The Days Without Mirror (Part 6)

2018-12-25

The Days Without Mirror (Part 6)

Memoirs of Manijeh Lashgari; The wife of released pilot, Hossein Lashgari

Edited by: Golestan Ja’farian

Translator: Zahra Hosseinian

Tehran, Sooreh Mehr Publications Company

‎2016 (Persian Version)‎

Chapter III

On the March 23^rd 1979, two months after the victory of the Revolution, a large number of guests from Qazvin came to our house for proposing: Hossein's parents along with his siblings, his sisters-in-law, and his maternal and paternal uncles.

Everyone in the room was full of enthusiasm. After one or two hours, my mother entered the kitchen and said: ‘Manijeh, it’s finished. Bring tea.’

I wore chador out of respect to Hossein’s family; a white chador with tiny green and red flowers. I had a small body; maybe my total weight was about forty-five kilos. I did not know how to use chador, and worst of all, I was carrying a tray with twenty cups of tea on it. When I entered the drawing room, I just tried to be calm. I did not know to whom I should first offer tea and to whom I should greet. I offered cups of tea in a hard way, and Hossein's mother told me in Turkish, ‘Take a sit my dear daughter-in-law.’

After I sat down on an armchair, Hossein's mother and sisters approached and kissed me. At the same time, according to the Qazvin tradition, Hossein's father opened the wrapping of a sugar-loaf, which had brought as omen of fortune and sweetness in our life, and broke it into some pieces. All guests spoke with each other; some in Turkish, some in Persian; so I was completely confused. ‘As I looked at your face,’ Hossein later said, ‘I understood how anxious you are.’ Hossein's father and uncles insisted that Aghd was performed for Hossein and me because, as they said, Hossein wanted to come to Tehran to visit his wife from now on. But my father was not satisfied.

As Hossein’s father and uncles were older than my father and asked his permission, he faced a fait accompli and had to accept. It was arranged that Hossein and I went to take a blood test the next morning. I had been amazed. I never thought that everything would be finished so soon. Apparently, two families liked each other and were pleased with this marriage.

Hossein liked Ghormeh Sabzi (an Iranian very popular meal). My mother, other than Ghormeh sabzi, had cooked some other meals. The guests dined and went.

The next morning, Hossein came to our house at eight o'clock. I had prepared a black velvet suit to wear in Nowruz; I wore them with a pink shomiz blouse and got into Hossein’s car. It was arranged one of my aunts accompany us, but I do not know why no one came; maybe they wanted to let me and Hossein to have privacy or something really had happened to them. However, Hossein started the car joyfully and victoriously. My father put his hand on Hossein’s shoulder and pointed out, ‘dear Hossein, try to get back home soon.’

Hossein nodded and said, ‘will do, and rest assured.’

It was Nowruz holiday and closing-time of everywhere. There was a clinic on the Jomhouri Street. Because Hossein had a military ID card, the one who was in charge of clinic dealt with our request and said, ‘Captain, I’ll prepare your blood test results by tomorrow.’ About 10:30 am we were finished. We were both hungry, since for blood test we had to have no breakfast. Hossein said, ‘Let's go somewhere and eat breakfast.’

‘No, let's go home. My mom has prepared everything.’ I said.

‘I won’t take you home hungry!’ Hossein said.

He himself knew a stylish and clean cafe on Jomhouri Street. We went there and ate cakes and coffee and juice. It was clear that he was happy. He kept looking my face and smiled. ‘Manijeh, let's go shopping. I want to buy a headscarf for you.’ he said.

As always, I had worn my hair in a bun. ‘Why "you" buy a scarf?’ I laughed and said.

‘Well, you're my wife. I like you wear hijab from now on.’

We went to a few shops to find a little big scarf. Headscarves were small those days, because women usually did not wear them, but they used it as a neck scarf. Finally, I bought a white headscarf with a red and dark blue margin which was not too small. I liked it. I threw it over my head. It felt looked well on me. Hossein had the same idea.

The test result was ready next morning. Hossein recommended to go shopping in the afternoon to buy candlestick, mirror, ring, and... .

Again, many members of the family gathered to go shopping. From my family, one of my sisters, my mother’s sister, my father’s sister, and my uncle’s wife came; and from Hossein’s family, his two sisters, two of his sisters-in-law, and an old woman whom I do not remember accompanied us.

When we all wanted to enter any store, Hossein and I stood by the door until the elders went inside. After everyone entered, Hossein put his hand on my back and said, ‘after you, lady.’

My older aunt had everything under her control. She glared at me and Hossein in a way that... I shrugged my shoulders to say, so what should I do. I didn't know to look at Hossein’s hand or my dear aunt’s dirty look.

They bought me a set of mirror and candlesticks, a bag and a pair of shoes, a beautiful flower-patterned white chador, and a white evening dress, which had been made of silk and lace fabric, and which was my engagement dress. We also bought Hossein suit fabric – at that time it was customary to buy suit fabric for groom instead of a ready-made suit – a pair of shoes, and a wrist-watch. Then we went toward jewelry stores to buy ring.

The jeweler brought us very expensive rings; one thousand and two hundred Tomans, two thousand Tomans, and three thousand Tomans. ‘These’re expensive, Manijeh; don’t choose among them.’ my aunt told me.

‘No, lady, let her to choose each one she likes.’ Hossein said.

Before we came to the market, my father also advised me privately, ‘sweetheart, show consideration for Hossein. You’re husband and wife from now on; his pocket is yours. Don’t choose expensive stuff.’ And I said, ‘will do.’

Finally, I selected a simple ring with three or four gems and we bought a simple ring for Hossein too. After finishing our shopping, Hossein said: ‘Let's lunch now.’

‘Thanks, Hossein, let's go back home.’ My aunt said.

But Hossein did not accept and took all of us to a restaurant. We lunched and then returned to our house.

To be continued…