Sands of time

Muffled screams barely echoed off the mudhif walls. Um Saliha clutched cold palms with her sweaty ones. The grip slipped slightly in the paltry hue of the lone candle. But she didn’t let go.

Amahs tread around the bed surreptitiously, their light cloaks swishing the soft sand below. The off-white drapes veiling the bed from view gave away little as to the proceedings.

A tall dark figure shifted uneasily on its heavy feet as it drew a sharp breath of fusty air. The circular boudoir didn’t provide much room for movement. So it waited, tense.

She screamed again. Higher. An amah soothed her, “It’s close now”, she whispered softly.

I inched forward tugging at Sailha’s hand. She tugged back slightly. I squinted my eyes to pierce the gloom. I could feel the dark figure breathing heavily. I inhaled with him.

An amah appeared from behind the curtain. She hurried past us to the wall behind, plucked a sheep-skin sheet from a small pile and disappeared around the curtains.

There was a sharp intake of breath, and then she wailed so loud I felt my belly drop. She screamed again. Saliha pulled me closer and whispered something. I look at her worried eyes and she reflected my fear.

There was a scuffle behind the curtains and some talk. She was crying now. There was a loud “Yes!” and she groaned in pain. Suddenly amidst her scream another cry broke a much smaller cry. Her screams filled the room now. The dark figure was very still. His right ear slightly turned forward, listening intently.

Another loud moan and the smaller cry got louder. I felt the hair on my neck rise. Um Saliha’s palm was now slipping.

Suddenly an amah let out “Praise be to the almighty!”. The figure stood frozen, unmoving. I pitched forward pulling Saliha with me. She didn’t resist this time.

to be continued..

18th March 2013