تاجر السجاد | The Carpet Dealer of Marrakech
"A carpet dealer discovers passion with a buyer who comes seeking more than rugs in the souks of Marrakech."
تاجر السجاد
The Carpet Dealer of Marrakech
الفصل الأول | Chapter One
أَبِيعُ السَّجَّادَ فِي سُوقِ مَرَّاكُشَ مُنْذُ ثَلَاثِينَ سَنَةً.
I have sold carpets in the Marrakech souk for thirty years.
جَاءَتْ وَحْدَهَا تَبْحَثُ عَنْ سَجَّادَةٍ خَاصَّةٍ.
She came alone looking for a special carpet.
"أُرِيدُ شَيْئًا يَحْكِي قِصَّةً."
"I want something that tells a story."
الفصل الثاني | Chapter Two
كَانَتْ فِي الخَمْسِينَ، أَمْرِيكِيَّةً، مُمْتَلِئَةً.
She was in her fifties, American, full-figured.
بِابْتِسَامَةٍ دَافِئَةٍ وَعُيُونٍ فُضُولِيَّةٍ.
With a warm smile and curious eyes.
"كُلُّ سَجَّادَةٍ هُنَا تَحْكِي قِصَّةً،" قُلْتُ.
"Every carpet here tells a story," I said.
الفصل الثالث | Chapter Three
عَرَضْتُ لَهَا سَجَّادَاتٍ مِنَ الأَطْلَسِ.
I showed her carpets from the Atlas.
"هَذِهِ نَسَجَتْهَا أَرْمَلَةٌ لِتَرْوِيَ حُزْنَهَا."
"A widow wove this to tell her sadness."
"وَأَنَا أَرْمَلَةٌ أَيْضًا..." قَالَتْ.
"And I am a widow too..." she said.
الفصل الرابع | Chapter Four
"الخُيُوطُ الحَمْرَاءُ تُمَثِّلُ الحُبَّ المَفْقُودَ."
"The red threads represent lost love."
"وَالخُيُوطُ الذَّهَبِيَّةُ؟"
"And the golden threads?"
"الأَمَلُ فِي حُبٍّ جَدِيدٍ."
"Hope for new love."
الفصل الخامس | Chapter Five
جَلَسْنَا عَلَى السَّجَّادِ نَشْرَبُ الشَّايَ.
We sat on the carpets drinking tea.
"لِمَاذَا أَشْعُرُ بِالرَّاحَةِ مَعَكَ؟" سَأَلَتْ.
"Why do I feel comfortable with you?" she asked.
"لِأَنَّ السَّجَّادَ يَجْمَعُ الأَرْوَاحَ المُتَشَابِهَةَ."
"Because carpets bring similar souls together."
الفصل السادس | Chapter Six
"أَنَا أَرْمَلُ مِثْلُكِ..." قُلْتُ.
"I am a widower like you..." I said.
"زَوْجَتِي مَاتَتْ وَتَرَكَتْنِي وَالسَّجَّادَ."
"My wife died and left me with the carpets."
"رُبَّمَا السَّجَّادُ قَدَرُنَا."
"Perhaps carpets are our destiny."
الفصل السابع | Chapter Seven
أَغْلَقْتُ الدُّكَّانَ وَأَضَأْتُ الشُّمُوعَ.
I closed the shop and lit candles.
عَلَى أَنْعَمِ سَجَّادَةٍ أَمَازِيغِيَّةٍ.
On the softest Amazigh carpet.
"جَسَدُكِ أَنْعَمُ مِنْ أَيِّ سَجَّادَةٍ."
"Your body is softer than any carpet."
الفصل الثامن | Chapter Eight
اِشْتَرَتِ السَّجَّادَةَ وَبَقِيَتْ فِي قَلْبِي.
She bought the carpet and stayed in my heart.
تَعُودُ كُلَّ سَنَةٍ لِتَشْتَرِيَ سَجَّادَةً جَدِيدَةً.
She returns every year to buy a new carpet.
وَكُلَّ سَنَةٍ، نَكْتُبُ قِصَّةً جَدِيدَةً.
And every year, we write a new story.
الخاتمة | Conclusion
السُّوقُ مَكَانٌ لِلتِّجَارَةِ.
The souk is a place for trade.
لَكِنَّ بَعْضَ التِّجَارَةِ لَا تُقَاسُ بِالمَالِ.
But some trade cannot be measured by money.
قَلْبَانِ وَجَدَا بَعْضَهُمَا بَيْنَ السَّجَّادِ.
Two hearts found each other among the carpets.
من حكايات مراكش From the Tales of Marrakech