Free The Pearl that Broke Its Shell by Nadia Hashimi Page A

son.”
    “I see.” Bobo Shahgul’s voice was sharp, matter-of-fact. “How old is his son?”
    “His son is ten.”
    “He still has time.”
    “Yes, but he wants to arrange the matter now.”
    I could hear Bobo Shahgul tapping her walking stick on the floor in thought.
    “Then we need to arrange a deal with him.”
    “Zalmai, your girls are the right age. Maybe one of them. The older one. She’s eight, isn’t she?” Kaka Freidun’s voice was unmistakable.
    “Sheeragha’s daughter is the same age. And your daughter is the same age as Azizullah’s son. She would be a good match as well and would settle our debts sufficiently.”
    “Freidun’s got more girls than anyone. It makes sense to give one of—”
    “I don’t think it is necessary to send one of the girls.”
    There was a pause as Bobo Shahgul’s sons waited for her to explain.
    “We will offer Shekiba.”
    I am not one of the girls.
    “Shekiba- e-shola ? Are you joking? He’ll take one look at her and come after us demanding twice what we owe! To offer Shekiba will offend him, for sure!”
    Shekiba closed her eyes and pressed the back of her head against the wall.
    Your name means “gift,” my daughter. You are a gift from Allah.
    “Zalmai, I want you to speak to Azizullah and tell him that his son is still young. God willing, he and his father have long lives ahead of them with plenty of time to arrange for a suitable marriage. Tell him it would be more useful for them to have someone who can help them at home now. Tell him a happy wife bears more sons. Then you can offer Shekiba.”
    “But what if he says no?”
    “He won’t. Just be sure to tell him that she is very capable. That she has the back of a young man and can manage a household. She is a reasonable cook and she keeps quiet, now that she’s been tamed. Tell him that it is an honorable thing to take in an orphan and that Allah will reward him for bringing her into his home. She will be like a second wife without the price.”
    “And what about the work she’s doing here? Who will do that?”
    “The same lazy women who were doing it before Shekiba came here!” Bobo Shahgul snapped. “Your wives have been spoiled. They have taken to lying about, drinking tea and making my ears ache with their chatter. It will be good for them to get back on their feet. This is a home, not the royal palace.”
    The brothers grunted. Would Azizullah really take the offer? they wondered. Better to try than to argue on whose daughter would be given as a bride otherwise.
    “Say nothing to your wives now. No need to go stirring the henhouse yet. First let us discuss matters with Azizullah.”
    Shekiba picked herself up from the floor and hurried into the kitchen before her uncles emerged. She couldn’t help but be thankful her parents were not alive to hear this conversation. She felt a tear well in her right eye.
    That is the problem with gifts, Madar- jan . They are always given away.

CHAPTER 9

    A zizullah took the deal.
    Shekiba- e-shola packed her two dresses.
    “Do not do anything that will bring shame to this family.” Her grandmother’s farewell to her was unceremonious.
    Shekiba did something she never thought she would do. She lifted her burqa from her face and spat at her grandmother’s wrinkled feet. A wad of saliva landed on her walking stick.
    “My father was right to run from you.”
    Bobo Shahgul’s mouth gaped as Shekiba turned and began walking toward her uncle, who was to escort her to Azizullah’s home.
    She knew it was coming but she did not care.
    She also knew Khala Zarmina was watching. And smiling.
    The walking stick came down on her shoulders twice before her Kaka Zalmai raised a hand to block his mother’s revenge.
    “Enough, Madar- jan, I cannot take the beast to Azizullah crippled. Her face is bad enough. If he sees her hobbling surely he will turn us down. Let Allah punish her for her insolence.”
    Shekiba kept her shoulders up and did not falter. She did