We reach the old house at dawn. Throwing myself on the couch in the hall while he lights the heater, I hear him ask, “Did you like the play?”

“The audience liked it,” I say lukewarmly.

“And the subject?”

“It’s a powerful plot.”

“Weren’t we depicted as we really are?”

“Don’t start thinking like that spiteful Tariq Ramadan.”

“It’s even more true than the real facts.”

“There’s no connection between the way I appear in that play and the real facts,” I retort angrily. He lets off a repulsive laugh, while I suppress my anguish. “It’s just a fantasy!” I say.

“All of them just as we know them in real life.”

“It’s largely imagination and very little actual fact.”

“Then why did he portray you as he did?”

“That’s his business.”

“I thought that he loved and respected you.”

“There’s no doubt about that.”

“You give yourself away with that bitchy look of yours.”

“I know I’m right.”

“Even Tariq! I never imagined you’d sink to such depths.”

“Spare me your filthy thoughts!” I shout.

“That’s the boy who threw us into prison.”

“He wasn’t describing himself, he was describing you!”

“How virtuous he made himself out to be!”

Fighting down my despair, I burst out, “When he comes back I’m going to leave this damn house and live with him!” and rush to my room. Behind the closed door my own tears strike me dumb. How is it you don’t understand your mother, Abbas?

—

He came reeling, tumbling down the stairs, almost collapsing from fatigue and drunkenness. Then he spotted me. “Some eau de cologne!” he shouted. “I’ve had it!”

I went into my room to get the eau de cologne for him, and he followed me.

“Here you are.”

“Thanks. I drank more than I should have.”

“And you’ve had bad luck from the beginning of the evening.”

After a while, he pulled himself together, looked up at me, then went to the door and bolted it. I prepared to resist.

“Halima, you’re magnificent!” he said.

“Let’s go back upstairs.” He came close to me and I drew back scowling.

“Are you going to be faithful to that lout?”

“I’m a respectable woman and a mother.”

I made a rush for the door and got it open. For a moment he hung back, then he stepped outside and left the house.