The Spice Merchant's Wife of Aleppo | زَوْجَةُ تاجِرِ التَّوابِلِ في حَلَب
"In the ancient souks of Aleppo, a spice merchant's neglected wife discovers intoxicating pleasures with a Persian trader whose exotic goods awaken forbidden desires."
زَوْجَةُ تاجِرِ التَّوابِلِ في حَلَب
The Spice Merchant's Wife of Aleppo
الفصل الأول: سوقُ العَطّارين
Chapter One: The Perfumers' Souk
في قَلْبِ حَلَبَ القَديمَةِ، حَيْثُ تَتَشابَكُ الأَزِقَّةُ كَخُيوطِ الحَريرِ، كانَ دُكّانُ التّاجِرِ مَحْمودٍ الحَلَبِيِّ. أَغْنى تُجّارِ التَّوابِلِ في الشّامِ كُلِّها.
In the heart of old Aleppo, where alleys intertwined like threads of silk, stood the shop of the merchant Mahmoud al-Halabi. The wealthiest spice trader in all of Syria.
زَوْجَتُهُ، رَيْحانَةُ، كانَتِ امْرَأَةً في الثّانِيَةِ وَالثَّلاثينَ، بِجَسَدٍ مُمْتَلِئٍ كَأَكْياسِ التَّوابِلِ، وَعَيْنَيْنِ سَوْداوَيْنِ كَحَبِّ الفُلْفُلِ، وَشَفَتَيْنِ حَمْراوَيْنِ كَالزَّعْفَرانِ الغالي.
His wife, Rayhana, was a woman of thirty-two, with a body full like sacks of spices, eyes black as peppercorns, and lips red as precious saffron.
مَحْمودٌ كانَ رَجُلاً عَجوزاً في السِّتّينَ، لا يُفَكِّرُ إلّا في تِجارَتِهِ وَأَرْباحِهِ. تَزَوَّجَها لِجَمالِها، لكِنَّهُ نَسِيَها مُنْذُ لَيْلَةِ العُرْسِ.
Mahmoud was an old man of sixty, thinking only of his trade and profits. He married her for her beauty, but forgot her since the wedding night.
"أَنا مُجَرَّدُ زينَةٍ في بَيْتِهِ،" كانَتْ تَقولُ لِنَفْسِها، "كَقارورَةِ عِطْرٍ جَميلَةٍ لا يَفْتَحُها أَحَدٌ."
"I am merely an ornament in his house," she would say to herself, "like a beautiful perfume bottle that no one opens."
الفصل الثاني: التّاجِرُ الفارِسِيّ
Chapter Two: The Persian Trader
في يَوْمٍ مِنْ أَيّامِ الرَّبيعِ، وَصَلَتْ قافِلَةٌ مِنْ بِلادِ فارِسَ. وَمَعَها تاجِرٌ شابٌّ اسْمُهُ كَيْوانُ بنُ داريوشَ.
On a spring day, a caravan arrived from Persia. And with it a young trader named Kayvan ibn Daryush.
كانَ في الثَّلاثينَ، طَويلاً بِعَيْنَيْنِ خَضْراوَيْنِ غَريبَتَيْنِ، وَشَعْرٍ أَسْوَدَ طَويلٍ، وَابْتِسامَةٍ تُذيبُ القُلوبَ.
He was thirty, tall with strange green eyes, long black hair, and a smile that melted hearts.
جاءَ لِيَبيعَ بَضائِعَهُ لِمَحْمودٍ: زَعْفَرانُ شيرازَ، وَوُرودُ أَصْفَهانَ، وَعودُ قَشْمَ.
He came to sell his goods to Mahmoud: Shiraz saffron, Isfahan roses, and Qeshm oud.
"أَهْلاً بِكَ في دُكّاني،" قالَ مَحْمودٌ. "اِجْلِسْ وَتَناوَلِ الشّايَ."
"Welcome to my shop," said Mahmoud. "Sit and have tea."
دَخَلَتْ رَيْحانَةُ حامِلَةً صينِيَّةَ الشّايِ. نَظَرَ كَيْوانُ إلَيْها وَتَجَمَّدَ.
Rayhana entered carrying the tea tray. Kayvan looked at her and froze.
"هذِهِ زَوْجَتي،" قالَ مَحْمودُ بِلا اهْتِمامٍ.
"This is my wife," said Mahmoud without interest.
"زَوْجَتُكَ؟" قالَ كَيْوانُ بِدَهْشَةٍ. "ظَنَنْتُها حُورِيَّةً هَبَطَتْ مِنَ الجَنَّةِ."
"Your wife?" said Kayvan in astonishment. "I thought she was a houri descended from paradise."
احْمَرَّ وَجْهُ رَيْحانَةَ. لَمْ يُحَدِّثْها أَحَدٌ هكَذا مِنْ سَنَواتٍ.
Rayhana's face reddened. No one had spoken to her like this for years.
الفصل الثالث: رائِحَةُ الشَّوْق
Chapter Three: The Scent of Longing
قَضى كَيْوانُ أَيّاماً في حَلَبَ، يَأْتي كُلَّ يَوْمٍ إلى دُكّانِ مَحْمودٍ. وَكانَتْ رَيْحانَةُ تُقَدِّمُ الشّايَ وَالحَلْوى.
Kayvan spent days in Aleppo, coming every day to Mahmoud's shop. And Rayhana would serve tea and sweets.
بَدَأَتِ المُحادَثاتُ بَيْنَهُما بِنَظَراتٍ سَريعَةٍ، ثُمَّ كَلِماتٍ قَليلَةٍ، ثُمَّ أَحاديثَ طَويلَةٍ حينَ يَغيبُ مَحْمودٌ.
Conversations between them began with quick glances, then few words, then long talks when Mahmoud was absent.
"مِنْ أَيْنَ تَأْتي هذِهِ الرّائِحَةُ العَجيبَةُ؟" سَأَلَتْهُ يَوْماً.
"Where does this strange scent come from?" she asked him one day.
"أَيُّ رائِحَةٍ؟"
"Which scent?"
"الرّائِحَةُ التي تَفوحُ مِنْكَ. لَيْسَتْ كَأَيِّ عِطْرٍ أَعْرِفُهُ."
"The scent that emanates from you. It is unlike any perfume I know."
ابْتَسَمَ. "هذا عِطْرُ الشَّوْقِ. يَفوحُ مِنَ الرَّجُلِ حينَ يُحِبُّ."
He smiled. "That is the perfume of longing. It emanates from a man when he loves."
"أَنْتَ تُحِبُّ؟ مَنْ؟"
"You love? Who?"
"أَلا تَعْرِفينَ؟"
"Do you not know?"
الفصل الرابع: العِطْرُ المُحَرَّم
Chapter Four: The Forbidden Perfume
في لَيْلَةٍ سافَرَ فيها مَحْمودٌ إلى دِمَشْقَ، جاءَ كَيْوانُ يَطْرُقُ بابَ الدّارِ.
On a night when Mahmoud traveled to Damascus, Kayvan came knocking on the door of the house.
"ماذا تَفْعَلُ هُنا؟" سَأَلَتْهُ رَيْحانَةُ خائِفَةً.
"What are you doing here?" Rayhana asked him fearfully.
"جِئْتُ أُعْطيكِ هَدِيَّةً."
"I came to give you a gift."
أَخْرَجَ قارورَةً صَغيرَةً مِنْ جَيْبِهِ.
He pulled out a small bottle from his pocket.
"هذا عِطْرُ الوَرْدِ الفارِسِيِّ. أَنْدَرُ عِطْرٍ في العالَمِ."
"This is Persian rose perfume. The rarest perfume in the world."
"لا أَسْتَطيعُ قَبولَهُ."
"I cannot accept it."
"لِماذا؟"
"Why?"
"لِأَنَّني مُتَزَوِّجَةٌ."
"Because I am married."
"هَلْ أَنْتِ مُتَزَوِّجَةٌ حَقّاً؟ أَمْ أَنَّكِ سَجينَةٌ في قَفَصٍ ذَهَبِيٍّ؟"
"Are you truly married? Or are you a prisoner in a golden cage?"
بَكَتْ. كَلِماتُهُ لَمَسَتِ الحَقيقَةَ.
She wept. His words touched the truth.
"تَعالَيْ مَعي إلى فارِسَ. هُناكَ سَتَكونينَ مَلِكَةً."
"Come with me to Persia. There you will be a queen."
"لا أَسْتَطيعُ."
"I cannot."
"إذَنْ، دَعيني أُذَوِّقُكِ طَعْمَ الحُرِّيَّةِ لِلَيْلَةٍ واحِدَةٍ."
"Then let me give you a taste of freedom for one night."
الفصل الخامس: التَّوابِلُ المُسْكِرَة
Chapter Five: Intoxicating Spices
جَذَبَها إلَيْهِ وَقَبَّلَها. طَعْمُ فَمِهِ كَالقِرْفَةِ وَالهالِ.
He pulled her to him and kissed her. The taste of his mouth was like cinnamon and cardamom.
"رائِحَتُكِ كَالياسَمينِ،" هَمَسَ وَهُوَ يَفُكُّ شَعْرَها.
"Your scent is like jasmine," he whispered as he untied her hair.
حَمَلَها إلى غُرْفَةِ النَّوْمِ. أَزالَ ثِيابَها قِطْعَةً قِطْعَةً، كَأَنَّهُ يَفْتَحُ أَكْياسَ التَّوابِلِ النَّفيسَةِ.
He carried her to the bedroom. He removed her clothes piece by piece, as if he were opening sacks of precious spices.
"جَسَدُكِ كَنْزٌ،" قالَ وَهُوَ يَتَأَمَّلُ جَسَدَها المُمْتَلِئَ. "نَهْداكِ كَتِلالِ الزَّعْفَرانِ، وَبَطْنُكِ كَوادي الوُرودِ."
"Your body is a treasure," he said as he contemplated her full body. "Your breasts are like hills of saffron, and your belly like a valley of roses."
"لا أَحَدَ قالَ لي هذا مِنْ قَبْلُ."
"No one has ever told me this before."
"زَوْجُكِ أَعْمى."
"Your husband is blind."
الفصل السادس: نارُ الفُلْفُل
Chapter Six: The Fire of Pepper
قَبَّلَ كُلَّ شِبْرٍ مِنْ جَسَدِها. لِسانُهُ يَتَذَوَّقُها كَما يَتَذَوَّقُ التّاجِرُ بَضاعَتَهُ.
He kissed every inch of her body. His tongue tasted her as a trader tastes his merchandise.
"طَعْمُكِ أَحْلى مِنَ العَسَلِ الفارِسِيِّ."
"Your taste is sweeter than Persian honey."
وَصَلَ بَيْنَ فَخِذَيْها. لَحَسَ زَهْرَتَها بِمَهارَةٍ.
He reached between her thighs. He licked her flower skillfully.
"يا إلهي!" صَرَخَتْ. "ما هذِهِ النّارُ؟!"
"My God!" she cried. "What is this fire?!"
"هذِهِ نارُ اللَّذَّةِ. دَعيها تَحْرِقُكِ."
"This is the fire of pleasure. Let it burn you."
اسْتَمَرَّ حَتّى وَصَلَتْ إلى ذُرْوَتِها، جَسَدُها يَنْتَفِضُ وَصَوْتُها يَصْرُخُ.
He continued until she reached her peak, her body convulsing and her voice crying out.
"كَيْوانُ! كَيْوانُ!"
"Kayvan! Kayvan!"
"هذا أَوَّلُ صُراخِكِ. سَأَجْعَلُكِ تَصْرُخينَ أَكْثَرَ."
"That is your first cry. I will make you scream more."
الفصل السابع: الاتِّحادُ الحَريرِيّ
Chapter Seven: The Silken Union
خَلَعَ ثِيابَهُ. جَسَدُهُ قَوِيٌّ مُحْتَرِفٌ، وَذَكَرُهُ كَبيرٌ مُنْتَصِبٌ.
He removed his clothes. His body was strong and seasoned, and his member was large and erect.
"خُذْني!" تَوَسَّلَتْ. "اِمْلَأْني بِنارِكَ!"
"Take me!" she pleaded. "Fill me with your fire!"
دَخَلَها بِقُوَّةٍ. صَرَخَتْ مِنَ اللَّذَّةِ وَالمُفاجَأَةِ.
He entered her forcefully. She cried out from pleasure and surprise.
"أَنْتَ أَكْبَرُ... أَكْبَرُ مِنْهُ..."
"You are bigger... bigger than him..."
"اُنْسَيْهِ. أَنا هُنا الآنَ."
"Forget him. I am here now."
بَدَأَ يَتَحَرَّكُ بِإيقاعٍ سَريعٍ. جَسَدُها المُمْتَلِئُ يَهْتَزُّ مَعَ كُلِّ دَفْعَةٍ.
He began to move with a fast rhythm. Her full body shook with each thrust.
"أَقْوى!" صَرَخَتْ. "أُريدُ أَنْ أَشْعُرَ بِكَ في أَعْماقي!"
"Harder!" she cried. "I want to feel you in my depths!"
رَفَعَ ساقَيْها عَلى كَتِفَيْهِ وَدَخَلَها أَعْمَقَ.
He lifted her legs onto his shoulders and entered her deeper.
الفصل الثامن: الذُّرْوَةُ العَطِرَة
Chapter Eight: The Fragrant Climax
"أَنا قَريبَةٌ مَرَّةً أُخْرى!" صَرَخَتْ.
"I am close again!" she cried.
"سَنَصِلُ مَعاً!"
"We will arrive together!"
زادَ سُرْعَتَهُ حَتّى صارا يَتَحَرَّكانِ كَجَسَدٍ واحِدٍ.
He increased his speed until they moved as one body.
"آآآهٍ!" صَرَخا مَعاً وَهُما يَصِلانِ إلى ذُرْوَتِهِما.
"Ahhh!" they cried together as they reached their peak.
أَفْرَغَ نَفْسَهُ داخِلَها، حَرارَتُهُ تَمْلَأُ رَحِمَها.
He emptied himself inside her, his heat filling her womb.
اسْتَلْقَيا مُتَشابِكَيْنِ، أَنْفاسُهُما تَمْتَزِجُ كَرَوائِحِ التَّوابِلِ.
They lay intertwined, their breaths mixing like the scents of spices.
"تَعالَيْ مَعي إلى فارِسَ،" هَمَسَ.
"Come with me to Persia," he whispered.
"لا أَسْتَطيعُ. لكِنَّني سَأَنْتَظِرُكَ كُلَّ رَبيعٍ."
"I cannot. But I will wait for you every spring."
الخاتِمَة
Epilogue
مِنْ ذلِكَ اليَوْمِ، صارَ كَيْوانُ يَزورُ حَلَبَ كُلَّ رَبيعٍ. يَأْتي بِبَضائِعِهِ الفارِسِيَّةِ، وَيَأْتي بِقَلْبِهِ لِرَيْحانَةَ.
From that day, Kayvan visited Aleppo every spring. He came with his Persian goods, and he came with his heart for Rayhana.
وَمَحْمودٌ العَجوزُ لَمْ يَعْرِفْ أَبَداً أَنَّ أَثْمَنَ بِضاعَةٍ في دُكّانِهِ كانَتْ قَلْبَ زَوْجَتِهِ، وَأَنَّ تاجِراً آخَرَ قَدْ سَرَقَها.
And old Mahmoud never knew that the most precious merchandise in his shop was his wife's heart, and that another trader had stolen it.
انْتَهَتِ القِصَّة | The End