Page 77 - Javanan Magazine Issue # 1910

From The Desk Of The Editor ISSUE No. 1910
JAVANAN
Fahimeh, Northern California
My husband took my children

an absentee divorce and rebuild my My kind lawyer told them my story
life. I had no answer for them. They in such a way that they all started cry-
did not understand my situation. ing. Two weeks later, they gave me
I thought of a solution. I decided to a 6-month visa. But I didn't know
learn English and went to sewing where to look for my children. I
and hairdressing classes. I looked for only had a PO Box address in San
anything that could generate income Francisco. After much searching,
for me in the future. I dreamed of my I found one of my mother's distant
children every night for two years. relatives in San Francisco. I called
One night, around 2 am, the phone her and asked her for help. She told
rang. I heard Shabnam, my daughter's me she could help me when I got to
From the first days I mar- voice on the line. "Where are you, my the country. Finally, one evening, I ar-
ried Hamid, I noticed his quick dear?" I shouted, "Are you back?" rived in San Francisco and my moth-
temper and stubbornness in "We are in the US." She said. er's relative met me at the airport.
some situations. I said to my- A woman said to Shabnam in Eng- It took me a week to search every-
self that we would probably get lish, tell your mom what you want! where. With the help of an American
to know each other better over "Mom, can you please mail me my friend of my classmate who gave me
time and I would gradually make dolls?" My daughter said. "Will you information about some women's
him realize his fault. But unfortu- chil- send me and Behrouz's photos?" support organizations, I finally met
nately, not only did I not succeed, dren abroad with me. I My eyes filled with tears. "Of some women who were ready to
but his behavior worsened daily. have sold my two flats at a low price and course dear, I'll send them to you. help. They took me to the prosecu-
We had two children; A boy and a girl transferred all my savings here. Now Don't you want to come back?" tor and told her my life story in de-
who were as sweet as two angels. Our go after your divorce! You'll leave this "What does your mom say?" tail. In the same way, I managed to
life was filled with energy and hope world without seeing your children." That woman asked my daughter. find my children's address. I went to
because of them. But even then, Ha- I passed out right there. Everyone "She says she'll send them all next Hamid's apartment with those kind
mid was looking for an excuse to ar- surrounded me and I told them what week." My daughter answered her. women. But no one was there. We
gue with me and humiliatingly insult I had heard. Everyone told me not to Then the woman said, tell her I talked to the neighbors. "This cou-
me. Unfortunately, after the birth of be afraid. They said Hamid was bluff- will WhatsApp her the address. ple has been living here for a few
my children, I no longer could escape ing. They asked how could he sell the "Mommy, save us please," Shab- years." one of them said. "We always
nam said to me. "This woman
from that relationship and as my moth- apartments so quickly, get a passport, and my dad keep beating us." hear children crying and begging.
er said, I had to live and deal with it. and flee the country with the children. "Why?"Ishouted, "Where is your dad?" We even informed the police once.
One night when Hamid got on The next morning, we visited the The woman asked my daughter in Eng- The children said they were play-
my nerves and compared my apartments. He had indeed sold lish, why did your mother get angry? ing. But their eyes were full of fear."
new hair color to that of pros- them. My brother checked Hamid's "She asked me if I wanted to go back," We reported the matter to the local
titutes, I lost my patience. bank account through a friend who Shabnam answered her. “I told her prosecutor. Two days later, we went
"I can't stand it anymore," I said. "I'll talk worked in the bank and found out no. I said we are comfortable here." to Hamid and that woman's house
to my father to arrange our divorce." that he had taken everything out of Then, the call was immediately dis- along with two officers. It was around
Hamid slapped me in the face hard the country. Hamid had acted dis- connected. What a terrible night it 11 in the morning when we rang the
and threw me into a corner, which re- honestly and had taken a bad re- was. I cried until the next morning doorbell. A woman opened the door.
sulted in my forehead and face being venge on me because of just one sen- and begged God to help my children. "What do you want?" she asked
injured. Then, we went to the hospi- tence in the middle of the argument. The next day, I lost all patience. I did confused.
tal and even the police got involved. I went to the court. They said I should everything I could and asked every- "I have come to see my kids," I
Hamid went to Isfahan under the pre- get a lawyer, find a trace of Hamid, one I knew, how can I go to the US. answered.
text of visiting his mother, and I told and prove that he did all this for re- They said that I am not allowed to She closed the door. "Talk to my law-
myself that I could calm down a bit. venge. I told them I didn't have that leave because I have not divorced! In yer," she said from behind the door.
But two weeks passed and there was ability. They said that I should wait addition, getting a USA visa was al- But the officers did not give up. They
no news of him or the children. I got until it is clear where Hamid went most impossible. Two months later, I knocked on the door and I called
worried and called Hamid's mother. and whether he intends to stay. found someone who made it possible my children. Suddenly, my daugh-
She said they had never visited her and I realized that no one would help me. for me to go to Georgia with a plane ter's scream was heard. "Save us,
that Hamid's mobile phone was off. We told you from the first day that ticket and an exit slip. I had chosen Mommy." She shouted in English.
My concern became much more this man is a fraud and has no hon- that country because one of my school The officers went inside the house
than before. I called all the fam- esty, my family would say. But no friends lived there with her husband. and took out my children who had
ily members and friends. No one matter how hard I thought, I didn't They met me at the airport. That bruises on their faces and bodies.
heard about them. Their disappear- remember someone telling me these night, we talked and cried until morn- They fell into my arms like two
ance lasted a month and a half. words on those days! I knew well ing. The next day, they consulted a wounded baby birds. The police ar-
One night, while I was worriedly sit- that they make such claims to avoid lawyer from Georgia. These days, rested Hamid and the woman and
ting in front of the TV watching a responsibility. But as a mother, I Iranian women have stood up to get took them away in handcuffs. In
movie about a suffering mother, the could not rest. My sisters told me their rights, and it is possible to get a the end, my wish came true. Now
phone rang. It was Hamid. "I punished that I am still young and have many visa much faster than before, He said. my children were in my arms.
you good." He said. "I've brought the suitors. They said it is better to get The next week we applied for a visa.
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