SAINA AURI MATAR NOVEL
Due to a sudden and forceful gust of wind, a small window frame in the house fell, startling MALIYA and Jan, who had been feeling down and disheartened. A man entered the small basement room carrying a mat and, on the other side, a bag that appeared to contain his clothes, but it seemed they had taken the brunt of the room’s clutter. As he settled on the mat, heavy rain began pouring outside. This prompted him to stand and notice that the room was also leaking. He remained standing, waiting for the rain to subside. He didn’t want to be disheartened anymore. It wasn’t daytime; it was the dead of night, and he wouldn’t stay indoors to be disheartened.
After the rain ceased, he moved to a spot where the roof had been repaired. He spread out the mat and lay down, soon drifting into a deep sleep…
“Hey MALIYA, wake up and have some breakfast. When you see it’s time to head to the office, get up and go wash up. I’ll draw you a bath,” said a woman. She handed him some chocolate, and he stirred, smiling as he opened his eyes to gaze at the woman, known as the first lady. She was the kind of woman you could take anywhere, the kind no one could refuse. Not for money, not for beauty, not for education, not for love – she was like a character from a novel.
With a grin, he replied, “Oh, darling, is it morning already?”
She chuckled, “My dear MALIYA, don’t tell me mornings are too quick for you.”
“Yes, love, that’s exactly what I was going to say.”
She moved in to kiss him with a joyful smile. He felt like he was in a dream where his grandmother was holding a snake. He had grown up, yet he seemed oblivious to it. It was TUKUR who was getting on his nerves. It wasn’t the young lad with unruly hair that was bothersome, but the fact that he was no longer a child, and his youthful days were dwindling. He wasn’t yet 30, but still, he hadn’t matured.
Before the first lady could finish her sentence, MALIYA interjected, “Honestly, whatever you do to me, you won’t be able to rouse me from my dream of a married life. Kinzo’s novel fills my sleep with sweet dreams. You’re just going to have to let me be. You’re right, I’m sorry. You’re truly blessed, and I hope you come to realize it.”
His grandmother chimed in, agreeing with him. “Yes, TUKUR, you’re stubborn as a mule. Your words can cut like a knife. You shouldn’t be saying such harsh things. Musa is your father, but you’re saying them to me. I pray you never utter them again.”
MALIYA looked at her and exclaimed, “Oh my God, why did you stop when you were about to kiss me?”
“Mom, I was going to tell you… Mom, I want to talk to you, TUKUR. Anyway, let me leave it. I hope you understand. You won’t pray until the sun rises, but you’re already up, ready to get me out of bed.”