Basel and Mai decided to meet the following Friday at the club. They soon started meeting every Friday, getting to know each other better and better. During the week, the time past very slowly, but they kept in touch with secret phone calls and text messages. They talked about everything and anything: history, art and sometimes love. Mai found in Basel a decent, charming young man, very well educated and a lover of her country. She never even noticed that he wasn't from Egypt, the country which had clearly stolen his heart. In short, Mai found in him the true meaning of humanity and manhood. When they walked along the street together, he was always protective, letting his jacket warm her shoulders and concerned if the breeze ruffled her hair. She was his and no-one could ever take her away from him. She was the queen of his heart and no-one else would ever dream of taking her place. Meanwhile, Basel found in her the true meaning of femininity. She was like a flower that blooms in every season, with the tenderness and vulnerability of a butterfly, but liable to turn into a lioness if anybody crossed the red line. She knew when to talk and how to talk, and how to treat everyone in the right manner. The hours and days passed by, as their love grew stronger, blooming like jasmine and roses. She wanted to spend the rest of her life in his arms, oblivious of the world around them. Three years later, Basel graduated as an officer and Mai finished school, enrolling in the Faculty of Commerce. And now it was time for Basel to make an important decision. "My love, I think it's time for you to become the queen of my heart and the captain of my ship. I want you to be mine and me to be yours. I want to lie in your arms after a hard day's work and I want to be woken every morning by your sweet voice. I want to kiss you tenderly without feeling guilty. I want you to be my wife. Do you accept?" At these long-awaited words, her eyes filled with tears and her heart danced for joy. "Those are the most beautiful words I've ever heard. Of course I want to be your wife. Nothing would make me happier than to be with you for the rest of my life. I love you," said Mai, as she threw herself into his arms and wept. "Now I know that you are a true Egyptian. You people always cry whether you are happy or sad," said Basel. "But there's one problem. How can we get your father to agree, as I'm a Palestinian? Besides, I might have to return to Palestine at any moment. Would you be able to leave your home and join me?" "Why would my dad say no?" she answered sharply. "My mum already has an idea about you anyway. I'll follow you wherever you go." But it wasn't that easy. Like any mother, Mai's mother was delighted at the thought of her daughter in a white wedding dress, soon, she hoped, to be followed by lots of little grandchildren. Her father, however, was difficult to convince about anything. He was very hardheaded, having lived most of his life in other Arab countries, working as an Arabiclanguage teacher to earn enough money to give their family a decent start in life. He'd spent twenty lonely years in the Gulf, far from his wife and their children. That loneliness and all the hard work had made him very tough in his attitude. When they were small, he only ever came home in the summer to see them, bearing lots of gifts. But, because of this, he'd been like a stranger to his children. He'd made a lot of money, but had paid a terrible price in the process, losing the affection of his dear wife and kids. Sadly, this often happens in Egyptian families, although a father's intentions in going to the Gulf are only the best.
