Episode 17

Yasmin

As soon as my husband leaves the courtyard, I can clearly feel the envious gazes on me, and the covetous looks as he passes by, but unlike a few minutes ago, I am not saddened.

Samir is a very handsome man, and he certainly doesn't go unnoticed. His athletic stature, broad shoulders and back, muscles that are visible even under his clothes, the well-groomed beard, the strong features of his face, the always proud gaze, the posture of a strong and fearless man.

However, I confess that I was enchanted by his care for me, his kindness, and his smile... he has a beautiful smile.

And when his hand touched my face, I felt a little flutter in my stomach! It had been so long since I knew what it was like to receive a display of affection, of love, and in just a few hours I received the love from Mrs. Zaira, the friendship of Hanya, and now, the love and attention of my husband!

I sigh, smiling to myself. Oh, Samir...

"Looks like my son's visit really brought back your smile, my dear!" I see Mrs. Zaira sitting next to me and I smile.

"Yes! My husband calmed my anxious heart with his words. Thank you, my mother-in-law, for allowing him to come in. It meant a lot to me."

She lets out a long sigh and holds my hand between hers, while the other women go back to dancing and eating.

"You know, Yasmin, my Samir will now be your Samir. I know that your marriage wasn't what either of you wanted. I'm also aware that my son has made mistakes, but believe me, Samir is a good man... a bit stubborn and persistent, just like a camel in the desert." We both laugh. "But yes, he is a good man and has a good heart." She sighs. "But, to reach that heart, you might have to travel a long road, and he may not be willing, at first, to make things easy. So, I will teach you how to tread that path day after day, and for that, I'll need you to be firm, not be discouraged or intimidated, and assert yourself as Samir Harmud's wife! You will be the lady of his house, Yasmin, and you will be the adorned, fragrant, and beautiful wife who receives her husband every day; no one else but you should receive him, and it will also be you who bids him farewell before he leaves every morning to provide for the household with his work."

"Yes, my mother-in-law. But can I study?" I ask, a bit awkwardly. "I always wanted to at least finish high school. My husband is an educated man, and I don't want to embarrass him by not knowing much."

"I'm glad you want to learn, my daughter. But believe me, Samir is not ashamed of you." She smiles affectionately. "And don't worry, I will hire a tutor to give you lessons on etiquette, posture, and English. I will teach you about our customs and traditions, and you will also have online classes to complete high school. You will be quite busy while your husband works, but remember, always perfume yourself when you wake up because when you say goodbye to your husband at the door, the last memory in Samir's mind will be the sweet taste of your lips and the scent that will accompany him throughout the day." I feel my face blush at this part since I have never kissed before. "You don't need to be ashamed, my dear. I received each one of the advice I am giving you, and believe me, I passed them on to Hanya, and also to Samira, although Samira didn't use them for good things." She sighs, disappointed.

"Don't be sad, mother-in-law. You certainly did your best, but there are people who don't know how to appreciate good teachings and instead of treasuring them like precious jewels, they discard them like mere trinkets."

"You are a very sweet and wise young woman, Yasmin. My Samir is a very lucky man to have married you instead of your sister, who looks more like a snake in a dress!" We smile together. "Well, but now let's talk about the wedding night. I imagine you must be nervous..."

"Yes," I say, lowering my gaze. "I've never even kissed a man in my whole life. I don't know how to behave, if I should do something or let my husband take the lead. I don't even know if my husband will want me." I sigh.

"Yasmin, maybe at first, as I told you, you may encounter resistance from Samir. Both of you are in this marriage because of an arrangement between families, so there isn't yet a formed feeling in your hearts. But just like the wind changes the shape of sand dunes, the feeling between you two can change from strangeness to a deep and true love, rooted in such a way that one won't know how to live without the other. - she smiles, and seems nostalgic. - Me and my Yousef... oh, we had never seen each other either. It took long months of patience from both sides, until we discovered that we were already each other's home. But they weren't easy days, and I confess that there were days when I wished to put the hottest pepper in his babaganoush. - she smiles and I end up laughing too. - But I worked on patience, perseverance, and so, day after day, I won over the heart of my stubborn Sheik, and today we are happy and can't imagine life without each other. So, be patient. Don't be nervous about what will happen tonight and in the nights that follow. Wear the outfit that I'll leave separated in your suitcase, perfume your body as I showed you, don't hesitate to do only what you desire, dance for your husband as I taught you, always look into his eyes during the dance, use your hands to connect him to the movements, move with grace, because I know that you're naturally beautiful and graceful. And if, at the end of this dance, Samir can't resist and wants to hold you in his arms, only surrender if you're comfortable and certain of your decision, otherwise, ask him to wait until you feel safe and ready. But if you decide to surrender, just remain calm, massage your husband with the oils I showed you, let him also massage you, get to know and explore your husband's body, allow yourself to feel the sensations that the massage and his touches will provide you, and let him help you relax. Take advantage of having a handsome and strong husband and let him make you happy!"