Zahra Between the Talons of a Falcon

--- A story that lies between love and revenge, between duty and traditions, and between a heart that does not recognize traditions. This time the war will be between a person and themselves, between their heart and their beliefs and customs. So is there a winner or a loser in this battle, or is defeat all that will be gained in the end? Our story begins in Upper Egypt, in one of the villages in Sohag Governorate. A beautiful girl sits there, looking like a princess with her long hair and wide green eyes, singing one of Kadim Al Sahir's songs: "Ya Akhir Watana, Old Beeh wa Odofn Feh, wa Aktob Beeh Riwayati" Her grandfather enters. An old man, aged, yet despite his age he carries dignity. The conversation begins. **Grandfather Mostafa** : What's up, Doctor Zahra? Isn't Kadim enough already? **Zahra** : Startled, surprised, and a bit shy Grandpa!! You should've knocked, Grandpa. **Grandfather Mostafa** : My girl, I've been knocking on the door for an hour. **Zahra** : I'm sorry, Grandpa. It's my fault, but I— **Grandfather Mostafa** : Cutting her off You were singing a bit. **Zahra** : With a laugh No, of course not. I was studying but got bored so I decided to take a break. **Grandfather Mostafa** : Take a break?! You've become like the city girls, Zahra. Not just in looks, but in your speech and actions too. **Zahra** : I'm sorry, Grandpa. I'll try while I'm here to speak properly, like you want. **Grandfather Mostafa** : Why, my dear? I didn't mean it like that. You can speak however you want. And you know I'm the only one who agreed to you traveling to the city, staying there, and studying at the big universities. **Zahra** : I know, my dear. You're the only one who thinks about what's best for me. But what can I do about my uncle and his wife? And most importantly, my cousin? How will they let me travel to Alexandria and stay there? **Grandfather Mostafa** : Leave it to me. I know how to handle it. He decides to go down with Zahra to see what's happening in the dewar. It's a house that looks old despite its new furniture, with a rural character, a wide courtyard, a men's guesthouse, and farmland on all sides. **Badr** : Badr is Zahra's aunt by marriage, and she looks harsh and cruel. Everyone in the house hears her voice as she insults Sa'deya, the house maid. Sa'deya cries and begs her for forgiveness, promising she won’t do it again. **Zahra** : What's going on? She takes Sa'deya from her hands. Why are you humiliating the girl like this, Aunt? This isn't right. **Badr** : Oh, look at you, Miss Doctor! Are you going to tell me what's right and what's not? And you, Uncle, what do you think of the Doctor’s words? **Grandfather Mostafa** : My daughter doesn't mean anything by it, Badr. She just wants to know what the girl did to deserve all this. **Zahra** : Sa'deya is fifteen, Aunt. And you have her working in the barn with the animals, in the kitchen, baking, with the poultry, and all the housework. **Sa'deya** : By God, Miss Zahra, I fell asleep in the kitchen and didn't notice the food on the fire. **Zahra** : It's okay, Sa'deya. **Badr** : No, it's not okay. The fifteen-year-old you're talking about has four younger sisters. Their mother only gave birth to girls. Their father got fed up with them, married off some, and put the rest to work in the houses of the town's notables. He comes every month to collect their money. If I hadn't taken her in, she would've been married off already so her father could benefit from her dowry. So you, young lady, don't come here to teach me what's good for her. I know what's best for the girl. **Zahra** : I'm honestly shocked. Is child marriage still happening? **Badr** : With a laugh Girls your age in the village already have one or two kids. And girls like you who aren't married end up taking widowers to raise their children. **Uncle** : Enough, Zahra. You don't know more than your aunt. Come on, Sa'deya, go call the gentlemen upstairs because the food is ready. And call our lady too. Sa'deya goes to call Mahmoud, the youngest son of the family, then Nahed, the spoiled daughter of the family. Despite her failure in school and in all house matters, her mother Badr calls her "the lady of the dewar" and everyone serves her and her requests are orders. Then Salem, Nour looks miserable despite having a beautiful face and an even more beautiful body, with short hair cut like foreigners, brown eyes, fair skin, and delicate features. The opposite of Salem, who has blue eyes but sharp features with cruelty, just like his mother Badr. ---