As her parents sat drinking their morning coffee with cardamom pods and rose water, Fadila came in to join them and, in as few words as possible, told them about the incident. “After conning me with a story about how his mom was sick at home and wanted to talk to me, he r***d me.”
She expected her father to fly into an indignant rage and call down curses on Mutaa, his father, and all his ancestors. But in a surprise that stung as cruelly as her father’s slaps, he growled, “You should thank your lucky stars, girl. He spoke to me just a little while ago and said he wanted to move up the marriage-contract signing ceremony to tomorrow. So you’d better keep your mouth shut and quit acting like a spoiled brat. Be grateful he’s still willing to marry you! Who else do you suppose would want you n
