Memoirs of Marzieh Hadidchi (Part 35)

2018-3-30

Memoirs of Marzieh Hadidchi (Dabbagh) (Part 35)

Edited by: Mohsen Kazemi

Tehran, Sooreh Mehr Publications Company

‎2002 (Persian Version)‎

Translated by: Zahra Hosseinian

Heading to Neauphle-le-Château

In Syria, we became aware that the Iraqi government has forced Imam to leave the country after restriction of Imam's house was in vain. Our friends were trying to persuade and convinced Imam to come to Syria and Lebanon, but he first went to Kuwait, and when encountered with opposition of the Kuwaiti sovereignty in the border (Safvan), first he returned to Basra and then to Baghdad and finally he went to France. After consultations and investigations, Imam Khomeini eventually resided in a village called Neauphle-le-Château [1] around Paris. And since then on, the village finds a world reputation.

In Syria, we were waiting momentarily to hear about Imam and his companions and after hearing about Imam's residence in Neauphle-le-Château, a meeting was held and after a lot of discussion we came to the conclusion that we would also join Imam in that Parisian village. Therefore, we quickly finished our unfinished works and packed our properties and went to France. At first, Martyr Montazeri, Mohammad Gharazi, Naser A’aladpush, and Serajdin Musawi went. And two days later, I went to France with the same fake passport under the name of Zinat Ahmadi Niley, while I was counting the seconds to see him, I had exciting moments and I was restless and impatient.

Arriving at the Orly airport, I quickly headed to Neauphle-le-Château by using street signs. When I arrived there I had a weird feeling, an indescribable mood, a good and divine feeling, a sense of honor and glory; I always recalled the memory of that dream of Imam in 1963; in my dream Imam groaned because of severe pain in his shoulder and I was trying to serve him, and now I knew my presence in the Neauphle-le-Château as interpretation of that dream.

After visiting Imam, I was in a transport of delight and my soul did not fit in my body and a feeling had taken it to a heavenly level. When the men of the group decided about me to take the responsibility of the Imam’s house, it aroused and indescribable enthusiasm in me and I said to myself: "Marzieh! This is you who Allah has blessed you to be a servant in Imam's house and ..." And what is more worthwhile than this for me to breathe in the house which was filled with the holy soul of Imam. I thought that God has given me the reward of all those distance and sufferings. I should take this opportunity and enjoy each moment.

Besides dealing with inside affairs I also paid attention to the security of the house. I had a great happiness that I could see Imam every day. The first days, I opened the letters and did necessary shopping too. I washed his clothes and according to the plan I would cook food for him. By being in such a place, I was fortune enough to become acquainted with simple lifestyle of Imam Khomeini, and to take advantage of the blessings of this presence to develop myself, and also to learn his ethics, gnostic behavior, and mystical conduct to come to life.

Tahereh’s Observations

To thank God, I tried to do the assigned works in the best way in the houses[2] numbered one and two. Because of being close to Imam, I observed, consciously or unconsciously, his unique acts and behaviors. Reactions behaviors and words which were surprising; from eating and sleeping to worship and politics, all had a precise timing and order and followed a specific program that was specific to Imam. Good order and programming were an integral part of the life of this great man of history. Whenever we asked for him we heard that he had gone to renew his ablution. Performing his ablutions had its own time, and those, who were in his home and accompanied him, were aware of it.

Five men who came from the United States to visit Imam Khomeini and it seemed they had come to assess the private life of Imam, asked me to be interviewed. During the interview, the time of Imam's renewing the ablution came and I should see if the bathroom was clean and tidy, so I told the gentlemen that I must go because this is my duty. "Is it possible for a person to control even his physical issues?" the gentlemen asked. I replied, "Yes it is possible, you don’t know him." And to prove them, I told them that I could open the kitchen window and you would see him through it a few minutes later, when Imam would go toward the bathroom. Then I returned to do my work and they went to the courtyard and saw Imam who went to renew the ablution in the very moment I told them. After finishing my works, I returned to continue the interview. It was interesting to me that I did not see them in the interview room. I asked the men of the group, "Where did these American gentlemen go?" They answered they found what they wanted and now they were busy collecting their equipment to return.

To be continued…