أسرار الحمام | Hammam Secrets of Casablanca
"A hammam attendant discovers forbidden passion with a wealthy client in the steam-filled rooms of old Casablanca."
أسرار الحمام
Hammam Secrets of Casablanca
الفصل الأول | Chapter One
أَعْمَلُ فِي حَمَّامِ الدَّارِ البَيْضَاءِ مُنْذُ عِشْرِينَ سَنَةً.
I have worked in the Casablanca hammam for twenty years.
رَأَيْتُ كُلَّ أَنْوَاعِ النِّسَاءِ: النَّحِيفَاتِ وَالمُمْتَلِئَاتِ.
I've seen all types of women: the thin and the full-figured.
لَكِنَّ هَذِهِ السَّيِّدَةَ كَانَتْ مُخْتَلِفَةً.
But this lady was different.
الفصل الثاني | Chapter Two
دَخَلَتْ بِثِقَةٍ وَكِبْرِيَاءٍ، جَسَدُهَا المُمْتَلِئُ يَتَمَايَلُ.
She entered with confidence and pride, her full body swaying.
"أُرِيدُ التَّدْلِيكَ الكَامِلَ،" قَالَتْ.
"I want the full massage," she said.
عَيْنَاهَا الخَضْرَاوَانِ اخْتَرَقَتَانِي.
Her green eyes pierced me.
الفصل الثالث | Chapter Three
فِي الغُرْفَةِ السَّاخِنَةِ، بَدَأْتُ بِالكِيسِ الأَسْوَدِ.
In the hot room, I began with the black kessa.
بَشَرَتُهَا كَانَتْ كَالحَرِيرِ تَحْتَ يَدَيَّ.
Her skin was like silk under my hands.
"أَنْتِ مَاهِرَةٌ،" تَنَهَّدَتْ.
"You are skilled," she sighed.
الفصل الرابع | Chapter Four
"مَا اسْمُكِ؟" سَأَلَتْنِي.
"What is your name?" she asked me.
"خَدِيجَةُ، يَا لَالَّة."
"Khadija, Lalla."
"وَأَنَا سَلْمَى... زَوْجِي لَا يَلْمُسُنِي مُنْذُ سَنَوَاتٍ."
"And I am Salma... my husband hasn't touched me in years."
الفصل الخامس | Chapter Five
وَاصَلْتُ التَّدْلِيكَ بِصَابُونِ الغَاسُولِ.
I continued the massage with ghassoul soap.
"يَدَاكِ تَفْهَمَانِ جَسَدِي..." قَالَتْ.
"Your hands understand my body..." she said.
"أَكْثَرُ مِنْ زَوْجِي."
"More than my husband."
الفصل السادس | Chapter Six
فِي البُخَارِ الكَثِيفِ، لَا أَحَدَ يَرَانَا.
In the thick steam, no one could see us.
"لَمْ أَشْعُرْ بِلَمْسَةٍ حَانِيَةٍ مُنْذُ زَمَنٍ..."
"I haven't felt a tender touch in so long..."
"أَنَا هُنَا، يَا لَالَّة."
"I am here, Lalla."
الفصل السابع | Chapter Seven
صَارَتْ سَلْمَى تَأْتِي كُلَّ أُسْبُوعٍ.
Salma started coming every week.
تَطْلُبُنِي أَنَا فَقَطْ لِلتَّدْلِيكِ.
She requests only me for massage.
بَيْنَ جُدْرَانِ الحَمَّامِ، وَجَدَتْ مَا فَقَدَتْهُ.
Within the hammam walls, she found what she had lost.
الفصل الثامن | Chapter Eight
"كَيْفَ تَعْرِفِينَ مَا أَحْتَاجُهُ؟" سَأَلَتْنِي.
"How do you know what I need?" she asked me.
"لِأَنَّنِي امْرَأَةٌ مِثْلُكِ..."
"Because I am a woman like you..."
"وَأَعْرِفُ مَعْنَى العَطَشِ."
"And I know the meaning of thirst."
الخاتمة | Conclusion
الحَمَّامُ يَحْفَظُ أَسْرَارَ النِّسَاءِ.
The hammam keeps women's secrets.
بَيْنَ البُخَارِ وَالمَاءِ السَّاخِنِ.
Between steam and hot water.
تَسْقُطُ الأَقْنِعَةُ وَتَظْهَرُ الحَقِيقَةُ.
Masks fall and truth appears.
من حكايات الدار البيضاء From the Tales of Casablanca