I opened the gate for Bibi Shireen, mother of my orchard friend. She’d brought her sister along with her. I greeted them quietly, afraid my tongue would tie if I said more than a few words. I led them into the sitting room just as KokoGul entered from the hallway. She beamed and opened her arms to welcome our neighbor. They kissed cheeks three times and smiled warmly. KokoGul signaled for me to bring some tea for our guests.
I stole glances at Bibi Shireen, wondering what her son might look like or if he even took after her. Her soft brown eyes smiled at me and settled the nerves in my stomach. Looking at her was like getting a message from my friend in the orchard.
Everything will be fine, he was telling me. She’s here to make things right.
I prepared small dishes of yellow raisins, pine nuts, and pistachios. I walked back into the room just in time to hear Bibi Shireen telling KokoGul what an honor it was to have such a lovely family next door.
“Thank you, sweet girl,” she said, as I placed a cup of tea before her and her sister. I hoped she hadn’t noticed how much the cup had rattled in the saucer.
“With pleasure,” I mumbled before making a quick exit back to the kitchen. I wondered how much her son had told her about me or our conversations.
Out of sight, I listened in. She continued to praise our family and then started to talk about her own. Her son, she said, was completing his engineering studies in a few months and was now of age to begin his own family.
“He will be standing on his two feet soon, what a mother dreams to see. We are very proud of all that he has done.”
“As you should be. He takes after his father then. Agha Walid is much respected, of course.”
“Indeed,” his aunt added. “He’s been a role model for his younger siblings and his cousins, my own dear son included.”
“I see.”
“KokoGul-jan, we come to you today on behalf of my beloved son, who is the jewel of our home and of our extended family. Praise Allah, I have been blessed with an intelligent, hardworking, and loving son, and I want to make sure that he will have a wife who will bring him happiness. It is time for him to start a family. As a mother, now that he is himself a man, this is one of the most important things I can do for him—to put the right woman at his side. Your family is a respectable family, a trustworthy family, and, praise Allah, a beautiful one.”
“You are kind,” KokoGul said, sitting straight and tall with her hands folded neatly on her lap. She ate up Bibi Shireen’s sweet talk.
“And so we have come to talk to you about your darling daughter,” she continued.
“I see,” KokoGul said, doing her best to appear at least a little surprised.
I held my breath in the hallway. Najiba was still in her room, wondering if KokoGul would signal her to join the guests.
“We believe that your eldest daughter would be a good match for my son.”
“Well,” KokoGul drew her hand to her chest. “My family is honored to hear this, but we had not yet considered marriage for our daughter. She is still young.”
“Young, yes, but she is of perfect age to consider marriage. These are sweet days for young love to grow, wouldn’t you agree?”
Her sister, Zeba, echoed her sentiments.
“Yes, this is a wonderful age for two young people to get to know each other and commit to each other.”
“I think they would be a wonderful match. Our two families have respected each other for years as neighbors. Our children are grown and it is our responsibility, as their mothers, to think of their futures.”
I could hear the clink of teacups on saucers as the women planned what to say next.
“This is something we would have to consider carefully. I cannot even begin to think of giving my daughter’s hand. We, too, have been honored to share a border with your family but . . . at this time, there is nothing more that I can say. As a mother, I’m sure you understand.”
“Of course, dear KokoGul. We are here only to begin a conversation. I want you to know our interests are not superficial. I mean everything I have said. I know that your family must consider this and that you will take your time to think on it. But I’m also certain that you want to do what’s best for your daughter, and it is my hope that you will see my son as the best match for your dear daughter, Najiba-jan.”
Najiba?