Hussein Shayestefar, narrated by the martyrs wife

You Heart Desired to Go

Elham Saleh
Translated by Natalie Haghverdian

2020-1-1

When they started their life together, they wanted to be together, friends apart. It turned out to be the way they wanted. But there was another companion; suffering. It did not leave them alone until the end. Hossein Shayestefar, narrated by the Martyr's Wife, which is the sixth volume in the series of "Inak Shokaran[1]"[2], illustrates their suffering; the suffering present in the lives of "Razieh Bubash" and the martyr "Hussein Shayestefar".

The Parting Story

He has thirteen shrapnel shells in his head; kidney and bladder problems; and seizures. As he walks, he grabs his hand against the wall, drags his feet on the floor and talks stuttering.

The man is not physically healthy; he is a plane technician and has a good command of English. The first condition is stipulated: "I am in the front for 45 days and will only stay in Tehran for a week. Until the war lasts, I’ll be there for 45 days, and a week here. "

The woman also demands: "I just want to continue my education. I have six years to go to cover Masters and PHD. I'd like to finish it. "

The man agrees: "You study sixty years instead of six. I have no issue with your education. "

They meet and talk couple of times and finally agree. With a simple ceremony, Hussein Shayestefar and Razieh Bubash become a couple. At the beginning of their life together, the man returns to the fronts as he is supposed to; this is the tale of loneliness not only found in Hossein Shayestefar's narrated by the martyr's wife, but in all books narrated by the martyrs' wives: Hussein’s leave ended quickly. I knew it was time to leave. We had to be apart for 45 days. I was heartbroken. Early in the morning Mojtaba Sinjali arrived in his motorbike to take him to the fronts. The same friend would always pick him up. I would stand by the door and watch them drive away; until they would shrink to a dot and drip like a drop. Not just the first time, but every time he left."

Tale of Lonliness

At first, separation was a torture; when they were together, the husband’s nervous breakdowns and seizures made her suffer. The children were born one after another. Hussein Shayestefar could not work somewhere because of the seizures; life had costs and Razieh Bubash decided to work. Three little children along a man in need of constant care had worn her out. The last time she brought Shayestefar to the hospital, Dr. Nourbala, a psychiatrist and director of the Veterans' Psychiatry Department, advised him to be commited in a psychiatric hispital: "It is no longer fit for him to be at home. I swear, you and kids are in danger. You should take him to the psychiatric hospital. Psychological Complex for Psychiatric Veterans. Hospitalize him there. Rest assured that it's better for him. "

It was difficult, but she couldn't take care of both the kids and him. She was always trying to explain to the children why their father was not well: “I was trying to explain that doing something in the path of God is valuable: “Don’t look at him now. He was an important person; he was so handsome and fit; God knows he was so patient and kind and courageous." I would show them his pictures: look! He fought along with martyr Chamran. He fought with the enemy in the path of God; for us; and he is like this now."

Hossein Shayestefar narrated by the martyr’s wife is a book about a life, just like life it is full of love, happiness, joy and suffering and bitterness; the suffering is as bitter as hemlock.

The tale of diatribe

Bitter moments are not rare in this life. Some of this bitterness is due to the husband's physical condition, but some others are inflicted by others; the never ending rumors and gossips.

"They covered Hussein’s grave. I sat there to recite Quran. There were many people. I could hear people's voices. I heard the woman standing next to me, say:

"The poor guy suffered. His wife had divorced him three or four years ago."

My heart was on fire. I pushed my veil away and looked at her:

- "What is your relationship with the martyr, madam?"

- "I am her mother's neighbor. I heard that his wife left him. "

- "I'm his wife. Lawful and legal. For the last 12 years the hospital to this very moment. Do you want to see my ID? Why do you burn your faith with gossip? "

The tale of Shokaran

“Inak Shokaran” is a proper title for the series of books on “Tales of Victory”. The martyrs’ wives talk about them in the books. Why hemlock? The title is selected for a series of books in which the narrators lost their husbands after the imposed war. This group of martyrs are the survivors of war; veterans that carried the wounds and scars of eight years of Holly Defense even after and were martyred as a result.

All the volumes of “Inak Shokaran” have a simple and similar prose. These books are presented in the same format. They all have a fixed introduction, after which a heartwarming introduction forms the second introduction. Then, on a separate page, the martyr's name, date of birth, time of martyrdom, injuries, location of martyrdom and his wife's name are briefly stated.

Then it is the text, these texts are presented with no segmentation. The end of each book contains photos of the martyr.

Contrary to the notion, using the same format is not boring, but rather anchors the audience with the series.

The collection "Inak Shokaran" is not complex; it is simple and has been published for the purpose of depicting a small part of the martyrs' lives. Hossein Shayestefar, according to the martyr's wife, has the same characteristics.

Summary Introduction

The books in the series have some nice introductions. These introductions are the special features of this collection that vary in each volume depending on its mood. "Hossein Shayestefar narrated by the Martyr's Wife" also has a beautiful introduction:

"Your heart desired to go. You couldn’t be grounded. Your eyes dreamed of the blue sky. From the day you folded your restlessness in your physical pain, you knew that it’s time to meet the lights in the skies. You were patient. The pains made you even more beautiful. Separation had pushed you deep in love. Your wounds intoxicated you, but you were still patient. Earth was tiny and dark for you. You were waiting. You knew the sky was close; very close."