SahDen Short Stories

Jealousy

Sahra looked at Deniz as he stood upon the dais accepting words of appreciation from the city for having placed Assos on the "must visit" list for tourists after his series of photographs of the city won a National Geographic award.  The images of Assos with its blue waters, doric temples and pebbled beaches, interspersed with the depictions of its people, such as the fisherman with his weathered face and furrowed brow looking at the sea, or the lady in the market with her array of colorful cloths, made one looking at them want to visit the city.  And come to the city they did.  Sahra's own magazine had a piece last month noting the increase in tourism in the area driven in part by the beautiful canvas Deniz had portrayed in his award-winning pictures.

So the City put a banquet together to celebrate its latest most favorite son.  Normally, Deniz would have declined such an invitation.  But this was in his grandmother's backyard and she wanted to display to all the world how proud she was of her grandson.  When Deniz had made noises that he wasn't up to going, his grandmother just quietly stared him down before he started squirming.  In a last bid to deflect and escape, Deniz had pointed to her, Sahra, and said he could not possibly go because his wife was seven months pregnant and he would not feel comfortable leaving her alone at home. 
Sahra's own grandmother then pipped in that Sahra would of course want to go and see her husband being honored.  Sahra then had to contend with a pleading look from her husband urging her to find an excuse to not go, and a "don't you dare take your husband's side" looks from the grandmothers.  Sahra folded like a cheap suit and looked at Deniz saying, "I am sure I would be okay for a couple hours and would love to go?!"

After looking at her, Deniz turned a defeated look at the grandmothers and said "fine, but only for a couple hours.  I won't have Sahra getting exhausted because both of you want to party!"

Now, as Sahra gazed at her husband looking quite handsome in his fitted black suit, with his unruly hair controlled and brushed, his face serious and polite, except when he snuck a wink at her, she could not help but feel a twinge of jealousy. Next to him was an actress who has been consistently described as the "most beautiful woman" in Turkey.  She "just happened" to be in Assos for vacation and was convinced by the mayor of the city to attend the event.  She also just "happened" to be touching and fleetingly running her fingers on Sahra's husband every chance she got. 

As Sahra stared at the tableau before her, she had to admit that the actress well deserved all the accolades.  Her face had deep set brown eyes with lashes that were so long that it made her look like a vulnerable fawn.  Her nose was straight and well formed, with not even a small bump to distract from its perfection.  Her lips were plump and red, making one think of ripe plums.  And the overall effect was complemented by a long black dress with a diadem top that emphasized the goddess-like proportion of the woman.

Sahra looked down at her lilac dress that had looked so good before they left for the event.  Now she felt like she looked like a purple balloon that was about to pop or fly away.  She felt unattractive and awkward, particularly when looking at the woman with the sparkling dress.  Even the actress's shoes were glowing, with little rhinestones of different deep jeweled hues.  Sahra wasn't even sure what shoes she was wearing and whether they were matching because she could not see anything below her waist!

Sahra tried to look as proud as she could for Deniz.  Of course she was proud! But right now, all she wanted was to look as good as the woman before her.  Did Deniz even look at her as a woman or just as the soon to be mother of his child?  He has always been attentive to her.  But he has been so careful with her lately.  None of the searing passion they had early in the marriage had been in sight.  It has been all "Sahra, how are you feeling?" Or "Sahra do you need help?" Or "Sahra can you get up?"

Granted, Sahra usually did need help getting up.  Lately, couches have seem to be danger zones as they tend to suck her in and she could not get up without someone pulling her up or with her rolling down to her side on the couch before pushing herself up.  Now she tries to avoid any furniture that may keep her permanently.

Sahra continued with these dark thoughts as she watched other women chat with her husband.  Other women that she noted, that were very thin and more importantly NOT PREGNANT!  Didn't someone say that sometimes men began to stray when their wives were pregnant?  Not that Deniz would do that, but Sahra wished sometimes that she wasn't as big as the camel they had recently seen at a visit to the zoo.

By the time they returned home, Sahra's thoughts had become very troubled.  She had all about made up her mind that Deniz was about to replace her with some stick thin model who only ate one bite of a celery stick and called it a meal.  Deniz had kept asking her what was wrong, but she shook her head and said nothing was the matter, and that she was just tired.

But when they were in bed, Sahra could not help but voice the worry that had been unsettling her. At first, she thought to push away her concerns. Deniz had curled up behind her as he always did, his arms around her and his hand just below her rounded belly. She felt loved and secure. But just in case, just to make sure ....

"Deniz, did you notice how beautiful that actress was?"

"What? Which actress?"

Sahra grimly thought — the one that pretty much ran her fingers all over your shoulder like she was dipping her finger on a cup of silky caramel mousse that she couldn't wait to taste — "you know, the one on the stage with you?" Sahra said, trying to keep her voice even, but frowning that it came out high pitched and needy.

"Oh, she was an actress?" Deniz asked, seemingly uninterested in the topic.

"Didn't you recognize her?"

"No." Deniz responded, a puzzled tone on his voice, "was I supposed to?"

Sahra now sighed in frustration, "I can't believe you didn't recognize her!"

Denis just hummed in agreement, kissed to top of head and murmured "nope, didn't recognize her. They all looked the same to me. Anyway, time to rest my love. You had a late night. But thank you for going and sharing the evening with me."

Sahra made one more attempt to get his assurance and to make absolutely sure ....

"Deniz, didn't you notice all the pretty women at the banquet?"

"Uhmmm. No," he said in a sleepy voice. "I only noticed you," Deniz said starting to breath deeply, indicating he had just about fallen asleep.

Sahra couldn't help but turn a little bit to try to get a glimpse of her husband and give him a small peck on his slack lips. A big smile formed on her own lips, contentment relaxing her and chasing away all her fears. With her mind now at peace, she placed her hand over his and fell asleep.