ليلة في الرياض | A Night in the Riad
"A riad owner discovers passion with a mysterious guest who comes seeking refuge in Marrakech."
ليلة في الرياض
A Night in the Riad
الفصل الأول | Chapter One
أَمْلِكُ رِيَاضًا صَغِيرًا فِي قَلْبِ مَرَّاكُشَ.
I own a small riad in the heart of Marrakech.
جَاءَتْ فِي مُنْتَصَفِ اللَّيْلِ، وَحِيدَةً.
She came in the middle of the night, alone.
"هَلْ عِنْدَكُمْ غُرْفَةٌ؟" سَأَلَتْ بِصَوْتٍ مُرْتَجِفٍ.
"Do you have a room?" she asked with a trembling voice.
الفصل الثاني | Chapter Two
كَانَتْ فِي الأَرْبَعِينَ، مُمْتَلِئَةً، بِعُيُونٍ دَامِعَةٍ.
She was in her forties, full-figured, with teary eyes.
"هَرَبْتُ مِنْ زَوْجٍ عَنِيفٍ..." قَالَتْ.
"I fled from a violent husband..." she said.
"أَنْتِ آمِنَةٌ هُنَا."
"You are safe here."
الفصل الثالث | Chapter Three
أَعْطَيْتُهَا أَجْمَلَ غُرْفَةٍ فِي الرِّيَاضِ.
I gave her the most beautiful room in the riad.
"شَايٌ بِالنَّعْنَاعِ؟" عَرَضْتُ.
"Mint tea?" I offered.
"نَعَمْ... أَحْتَاجُ شَيْئًا دَافِئًا."
"Yes... I need something warm."
الفصل الرابع | Chapter Four
جَلَسْنَا فِي الفِنَاءِ تَحْتَ النُّجُومِ.
We sat in the courtyard under the stars.
"لِمَاذَا أَنْتَ لَطِيفٌ مَعِي؟"
"Why are you kind to me?"
"لِأَنَّ كُلَّ إِنْسَانٍ يَسْتَحِقُّ اللُّطْفَ."
"Because every person deserves kindness."
الفصل الخامس | Chapter Five
"زَوْجِي قَالَ إِنَّنِي قَبِيحَةٌ وَسَمِينَةٌ..."
"My husband said I am ugly and fat..."
"زَوْجُكِ أَعْمَى. أَنْتِ جَمِيلَةٌ."
"Your husband is blind. You are beautiful."
نَظَرَتْ إِلَيَّ بِدَهْشَةٍ. "حَقًّا؟"
She looked at me in surprise. "Really?"
الفصل السادس | Chapter Six
"أَنَا أَرْمَلُ مُنْذُ خَمْسِ سَنَوَاتٍ..."
"I have been a widower for five years..."
"أَعْرِفُ الجَمَالَ عِنْدَمَا أَرَاهُ."
"I know beauty when I see it."
مَسَحَتْ دُمُوعَهَا وَاِبْتَسَمَتْ.
She wiped her tears and smiled.
الفصل السابع | Chapter Seven
تِلْكَ اللَّيْلَةَ، فِي غُرْفَتِهَا ذَاتِ الزَّلِيجِ الأَزْرَقِ.
That night, in her room with blue zellige tiles.
عَلَّمْتُهَا أَنَّ جَسَدَهَا تُحْفَةٌ.
I taught her that her body is a masterpiece.
"أَنْتِ أَجْمَلُ مِنْ كُلِّ زَخَارِفِ الرِّيَاضِ."
"You are more beautiful than all the riad's decorations."
الفصل الثامن | Chapter Eight
لَمْ تُغَادِرْ بَعْدَ تِلْكَ اللَّيْلَةِ.
She didn't leave after that night.
صَارَتْ شَرِيكَتِي فِي الرِّيَاضِ وَالحَيَاةِ.
She became my partner in the riad and in life.
وَكُلَّ لَيْلَةٍ، نَحْتَفِلُ بِحُرِّيَّتِهَا.
And every night, we celebrate her freedom.
الخاتمة | Conclusion
الرِّيَاضُ مَكَانٌ لِلرَّاحَةِ.
A riad is a place for rest.
لَكِنَّهُ صَارَ مَكَانًا لِلْحُبِّ.
But it became a place for love.
حُبٌّ وُلِدَ مِنْ لُطْفٍ فِي لَيْلَةٍ مُظْلِمَةٍ.
Love born from kindness on a dark night.
من حكايات مراكش From the Tales of Marrakech