Page 78 - Javanan Magazine Issue # 1911

From The Desk Of The Editor ISSUE No. 1911
JAVANAN
Leyla, Dubai
The day my daughter left home

well. I dreamed about her most nights condition. When Sanaz called,
but I never had a bad dream. I would I told her what happened. She
see her in my dreams, dancing and took the hospital's phone number.
singing among the guests in a white When we went to the hospital the
wedding dress, and every time she next day, the ward nurse came to me.
would come to my arms and kiss me. "An American doctor called from
After that incident, I never forgave abroad." She said. "She spoke to the
my husband. I never reconciled with hospital officials and the special-
him, but I continued to live with ist. And, she sent another doctor to
him because of my children. I was your husband's bedside who came
Sanaz, my daughter, was an un- looking for an opportunity to find a from the USA last week. It seems
usual girl from her childhood. sign of Sanaz and finally meet her. that important people are trying to
Once, when his father pushed It was the fourth year away from perform your husband's surgery."
me for some reason, Sanaz lashed Sanaz that one day I found a package I was so confused to hear this news.
out at him in such a way that in front of the house. The package In four days, two critical surger-
my husband almost threw her came from Sanaz and in my name. ies were performed with the help of
out of the window in a fit of rage. It was full of clothes, perfumes and the American doctor and the hos-
I remember Sanaz was eighteen gifts. In a small letter, a text was pital's specialist. My husband was
years old. She had just finished high fell written: Dear Mom, now that Now- saved with their help. I knew in
school and was preparing for the next silent when I saw my ruz is near, I thought about our last
year's entrance exam. It was Nowruz younger daughters worriedly looking my heart who had done all this for
and Sanaz and her two younger sis- at me. I spent the whole night with day together. I wanted to express my us. It could not be anyone but my
devotion and love to you. And as I
ters, Shahnaz and Nazli, had arranged my husband's ear-splitting shouts. daughter Sanaz. but how? How?
the loveliest Haftsin on the table in Sanaz did not return home. I spent promised, I will come to you one day. It took two weeks for my husband
the middle of the hall. My husband all that night, the next day, and the I took that package inside with tears to return home. He was also con-
had also brought some small redfish, day after that with great apprehen- and kissed it many times in memory fused. He did not know who had
which Sanaz was against. She used to sion and worry. I called our friends of my daughter. I did not sleep that helped us. I didn't say anything to
say that we kill these fish every year and family, acquaintances and strang- night but I had no doubt I would him at Sanaz's request and attributed
because we don't care about them. ers, neighbors and my daughter's meet my daughter again. For a long all the help to my husband's neph-
The fish were gone before I could do friends, but no one knew where she time, I waited for a massage. It was ews who had been in the US for
anything; I don't know which run- was. Finally, I went to the police. I the eighth year of being away from years and no one had heard of them.
ning water Sanaz threw them into. even hired a private detective with Sanaz when, like every year, I found Finally, after some time, we got
That night, we all jumped at the the help of my brother, but my daugh- a gift package from Sanaz on the eve passports and left for Dubai with
sound of a stone hitting our liv- ter was lost like a drop in the sea. of Nowruz. I never understood who my daughters. On the way to our
ing room window. Sanaz went The news about this incident spread and when leaves those packages destination, my tears did not stop.
to the door and my husband saw among family and friends. Everyone behind the door. That year, Sanaz "Mom, why are you cry-
from the window a young man I was gossiping about it. Even some of wrote in a letter: Mom, get ready. ing?" the girls asked.
knew was an old friend of Sanaz Sanaz's friends suggested the possibil- You have a journey ahead of you. "It's from happiness," I replied.
in the neighborhood and school. ity of her suicide. I went to the border Just get a passport! Don't let Dad "Not out of sadness. It's from ex-
"What do you want?" My hus- towns and visited our distant relatives know about this and come with my citement. The excitement of see-
band shouted. “Stay there. there but I did not find any trace of her. sisters to the country I will tell you ing your sister. I don't know how
who are you? Why did you Finally, Sanaz called me one night. later. I will pay all your travel ex- she lived alone all these years and
throw a stone at the window?" "Mom, I'm not coming back." She penses. I will be so happy to see you. now proudly coming to our aid."
"Do not worry," Sanaz told his fa- said. "But maybe I'll send you an I was impatient to meet my daugh- At the Dubai airport, I was all eyes.
ther from the front door. "He's address of mine in the future." ter. But I didn't know what events I was looking everywhere for my
my friend Roxana's brother." I did not talk to my husband for a were ahead of me. Was Sanaz mar- daughter. When we passed through
"If you go out, I won't let you year. He regretted what he had done ried? Did she study during this time? the control line, I saw Sanaz in the
come back." My husband shouted. because of the family's reprimands Did she own a business? Could crowd. It was my tall slender daugh-
"But dad, he is Firouz," Sanaz said with and warnings. He wanted to do some- she have a baby? All these ques- ter with her brown hair and kind eyes.
tears in her eyes. "He is not a stranger." thing, but it was too late. I also went tions were always on my mind. She was shouting my name. I broke
My husband took the phone from to Firouz's family. I found out that My sisters talked to my husband through the crowd and ran towards
the table and threw it at Sanaz. “I they had no news about Firouz. He and apparently got his consent un- her. Everyone was looking at us. They
said what I said. If you go out, you had been missing for a year and a half. der the pretext of a girls' trip. But were also emotional seeing this pas-
have no place in this house. you're Two years later, Sanaz started leav- my husband did not do anything to sionate moment. At one point, I saw
a whore. You're not my daughter." ing me messages every few months. get a passport. On the other hand, Firouz holding twin babies in his arms.
Sanaz went out of the house and She would tell me how she missed Sanaz was waiting and did not say
quickly left with Firouz. My husband me. She told me not to worry because anything about our destination. "Where did they come from?" I asked.
closed the door. "See what kind of a she would make me proud one day. The day my husband was going "Ask the doctor!" Firouz answered.
girl you raised?" He said. "She fits the I was sure that my daughter was full to apply for my passport, he had At that moment, I felt how blessed I was.
streets." I wanted to say something but of love and strength. I knew her very a heart attack. He was not in good
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