طَلَبُ الْحَقِّ

بَقِيَ يَوْمَانِ عَلَى افْتِتَاحِ السُّوقِ الْجَدِيدِ. كَانَتْ لِينَا تَكْتُبُ اسْمًا عَلَى لَوْحَةٍ لِبَابٍ آخَرَ، وَلَا تَنْظُرُ إِلَى لَوْحَةِ الْبَابِ السَّادِسِ عِنْدَ الْحَائِطِ.

Two days remained before the new market opened. Lina was painting a name on a sign for another stall, trying not to look at the Door Six sign against the wall.

جَاءَ رَامِي وَحَمَلَ دَفْتَرًا صَغِيرًا. سَأَلَ: «هَلْ أَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ أَتَكَلَّمَ مَعَكِ قَلِيلًا؟» وَضَعَتْ لِينَا الْفُرْشَاةَ فِي الْمَاءِ.

Rami came carrying a small notebook. “May I speak with you for a moment?” he asked. Lina put her brush in water.

قَالَ رَامِي: «قُلْتُ لَكِ إِنِّي كَتَبْتُ الْقَائِمَةَ. وَقُلْتُ إِنِّي ظَنَنْتُ أَنَّ أَمَلًا وَافَقَتْ. لَكِنْ هُنَاكَ شَيْءٌ لَمْ أَقُلْهُ بِوُضُوحٍ».

“I told you I wrote the list,” Rami said. “And that I thought Amal had agreed. But there is something I did not say clearly.”

نَظَرَتْ لِينَا إِلَيْهِ دُونَ أَنْ تُسَاعِدَهُ عَلَى إِكْمَالِ الْجُمْلَةِ. حَرَّكَ رَامِي الْقَلَمَ بَيْنَ أَصَابِعِهِ، كَمَا فَعَلَ فِي الْمَكْتَبِ.

Lina looked at him without helping him finish. Rami turned the pen between his fingers, as he had done in the office.

قَالَ: «عِنْدَمَا أَعْطَتْنِي خَدِيجَةُ الْأَسْمَاءَ الْجَدِيدَةَ، سَأَلْتُ نَفْسِي أَيْنَ وَرَقَةُ مُوَافَقَةِ أَمَلَ. لَكِنَّنِي لَمْ أَسْأَلْ خَدِيجَةَ عَنْهَا».

“When Khadija gave me the new names,” he said, “I wondered where Amal's consent paper was. But I did not ask Khadija for it.”

«لِمَاذَا؟» سَأَلَتْ لِينَا. قَالَ: «كُنْتُ أُرِيدُ أَنْ أُنْهِيَ الْقَائِمَةَ، وَكُنْتُ أَخَافُ أَنْ تَقُولَ خَدِيجَةُ إِنِّي لَا أَفْهَمُ عَمَلِي».

“Why not?” Lina asked. “I wanted to finish the list, and I feared Khadija would say I did not understand my job.”

تَوَقَّفَ رَامِي ثُمَّ أَضَافَ: «لَمْ أَخْتَرِ الْبَابَ لِحَامِدٍ. وَلَكِنِّي كَتَبْتُ اسْمَهُ، وَصَارَ النَّاسُ يَقْرَؤُونَهُ كَأَنَّهُ قَرَارٌ».

Rami paused. “I did not choose Hamid's stall. But I wrote his name, and people began reading it as though it were a decision.”

قَالَتْ لِينَا: «أَعْرِفُ أَنَّكَ لَمْ تَخْتَرْ. لَكِنَّ عَلَيْكَ أَنْ تُخْبِرَ التُّجَّارَ مَا فَعَلْتَهُ، لَا أَنْ تَتْرُكَهُمْ يَظُنُّونَ أَنَّكَ رَأَيْتَ الْمُوَافَقَةَ».

“I know you did not choose,” Lina said. “But you must tell the traders what you did, instead of letting them think you saw the consent.”

سَأَلَ رَامِي: «أَمَامَ الْجَمِيعِ؟» أَجَابَتْ: «عِنْدَ الِاجْتِمَاعِ، إِذَا وَصَلَ الْأَمْرُ إِلَيْهِ. لَا تَحْتَاجُ إِلَى خُطْبَةٍ طَوِيلَةٍ».

“In front of everyone?” Rami asked. “At the meeting, if it comes to that. You do not need a long speech.”

حَاوَلَ رَامِي أَنْ يَبْتَسِمَ. «هَذَا جَيِّدٌ. أَنَا لَا أَنْجَحُ فِي الْخُطَبِ الطَّوِيلَةِ». لَمْ تَضْحَكْ لِينَا، وَلَكِنَّهَا أَشَارَتْ إِلَى الْكُرْسِيِّ.

Rami tried to smile. “That is good. I am not successful at long speeches.” Lina did not laugh, but she offered him a chair.

قَالَتْ: «أَمَلُ مُسْتَعِدَّةٌ لِلْكَلَامِ مَعَ حَامِدٍ. هَلْ تَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ تُعِدَّ طَلَبًا صَغِيرًا لِمُرَاجَعَةِ الْمَلَفِّ، إِذَا وَافَقَا كِلَاهُمَا؟»

“Amal is ready to speak with Hamid,” she said. “Can you prepare a simple request to review the file, if they both agree?”

قَالَ رَامِي: «نَعَمْ. هَذَا مِنْ عَمَلِي. لَكِنَّنِي لَنْ أَفْتَحَ الْمَلَفَّ دُونَ حُضُورِهِمَا وَحُضُورِ شَخْصٍ مِنَ الْجَمْعِيَّةِ».

“Yes. That is part of my work. But I will not open the file without both of them and someone from the association present.”

ذَهَبَتْ لِينَا إِلَى أَمَلَ، وَسَأَلَتْهَا عَنْ وَقْتٍ لِلْكَلَامِ. أَجَابَتْ أَمَلُ: «بَعْدَ الظُّهْرِ. سَأَكُونُ قَدْ أَنْهَيْتُ الْبَيْعَ».

Lina went to Amal and asked for a time to speak. “After noon,” Amal said. “I will have finished selling.”

ثُمَّ وَجَدَتْ حَامِدًا عِنْدَ طَاوِلَةِ الْإِصْلَاحِ. كَانَ يُصْلِحُ رِجْلَ كُرْسِيٍّ صَغِيرٍ. سَأَلَتْهُ: «هَلْ تَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ تَأْتِيَ إِلَى الْمَكْتَبِ بَعْدَ الظُّهْرِ؟»

She found Hamid at his repair bench, fixing a small chair leg. “Can you come to the office after noon?” she asked.

قَالَ: «هَلْ سَتَكُونُ أَمَلُ هُنَاكَ؟» أَجَابَتْ: «نَعَمْ. وَيُمْكِنُكَ أَنْ تَقُولَ لَهَا مَا تُرِيدُ بِنَفْسِكَ».

“Will Amal be there?” he asked. “Yes. And you can say what you want to her yourself.”

وَضَعَ حَامِدٌ الْكُرْسِيَّ عَلَى جَانِبِهِ. «تَكَلَّمْتُ مَعَ أُخْتِي أَمْسِ. قَالَتْ إِنَّ الْأَمْرَ مُنْتَهٍ. لَكِنَّنِي رَأَيْتُ عَرَبَةَ أَمَلَ عِنْدَ الدَّرَجَتَيْنِ».

Hamid set the chair aside. “I spoke to my sister yesterday. She said the matter was settled. But I saw Amal's cart at those steps.”

لَمْ تَسْأَلْهُ لِينَا عَمَّا قَالَتْ أُخْتُهُ بِالضَّبْطِ. كَانَتْ تُرِيدُ أَنْ يَحْدُثَ الْكَلَامُ الْمُهِمُّ وَأَمَلُ حَاضِرَةٌ.

Lina did not ask exactly what his sister had said. She wanted the important conversation to happen with Amal present.

بَعْدَ الظُّهْرِ، جَلَسَتْ أَمَلُ وَحَامِدٌ فِي الْمَكْتَبِ. بَقِيَتْ لِينَا قُرْبَ الْبَابِ، وَوَضَعَ رَامِي وَرَقَةَ الطَّلَبِ عَلَى الطَّاوِلَةِ، دُونَ أَنْ يَدْفَعَهَا إِلَى أَحَدٍ.

After noon, Amal and Hamid sat in the office. Lina stayed near the door. Rami placed the request form on the table without pushing it toward either of them.

قَالَ حَامِدٌ: «وَعَدَتْنِي خَدِيجَةُ بِالْبَابِ السَّادِسِ، وَكَتَبَتْ ذَلِكَ لِي. لَمْ أَعْلَمْ أَنَّكِ لَمْ تُوَافِقِي».

“Khadija promised me Door Six and wrote it down for me,” Hamid said. “I did not know you had not agreed.”

قَالَتْ أَمَلُ: «عِنْدِي وَرَقَةٌ أَقْدَمُ بِاسْمِي. قُلْتُ لِأُخْتِكَ إِنَّنِي سَأُفَكِّرُ فِي التَّبْدِيلِ. لَمْ أَقُلْ إِنِّي وَافَقْتُ، وَلَمْ أُوَقِّعْ».

“I have an earlier paper in my name,” Amal said. “I told your sister I would think about a swap. I did not say I agreed, and I did not sign.”

سَأَلَ حَامِدٌ: «هَلْ تَكَلَّمْتِ مَعَهَا مَرَّةً أُخْرَى قَبْلَ الِافْتِتَاحِ بِاثْنَيْ عَشَرَ يَوْمًا؟» أَجَابَتْ: «لَا. لَمْ نَتَكَلَّمْ ثَانِيَةً عَنِ الْبَابِ».

“Did you speak with her again twelve days before opening?” Hamid asked. “No,” Amal replied. “We did not speak about the stall again.”

تَغَيَّرَ وَجْهُ حَامِدٍ. قَالَ: «أُخْتِي لَمْ تَقُلْ لِي إِنَّ الْمُوَافَقَةَ لَمْ تُكْتَبْ». لَمْ يَقُلْ إِنَّهَا كَذَبَتْ، وَلَكِنَّهُ لَمْ يَدْفَعْ عَنِ الْقَائِمَةِ الْجَدِيدَةِ كَمَا فَعَلَ مِنْ قَبْلُ.

Hamid's expression changed. “My sister did not tell me the agreement was not written down.” He did not call her a liar, but he no longer defended the new list as he had before.

قَالَتْ أَمَلُ: «أَعْرِفُ أَنَّكَ اشْتَرَيْتَ الْخَشَبَ. وَلَكِنَّ الْبَابَ السَّادِسَ كُتِبَ لِي أَوَّلًا. أُرِيدُ أَنْ نَرَى الْأَصْلَ مَعًا».

“I know you bought wood,” Amal said. “But Door Six was first written down for me. I want us to see the original together.”

نَظَرَ حَامِدٌ إِلَى الْوَرَقَةِ أَمَامَهُ. «وَإِذَا كَانَ الْأَصْلُ بِاسْمِكِ، فَمَاذَا أَفْعَلُ بِرَفِّي؟» قَالَتْ أَمَلُ: «لَا أَعْرِفُ. وَهَذَا سُؤَالٌ عَادِلٌ».

Hamid looked at the paper. “And if the original is in your name, what do I do with my shelf?” “I do not know,” Amal answered. “And that is a fair question.”

كَانَتْ لِينَا تُرِيدُ أَنْ تَقْتَرِحَ حَلًّا. لَكِنَّهَا بَقِيَتْ سَاكِتَةً. لَمْ يَطْلُبْ مِنْهَا أَحَدٌ أَنْ تَخْتَارَ لَهُمَا بَابًا.

Lina wanted to propose a solution. But she stayed silent. Neither trader had asked her to choose a stall for them.

أَخَذَ حَامِدٌ الْقَلَمَ. قَرَأَ الطَّلَبَ بِبُطْءٍ: «نَطْلُبُ رُؤْيَةَ الْوَرَقَةِ الْأَصْلِيَّةِ لِلْبَابِ السَّادِسِ، وَأَيِّ وَرَقَةٍ تُغَيِّرُهَا». ثُمَّ نَظَرَ إِلَى أَمَلَ.

Hamid took the pen. He read the request slowly: “We ask to see the original document for Door Six and any document changing it.” Then he looked at Amal.

قَالَتْ أَمَلُ: «هَذَا مَا أُرِيدُهُ». وَقَّعَ حَامِدٌ عَلَى الطَّلَبِ، ثُمَّ وَقَّعَتْ أَمَلُ. لَمْ يَعِدْ أَحَدُهُمَا بِالتَّنَازُلِ عَنِ الْبَابِ.

“That is what I want,” Amal said. Hamid signed, and then Amal signed. Neither had promised to give up the stall.

قَالَ رَامِي: «سَنَفْتَحُ الْمَلَفَّ غَدًا صَبَاحًا. سَيَحْضُرُ مَعَنَا عُضْوٌ آخَرُ مِنَ الْجَمْعِيَّةِ. وَسَنُسَجِّلُ مَا نَجِدُهُ».

“We will open the file tomorrow morning,” Rami said. “Another association member will be present, and we will record what we find.”

سَأَلَ حَامِدٌ: «هَلْ سَتَحْضُرُ خَدِيجَةُ؟» قَالَ رَامِي: «سَنَسْمَعُ مِنْهَا فِي اجْتِمَاعِ التُّجَّارِ. أَمَّا مُرَاجَعَةُ الْوَرَقِ فَسَتَكُونُ بِحُضُورِ شَاهِدٍ آخَرَ».

“Will Khadija be there?” Hamid asked. “We will hear from her at the traders’ meeting,” Rami said. “The records review will have another witness.”

أَخَذَتْ أَمَلُ حَقِيبَتَهَا. كَانَتْ وَرَقَتُهَا الْقَدِيمَةُ فِي دَاخِلِهَا. وَأَبْقَى حَامِدٌ وَرَقَتَهُ عِنْدَهُ بَعْدَ أَنْ أَخْرَجَهَا مِنْ دُرْجِهِ لِيُحْضِرَهَا غَدًا.

Amal picked up her bag; her old document was inside. Hamid kept his own paper with him after taking it from his drawer so he could bring it tomorrow.

خَرَجَ حَامِدٌ مَعَ أَمَلَ. مَشَيَا قَلِيلًا دُونَ كَلَامٍ، ثُمَّ سَأَلَهَا عَنْ وَقْتِ بَيْعِ الْخُضْرَوَاتِ فِي السُّوقِ الْجَدِيدِ. كَانَ سُؤَالًا صَغِيرًا، وَلَكِنَّهُ لَمْ يَكُنْ عَنِ الْوَرَقِ.

Hamid left with Amal. They walked a little in silence, then he asked what time she would sell vegetables in the new market. It was a small question, but it was not about paperwork.

بَقِيَتْ لِينَا مَعَ رَامِي. قَالَتْ: «لَا تَنْسَ أَنْ تُخْبِرَ النَّاسَ كَيْفَ كَتَبْتَ الْقَائِمَةَ». أَجَابَ: «لَنْ أَنْسَى. هَذَا الْجُزْءُ مِنَ الْقِصَّةِ لِي».

Lina remained with Rami. “Do not forget to tell people how you wrote the list.” “I will not forget,” he answered. “That part of the story belongs to me.”

فِي الْمَسَاءِ، أَخْبَرَتْ لِينَا أُمَّهَا أَنَّ التَّاجِرَيْنِ وَقَّعَا عَلَى الطَّلَبِ. قَالَتْ صَبَاحُ: «هَذَا أَفْضَلُ مِنْ أَنْ تَكْتُبِي أَنْتِ الطَّلَبَ بِاسْمَيْهِمَا».

In the evening Lina told her mother the two traders had signed the request. “That is better than writing a request in their names yourself,” Sabah said.

أَجَابَتْ لِينَا: «لَمْ أُرِدْ أَنْ أَخْتَارَ عَنْهُمَا». وَضَعَتْ صَبَاحُ أَمَامَهَا كُوبَ شَايٍ، وَهَذِهِ الْمَرَّةَ كَانَ فِيهِ سُكَّرٌ.

“I did not want to choose for them,” Lina said. Sabah set a cup of tea before her. This time it contained sugar.

أَغْلَقَتْ لِينَا دَفْتَرَهَا. غَدًا سَيُفْتَحُ الْمَلَفُّ الَّذِي لَمْ تَرَهُ بَعْدُ. لَمْ تَكُنْ تَعْرِفُ مَا فِيهِ، وَلَكِنَّ هَذِهِ الْمَرَّةَ لَنْ يَفْتَحَهُ أَحَدٌ وَحْدَهُ.

Lina closed her notebook. Tomorrow the file she had never seen would be opened. She did not know its contents, but this time no one would open it alone.