummy Zulaiha, and their children. Mummy Zulaiha, in particular, was known for her desire to separate her children from her husband’s relatives, excluding her own offspring. Aalimah had been warned that her mother would not tolerate her residing in a hostel, but the prospect of staying with her uncle’s family was equally daunting.
As she waited at the doorstep, her mind raced with thoughts of her education. She had developed a deep passion for her studies, viewing them as essential as her own life. In this foreign land, with no one familiar to turn to after her parents, she yearned to pursue her academic goals. However, her mother’s sternness, rooted in the fear of losing her daughter’s companionship, was unwavering. Her mother’s ultimatum was clear: either she stayed with Uncle Ishaq and studied under his supervision, facing potential challenges from his wife and children, or she married immediately. The latter option would grant her peace of mind and allow her to pursue her educational aspirations independently.
Mahmoud was the only boyfriend she had ever had, and though he had once expressed his love for her through marriage, he was a student, and he was not yet prepared. He was in his final year of university. She had kept her relationship with Mahmoud hidden from her parents, as long as Mama was aware that she had a suitor. Her love and devotion for her daughter would demand immediate marriage. Except for her older brother Aboubakar, no one else in their family knew about Mahmoud’s courtship. Aboubakar was privy to this secret because Mahmoud was his friend, and their connection had brought them together.
All these thoughts occupied Aalimah’s mind as she stood at the door of her uncle’s house, awaiting the reception that would determine her future. The door opened after a brief five-minute wait. Easther, Mummy Zulaiha’s maid, greeted Aalimah with a glance. They exchanged looks for a few seconds, and then Easther gestured for Aalimah to enter without asking any questions. This decision was based solely on Aalimah’s appearance, which Easther had seen on many children.