Page 79 - Javanan Magazine Issue # 1877

From The Desk Of The Editor ISSUE No. 1877
JAVANAN
The old friend shouted:
"Dear general, bring us tea!" this as intimacy and friendship, I should gra-
dually prove my abilities in the workplace and
get bigger opportunities. Apart from this, she
said, you have to think that life in this country is
hard anyway, and maybe working in a non-Ira-
nian environment is even harder.
Two days later, some old colleagues, who
most of them found out by had heard that I had found a job and also knew
phone or face-to-face conver- the manager, came unannounced with a box of
sations that I am no longer the sweets. I kept praying that it would not happen
powerful wealthy comman- again. I was talking to them and explaining my
der that I was, I don't have responsibilities when suddenly the manager's
the capital to start a business voice rang in my ears again. 'Dear Comman-
and a prosperous life. Then, der! Please bring us tea and cake!' My old col-
they would either disappear leagues looked at me in astonishment. I saw
The torrential relentless rain had forced or promise to meet in the pity in their eyes, but I immediately brought
him to go under the canopy at the entrance. future! them tea and cake with coolness. This is a
A man in his sixties, with white hair, tall Finally, at a family party, friendly place. I said with a laugh. We all help
slightly bent stature, and penetrating eyes. one of my wife's relatives, each other. Each of us, who has time, will host
We made an appointment two days ago. He who had an average life in the guests!
insisted on coming to the Javanan office on Iran and had now settled When the old colleagues left, I asked the
one of the weekends. He said that he has been down here, suggested that manager a question. 'Sir! Did we have such
avoiding people and crowds for a long time, I work for him. 'It is an ho- an agreement?'
he doesn't even see his friends, relatives and nor to have the comman- 'Dear Commander! This Is United States.'
acquaintances. der working at my insti- He said. 'You have to forget the ranks and po-
Ten minutes later, he was sitting in front of tution!' He said loudly in sitions of the past. You have to be humble here.
me. In the depths of his eyes, in his behavior the presence of all family In this country, dignity has no meaning while
and the way he walked, a remnant of a glorious members and acquain- working. If you were a commander in the army
past could be seen. It seemed to me that he must tances. The following in the past, you are a conscript in this country
be the retired commander of the army. Before week, I started working and in this place. You have to accept this.'
I asked, he confirmed this himself. "Many of as the internal mana- 'Mr. Manager,' I said. 'I'm trying to accept
the privileges of the past have become a heavy ger of that institution. my new position, but why don't you forget that
burden on our shoulders today," he said, "as I Extraordinary energy I was a 'commander'?!'
have been carrying this burden for years and had flowed in me. On He laughed meaningfully. 'This is your
my back is bent under its weight." the other hand, my nickname after all. I'm used to it. It makes me
The powerful commander of the distant ye- wife was giving me feel good.'
ars had complaints about life, people, friends strength and the kids Our discussion escalated. He said that the
and family today. "These are not the only pains were talking about problem of most Iranians is that they still carry
in my heart," he said. "I know well that hund- buying a new car. We their past positions and jobs with them and in-
reds and maybe thousands of other Iranians all called Iran over sist that others accept them in the same position
are trapped in such a situation like me. Let's the weekend and as before, while others have moved away from
ignore what the revolution in Iran brought to talked happily with that situation for years.
the army commanders, whether it is good or our loved ones and 'Sir,' I said. 'Except for a few people, I and
bad. Because in those days full of turmoil, no family members. thousands of people like me, we have comple-
one read the records of the lives and services It was the tely forgotten that position and rank of our past,
of the commanders, but just having the title of second week of and the sign of this is the upstart parvenu peo-
army commander was enough for a group to my work when
allow any insult and oppression on countless two acquaintances ple like you who think that commanders and
general managers and deputies and all the high
commanders." came to that ins-
"I was among the commanders who always titution. The ma- officials of the past should be reduced to small
served my country regardless of the govern- nager called me tasks. And then, they give them any kind of
ment system, and if I were to review my record, and introduced order to clear their own past complexes. They
the list would be very long. Unfortunately, in me to them. insist on calling them by their former name,
the scorching heat of the oven of the revolution position and rank in front of others, especially
in Iran, the innocent and the guilty were burned The newcomers former acquaintances. They want to say, look
together. On the day when I was about to enter recognized me, paid their respects and expres- everyone, this is the same glorious comman-
my workplace and I was investigated and se- First, I went to an old friend. sed their happiness that I had a job there. A der of yesterday, the same deputy minister and
arched by several young people under the age I knew that he had many job opportunities in few moments later, the manager's voice rang general manager of the previous years, who
of twenty, I realized that I was at the end of my his institution. But he made excuses. 'I don't in my ears. 'Dear Commander! Please bring us brings me tea and cake today. Or he executes
road, but I stayed long enough to prove that a have a job worthy of you.' tea.' My whole body was wet with sweat; Not my orders without a question.'
true servant and lover of the country is proud 'Forget dignity in today's conditions.' I said because I didn't like to work or didn't want to I made my decision that day. I decided to
in any court. After the various accusations aga- without any shame. 'I need a job to support my hear orders, or because I hadn't brought tea for look for a job in non-Iranian society; where no
inst my service records were ineffective, all family as well as help my kids through college anyone until that day. No, I had taken tea for one knows about my glorious powerful past,
my assets were confiscated under a meaning- and university.' friends or the manager a few times in a friend- nor has an urge to break and trample on that.
less excuse and I left the country a few years 'But the job that can cover such expenses is ly manner, I had even helped him decorate his In the evening of that day, I put the last cup
later with a small savings. In the first months not available in this institution.' room, but hearing this in front of those two of hot tea in front of Mr. Manager so that he can
of my arrival, I fell ill due to mental stress and 'I don't want to make all my expenses from acquaintances, with that commanding tone, be happy in the intoxication of his own thoug-
if it wasn't for my angelic selfless wife, I would this job. However, providing a part of these broke my heart. But I had no choice. I went hts for hours. He was so engrossed in his fake
have remained paralyzed and helpless. Believe expenses is a reason to be happy.' Eventually, into the room with a few cups of tea and star- grandeur and arrogance that he did not see my
me, if I had no other chance in life, at least my he made so many excuses that I knew I wasn't ted talking to the two newcomers in a friendly letter of resignation and goodbye.
wife stayed by my side as always. Even more going to get any help from him. tone. This is like my home, I said, it is a friend- I came out of that man's institution. It was
compassionate and kind than before. She was I had many friends in this country. Friends ly place, we all work together, here the emp- raining. I felt that I still carry my pride; The pri-
the one who gave me the strength to get back who were so excited to hear my voice in the loyer and the employee all work together. de that was the common point of my past and
on my feet, come back to the field and look for first phone conversation that I would say to I told the story to my wife that night. She future and kept me going."
a job again. myself this one will definitely help me. But believed that I should be patient, I should count
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