بِنْتُ التّاجِرِ الدِّمَشْقِيِّ

The Merchant's Daughter of Damascus

الفصل الأول: السّوقُ القَديم

Chapter One: The Ancient Souk

في قَلْبِ دِمَشْقَ العَتيقَةِ، حَيْثُ تَفوحُ رَوائِحُ التَّوابِلِ وَالعُطورِ، كانَتْ مَريَمُ بِنْتُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ تَجْلِسُ في دُكّانِ أَبيها. كانَتْ في الخامِسَةِ وَالعِشرينَ مِنْ عُمْرِها، امْرَأَةً ذاتَ جَسَدٍ مُمْتَلِئٍ فاتِنٍ، بَشَرَتُها بَيْضاءُ كَالقَمَرِ، وَعَيْناها خَضْراوانِ كَزُمُرُّدَتَيْنِ.

In the heart of ancient Damascus, where the scents of spices and perfumes wafted, sat Maryam bint Abd al-Rahman in her father's shop. She was twenty-five years of age, a woman of captivating full figure, her skin white as the moon, and her eyes green as two emeralds.

كانَتْ أَرْمَلَةً. ماتَ زَوْجُها قَبْلَ ثَلاثِ سَنَواتٍ وَلَمْ يَتْرُكْ لَها وَلَداً. وَمُنْذُ ذلِكَ الحينِ، كانَتْ تُساعِدُ أَباها في تِجارَةِ الأَقْمِشَةِ.

She was a widow. Her husband had died three years before and left her no child. Since then, she had been helping her father in the cloth trade.

"يا أَبي، مَنْ هذا الرَّجُلُ الذي يَنْظُرُ إلَيْنا مِنَ الجِهَةِ المُقابِلَةِ؟" سَأَلَتْ.

"Father, who is that man looking at us from across the way?" she asked.

نَظَرَ أَبوها فَرَأى رَجُلاً طَويلاً أَسْمَرَ البَشَرَةِ، يَرْتَدي ثِياباً فاخِرَةً مِنَ الحَريرِ الصّينِيِّ. "ذاكَ هاشِمُ بنُ خالِدٍ، تاجِرُ الحَريرِ مِنْ سَمَرْقَنْدَ. جاءَ لِيَتاجِرَ في أَسْواقِنا."

Her father looked and saw a tall, dark-skinned man wearing luxurious clothes of Chinese silk. "That is Hashim ibn Khalid, the silk merchant from Samarkand. He has come to trade in our markets."

الفصل الثاني: اللِّقاءُ الأَوَّل

Chapter Two: The First Encounter

في اليَوْمِ التّالي، جاءَ هاشِمٌ إلى دُكّانِهِمْ.

The next day, Hashim came to their shop.

"السَّلامُ عَلَيْكُمْ. أَبْحَثُ عَنْ أَجْوَدِ أَنْواعِ القُطْنِ الدِّمَشْقِيِّ."

"Peace be upon you. I am looking for the finest types of Damascene cotton."

"وَعَلَيْكُمُ السَّلامُ،" رَدَّتْ مَريَمُ، إذْ كانَ أَبوها غائِباً. "نَحْنُ نَمْلِكُ أَجْوَدَ القُطْنِ في كُلِّ الشّامِ."

"And upon you peace," Maryam replied, as her father was absent. "We possess the finest cotton in all of Syria."

اقْتَرَبَ مِنْها وَلَمَسَ قِطْعَةَ قُماشٍ. كانَتْ يَدُهُ قَريبَةً مِنْ يَدِها. شَعَرَتْ بِحَرارَةٍ غَريبَةٍ تَسْري في جَسَدِها.

He approached her and touched a piece of cloth. His hand was close to hers. She felt a strange heat flowing through her body.

"هذا القُماشُ ناعِمٌ،" قالَ وَهُوَ يَنْظُرُ إلَيْها. "لكِنَّهُ لَيْسَ أَنْعَمَ مِنْ بَشَرَتِكِ، يا سَيِّدَتي."

"This cloth is soft," he said while looking at her. "But it is not softer than your skin, my lady."

اِحْمَرَّ وَجْهُها. "أَنْتَ جَريءٌ، يا غَريبُ."

Her face reddened. "You are bold, stranger."

"أَنا صادِقٌ فَقَطْ. الجَمالُ يَسْتَحِقُّ الاعْتِرافَ."

"I am only honest. Beauty deserves acknowledgment."

الفصل الثالث: الدَّعْوَة

Chapter Three: The Invitation

عادَ هاشِمٌ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ لِأُسْبوعٍ كامِلٍ. وَفي كُلِّ مَرَّةٍ، كانَتِ المُحادَثاتُ بَيْنَهُما تَطولُ وَتَزْدادُ حَرارَةً.

Hashim returned every day for a full week. And each time, the conversations between them grew longer and more heated.

"أُقيمُ في دارٍ كَبيرَةٍ قُرْبَ الجامِعِ الأُمَوِيِّ،" قالَ لَها يَوْماً. "عِنْدي حَريرٌ مِنَ الصّينِ لَمْ يَرَهُ أَحَدٌ في دِمَشْقَ. هَلْ تُحِبّينَ أَنْ تَرَيْهِ؟"

"I reside in a large house near the Umayyad Mosque," he said to her one day. "I have silk from China that no one in Damascus has seen. Would you like to see it?"

عَرَفَتْ ما يَعْني. "أَنا أَرْمَلَةٌ، لا فَتاةٌ ساذَجَةٌ."

She knew what he meant. "I am a widow, not a naive girl."

"أَعْرِفُ. وَلِهذا أَدْعوكِ. لِأَنَّكِ امْرَأَةٌ تَعْرِفُ ما تُريدُ."

"I know. And that is why I invite you. Because you are a woman who knows what she wants."

نَظَرَتْ في عَيْنَيْهِ السَّوْداوَيْنِ العَميقَتَيْنِ. "سَآتي غَداً بَعْدَ صَلاةِ الظُّهْرِ."

She looked into his deep black eyes. "I will come tomorrow after the noon prayer."

الفصل الرابع: الحَريرُ الصّينِيّ

Chapter Four: The Chinese Silk

دَخَلَتْ مَريَمُ دارَهُ مُتَخَفِّيَةً تَحْتَ عَباءَتِها السَّوْداءِ. اسْتَقْبَلَها في غُرْفَةٍ مَليئَةٍ بِالأَقْمِشَةِ الفاخِرَةِ وَالوَسائِدِ المُطَرَّزَةِ.

Maryam entered his house concealed under her black cloak. He received her in a room filled with luxurious fabrics and embroidered cushions.

"هذا هُوَ الحَريرُ الذي أَخْبَرْتُكِ عَنْهُ،" قالَ وَهُوَ يُريها قِطْعَةً ذَهَبِيَّةَ اللَّوْنِ.

"This is the silk I told you about," he said, showing her a golden-colored piece.

مَدَّتْ يَدَها لِتَلْمِسَهُ. "إنَّهُ ناعِمٌ كَالحُلْمِ."

She extended her hand to touch it. "It is soft as a dream."

"دَعيني أُرِكِ كَيْفَ يَبْدو عَلى جَسَدِكِ."

"Let me show you how it looks on your body."

لَفَّ القُماشَ حَوْلَ كَتِفَيْها، وَأَصابِعُهُ تَلْمِسُ بَشَرَتَها. ارْتَجَفَتْ.

He wrapped the cloth around her shoulders, his fingers touching her skin. She trembled.

"أَنْتِ جَميلَةٌ،" هَمَسَ. "جَسَدُكِ الكامِلُ يَسْتَحِقُّ أَجْوَدَ الحَريرِ."

"You are beautiful," he whispered. "Your full body deserves the finest silk."

"وَماذا يَسْتَحِقُّ أَيْضاً؟" سَأَلَتْ بِجُرْأَةٍ.

"And what else does it deserve?" she asked boldly.

"يَسْتَحِقُّ أَنْ يُعْبَدَ."

"It deserves to be worshipped."

الفصل الخامس: العِبادَة

Chapter Five: The Worship

أَزالَ عَباءَتَها وَثَوْبَها بِبُطْءٍ، طَبَقَةً بَعْدَ طَبَقَةٍ، حَتّى وَقَفَتْ أَمامَهُ عارِيَةً.

He removed her cloak and her dress slowly, layer after layer, until she stood before him naked.

كانَ جَسَدُها مُمْتَلِئاً فاتِناً. نَهْداها كَبيرانِ ثَقيلانِ بِحَلَماتٍ داكِنَةٍ. بَطْنُها مُسْتَديرَةٌ ناعِمَةٌ. وِرْكاها عَريضَتانِ، وَفَخِذاها سَمينَتانِ مُتَلاصِقَتانِ.

Her body was captivatingly full. Her breasts were large and heavy with dark nipples. Her belly was round and soft. Her hips were wide, and her thighs were plump and pressed together.

"يا إلهي،" تَنَهَّدَ هاشِمٌ. "أَنْتِ أَجْمَلُ مِمّا تَصَوَّرْتُ."

"My God," Hashim sighed. "You are more beautiful than I imagined."

رَكَعَ أَمامَها وَقَبَّلَ بَطْنَها المُسْتَديرَةَ. "في بِلادي، نَعْتَبِرُ هذا الجَسَدَ نِعْمَةً مِنَ اللهِ."

He knelt before her and kissed her round belly. "In my country, we consider this body a blessing from God."

أَمْسَكَتْ رَأْسَهُ وَوَجَّهَتْهُ نَحْوَ أَسْفَلِ بَطْنِها. "إذاً اعْبُدْني، يا تاجِرُ."

She held his head and directed it toward her lower belly. "Then worship me, merchant."

أَطاعَها. أَدْخَلَ لِسانَهُ بَيْنَ فَخِذَيْها المُمْتَلِئَتَيْنِ وَوَجَدَ مَصْدَرَ لَذَّتِها. لَعِقَها بِمَهارَةٍ وَبُطْءٍ.

He obeyed her. He inserted his tongue between her full thighs and found the source of her pleasure. He licked her skillfully and slowly.

"آهٍ!" صَرَخَتْ. "لا تَتَوَقَّفْ!"

"Ah!" she cried. "Don't stop!"

اسْتَمَرَّ حَتّى شَعَرَتْ بِمَوْجاتٍ مِنَ اللَّذَّةِ تَجْتاحُ جَسَدَها. سَقَطَتْ عَلى الوَسائِدِ الحَريرِيَّةِ، جَسَدُها يَرْتَجِفُ.

He continued until she felt waves of pleasure sweeping through her body. She fell onto the silk cushions, her body trembling.

الفصل السادس: الاتِّحاد

Chapter Six: The Union

خَلَعَ ثِيابَهُ وَظَهَرَ جَسَدُهُ القَوِيُّ الأَسْمَرُ. اسْتَلْقى فَوْقَها وَقَبَّلَها بِعُمْقٍ.

He removed his clothes and his strong, dark body appeared. He lay upon her and kissed her deeply.

"أُريدُكَ داخِلي،" هَمَسَتْ في أُذُنِهِ.

"I want you inside me," she whispered in his ear.

دَخَلَها بِبُطْءٍ، مُسْتَمْتِعاً بِكُلِّ لَحْظَةٍ. كانَتْ دافِئَةً وَرَطْبَةً، تُحيطُ بِهِ كَالحَريرِ الحَيِّ.

He entered her slowly, enjoying every moment. She was warm and moist, surrounding him like living silk.

"أَنْتِ ضَيِّقَةٌ،" أَنَّ.

"You are tight," he moaned.

"وَأَنْتَ كَبيرٌ،" رَدَّتْ وَهِيَ تُمْسِكُ ظَهْرَهُ.

"And you are large," she replied, holding his back.

بَدَأَ يَتَحَرَّكُ بِإيقاعٍ بَطيءٍ أَوَّلاً، ثُمَّ أَسْرَعَ. كانَ جَسَدُها المُمْتَلِئُ يَتَمَوَّجُ تَحْتَهُ كَالبَحْرِ.

He began to move with a slow rhythm at first, then faster. Her full body undulated beneath him like the sea.

"أَقْوى! أَعْمَقُ!" طَلَبَتْ.

"Stronger! Deeper!" she demanded.

حَمَلَ ساقَيْها المُمْتَلِئَتَيْنِ عَلى كَتِفَيْهِ وَدَخَلَها بِكُلِّ قُوَّتِهِ. صَرَخَتْ مِنَ اللَّذَّةِ وَالأَلَمِ المَمْزوجَيْنِ.

He lifted her full legs onto his shoulders and entered her with all his strength. She screamed from mingled pleasure and pain.

"نَعَمْ! هكَذا!"

"Yes! Like that!"

الفصل السابع: الذُّروَة

Chapter Seven: The Climax

تَحَرَّكا بِجُنونٍ حَتّى وَصَلا إلى الذُّروَةِ مَعاً. صَرَخَ هاشِمٌ وَانْسَكَبَ داخِلَها، وَصَرَخَتْ هِيَ بِلَذَّةٍ هَزَّتْ جَسَدَها كُلَّهُ.

They moved madly until they reached the climax together. Hashim cried out and spilled inside her, and she cried out with pleasure that shook her entire body.

سَقَطَ بِجانِبِها، كِلاهُما يَتَنَفَّسُ بِصُعوبَةٍ.

He fell beside her, both of them breathing with difficulty.

"لَمْ أَشْعُرْ بِهذا مِنْ قَبْلُ،" هَمَسَتْ. "حَتّى مَعَ زَوْجي."

"I have never felt this before," she whispered. "Not even with my husband."

"وَأَنا لَمْ أَعْرِفْ امْرَأَةً مِثْلَكِ في كُلِّ رِحْلاتي."

"And I have never known a woman like you in all my travels."

الخاتِمَة

Epilogue

اسْتَمَرَّتْ لِقاءاتُهُما السِّرِّيَّةُ طَوالَ إقامَتِهِ في دِمَشْقَ. وَحينَ حانَ وَقْتُ رَحيلِهِ، طَلَبَها لِلزَّواجِ.

Their secret meetings continued throughout his stay in Damascus. And when the time came for his departure, he asked her in marriage.

"هَلْ تَأْتينَ مَعي إلى سَمَرْقَنْدَ؟"

"Will you come with me to Samarkand?"

نَظَرَتْ إلى دِمَشْقَ، مَدينَتِها التي وُلِدَتْ فيها. ثُمَّ نَظَرَتْ إلَيْهِ.

She looked at Damascus, the city where she was born. Then she looked at him.

"نَعَمْ. سَأَتْبَعُ الحَريرَ إلى نِهايَةِ العالَمِ."

"Yes. I will follow the silk to the end of the world."

انْتَهَتِ القِصَّة | The End