By Lida Prypchan
Maria’s biggest disappointment was seeing the jewelry leave homethat her husband made on commission for those who could afford it.
Setting precious stones was the profession of a sickly man named Kassim. He had a beautiful and passionate wife, who was also young and painstakingly from the streets. Her name was Maria, and she had aspired to a great romance, but after waiting and waiting she fearfully accepted Kassim. She also dreamed of marrying a wealthy man, but her dreams were bound to end up in smoke. Her heart became bitter and her daily to-do consisted in staring at her husband work and then continuing to stare through the windows at passers-by of a higher status than hers.
The biggest disappointment of Maria’s marriage was seeing the jewelery leave home that her husband made on commission for those who could afford it. She was overwhelmed by the desire to show off the jewels that the artist made! Kassim worked even on Sundays and at bedtime he coughed and felt strong stitches in his side. None of that mattered to her. She enjoyed trying on the commissions her husband received. Her reaction in those moments was to go to her room to cry. Kassim would go to hear her sobbing. He kept saying, “I do as much as I can for you.” Maria’s condition worsened with these words and Kassim would return to sit at his workbench. Tired, he no longer rose from his workbench to console her. As an escape, Kassim devoted himself more and more to his work. Luckily he had his job and now Maria fixed her gaze more intently on her husband’s hands, and he continued calmly and silently.
From time to time, Maria would insult him and after a while Kassim would say to her, “Are you not happy with me, Maria?” And his wife answered him: “And who can be happy with you?” His passion for the large diamonds increased with time. Dialogues arose between them filled with desires regarding the pieces she valued. When the work ended, Maria, who was waiting anxiously, tried on the jewelry and upon hearing the same words as always, she would run to her room to cry. One day she gave in to her crazy desires to wear one of the jewels and, without the consent of her husband, she took it with her to the theater. Anxiously, Kassim begged her to reflect on the fact that they would lose customers who trusted in his work and his honesty. Upon returning from the theater, Maria placed the jewel on the bedside table. Kassim, distrustful, went to his workshop and locked it away. Maria, angry, asked if he thought her a thief. Kassim told her that she had only been reckless. Maria fell asleep but her husband did not.
One day he was commissioned a solitaire to set the most admirable diamond that he had ever set his hands on. Maria almost went crazy when she saw it. She took a fancy to the diamond and begged Kassim to set it for her. Kassim, after repeating it many times, said: Yes, it’s for you; wait a little longer and it will be ready, Maria. At two o’clock in the morning, Kassim finished setting the solitaire. He went to the room and Maria was peacefully asleep on her back, and he returned to his workshop. Back in the room, he saw his wife’s partially uncovered breast, and with a pale smile he further removed the already loose nightgown. A stonelike hardness befell his face and he sank the entire solitaire into his wife’s heart. A sudden opening of the eyes followed by the gentle fall of the eyelids! Nothing more! Unbalanced, the jewel trembled for an instant. The solitaire stopped moving and, closing the door behind him, the patient Kassim withdrew.
