Page 78 - Javanan Magazine Issue # 1882

From The Desk Of The Editor ISSUE No. 1882
JAVANAN
Nazli from Orange County fused. Until one day my daughter said
From Iran and Turkey, To Cuba, To CosTa she knows a man who can help us go
to Cuba. We'll do that, I said. Then, I
rICa and FInally To The unITed sTaTes called Shahriar and said we are com-
ing to Cuba!
"Don't do that." He said. "I'm in
one of the villages of Cuba. I don't
have a specific address. They'll prob-
he sent us a monthly amount ably take my phone from me these
and assured us that he would days. They suspect that I'm in contact
end this situation as soon as with you."
possible. He said Maria is "But we must do something."
a harmless woman and has Then, our phone connection was cut
hen I left Iran with my been living upstairs with off.
husband Shahriar, my her boyfriend since the first Since that day, it was no longer
Wson Rashid and my night. He said he also pays possible to talk to him on the phone.
daughter Ziba, almost all of our part of their living expenses. This made me more worried. I talked
family members had moved to I tried to find faster solu- to the gentleman introduced by my
Europe, Canada, Australia and the tions through an Iranian daughter and because of our Iranian
United States before us. All of them lawyer several times, but I passports, it was not a problem to
promised all kinds of support before realized that I still have to travel to Cuba. A week later we were
we left Iran, but when we set foot in wait. in Cuba. We got a room in a cheap
Turkey, most of them did not answer Our life in Turkey con- hotel and I got a job in a hairdressing
their phones or said that just as soon tinued despite difficulties salon that same week. Our only hope
as we reach the US and Canada, they and worries. I felt that my was that Shahriar has our phone num-
will do whatever they can for us. My dreams were far away ber, but unfortunately there was no
little brother, my only brother, was from me. I did not know news of him. Until I met a woman at
living in Sweden. If you become a what would happen in my workplace whose husband was a
refugee to Sweden, you are welcome the future. I did not know lawyer. I told her my life story and she
to stay in my apartment, he said. I what would happen to promised to help me.
had no reason to become a refugee. my kids at such a sen- I met her husband that weekend.
On the other hand, it was difficult to sitive age. Waiting for "I'll help you apply for asylum and
get a visa. Until one night in the hotel several years was pain- go directly to the US." He said. "But I
lobby, one of our new Iranian friends ful for us, but we en- don't know what to do about your hus-
said that we have only one option, that dured this situation for band." The good man took us to Costa
one of us should marry a US citizen two years. Until one Rica, where he applied for asylum and
and after going to the US and getting day Shahriar called. attached all of our documents, plus my
a green card, get a divorce and bring "This woman makes husband's texts and emails, to our ap-
the family to the country. I don't have excuses." He said. plication file. Two months later, he in-
the courage to do such a thing, I said. "She says that divorce formed us that our asylum application
Shahriar will kill me! is bad in her family. was accepted, but because of that fake
We talked a lot that night; Both pid- She says I should stay marriage, my husband has to return to
jokingly and seriously. In the end, ity. They said that many with her for at least eight years and Turkey to process his application later.
it was decided that I would find an of these marriages ended in disaster. even go with her to Cuba, so that she Confused and worried, we arrived
old unattractive US citizen and pay They said many families have been can introduce me to her family. I told in the US on the eve of Christmas.
her a sum of money so that Shahriar torn apart in this way. We didn't sleep her that I will do what she wants, but Instead of being happy, we were all
would marry her and go to the US. until dawn that night and talked a lot. I then she should let me go, because my devastated. We were worried about
We thought about this plan for two family is waiting in Turkey." Shahriar's fate. At that point, the trans-
months. Until a Cuban mother and tried to make the kids understand that "If you think this woman wants fer of 6,000 dollars to Maria's account
daughter who came to Turkey as tour- their father is a conscientious commit- to hurt you, forget the green card and in the US became a window of hope
ists, attracted our attention. I opened ted man, who would never betray us. come back to Turkey." I said. for us. A kind American lawyer did
the conversation with them. Since it would take three or four years "You cannot take such a risk with anything he could for us. He found a
"I'll get 6,000 dollars." Maria, the to go through these steps, we moved US law. I'll be in big trouble." suitable job for me and my daughter
70-year-old mother said. "When you to Shahriar's niece's apartment in the "We'll be forced to return to Iran." and sent my son to school. Then, he
get a green card, you'll pay me another suburbs of Istanbul to lower our liv- “Just wait. I'll try my best." made a case against Maria and her
2,000 dollars." ing expenses. I got a temporary job in Exactly three months later, Shahri- family. Maria left Shahriar out of fear,
"You know that Shahriar will not a hairdressing salon. Ziba, who spoke ar informed us that he is in Cuba with and Shahriar came to Mexico to find a
divorce me, right?" I asked. English well, got a job in a restaurant, Maria to meet her family, who are all way to save himself.
"Yes, I know. The only thing that and 14-year-old Rashid took care of criminals. "Maria's older brother told I still don't know exactly what hap-
matters to me is the money. Your hus- his cousin's kids. So, we almost cov- me to take all my money from Iran to pened, I don't know what that amaz-
band must also promise not to do any- ered our living expenses. A few weeks Cuba. He said that we'll all become ing American lawyer did, but finally
thing because I have a boyfriend." passed. Shahriar used to call us regu- millionaires in three years. Of course, the doors opened. Yesterday, the door-
Despite my and the children's wish- larly. Don't be too hard on yourself, he I know what he means by that. They bell rang and Shahriar entered the
es, Shahriar married Maria and also would say. We have enough money. are smugglers. I'll escape if I get a house, broken and pale. No one asked
paid for their hotel stay until the visas I'm also going to start a job. I'll send chance. Maybe I'll come directly to him what happened. All we did was
came. Then, they got their visas and you money soon. Turkey. Just pray for me." appreciate that we were all under one
were ready to go. At the airport, Rashid Then, Shahriar found a job in a I could no longer sleep at night. roof again.
and Ziba scolded me a lot for my stu- car repair shop. As he had promised, The kids were also worried and con- Translation: Massi Zokaei
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