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Him to let her experience true love, that she was now convinced that He finally heard her and sent this handsome, olive-skinned man to her. How smart Arthur is, how intelligent, how well read! How he loves to laugh! With each passing day Salimat felt more and more in love with Arthur. There was just one thing that was making her unhappy - Arthur had kidney disease, and as much as he tried to hide it from her, Salimat knew. He tried to make jokes, laughed even when Salimat could see that he was in great pain, when his face would get covered with cold sweat. At first he tried not to show any signs of discomfort, but when on several occasions he was jolted by sharp pain in his side, Arthur told Salimat the truth about his condition.
One night Arthur was on the couch, reading a book. Salimat came up and sat down at his feet. She cradled his feet, kissing them gently, then put them on top of her legs. Arthur looked at her in silence. He closed the book he was reading, took off his eyeglasses, put them on the floor next to the couch, and closed his eyes. Salimat gazed at him adoringly, overcome with love, studying his every breath and movement, looking at him as if for the first time. She took his hand and brought it to her lips, then put it on her chest and looked up at the ceiling. She still couldn't believe her luck! She often prayed silently for Arthur to love her. A horrible feeling that Arthur some day may leave her never left Salimat's thoughts, even when they were making love and the passion of their lovemaking took her to heights she could never imagine! What she wouldn't give for his eternal love! In her heart Salimat always searched for an educated, smart, handsome man like Arthur! She felt as if she'd loved him even before she'd found him! Her entire life was a contradiction in terms before she met Arthur-- some men she didn't love, some didn't love her, and the ones she was repulsed by often pursued her.
Arthur opened his eyes and looked at Salimat, who didn't feel his gaze. "This relationship has gone on far too long", -he thought. "Yes, she's intelligent and smart, but what do I need her for? To cook for me and do my laundry? I can do that myself. Anyway, even though I am a bit older than she, I can always find someone younger. She says she loves me, but what is it that she's so in love with? My money, my big house, or me? God only knows! The one I lived with for 20 years told me how much she loved me too, until she took all my money and left. What an idiot I am to believe that a woman is capable of true love! All of the ones I brought here told me how they loved me the first time they laid their eyes on my house! Fools! They actually think I believe what they say!"
Arthur turned and screamed in pain, as it shot through his body. Salimat jumped from the bed and looked at him in panic:
"Arthur, Arthur, what happened? You're as white as a sheet!"
She fell to her knees and looked at him lovingly, her face showing signs of worry.
6/11
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