The wedding night and the floor

برای خاطر همین لکاته شاید این کار را جور کرده بود تا مجبور بشوم او را بگیرم.

Perhaps for the sake of this very harlot he had arranged it so that I would be forced to marry her.

با وجود اینکه خواهر برادر شیری بودیم، برای اینکه آبروی آنها به‌باد نرود مجبور بودم که او را به‌زنی اختیار کنم.

Although we were milk-brother and milk-sister, so that their honor would not be lost I was obliged to take her as my wife.

چون این دختر باکره نبود. این مطلب را هم نمی‌دانستم. من اصلاً نتوانستم بدانم. فقط به‌من رسانده بودند.

Because this girl was not a virgin. This too I did not know. In fact I was never able to know. They had merely conveyed it to me.

همان شب عروسی وقتی که توی اطاق تنها ماندیم من هرچه التماس درخواست کردم، به‌خرجش نرفت و لخت نشد.

On the wedding night, when we were left alone in the room, however much I begged and pleaded, it had no effect on her and she did not undress.

می‌گفت «بی‌نمازم». مرا اصلاً به‌طرف خودش راه نداد. چراغ را خاموش کرد و رفت آن‌طرف اطاق خوابید.

She said, “I am unclean for prayer.” She did not let me near her at all. She extinguished the lamp and went and slept on the far side of the room.

مثل بید به‌خودش می‌لرزید، انگاری که او را در سیاهچال با یک اژدها انداخته بودند.

She trembled like a willow, as though they had thrown her into a dungeon with a dragon.

کسی باور نمی‌کند؛ یعنی باورکردنی هم نیست. او نگذاشت که من یک ماچ از لپهایش بکنم.

No one would believe it; indeed, it is not believable. She would not let me take a single kiss from her cheeks.

شب دوم هم من رفتم سر جای شب اول روی زمین خوابیدم؛ و شبهای بعد هم از همین قرار، جرأت نمی‌کردم.

The second night too I went to the same place as the first night and slept on the floor; and the following nights were likewise, I did not dare.

بالاخره مدتها گذشت که من آنطرف اطاق روی زمین می‌خوابیدم.

In the end, a long time passed during which I slept on the floor on the far side of the room.

کی باور می‌کند؟ دو ماه، نه، دو ماه و چهار روز دور از او روی زمین خوابیدم و جرأت نمی‌کردم نزدیکش بروم.

Who would believe it? Two months—no, two months and four days—I slept on the floor away from her and did not dare go near her.

او قبلاً آن دستمال پرمعنی را درست کرده بود، خون کبوتر به آن زده بود.

She had previously prepared that meaningful handkerchief and had put pigeon blood on it.

نمی‌دانم! شاید همان دستمالی بود که از شب اول عشقبازی خودش نگهداشته بود برای اینکه بیشتر مرا مسخره بکند.

I do not know! Perhaps it was the very handkerchief she had kept from her first night of lovemaking in order to mock me all the more.

آنوقت همه به‌من تبریک می‌گفتند. به‌هم چشمک می‌زدند، و لابد توی دلشان می‌گفتند: «یارو دیشب قلعه را گرفته»؛ و من به‌روی مبارکم نمی‌آوردم.

Then everyone congratulated me. They winked at one another, and no doubt said in their hearts, “The fellow took the fortress last night”; and I let nothing show.

به‌من می‌خندیدند، به‌خریت من می‌خندیدند. با خودم شرط کرده بودم که روزی همهٔ اینها را بنویسم.

They laughed at me, they laughed at my foolishness. I had promised myself that one day I would write all of this down.

بعد از آنکه فهمیدم او فاسق‌های جفت و تاک دارد، و شاید به‌علت اینکه آخوند چند کلمه عربی خوانده بود و او را تحت اختیار من گذاشته بود، از من بدش می‌آمد! شاید می‌خواست آزاد باشد!

After I found out that she had lovers by the pair and by the one—and perhaps because the mullah had recited a few words of Arabic and placed her under my authority—she disliked me! Perhaps she wanted to be free!

بالاخره یک شب تصمیم گرفتم که به‌زور پهلویش بروم. تصمیم خودم را عملی کردم.

Finally one night I decided to go beside her by force. I carried out my decision.

اما بعد از کشمکش سخت او بلند شد و رفت؛ و من فقط خود را راضی کردم آن شب در رختخوابش که حرارت تن او به جسم آن فرو رفته بود و بوی او را می‌داد بخوابم و غلت بزنم.

But after a fierce struggle she got up and left; and I contented myself that night with sleeping and rolling about in her bed, into which the warmth of her body had penetrated and which smelled of her.

تنها خواب راحتی که کردم همان شب بود. از آن شب به‌بعد اطاقش را از اطاق من جدا کرد.

The only comfortable sleep I had was that night. From that night onward she separated her room from mine.