" Mummy!" "Mummy!" "Mummy!" " Are you all right Nawal?" "Same dream again?" " Same dream and same fate!" "What shall I do Sofia?" "Shall I spend the rest of my life awake, so that I wonít die in my dreams?" " Did you take your medicine?" " Yes" " How about if I sleep next to you?" " Donít leave the kids." "I am ok, you go now" " If you didnít sleep, call me so I stay with you" " Ok" " Why I keep on seeing this dream whenever my eyes fall asleep?" "It must be my conscience blaming me does my conscience too condemn me, as my husband and his society did?" "and does this mean that I am condemning myself too?" "I am mistaken, sinful" "Oh conscience, how do you condemn me and there is a God" "Its only the lord knows, while we all donít" "Come with me years back. live my life with me through the years so you know and appreciate" "As you may forgive, or may be not" "Those years starts with spring in the country side" "Me, my brother and his wife were at this time like three big childs know nothing about life except that its a pretty smile.. no, a big laugh from the depth of cuddling hearts" "grows on love of man to man and people to people" "Now what Mamdouh?" "What will you do if Mr. Taher knows the inventory is short" " He sure will know, especially he is becoming a minister soon and will get a big attorney to handle the inventory and they will do an audit and handcuffs will be in your naughty hands" " Itís if he hire me instead of that big attorney, its me who will conduct the audit and I will of course cover it up till I pay it all over from my salary that should increase." " How will he hire you if you are a fresh graduate?" " Why not?" "I know the cases in the office by heart and I can make representation in court better than any new attorney." " approach him then, speak to him, maybe he will agree." " This afternoon when I go to him with the cases I will bring the matter up, I surely will." " Liar!" "You only say that to us." "But the second you are in front of him, you shake and sweat and get mute." " Is he that scary?" " you have no idea, when you see him you will know and understand." " you have to approach him today, you are not a baby any more, be a real man once for a change." " I am a man indeed." "You will see." "I will prove it today." "I will come back from his office a manager." " So move it and go revise the cases before you go to him so he may satisfy." " but I bet Nawal on who will get more fish." " its me who will bet her that you will get 5 years behind bars." " you will loose the bet." " Jeeeez, move it then and have some dignity" " Off your donkeys, his excellence is passing by" " turn to the bridge and go to the eastern manor" " the bridge is still not repaired, Sir" " then get me off here, I will have little walk and you set off to the mansion" " Affirmative Sir" " What are you doing here, girl?" " What are you doing here?" " waiting for the bus!" " canít you read?" "Didnít you read the sign?" "This is a private berth." " Am I a boat old man?" "I am just fishing!" " but you are sitting in private property." "This berth belongs to his Sir Taher." " his mistake." " His mistake?" " Yes, because he built a berth in the Nile and Nile is for all the Egyptians." "so he deserves that any one uses his berth." "Did you get it?" " who is your father?" "Which family?" " none of your bloody business." "Are you the sentinel?" " Sentinel?" "!" " donít be upset, I will promote it." "You must be the mayor." " What mayor?" " next you will tell me you are his excellency!" " Wait." "You didnít tell me who is your father." " Ohhh.. take this," " Take what?" " 2P, buy something to your kids and get lost." " and we met later." "And we both recognised the other" "And I felt he wanted to get back at me for this insult that I didnít mean." "He wants to yield me because I always argue with him and donít agree except for what I believe right." "And that was rare," " who is that at this time of the night?" " Who is it!" " I am Taher" " Taher Who?" "!" " I am Taher Refaat mr Mamdouh." " how comes without ì his excellencyî or the Sir" " got inside, quick" "Its inappropriate his excellency sees you in the night gowns" " Excuse me, did I interrupt anything?" " Not at all Sir, not at all" "I was in-fact working just now." "Allow me your highness to change quickly." " No need at all, I am here for a quick word then I will leave you to sleep." " I donít sleep Sir before 3am, because I have to review the cases several times." " you are indeed a hard-working mr Mamdouh and you will have a great career." " Its all because of your highness." "I am your student in the school of Law and in the office." " Sometimes things one is looking for are just under his nose!" " It happens, Sir." " Happens a lot." " I personally was looking unsuccessfully for a good attorney to manage my office for over a month now, even though that he was infront of me all the time." " Dare I to ask your highness, who is he?" " Itís you mr Mamdouh." " Me?" " Yes you." "because you are well qualified for this position." " God bless you Sir" "I pray I will not let you down" " my trust in you is much higher" " Oh sir I ammmm" " donít say anything." "sit down mr mamdouh, sit down" "Do you know how much my wealth is valued at?" " A lot sir, a lot." " One and half million Egyptian Pounds" "That does not include my deposits outside Egypt none the less my position as a minister and as you know lifting the party on my shoulders, etc. etc." "Despite all this, I am lonely, disadvantaged from all pleasures, from all rights as a man, as a human." "I donít have a wife nor children to enjoy my wealth and my reputation." "Best families in Egypt will be honoured to be related to your highness, who sain girl wonít wish?" " Despite my age?" " sir, she will live in such a life that only paradise is better than." " So we agree, only left her own opinion." "And of course she will agree." " She who?" " You sister, Miss Nawal." " This is not much for you all, you deserve the best." "I am glad I picked my wife and my office manager from the same family and in one night." "Congratulations." " You refuse my open hand?" " No sir." "Anyone but Nawal." "Except her." " Please donít make a quick refusal, nor even a quick consent." "Donít make me feel that you are reckless and not up to be the manager of my office." "So I have to bring another attorney then a hand over will take place and audit for the cases and the treasury." "That long procedures we all want to avoid." "Think well... very well and consult her and let me know by tomorrow" "Good night" " His highness Sir Taher Refaat" "I raise to your highness hereby my resignation ..." " What the hell you are writing Mamdouh?" " I am.." "I am writing my resignation" "Unbelievable Nawal, this man Sir Taher is hallucinating, heís gone mad" " Why then?" " Do you believe he has... has.." " Has what?" " Has... has been so corrupted, he wanted to hire a relative of madame Khayria ñ his cousin ñ as an office manager." "He is a very fresh graduate from the law school, to be my own boss!" "I will never accept this non sense." "In regards to the money I took, I am a lawyer and know how to defend myself." " you are truly a lawyer, but a liar one." " A liar one?" " We overheard all your conversation with Sir Taher from behind the door." " We heard how you were about to make me loose a bridegroom catch." " What nonsense?" " Impossible I will accept you sacrifice yourself for me." " FOR YOU!" "?" "piss off!" " If you think so then you are a fool." "I will ride a Cadillac" "I will wear to the latest fashion from Paris." "I will live in palaces, travel to Europe." " You Nawal?" " Or else you?" "Get out of the way of her highness, you wretch" "You suit misery but I suit grace, suit wealth, suit diamonds, suit gold" "Oh conscience and thatís how I gave up my dreams and ambitious I gave up my youth and life for love" "My love to my brother and Sofia, and their mutual future hence I entered with my free will a dreadful prison" "Many years passed and I live as a wife of his highness as an island surrounded by traditions and manifestation.. artificiality and affectation" "I forgot through those years the heart smile and left to know nothing but smiles of lips and teeth." "But I was well rewarded by a shining smile that lights my life This smile was my own son Hani." " Mummy.." "Mummy" " Whats up, why you are roaring mr Hani" " Where is Mummy?" " Not yet back." " How comes?" " Come, leave your stuff inside and wash your face by the time Mummy will be here." "come darling, come" " OMG" " Happy birthday Hani" " Mummy!" "merci Mummi, I love you so much." " You will strangle me Hani" " Love doesnít kill Mummy No darling, it doesnít but you grew up now and your arms are pretty strong." " See, you received a telegram from your uncle Mamdouh" "To his excellency Sir Hani Taher" " Am I ìhis excellencyî and a Sir?" " Of course isnít daddy a Sir and his excellency?" " Best wishes for your birthday, and we hope you grew up to be a daddy yourself and a granny too." "Kisses from Aunt Sofia and your nephew and niece Mona and Mounir." "My love to Mummy, Daddy and the maid" " How kind, we miss him and his pleasurable company He shouldnít have left the position of Sirís office manager to work as an attorney in the sugar company so far in upper Egypt!" " He is happy there nanny." "Come darting letís play with the train." "Isnít this one you wanted?" " This one is much better." "Show me how it works." " Here you go darling." "You push this a little" " May I travel in the train with you too mr Hani?" "No, its only for me and Mummy." " How about me?" "you get the cargo train" " Unfair, you should regret." "Sorry nanny I was kidding" " What is that UmulKhair?" " Is that a proper act from a trusted nanny." " I ammm" " How do you allow this to happen in front of you Nawal?" " Umulkhair is overjoyed for Haniís birthday" " By this tacky way?" " Itís the first and last time Sir" " You havenít great Daddy, Hani!" " This is for you Hani." "Happy birthday" " Thank you daddy, merci" " This is Chess, a game full of potential to develop brains It teach one prudence, warned and accuracy in every move" " and who will explain it and play it with me daddy?" " The game has a book that demonstrates the rules Ask your mummy to read it with you so you can play together.." "You will benefit much" " I play Chess well." " How eccentric" " I can even beat you in Chess." "You think so?" "!" " Why not?" " Not because of the accumulative wisdom and experiences of over 60 years." "And a mentality that affects the steering of a whole country, unlike mentalities that fail raising a child!" " What do you mean Taher?" " I mean you shouldnít have brought Hani this train toy." " He wanted it badly" " Thatís exactly why you shouldnít." "If we agree to all childís desires, he will grow up to be selfish, impetuous and canít control his desires." "Ignorant of the meaning of contentment and realities accepting." " I only get him what he wants once a year, in his Birthday." " So what I build in a year, you demolish in a day!" " Please letís not argue now, I have to prepare for my sonís birthday party" " Ask Omulkhair to arrange those things because we are invited on tea at his excellency the president then on a cocktail party at the Parliament Speakerís." " But this is our sonís birthday." "This will upset him a lot." " I called Khayria and she will come to celebrate it with him." " Unbelievable Taher, yes she is your cousin, but not his mother not father!" " What unbelievable is to miss parties of the biggest two heads of the state" " You go alone then and apologies on my behalf Say I am ill, if your sonís birthday is not an enough excuse" " I never lied Nawal and I will not start at this point of my life please get ready, we only have half an hour... excuse me" " Taher..." "I am sure I can beat you in Chess." " What is that Hani?" " Those are toys Hani won at the Thorpe Park" " Nawal, please let him answer." " Mummy took me to the Thorpe park" " Is this appropriate for a son and a wife of a minister?" " I promised Hani to take him out, because yesterday we were busy and didnít attend his birthday party." " Neither time nor venue were appropriate for this night out, Nawal" " See, thatís because you are not focuses because you are well spoilt" " Its ok Taher, it was an accident" " Please, I hate so much this word ìIts Okî" " Whatís wrong with ìIts OKî?" " It raises sense of no responsibility, thus carelessness in conducting mistakes" " I apologise, itís Haniís mistake" " You even have to present Haniís apology on his behalf!" " Up to your room you go!" "He didnít have dinner yet" " Hani will miss dinner with us tonight to feel he is guilty." "Up you go!" " Yes Daddy" " Taher, as a mother I have the right to object the way you treat the boy." " I intentionally mean to treat him this way, because the way you raise him will make him highly depending on you, not trying to depend on himself and will create a person with weak personality." " You are mistaken, Taher" " I donít EVER do mistakes, Nawal." " No one doesnít." "Hani is a child, he needs the love and care of both his parents not only his mother." " Please realise that this is what will shape his personality and character when he grows up" " Itís me who was preaching, not you." "Enough with this matter as we are late for dinner and I have an important council of ministers meeting at 9:00" " I think we agree that Dinner time should always be exactly at 8:00 but still you came from the amusement park late" " Why did you wait for me then?" "Why didnít you eat?" " Its not about the food." "Itís a matter of principal." "a special regime we agreed to follow long time ago" " What time was it when I came back then?" " five past eight!" " So itís eight then?" " No Madame it wasnít." "One minute makes a whole difference." "In wars one minute makes the destiny of nations, differs between life and death." " You are absolutely right Taher." "One minute ago I was dying starving but now I am full, very full.." "Excuse me" "And that is how clouds of depression and sorrow were gathering in the horizon of my life." "So I hated it and hoped for salvation" "I saw for the first time the dreadful dream" "Mummy!" ".." "Mummy!" "Mummy are you alright Mummy?" " Whats wrong madame?" " What happened Nawal?" "Speak up." " Nothing." "I was dreaming." "A glass of water, quick" " It must have been a nightmare." "May I know it?" "That was all the dream doctor." "Then of course this person woke up to find himself in the bed." " This is just a nightmare." " I donít think so Madame Khayria" "Dreams in general are emotions and memories the subconscious save by day and release at night." " But what is the meaning of this dream?" " May I know who is that person?" " You donít know him and never met him before." " It is important to know the nature of life surrounds him, but never mind" "The car this person drives represents his own life i.e. his life is dark and locked like a prison" "The railway on his left and right represents his past and future and the train represents a wish" " What wish?" " This person wants to die." "The dear person who was calling his name is the only thing that keeps this person alive and wants to continue." "The bells and the crossing light represent his conscience." " How bizarre" " What do you think Sir Taher?" " I am a man of law and donít believe any story unless it is sense making and I donít see in this explanation any sense." "Letís sit with his excellency the president." " What a philosopher." " Poor Nawal.." " I heard Sir Taher practice his philosophy with her all days." " and Nights" " How rude, Sir Taher is a wealth of knowledge, a living dictionary." " Imagine you were married to a dictionary." " God forbid." "Fortunately, I am married to an idiot." " We canít have time alone for even a minute!" " Where is Mother?" "Inside with the princess listening to the Piano" " Ok, I will go out for some fresh air." "I am suffocating from this sickening atmosphere." "Excuse me Nawal" " I didnít find any difference between the new law and others in any other country thatís why I hope that forcing the law will be compulsory." " I personally agree" " and your majesty?" " Any proposal from the stateís first legislator, is indeed approved." " What are you doing Nawal?" " Nothing much, just entertaining myself." " You should be ashamed of yourself." " I didnít do wrong!" " isnít it wrong that you interrupt my focus with your music, while I am up working at 2:00 am?" " Five past two, Taher!" "Good night" "A few days later, I received a message from my brother pleading for my help to save his marriage." " Nawal, I swear I didnít do it." "I am a victim here." "Itís the nanny Simon who kissed me when Sofia entered the room." "I was in fact drunk and unaware of anything, drunk by the seducing perfume of the bloody maid." "I asked Mounir to play ill to stop Sofia leaving till you come for rescue." "Please come now, now, immediately" " and the rest of the letter reads ìnow, now, nowî" "Do you think your travel will benefit them?" " I think I can persuade Sofia and everything will be ok" " Despite what your brother did?" " Those who love can always forgive think you donít mind if I take Hani with me?" " Circumstances in your brotherís life now is not good for Hani and he shouldnít mix with this and the children there even for an hour." " Why is that Taher?" " Firstly because your brotherís irreverence, surrender to his whim his high irresponsibility should have reflected on the way he raised his children." " They are just kids." " That is why they easily absorb from the father all his imperfections" "Secondly, those kids were raised by a bad nanny who had with the father a..." " Thats enough please, no need for more insult to my brother and his children." "I changed my mind" " I didnít want to refuse your request, but I want you to understand what I was saying is true and to believe that I am right." " Donít you ever get tired?" " Of what?" " Of being always right." "Of doing no mistakes ever." "If I were you I would long a single mistake" " Dear Nawal, a man can commit a mistake, only in one case, if thinks with his/her heart." " Then you wonít ever do any mistake." " So I travelled alone, without Hani for the first time" "Taher has distant me from the warmth of my life and my heartís shield." " Are you done yet, Da Vinci?"