The World Unseen (25 page)
Authors: Shamim Sarif
“You will not drive,” he said evenly. “And you will not work.”
“I’ll take the bus,” she repeated.
He laughed, a rough-edged sound in the night. “That bus will take two hours to get there.”
“I don’t care.” She paused. “I’m your wife. Why don’t you want me to be happy?”
He heard the tears in her voice, but he was looking away, out of the black, rain-streaked window now, and did not say anything in reply. They both stayed still for a few moments, in absolute quiet, and then she went to get the dust pan and brush from below the sink, carrying it over to where the broken glass lay.
He spun around. “Leave it,” he ordered. “Leave it.” He could not bear to watch her cleaning up the glass that was meant to hit her, and making him feel bad.
She kneeled down carefully, and began brushing.
“LEAVE IT!” he shouted. “Robert will do it.”
She dropped the pan and brush and left them where they lay. She could see that the anger was seeping out of him slowly, and that now he would hate himself as well as her. He was looking at her strangely, his attitude almost defeated, and she thought for a moment that he might actually say something, or reach out a hand to her. But he turned away, and without another word, walked steadily up the stairs. She heard him reach the landing, heard a pause, and then the closing of the bathroom door.
She looked down at the brush, and at the splinters of glass which lay like a miniature field of sparkling crystal at her feet. She stepped across them carefully and went into the dark shop. In the slight moonlight that filtered through the rain clouds, she went behind the counter and felt below it for the pen and the pad of paper that he always kept there. When she had found them, she carried them into the kitchen and sat down at the table, stopping to right the chair that he had toppled over. Her letter to Amina was brief and business-like; just as the acceptance of a job should be, she thought. She toyed with adding a further paragraph of explanation at the end, but decided against it. The night was late already, and she wanted to be up early the next morning to catch the first mail to Pretoria.
THE END
I CAN’T THINK STRAIGHT Novel
Exploring the themes of self-discovery and tradition-breaking, the acclaimed novel
I Can’t Think Straight
is award-winning author Shamim Sarif’s third novel. Including behind-the-scenes photos from the movie, the book follows the journey of Tala, Leyla and their families in a touching and often humorous narrative.
Available from
www. enlightenment-productions. com
,
Amazon. com
and other retailers.
“…a brilliantly executed, romantic, sexy, and heart-warming page-turner… the work of an amazingly talented writer and one that is a refreshing and immensely enjoyable read that leaves you smiling. The only thing to not like about the book is that it had to end…”
–
Cherrygrrl.com
“Each character in the story is wonderfully complex and endearing…Sarif evokes an atmosphere so diverse and inviting, each page is something to be savored. Sarif’s descriptions are beautifully crafted;delicate, seductive and enthralling, they make
I Can’t Think Straight
a sheer joy to read from start to finish.”
–
GracetheSpot.com
DESPITE THE FALLING SNOW Novel
The enthralling narrative of Shamim Sarif’s powerful second novel moves between present day Boston and Cold War Russia. The story’s journey back to the snowbound streets of post-Stalinist Moscow revealsa dangerous world of secrets and treachery - and an epic love story.
Available from
www. enlightenment-productions. com
,
Amazon. com
and other retailers.
“
Despite the Falling Snow
by Shamim Sarif, one of our most outstanding young novelists, is my novel of the year: its delicate artistry and immense compass reaches back to the labyrinthine heart of Soviet Russia.”
– Stevie Davies, The Independent
“Explores love and tragic loss with the pace of a thriller and a style that is gentle and flowing, a hypnotic combination that eases between the US and 1950s Moscow… A pure delight, highly recommended.”
– The Bookseller
“An intriguing story of love, betrayal, anguish and despair… Shamim Sarif brings her characters to life with a delicacy of touch evocative of the intensity of their passions. An enthralling read.”
– Daily Dispatch
“A perfectly balanced novel of love and tragedy… brutally shocking. The beauty of the streets of Moscow, the bejewelled architecture of the metro stations, is all a majestic backdrop to a play of mistrust and deception, where friends, even the best of friends, can turn against each other in fear.”
– Waterstones Magazine
“Written with a controlled passion, in translucent prose with fluent dialogue, this story is, quite literally, breathtaking.”
– The Good Book Guide
“Shamim Sarif’s intense and elegant first novel drew on her South African roots. This one shows that her cultural compass can stretch even wider without dulling the delicacy of her gaze… Highly readable.”
– The Independent
“Sarif’s thrilling new novel makes me think of the
The English Patient
and
The French Lieutenant’s Woman
. Like those books, it has at its core an unforgettable love story. Yet Sarif also understands the human cost exacted by totalitarian systems. And she knows that the worst betrayals are those committed by the ones we love. Her novel is immensely powerful – and deeply moving.”
– Steve Yarbrough, author of “The Oxygen Man”
“A compelling read, flicking expertly between the tragic present and tumultuous past… Haunting at times, Shamim’s elegant prose weaves a poignant tale indeed.”
– Crush Books