Page 79 - Javanan Magazine Issue #1887

From The Desk Of The Editor ISSUE No. 1887
JAVANAN
Mehdad from London pected. His apartment was located on
The old story of "facing a done deal" the sixth floor of a building facing a
park. In its balcony, there was a small
got us into a life changing trouble table and two chairs. We started our new
life from there.
I will not describe the details of the
problems and difficulties we encoun-
tered. But a year later, we were study-
future. Maybe I can talk to my ing in a college and working in a cof-
father." fee shop. Our day and night efforts and
"No use. It's better to continue relying on our love had made us two
on our way." tireless creatures. We were not afraid of
We went to Shiraz together. hard work, both in and out of college.
asrin and I lived in the Aunt Shahla was waiting for And within three years, both of us were
declared honor students and accepted to
same neighborhood; on us there. My mother had al- a reputable university with scholarships.
NFereshteh Street, Teh- ready called her. My cousins We spent our days and nights with hard
ran. We had many friends and also welcomed us. A few days work. We heard that my family is very
classmates who were all from the before our arrival, Hamid, angry with my aunt because of her help
wealthy class. Due to the intellec- my cousin, had come there to us. On the other hand, Nasrin's father
tual nature of the families, we used from London to visit his fam- had a stroke because of his son's mar-
to go to the famous restaurants of ily. He was surprised by our riage to a movie star and kicked his son
Pahlavi Street on weekends and have brave act. "I might be able to out of the house too.
a good time. Until Nasrin and I felt help you." He said. Nine years had passed since we ar-
that we really love each other. Our "How?" we asked rived in London. Both of us were work-
friends also knew this and sometimes "Perhaps I can arrange ing as two young doctors in a large uni-
when we got close, they would turn your trip to England. But versity hospital and also, our first child
away under an excuse so that we could what about you? Are you was born.
kiss each other. ready for such a risk? I was a cardiologist and Nasrin was a
After some time, the story of our love We both said we are. gynecologist, and both of us were still
reached our families. First, our moth- After two weeks of taking specialized courses. Just before
ers found out. My mother loved Nasrin staying at aunt Shahla's the birth of our second child, my moth-
very much. She kept telling Nasrin that house, Hamid talked to er came to London with my aunt. My
she would be happy to have a daughter- his friends in London. mother expressed regret that the fami-
in-law like her. Nasrin would also hug One of them, who was lies rejected Nasrin and me all those
my mother telling her that she will an assistant professor in years. Why should more than 11 years
prove the story of mother-in-law and was a college, promised to apply for of our lives be wasted, just because of
daughter-in-law's enmity is really only our student admission. Fortunately, we the stubbornness of Nasrin's father? She
a bitter legend. 19 and Nasrin was had both finished high school with top said.
One day Nasrin came to see me. She 18 years old, without consulting any- grades, and I was ready for the entrance Nasrin and I helped our siblings to
was very upset. Before I could say any- one, we implemented our plan by pay- exam. Phone conversations, submitting move to London over the course of sev-
thing, she started talking. "My father ing a sum of money. After two days of documents and applying for admission, eral years. Until one day, Nasrin's moth-
told me about an educated wealthy suit- absence and worries of the families, in and the help of a local MP in London er announced that her father was on
or who lives abroad." She said. front of everyone and after the ear-split- paved the way for us. However, I asked his way to London for a very sensitive
"What did you say?" I asked. ting screams of Nasrin's father, we con- Nasrin to call her father once more, surgery. She advised us to be gentle and
"I kept silent and when my father fessed to what we had done. We thought maybe he has changed his mind, maybe kind with him; He is sad and remorseful
stared at me, I said that I'm not ready everything would be fine. We thought he has forgiven us and we can return to enough. We were planning to meet him
to get married yet. My father said that that Nasrin's father would give up be- Tehran. I don't have a daughter named at the airport, but due to the emergency
no girl would refuse a good suitor, who cause of the family's honor, but after Nasrin, her father had shouted at her. I of his illness, he was directly trans-
owns a house, a company and a high a joint family meeting with my father, don't want to hear from you anymore. ferred to a hospital in London. I found
position in the United States, and also we were ordered to leave our homes. At out about this at night and immediately
comes from an influential family. I just first we thought this was a measure to Do not disgrace your family again. called the best cardiologist in Europe,
looked at him. He told me that they'll punish us. Even my mother told us not Hamid went to London and our con- who was my professor and also liked
come to propose to me next week. He to worry. Nasrin's father and your father tact with him continued. He kept telling me. The next morning, I went to the
said he has been friends with the suitor's will get along, she said. But it's better us that his efforts would most likely suc- hospital with my professor to see Nas-
father since he was a teenager and he for you two to be away from here for ceed and we would soon be on our way rin's father. He was very surprised to see
wants this marriage to happen. Then he a few days. My mother gave me some to England. Nasrin and I were restless me. He was amazed that I had brought
took his pipe and went to the balcony." money and told me to go to my aunt's day and night. According to Hamid's the greatest surgeon to his bedside and
I was scared. "Well, what should we house in Shiraz so that she would in- advice, aunt Shahla did not say a word that all the doctors and nurses treated me
do?" form us in time. to my family, until this effort would with such respect. His tears were flow-
"There is only one way. Let's make Nasrin was shaking and crying. "I'm reach a result. Eight months later, while ing non-stop.
my father face a done deal." sorry for forcing you to act far from rea- Nasrin and I were both working at a Before he was transferred to the op-
"How?" son causing trouble for you and your clinic belonged to aunt Shahla's hus- erating room for his sensitive twelve-
"Let's go and get married. We hide family." She said. band, Hamid told us to pack our bags hour operation, he took Nasrin's and my
somewhere for a few days and then, we I hugged her. "We're in love. Aren't and get ready to leave. Aunt Shahla hands. Forgive me, He said. I should
come back and say that we are married we?" I said. "If that's true, then we can kindly bought plane tickets for us, and have held these hands 13 years ago.
and now we are husband and wife." fight all the problems. If necessary, we Hamid said that he had prepared a room Pray for me to come back to life and be
I froze in surprise. I didn't know what can find a job for ourselves and live in a for us in his apartment. able to hug my grandchildren. And so it
to say, but I felt we had no choice; I knew small room." We found ourselves in Hamid's apart- happened.
the extent of his father's power. While I "I'm very scared. I'm afraid of the ment in London much faster than ex- Translation: Massi Zokaei
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