The door closed softly behind them, its faint echo lingering in the stillness of the room. Hélal had barely turned when Rose pushed him swiftly against the wall, as though she wished to corner him between her arms and the weight pressing on her heart. His eyes widened in surprise for an instant, then the shock dissolved into a tender gaze, clear and luminous like a spring.
She rested her head against his chest, her hands trembling over him, before collapsing into his embrace all at once, as though she had finally found harbor after a long, wearisome voyage. Hélal wrapped his arms gently around her, holding her as a mother cradles her child, his face serene, tinged with quiet melancholy.
A blush spread across her cheeks, her ears glowing warm with embarrassment. She whispered in a halting voice, where reproach mingled with gratitude:
—"You fool… to take advantage of me in the street? You embarrassed me terribly… yet I was so happy."
She lifted her head slightly, her eyes glistening with withheld tears, and continued:
—" When you handed the girl over to me, I doubted you… Even though I trust you, how could I see you returning from work with another girl? My heart faltered. But you proved to me there was nothing between you, that your care for me had never wavered. And besides… she was with a young man too, so—"
He cut her off, stroking her hair softly:
—"Enough… enough, Rose."
He gently held her chin, raising it until her eyes sank into his, and said with a voice brimming with certainty:
—"There is no one in my life but you, my dearest."
Two tears slipped down her cheeks; he brushed them away tenderly with his thumb. Then he leaned in, closing the distance, until his lips touched hers in a warm kiss—a kiss that restored calm to an anxious heart, and renewed the old covenant of trust and love.
In that moment, a light breeze drifted through the half-open window, carrying with it the fragrance of late afternoon. The white curtains swayed gently, as if the very air its
But the stillness of the room did not last long. Soon, the sound of movement stirred outside. They exchanged a brief glance before Hélal opened the door with measured steps. Rose walked beside him, her features still aglow with that tender radiance which betrayed everything, though she tried to ma
In the sitting room, Aws reclined on the sofa, his arm resting along its back, eyes fixed on Shams, who was examining something in her hands. When they both looked up, they saw Hélal and Rose standing at the entrance, as if emerging from another scene altogether.
Aws said nothing at first. A hesitant smile curved his lips, unable to hide his astonishment. Shams blinked quickly, as though trying to confirm what she saw, then turned her gaze aside in a half-smile. The atmosphere in the room shifted; a new breeze seemed to sweep in, carrying with it a hint of unease.
Hélal sat down first, then spoke in a calm but firm tone:
—"This is my wife… Rose."
A brief silence followed, the words casting their shadow across the room. Rose greeted them with a gentle nod, saying:
—"You are my husband's students. Welcome."
The weight of her words struck Aws and Shams; a moment of stunned surprise gave way to a quiet sense of relief. They exchanged a quick glance before replying together in a voice filled with genuine respect:
—"Welcome, teacher's wife."
Just moments before Hélal and his wife entered, the sitting room had been hushed. Aws and Shams were examining the relics laid out before them: engraved stones and old papers carrying the scent of time. Aws leaned over the table, studying the strange markings, while Shams turned a small ornament in her hands, as if asking it for answers.
Suddenly, she broke the silence, her voice sharp against the stillness:
—"What do you think then? Doesn't it seem as if it was destined? He received us himself and spoke to us about it!"
Aws looked up at her, hesitant:
—"You mean… Divine Providence? The divine path?"
A spark lit up in Shams's eyes, as if stars had spilled into them, and she said with passion:
—"You fool! Don't you see? It's like something out of a fantasy tale! Didn't you hear how he spoke of using the powers of the elements? Hah? Hah?"
Aws gave a half-smile, his tone more thoughtful:
—"True. But he also said it was difficult, rare… Still, you're right. It does sound exciting. As though the divine path itself is something extraordinary, filled with obstacles… but also the very thing that gives life meaning."
He leaned his head back slightly, his voice softening:
—"Even if there are no supernatural powers like in stories, the path itself is the joy… It's the purpose we've been missing in our lives, isn't it?"
Shams nodded quietly, her eyes still shining:
—"Then… let's ask him to teach us."
And before the echo of her words had faded, the sound of the door opening filled the air.
At present, a few minutes after Rose had stepped inside with the groceries, the living room remained still, broken only by the breaths of Aws and Shams, who were still marveling at the strangeness of it all.
Shams broke the silence with a tone tinged with childlike curiosity:
Shams: "Teacher… aren't you a bit too young? And… you're already married?"
Hilal smiled softly, as if the question had brought him back to a memory he knew well. He exchanged a brief glance with Rose before she disappeared into the kitchen. He then sat facing his two young pupils, clasped his hands together, and spoke with a gentle seriousness:
Hilal: "Well then… let's consider this our first lesson. Let's start with a simple question: aren't males and females different?"
They answered at once, without hesitation:
Both: "Yes."
Hilal: "And don't they need each other?"
They exchanged a look, then replied in unison:
Both: "Yes."
He raised his eyebrows slightly, as if pressing them into a corner with an unexpected question:
Hilal: "So, when you said 'yes,' was your answer about one specific person? Or about the two sexes in general?"
They hesitated, then Aws spoke after a pause:
Aws: "About the sexes in general…"
Shams nodded in agreement.
Hilal smiled like a teacher pleased with his students' progress.
Hilal: "Then it is something woven into human nature itself. You did not reach that answer by reasoning alone, but by recognizing your own fitrah."
A brief silence followed. Aws and Shams felt that he was not delivering a passing lecture, but leading their minds step by step. The knowledge seemed to bloom inside them, rather than being thrown at them from outside.
Hilal continued:
"But… there is a truth you do not yet know: in the Divine Path, a man is not permitted to touch a woman, nor to look at her, nor to speak with her without need. The same applies in reverse. For such desires can divert a person from life's higher purpose, stripping away the human form until he resembles an animal."
Shams frowned, and Aws spoke in a low voice:
Aws: "But… isn't that a contradiction? That God plants desire within us, only to forbid us from it? Isn't that unwise?"
Hilal nodded gently, as though expecting the objection.
Hilal: "On the surface, it may appear so. But if you look closely at the universe, you'll find that every instinct has multiple paths. Let's take an example: earning money. What do you think of it?"
They answered at once, confidently:
Both: "There's nothing wrong with it… it's natural."
Hilal smiled:
Hilal: "And what if that money were earned through theft, or murder, or trading in people's secrets?"
Both shuddered, their eyes widening.
Hilal: "God is wise beyond doubt. When He placed instincts within us, He also set laws upon the earth to guide them, and alongside them, boundaries and consequences. The aim is that the path be straight, and the outcome just."
He fixed them with a deep gaze:
Hilal: "Now, let's apply this idea to the relationship between man and woman. Their bond is not random; it is restricted to certain paths. So, what are the right ways of earning money?"
Eagerly, they began to list them:
Both: "Working in a profession… selling goods… offering advice… or services…"
Hilal nodded in approval, then drew the parallel back to the original matter:
Hilal: "And so, the complementary relationship between man and woman is restricted to two options: marriage—where a man may marry up to four women, while a woman may only take one husband—or through purchase of slaves."
Aws and Shams froze, their faces pale with shock. They gasped together:
Both: "Purchase…?!"
Hilal smiled, adding with clarity:
Hilal: "Yes, purchase, not enslavement. Meaning: one who is already a slave may be bought. There is no injustice in it. These were systems established so that human life would remain orderly, not driven by chaos and desire."
At that moment, Aws and Shams felt that their first lesson was not merely an introduction to rules, but a bridge linking what had seemed like fantasy that morning with something they could now truly grasp.