Chapter 4
At Haj Ali’s home there was a big crowd of people who came to pay respect to the Haj. The three sons received visitors and everyone sat to listen to verses from the Qur’an in complete silence. Women sat separately in different rooms inside the big house and most of them were crying. Haj Ali’s house was on the outskirts of Cairo far away from the noise of the city.Late at night every thing seemed quieter and many people started to leave. Some of those people came from as far away as 300 kilometers to pay their respect to the dead man. Others who lived overseas rang the family to express their shock at the sudden death of the Haj.
They were all full of praise for his good deeds and charitable work all his life. Not long after that, the door shut quietly behind the last person. The Haj’s wife looked shattered and her four children were next to her. The Haj’s death was especially hard for the daughter who was having her final exams in two weeks’ time in the final year of her university study. She got a lot of emotional support from her fiancé who had to take some days off to be next to her.
It was a hard time for the family especially for Haj Ali’s wife of 45 years. It was equally hard for Kamal’s wife who was expecting to have her baby in a few weeks’ time. She often regarded the late Haj as a kind-hearted father. Every one in the family was shattered by the news of the Haj’s death but they were all determined to try to get over their tragedy. It seemed that only time would heal their wounds.
Kamal decided to leave his small apartment for some time and stay at the big family’s home to be close to his mother to make it easy for her and show family support. The next few days would be very busy for everyone. They would be dealing with lawyers, accountants and other government officials to sort out the inheritance.
They were all full of praise for his good deeds and charitable work all his life. Not long after that, the door shut quietly behind the last person. The Haj’s wife looked shattered and her four children were next to her. The Haj’s death was especially hard for the daughter who was having her final exams in two weeks’ time in the final year of her university study. She got a lot of emotional support from her fiancé who had to take some days off to be next to her.
It was a hard time for the family especially for Haj Ali’s wife of 45 years. It was equally hard for Kamal’s wife who was expecting to have her baby in a few weeks’ time. She often regarded the late Haj as a kind-hearted father. Every one in the family was shattered by the news of the Haj’s death but they were all determined to try to get over their tragedy. It seemed that only time would heal their wounds.
Kamal decided to leave his small apartment for some time and stay at the big family’s home to be close to his mother to make it easy for her and show family support. The next few days would be very busy for everyone. They would be dealing with lawyers, accountants and other government officials to sort out the inheritance.
It was known exactly how much everyone was getting according to Islamic law. They didn’t have to worry a lot about money issues. They trusted that their eldest brother, Moustafa, would work things out. After all, he was the one who knew where all the money was. It was only a matter of time.
Now that the Haj had been buried, every thing seemed different from what it was like one day earlier. Life suddenly turned miserable and their mother looked many years older in a short time. It was a personal tragedy for everyone.
Now that the Haj had been buried, every thing seemed different from what it was like one day earlier. Life suddenly turned miserable and their mother looked many years older in a short time. It was a personal tragedy for everyone.
