Page 78 - Javanan Issue #1898.indd

From The Desk Of The Editor ISSUE No. 1896
JAVANAN
Iraj from Washington I tried to welcome her as normally as I
"If you hadn't told me, a disaster could. "I wanted to invite you to come
and stay at my apartment," I told her af-
would have happened," my mother said ter a while. "But I recently got engaged."
She was surprised and a little shocked.
"I'm always late for everything." She
said. "This is my bad luck. It's OK."
ers' behavior. After that, she sat for an hour. Then, she
I suggested to Manijeh that she hurriedly said goodbye and left. I was
apply for a USA visa and told her confused for an hour. But then, I tried
that I would help her. She said to occupy myself with something else.
she prefers to stay in Iran for That night, my mother called after a
now because in her patriarchal long time to ask how I was. I told her the
don't want to introduce myself family, her two younger sisters story of Manijeh. She was very happy.
as a wise experienced man, but have no support and she wants
I since I left Iran with my mother to stay with them until their She told me to get her name and address
when I was 7 years old, I lived and and let my aunts get information about
studied in Turkey for 5 years, stud- graduation. When I asked her her.
ied and worked in Germany for 14 more questions about her I gave all the information I had to my
years, and then moved to the USA, family, Manijeh kept silent. mother. The next morning, I talked to
I started a successful business there So I never asked her any- Manijeh. "I want to meet you in Dubai
and during these years, I traveled to thing about her family again. or Turkey," I said.
"I'm looking forward to seeing you too."
4 continents and 10 countries, I in- While Jila would joke and She said. "I wish to bring my two sisters
evitably became an experienced man. talk recklessly and even with me in any way possible."
Over the years I have become friends showed me her beautiful Two weeks later, we set a date to meet
with two young women, one from Ja- body a few times, Manijeh in Turkey and I started preparing for the
pan and one from Panama. But none of was very reserved and se- trip.
them were intellectually and culturally rious. She would still call On the day Manijeh informed me that
compatible with me, and for that reason, me Mr. Iraj. She believed she was going to Turkey with her sisters
I did not get married despite my love for that until the task of our in 4 days, my mother called me. She
marriage and having children. future life together is was panting on the phone.
Before moving to the US, I always had clarified, it is better to "What's wrong Mom?" I asked.
my mother by my side. But then in keep our relationship "If you hadn't called me," she said. "If
Germany, a retired Austrian man who the at the level of normal conversation and you didn't give the details of that girl, a
needed a companion and a patient nurse manners, hospitality, discussion about the issues of the day big disaster would have happened."
married my mother and took her to Aus- and kindness of all family members; and our future desires and ideals. "Tell me, what happened, Mom? What
tria. When I saw that my mother was grandparents, my friend and his wife, When I was in a relationship with Jila, disaster?"
happy, I entrusted her to her new life and their three teenage sons. On the she once asked me for a loan of five "Manijeh is your sister, from another
and her new husband. My mother had same night, the grandmother suggested thousand dollars. I made excuses and mother."
talked to me about my father before. He I choose an Iranian wife. did not pay her. But on the other hand, My breath caught in my chest. "Is this
was a violent insensitive man who used Later, I went to their parties several when Manijeh informed me that her true?" I asked.
to beat her. For these reasons, my mater- times. I met many girls there, but I felt sister needed an operation, I offered "Yes." She said.
nal grandfather, who was an influential that they were more mixed with the her any financial or non-financial help "I was supposed to meet Manijeh and
powerful man, helped my mother di- American culture and not similar to I could. I also told her that I would be her sisters in Turkey."
vorce him and sent us abroad with some the grandmother's point of view. These happy to help. She thanked me and told My mother kept silent for a while. "Go.
money to join my uncle in Canada. But visits made me receive phone num- me that there was no need for my help. Be sure to go there. Save that girl and
my mother's brother refused to accept bers, photos, and videos of girls inside One evening I was lying on the couch in your other sisters. Help them in any way
us. I want nothing to do with you, he Iran. These communications continued my apartment watching a movie when you can. You have three sisters now."
said. through social networks such as Face- the doorbell rang. I looked out from be- My tears were flowing. I had never ex-
Then, we started wandering in different book. I was chatting with about 12 girls hind the small window and saw a wom- perienced such a feeling. I went to Tur-
countries. However, I achieved many regularly. Some of them were even an behind the door. key without saying a word to Manijeh.
successes with my mother's round-the- more modern than the girls living here. "Hello? Who's there?" I asked. With my insistence, she let me book
clock encouragement. She thought I A few of them were very progressive "A newly arrived guest," she answered two rooms in a hotel. I went there and
was a genius. The reason for that was and daring. I was confused as to what "Who are you?" entered the hotel. my whole being was
my ability to quickly learn different lan- to do. About six months passed and I "I'm Jila." filled with excitement as soon as I
guages, from Kurdish in Iran to Turkish decided that I liked two of those girls I froze in place. I opened the door and saw Manijeh. I went to her. While she
in Turkey and German in Germany, as more. Manijeh was a psychologist and she came in. She hugged me and kissed was trying not to get too close to me, I
well as excelling in elementary and high the other one, Jila, was a civil engineer. my face. hugged her tightly in front of her sisters'
school, college, and several universities. Both were very kind, intelligent, and in- "Are you happy to see me?" she asked. astonished eyes.
Since my mother had shown me a bad dependent. Both of them said that they "Sure," I answered. "How did you come "What?" she asked in astonishment.
image of my father, I changed my name decide for themselves and the family here? How did you find my address?" "You are my dear sisters," I answered.
and my life path as soon as I became an has no involvement in the matter. Mani- “I'm here for 15 days on an expensive "You mean you are our missing brother
American citizen. One day, I was invit- jeh said that she was going to leave her tour with my temporary fiancé. And I Iraj?" Her eyes were full of tears. Then
ed to an Iranian colleague's house on the family soon and live alone because she found your address through your Face- they all fell into my arms.
occasion of Nowruz. I was impressed by could not tolerate his parents and broth- book friends." Translation: Massi Zokaei
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