The lights came on. Oh! I forgot to introduce myself. I’m Malak.
Dr. Malak.
Yeah, a psychiatrist. A normal human being, not like the heroines you read about in novels.
Not drop-dead gorgeous or anything like that.
Anyway, let’s get to the point.
To be honest, I’ve traveled a lot and met so many women.
Each one had a story.
The first one? Fatma.
The first door.
I finally—after years of hard work—opened my own clinic. Got everything set up.
It was supposed to be my dream come true.
But…
Month after month…
Not a single patient showed up.
That’s when I started losing hope.
Rayan (on the phone): Hello? Why the hell aren’t you answering your phone, girl?
Malak (half-asleep): What do you want, idiot? Who calls someone at 4 in the freakin’ morning?
Rayan: Get up, lazybones. I’m headed to Upper Egypt and thought I’d take you with me, ya shrink-for-the-crazies.
How’s the clinic doing?
Malak: Nada. I’m seriously thinking of shutting it down.
And stop calling me “shrink-for-the-crazies,” you animal doctor!
Rayan: Hurry up, will you? Get dressed properly before they shoot you down there.
Malak: Fine. Gimme an hour.
Rayan: Cool. I’ll be waiting downstairs at Grandma’s.
(Rayan: 28, a vet. He and Malak are cousins, but they’re like siblings.)
Malak went downstairs and greeted her grandma.
Malak: Morning, Grandma! You’re as sweet as ever.
Grandma Hoda: Morning, honey. Come eat something.
Malak: Not hungry. You eat.
Let’s go, Rayan.
Rayan: Oh, so you treat Grandma like royalty, and I get treated like trash? Lord, give me patience.
(He kisses Grandma Hoda on the head)
Rayan: Take care, Grandma. We’ll be gone for two weeks max.
Rayan: Come on, let’s go already.
We hit the road—and of course, argued the whole way.
Rayan: Say one more word and I swear I’ll leave you on the side of the road.
Oh, I almost forgot…
Malak: Hmm? What now?
Rayan (hands her something): Here.
Malak: What’s this?
Rayan: Your wedding ring, duh.
You think I can show up in Upper Egypt without a “wife”? They’ll shoot both of us!
Malak: Alright, baby. 😂😂
Rayan: Even your fake laugh’s off! 😂🤣 I should’ve married Gaafar El-Omda with his mustache instead of you!
Malak: 😂😂 You should see yourself talking—Arab Tom Cruise!
Rayan: We’re here. Get out, wifey.
Malak: Wifey who, baby? 😂 You really married me with a fake-ass ring?
Rayan: You think I got money for a real one? 😅
We got to the house where Rayan stays when he works in Upper Egypt.
Rayan: My landlady’s awesome. She actually cooks. Not like some people who bring sunscreen or whatever it’s called.
Malak: Shut up and eat, vet boy, before I burn you and that mustache.
They ate and then each went to their rooms and crashed.
6:00 AM
LOUD KNOCKING ON THE DOOR
Man yelling: Dr. Rayan! Dr. Rayan! Please, it’s urgent—Walaa’s slipping away!
Malak shot out of bed and opened the door—
Only for Rayan to grab her by the collar.
Rayan: Get back inside!
Rayan: What’s going on, Uncle Khodr?
Uncle Khodr: Hurry, Doctor! Walaa’s not gonna make it!
Rayan grabbed his bag and rushed out.
Malak threw on some clothes and ran after him.
They reached a barn—and found Rayan mid-delivery…
delivering a buffalo calf.
Malak: Uncle… is he seriously doing this right now?! I thought someone was dying!
Uncle Khodr (confused): Huh?
To be continued...
Written by: Yasmine Mohamed
Finally, I would like to say that the novel is Egyptian, so please excuse any translation errors.
